The 12th Annual Laredo Birding Festival will be Hosted in February

Birding Festival draws out-of-town visitors to observe hundreds of prized species in Laredo and Webb & Zapata Counties.

LAREDO, TX – With some trips normally sold out a month before the festival, birders and nature enthusiasts are eager to return to Laredo to spot hundreds of species of dazzling birds—both local and migratory – during the 12th annual Laredo Birding Festival (LBF) taking place from February 7th through the 10th, 2024. The LBF, a partnership with Rio Grande International Study Center (RGISC), Monte Mucho Audubon Society (MMAS), and the Laredo Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is designed to provide birders the opportunity to work closely with professional field guides and to explore the depth of the natural beauty of Laredo and the two counties of Webb and Zapata.

Festival planners have carefully planned day-long trips over the course of three days to selected spots along the river, creek systems, parks and historic private ranches.

"Laredo is full of life and culture and ambiance. As a Laredoan, it’s beautiful to see that people outside our community enjoy visiting our city for its nature, something that not many Laredoans have experienced,” says Marilyn Bautista, Planning Committee Coordinator.

Julie Kelley, MMAS President, further added on the importance of eco-tourism in the community of Laredo. “Laredo’s close proximity to the border and a water source is a prime area for avian ecotourism. We have a unique corridor for unique birds and wildlife. Nature enthusiasts know this and are putting Laredo and our community on the map,” Kelley said.

Danny Perales, MMAS member, agreed. “As a birder and active member of the Monte Mucho Audubon Society, I am impressed by how much the Laredo Birding Festival has grown in attendance and activities over the last years. Laredo and Webb County are on the map for many avian lovers seeking out diverse and rare species commonly found here. The eco-tourism business is alive and well in Laredo,” Perales said.

Aileen Ramos, CVB Director, said that the sold-out nature of the Festival reveals the growing tourism in our city. “The Laredo Birding Festival is a great opportunity for visitors to experience Laredo’s hospitality and enjoy the cuisine, history and attractions while participating in the event,” Ramos said.

The LBF seeks to increase local awareness about these avian treasures that fly in our midst and to provide economic incentives to protect and preserve vital habitats for the sustainability and survival of these bird species. “It’s amazing to know that our unique river ecosystem and scenic South Texas ranchland support abundant wildlife and so many birds that come from as far away as Canada, Alaska, and the Central American tropics,” said Tricia Cortez, RGISC Executive Director. “We want to showcase the best of Laredo’s ecological gems with our own unique Mexican cultural flair, as a way to help Laredo build a vibrant-tourism base”.

Festival attendees will have a chance to zoom in on Laredo’s prized bird, the Morelet’s Seedeater (formerly known as the White-Collared Seedeater), and other beauties such as the Scaled Quail, Gray Hawk, Altamira Oriole, Brown Jay, Green Parakeets, Muscovy Duck, Great Kiskadee, Crested Caracara, and many others. During the three-day Laredo Birding Festival, birders select from a variety of full-day scenic trips escorted by professional field guides and members of the Monte Mucho Audubon Society. In addition to birding trips, the Laredo Birding Festival hosts presentations and workshops from expert birders in their areas, bonus trips to see the Parakeets in the Plaza, as well as the infamous, Birds of the Brush art competition, where students from elementary to professionals in the community compete. Year after year, La Posada plays host to out-of-town guests and will be offering its local charm and ambiance to birding participants.

The festival will culminate with a Farewell Banquet featuring Dr. Robert M. Peck, curator of art and senior fellow of the academy of natural sciences in Philadelphia, focusing on the art of LOUIS AGASSIZ FUERTES. In the long history of wildlife art, few painters have matched – and none have exceeded – the brilliant originality and strength of the bird paintings made by Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874-1927). For anyone with an interest in birds and art, this talk will be a feast for the eye and mind, presented by a speaker, Dr. Peck, whose books, articles, exhibits and lectures have earned him international recognition as an expert in the field. For more information, contact Marilyn Bautista at (956) 280-2249 or laredobirdingfestival@rgisc.org, or visit www.laredobirdingfestival.com.

WHO:            Monte Mucho Audubon Society (MMAS), Rio Grande International Study Center (RGISC), and the City of Laredo Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB)

WHAT:          12^th Annual Laredo Birding Festival

WHEN:          February 7 - 10, 2024.

WHERE:        Host hotel: La Posada Hotel,  1000 Zaragoza St., Laredo, Texas 78040