The Valley Land Fund

'Nation’s biggest, longest and wildest bird-watching tournament' begins on April 15 in Texas Participants in the statewide tournament will document different species of birds migrating through the Lone Star State this spring.

This is wonderful news!

Willacy County ranch looks to get landowners involved in new ocelot reintroduction plan A 50,000-acre ranch in Willacy County is home to the remaining wild American ocelots.

Please join us at 2 p.m. TODAY for a fascinating, FREE talk by local guest experts on the RGV’s native plants, which help attract and support our spectacular bird life.

Speakers will be Benito and Toni Treviño of Rancho Lomitas Native Plant Nursery and Tours in Rio Grande City (https://rancholomitas.com/). Benito, an ethnobotanist, was recently featured in an article by American Forests for the important work he’s doing on habitat restoration in the Valley, where the The Valley Land Fund estimates that "less than five percent of the original native habitat remains.” (https://www.americanforests.org/article/the-life-and-times-of-benito-trevino/; https://valleylandfund.com/)

🎟️ RAFFLE! Customers can also enter for a chance to win a year’s worth of bird seed, a $50 shopping spree, or other great prizes!

We hope you’ll stop in to enjoy the talk and chat with our staff about how you can turn your yard into a Certified Wildlife Habitat to attract and support your birds. (https://mcallen.wbu.com/certify-your-yard)

Check our website for details on the speakers and raffle, and any last-minute changes. Happy birding!

Featured bird: Green Jay

Join us on March 20th from 10-11:30 am for some tasty recipes in Plant Party: Cooking Up Natives! We have some fantastic speakers, amazing door prizes, plenty of fun, and...it's FREE. You must register and a link to join the webinar will be sent the day before.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CookingNatives

Plant Party is a quarterly advanced plant training webinar training provided by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service.

🌱 The Office for is excited to announce that our yearly is approaching faster than ever!

Please join us in different events and expositions, as we learn how to better care for our through and initiatives here at .

📅 Wednesday, March 6th
🕦 11 AM - 2 PM

You’re not gonna want to miss it!

Are you interested in our Range Ecology Technician position? You’re encouraged to apply if you are a junior, senior, or recent graduate in Range/Wildlife/Ranch Management/Natural Resources or related degree programs. As a technician, you will focus on collecting vegetation data on East Foundation’s Ranches, mainly within an 18,000-acre experimental grazing study. Data includes forage utilization, forage standing crop, vegetation structure, cover, and composition. Technicians will also be responsible for entering all data electronically and ensuring its quality and accuracy. This position will teach technicians to use digital software for data collection. We hope you’ll apply or send this position to someone you know who would be a perfect fit! https://eastfoundation.net/contact/employment-opportunities/

Longtime caretakers retiring from border birding area, passing on the torch After 15 years as winter caretakers of the Salineño Wildlife Preserve in Starr County, Texas, this couple is retiring and a new team are taking over to guard this borderland birding preserve on the…

Join us tomorrow for the second installment of our native plant gardening workshop series! This workshop focuses on selecting plants for your garden that are both food for wildlife and tasty treats in the kitchen. It introduces resources to help you plan your garden and includes a guided plant walk. Space is limited; registration required.

Check out this amazing opportunity to learn about native plant gardening.

Join us next Saturday to kick-off our native plant gardening workshop series! This first workshop focuses on why gardeners should consider using local plants, gives plant recommendations for attracting wildlife, and introduces free resources to help participants start selecting plants for their garden - whether it's pots on a porch or a whole yard!

BIRDS & BREW BY THE RIVER at Salineño Wildlife Preserve honoring our long-time caretakers Lois Hughes & Merle Ihne!

Don't know much about BIRDS? Know a lot about BIRDS? Interested in BIRDS? Join us for a casual social hour or two to discuss, you guessed it BIRDS.

Please let us know if you plan to attend, RSVP to 956.686.6429.

Our next installment of Wild at Work: A Stewardship Series returns on Wednesday, February 14th from noon to 1 PM. This FREE virtual program will cover a topic of great interest to many, chemical control for managing feral hogs. Associate Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist, Dr. John Tomeček will discuss how to incorporate chemical control as one tool within the integrated pest management approach to managing feral hog populations. Register today: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIuceCqpz0oEtCn-AiIXaCpdd8XO5O-z-ub”

Legends of Conservation Gala - 2023 RGV Bird Festival SPONSOR LEVELS Legendary / Title Sponsor $ 25,000 – 8 Tickets to In-Person Event * Live Program Recognition * Pre & Post Event Recognition * Educational Outreach Naming Rights for 2024 * Highlight in Magazine Presenting Sponsor $ 15,000 – 8 Tickets to In-Person Event * Live Program Recognition *...

🌿 You're Invited to a Native Plant Party! 🌿

🌱 Let's celebrate the beauty of native plants and their vital role in our environment. Discover, learn, and have fun with fellow nature enthusiasts!

Students are FREE with online registration at Quintamazatlan.ticketleap.com.

📅 Date: Thursday, October 26th
🕡 Time: 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM
📍 Location: Quinta Mazatlan

Feds want public input on plan to reintroduce ocelots on RGV ranchlands Federal wildlife officials are seeking the public’s input on a proposal that would reintroduce ocelots into parts of their historic native range where they haven’t been seen in decades.

Winners of the RGV Youth Nature Photo Contest are now on exhibit at Quinta Mazatlan through August.

Be inspired by the children’s summer work, “Nature through the Eyes of Children”. Thank you to The Valley Land Fund, City of McAllen TX Government, Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center, Robert L Townsend Endowment Fund, H-E-B, Frost Bank, Magic Valley Electric Cooperative and AEP for providing this free summer enrichment program for the children of the Valley.

Bring the family to Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center tomorrow evening for entertainment and education in the park! Also, at 7:30 we will unveil the 10 Ten Finalists for our youth nature photo contest!

YOU ASK, WE ANSWER!

Southern Exposures REGISTRATION DEADLINE EXTENDED to August 4, 2023 at 5pm!!!

Let the countdown begin! Grab your camera (smartphone) this weekend and go explore outside. The natural world is full of wonderful colors, critters and beauty to capture in a photo.

Only 6 days left to submit your photos to Southern Exposures Youth Nature Photo Contest!!!

valleylandfund Many of these photographs were taken by youth nature photographers who participated in the Valley Land Fund’s Youth Nature Photo Contest “Southern Exposures”.