Annual Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival

Join us for the 31st Annual Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival!!

Welcome Reception, Keynote Speakers, Seminars and Kiskadee Kordial are all included in your registration. Please sign up for the activities you wish to attend.

The Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival, Inc., headquartered in Harlingen, Texas, is a 501 (c)(3) organization incorporated to produce an annual international event designed to utilize the Rio Grande Valley's unparalleled natural resources and bird-watching opportunities to:

Promote the economic growth of the local economy through ecotourism.
Educate the local population about the value of the unique natural environment found in the Valley and to recognize its economic potential.

Foster a climate of cooperation and understanding between stakeholders in the economic development of the Valley and conservation organizations and individuals dedicated to preserving our natural environment.

The RGV Birding Festival has a small part-time staff in addition to over 200 dedicated volunteers, many of whom donate their time throughout the year to make the festival a success.  In addition, the festival receives monetary and resource support from the City of Harlingen, our many sponsors and vendors, local businesses, and the Harlingen Visitors' Bureau.

Schedule of Events:

5:00 am - 02:00 pm: Santa Margarita Ranch HCC - Van Loading Area - 20 ($ 125.00)         
6:00 am - 01:00 pm: Colley's Island Pontoon with Henry's Charters HCC - Van Loading Area - 12 ($ 135.00)         
6:00 am - 01:00 pm: Shorebirding with the Experts HCC - Van Loading Area - 10 ($ 85.00)           
6:00 am - 01:00 pm: Rio Grande Pontoon and Quinta Mazatlan HCC - Bus Loading Area - 38 ($ 115.00)        
6:00 am - 04:30 pm: Big Day Van 1 HCC - Van Loading Area - 8 ($ 135.00)         
6:00 am - 04:30 pm: Big Day Van 2 HCC - Van Loading Area - 8 ($ 135.00)                  
6:00 am - 04:30 pm: Big Day Van 5 HCC - Van Loading Area - 8 ($ 135.00)         
6:00 am - 04:30 pm: Big Day Van 3 HCC - Van Loading Area - 8 ($ 135.00)         
6:00 am - 04:30 pm: Big Day Van 4 HCC - Van Loading Area - 8 ($ 135.00)         
6:00 am - 04:30 pm: Big Day Van 6 HCC - Van Loading Area - 8 ($ 135.00)         
6:15 am - 10:30 am: Laguna Seca Ranch Raptors  am Meet at Site - 12 ($ 160.00)         
6:30 am - 12:30 pm: Santa Ana NWR HCC - Bus Loading Area - 36 ($ 75.00)           
6:30 am - 12:30 pm: Aplomado Alley - Old Port Isabel Road HCC - Van Loading Area - 16 ($ 85.00)           
6:30 am - 12:30 pm: Estero Llano Grande State Park HCC - Bus Loading Area - 32 ($ 75.00)           
6:30 am - 12:30 pm: Advanced Bird ID with Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman - Estero Llano Grande State Park HCC - Bus Loading Area - 10 ($ 100.00)       6:30 am - 12:30 pm: Young Birder Series - Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge HCC - Bus Loading Area - 6 ($ 50.00)           
6:30 am - 12:30 pm: Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park HCC - Bus Loading Area - 42 ($ 75.00)           
6:30 am - 01:00 pm: The Total Gull Experience with Amar Ayyash HCC - Van Loading Area - 10 ($ 85.00)           
6:30 am - 01:00 pm: Boca Chica - The Tip of Texas HCC - Van Loading Area - 16 ($ 80.00)           
6:30 am - 03:00 pm: Willacy Wetlands, Backroads, and Texas BBQ! HCC - Van Loading Area - 8 ($ 100.00)         
7:00 am - 11:00 am: Getting Close to Things with Wings - Hands On Workshop with Melody Lytle Meet at Site - 10 ($ 50.00)           
7:00 am - 12:00 pm: Raptor Banding with Bill Clark HCC - Van Loading Area - 20 ($ 100.00)         
7:00 am - 01:00 pm: Anzalduas on the Rio and National Butterfly Center HCC - Van Loading Area - 10 ($ 85.00)           
7:00 am - 01:00 pm: Edinburg Scenic Wetlands and McAllen Nature Center HCC - Van Loading Area - 10 ($ 75.00)           
7:00 am - 01:00 pm: Sabal Palm Sanctuary and UTRGV Resacas HCC - Bus Loading Area - 21 ($ 75.00)           
7:00 am - 01:00 pm: Easy (But Not Less!) Birding tour - Estero Llano Grande SP HCC - Van Loading Area - 6 ($ 75.00)           
7:00 am - 01:00 pm: Camp RIO and Fish Hatchery Wetlands HCC - Bus Loading Area - 21 ($ 85.00)           
8:00 am - 12:00 pm: Meet-on Site - South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center Meet at Site - 12 ($ 60.00)           
2:00 pm - 03:00 pm: The Effects of Urbanization on Gray Hawks in the Lower Rio Grande Valley with Evan Farese HCC Auditorium
2:00 pm - 03:00 pm: Lightroom Basics for Bird Photography with Ruth Hoyt HCC Classroom - 20 ($ 15.00)           
2:00 pm - 05:30 pm: Laguna Seca Ranch Songbirds  pm Meet at Site - 6 ($ 160.00)         
3:30 pm - 04:30 pm: A 25-year Romance with the Rio Grande Valley with Ruth Hoyt HCC Auditorium
3:30 pm - 04:30 pm: Sunsets, Birds, and More! with Clay Taylor, Swarovski Optik, Ltd. HCC - Van Loading Area - 10 ($ 60.00)           
3:30 pm - 04:30 pm: Working with Birds in Photoshop with Esperanza Chapa HCC Classroom - 20 ($ 15.00)           
4:00 pm - 06:00 pm: Parrot Palooza! HCC - Van Loading Area - 40 ($ 50.00)           
4:30 pm - 09:00 pm: Campfire Cookout and Critter Walk at Cactus Creek Ranch HCC - Van Loading Area - 20 ($ 80.00)           
6:00 pm - 07:00 pm: The Texas Birds That Audubon Missed - with Kenn Kaufman HCC Auditorium