Valley Nature Center
From WikiBird
- ¾ miles of trails in 6 acres
- Directions: In Gibson Park - 1 block south of Business 83 on Border Street in Weslaco. 301 South Border Ave.
- Hours: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm M-F, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Saturday, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Sunday.
- Also see the Frontera Audubon Center nearby.
Red-crowned Parrots roost here at night. a few Red-lored Parrots, White-fronted Parrots, Yellow-headed Parrots, or Lilac-crowned Parrots might be mixed in the group as well. Of these, the Red-crowned Parrot (and also the Green Parakeet) is the only one that seems established in numbers and is nesting actively [1].
How to see the Parrots
Arrive at the intersection of 11th Street and Kansas, or 10th Street and Missouri, about an hour before sunset. Listen carefully to hear the flock approaching. If not heard, drive slowly with windows down, listening, westward along 10th or 12th to Border Ave. If you have not located the flock, turn right on Border and drive slowly northward to Gibson City Park and on into the Valley Nature Center parking lot.
If the flock has not appeared, retrace the route and start over again, always listening as you go. You can also park yourself at either end of the route and just wait and listen for a while. Once the flock is located, you might have to drive over a few block to get closer to it. Once there stay under the cover of overhanging trees. Stay quiet and don’t move around. If the parrots are feeding in the trees, don’t approach. Use a good pair of binoculars to get the best views! All species of parrots are protected by City Ordinance, and it is illegal to molest them!
