By Ron LaDuque
© Ron LaDuque 2002
Laredo is almost exactly positioned on the 100th Meridian that is used by some birding books as a reference to divide the U. S. into “Eastern Birds” and “Western Birds.” Migrating birds using the Central Flyway are drawn to the RÌo Grande as a rest stop and many will winter here. A variety of neo-tropical species have their northern boundaries at Laredo and a number of western species have their eastern limits here, providing a unique blend of species and a unique birding opportunity.
John Arvin, a well-known birder and writer, noted, “Vast parts of South Texas are never visited by persons studying birds and the interior of South Texas is almost totally understudied. This is a very interesting area and needs more study, especially during breeding season.” Mr. Arvin has birded extensively in Central Texas, South Texas, the Texas Gulf Coast as well as Mexico and Central and South America.
Laredo, too, has long been over-looked as a birding destination and one writer recommended “by-passing Laredo as there is nothing of interest between Zapata and Del Rio.”Until 1999 there were no organized birding activities, however, in December of that year, a group of birders from Houston conducted the only Christmas Bird Count (CBC) since 1967. This activity resulted in the formation of the Laredo International Birding Association, LIBA, which currently hosts the annual CBC with much needed assistance provided by expert birders from Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Corpus Christi, the Rio Grande Valley, and other points.
LIBA members have taken advantage of proximity to the mountains of northeast Mexico and the Mexican Gulf Coast for birding ventures. They also visit other birding sites in south and central Texas. This small group of devoted birders is determined to assist expert birders visiting the area in adding to the growing list of species. Invaluable experience is also gained from visiting expert birders. The visiting birder is in the enviable position of helping to add new discoveries to the local birding list. Accidentals and rare species are reported to the Texas Ornithological Society’s Bird Records Committee (www.texasbirds.org).
Birders venturing into area birding sites should be aware of the potential presence of Western Diamondback rattlesnakes and to dress appropriately and to use caution at all times. Also, caution must be exercised if driving the rural roads in South Texas from dusk to dawn due to the presence of deer grazing along the roadways. Headlights of oncoming vehicles can blind the animals and may cause them to dash in front of oncoming traffic.
Birding Sites
Laredo Community College (LCC) and City of Laredo river front habitat.
One of the most accessible and productive birding sites on the Laredo Birding Trail is located on the LCC campus, which was once a military post named Fort McIntosh, originally founded in 1849.
Access is gained from IH-35 by going west on Washington Street, over the railroad overpass to the LCC campus. Proceed straight through the traffic signal light at the entrance to the campus and follow the road as it meets and parallels the original Fort McIntosh rock wall. Convenient parking for the birding site is available at the first paved parking lot on the outside of the loop that encircles the campus.
On foot, follow the fort wall about 200 yards toward the Rio Grande until the first of several ponds will be seen on the outside and below the fort wall. These ponds are on City of Laredo property and were formed by gravel mining operations in the early 1900’s. During drought periods the ponds can be almost dry but with a flood on the river, they will overflow until they become a single large body of water. The best birding is when the water level is low enough to separate the three main ponds and expose gradually sloping banks and a gravel bar in the center pond.
Year-round, Great and Snowy egrets and Black-crowned and Yellow-crowned Night Herons can be found in the early morning hours at the first pond. The LCC campus is one of the most productive birdwatching sites. It is possible to come across the White Collared Seedeater, which is more often heard than seen.
Least Terns and their fledlings have been observed at the gravel bar island in ponds below the river vega where Black-necked Stilts and a variety of waterfowl and shore birds can also be found. Roseate Spoonbills have also been observed here as well as Ringed and Belted Kingfishers and Green Kingfishers.
Inca, Common Ground, Mourning and White-winged Dove can be found here and White-tipped Dove are often heard and occasionally seen. Couch’s and Western Kingbirds are readily found here most months except during the winter. Common Paurauque will sometimes flush from brushy areas along the trail and, during the night hours, can be heard calling.
The U.S. Geological Survey prepared a study dated April 1, 2000, which included the above site and other places in Laredo. The study was conducted from March through July 1999 and cites 150 species (17% were tropical and 15% were western species.
Paso del Indio Nature Trail at Lamar Bruni Vergara Environmental Science Center.
Watch for native sparrows, Pyrrhuloxia, Great Kiskadee, and Osprey over the river and White-collared Seedeaters as you proceed through the circular trail. The trail is approximately one and one-half miles long as it drops to the river.
Don't miss the Center's tropical gardens and ponds with varying sizes of alligators.
Laredo Independent School District – Central Office.
A flock of about fifty Green Parakeets roosts in the attic of the Research, Planning and Development Office at 1614 Houston Street The parakeets will predictably exit their roost about daybreak and return three to four hours before nightfall. They congregate in a Sugar Hackberry tree at the rear of the home and can be heard before they are seen. The birds also congregate in trees at the Superintendent's Office at 1604 Houston, usually in the afternoon. The parakeets are also attracted to an avocado tree in the backyard of a home at 1713 Houston Street, which now houses the Vidal M. Trevino School of Communications and Fine Arts.
Las Palmas Nature Trail and Zacate Creek.
The Nature Trail was established in 2001 under the guidance of the Rio Grande Environmental Studies Center with volunteer workers and assistance from the City of Laredo. These same groups maintain the trail annually as a part of the Dia del Rio environmental awareness week that encompasses the entire length of the Rio Grande from El Paso to Brownsville on both sides of the river.
Clay-colored Robins are found here during spring and summer. They were observed nesting in the Washingtonian palm forest that comprises the main portion of the trail in the spring of 2002. One Robin was fledged that year. This is the farthest north that this species has been known to successfully reproduce. Their nest was located almost directly above the campground of a longtime resident of the forest and even this distraction did not interfere with the successful nesting. Other nesting species found here include Audubon’s Orioles, White-tipped Dove, Green Jays, Great Kiskadees and Long-billed Thrashers. In addition to these commonly seen species will be an occasional White-collared Seedeater. Warblers are in abundance during migrations and solitary observations of a Burrowing Owl and a Black-billed Cuckoo have been noted.
The mouth of Zacate Creek designates the east end of the trail. This vantagepoint allows a good view of the river and waterfowl that may be present. Green Kingfishers nest in the creek. Ringed Kingfishers and the Belted Kingfisher also work this area.
Continue up the Zacate Creek along a deteriorating brick walkway to find Green-winged, Blue-winged and Cinnamon Teal along with a variety of other ducks and waterfowl during the winter months. The pools and constantly flowing stream also host White-faced Ibis, Green Herons and a variety of egrets. The creek can be productively walked for about one-half mile upstream.
The grassy slopes above and alongside the creek will yield a number of wintering native sparrows from fall through spring.
Amazingly, this wonderful native habitat begins beneath the always-busy International Bridge # 2 which is the terminus for IH-35. The bridge also provides nesting sites for Cliff and Cave Swallows.

Lake Casa Blanca State Park.
An area often overlooked by birders is along Casa Blanca Road below the dam. This road parallels a portion of Chacon Creek and dead-ends at several residences about three-quarters of a mile from the entry point. Limited parking is available along the shoulder of the pavement. The edge of the creek can be walked to search for Green Jays, native sparrows and migrating warblers.
Chacon Creek is the watershed that feeds the lake and then empties into the river several miles away. The mouth of Chacon Creek is also productive birding but is difficult to access and is very difficult to traverse.
The lake wetlands provide habitat for numerous wintering ducks and shorebirds as well as Osprey and American White Pelicans. Year-round species include Neotropic Cormorants, Tricolored Herons, all three kingfishers, Marsh Wrens, Crested Caracaras, Harris’s Hawks, Golden-fronted Woodpeckers, Olive Sparrows and Great and Snowy egrets. Franklin’s Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Least Terns and Forster’s Terns can also be found year-round. Other finds are Purple Galinule, Gull-billed Tern and White Ibis.
Birding Texas by Roland H. Wauer and Mark A. Elwonger provides an excellent overview for birding Lake Casa Blanca.
Texas A & M International University’s surrounding brush habitat.
The campus of TAMIU is located on the northeast side of Laredo adjacent to Loop 20 (Bob Bullock Loop).
Western Scrub Jays and Dark-eyed Juncos have been observed on campus during spring migration but the best birding is in the brush land that surrounds the campus. The best entry point into the brush is found by driving around the campus to the last parking lot. Park here and walk south along the perimeter of the intramural fields until reaching a calicle road that leads into the brush. Following this road will lead into several hundred acres of typical Tamaulipan scrub brush. Painted Buntings, Varied Buntings and Green Jays have been observed here. The caliche road can also be followed around the intramural fields while birding the adjacent brush.
Chaparral Wildlife Management Area on FM 133.
Painted Buntings nest in the WMA and are relatively abundant during the spring and summer. Other nesting species include Cooper’s and Harris’s Hawk, Black-crested Titmouse, Crested Caracara, Long-billed Thrasher, Curve-billed Thrasher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Olive Sparrow, Black-throated, Cassin’s and Lark Sparrows, as well as Audubon’s and Bullock’s Orioles. Green Jays can also be found at this site.
Inquires regarding possible birding during the September 1 – March 31 season should be directed to (830) 676-3413 or P. O. Box 115, Artesia Wells, Tx 78001.
East side Frontage Road adjacent to IH-35 going south from FM 133.
The road south to Laredo from FM 133 will pass by a large pond that is adjacent to a cattle feeding operation. Very little traffic will be encountered on this two-way access road that parallels IH-35, thus allowing opportunities to stop on the roadway shoulder and check for waterfowl on the pond and other birds in the surrounding grassland. Cattle Egrets are frequently moving with the grazing cattle as insects are stirred up; you may see the egrets perched on the backs of the cattle to feed on insects found there.
Harris’s Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks and Crested Caracaras can be found perched on the electric utility poles, fence poles and among the taller Mesquite trees. Northern Harriers and Red-shouldered Hawks are more likely to be encountered during the winter and spring months.
FM 1472 (Mines Road) north to the Canal Coal Mining Operation.
It is best to engage this birding route in the early morning hours as truck traffic begins to build throughout the workday due to numerous warehouses that process international freight to and from IH-35 and freight going to the international bridge located approximately fifteen miles farther up the Mines Road. Traffic is very light on weekends and U.S. or Mexican holidays.
Although the far end of this site is the most remote and least accessible in the Laredo Birding Trail, it holds the most potential for new discoveries. The tranquility of an area devoid of vehicles or humans allows great opportunity for birding by ear; a spotting scope would be a plus.
Birding is restricted to viewing from the roadway, except for City of Laredo property at the Laredo - Colombia Solidarity International Bridge entrance. Turn into the bridge entry and go about 200 yards to find a gravel road that leads to a blue water storage tank. Park at the blue tank and follow the gravel road to the banks of the river.
The area beyond the international bridge and on both sides of the river is composed largely of undisturbed Tampualipan scrub brush. Numerous creeks cross the roadway and each of these sites will yield unique birding opportunities. Stopping at any point along the roadway will usually offer an abundance of bird song.
Traffic becomes very light after passing the entrance to the bridge, thus allowing easier birding by using the adequate shoulder to park and observe the adjacent brush land.
Ponds are located roadside at approximately one mile, five miles and eight miles from the international bridge entry and are good places to stop and search the water, and adjacent brush, especially during the migrant and winter months. The end of the paved roadway is about fifteen miles from the international bridge entrance point.
After the pavement ends (approximately fifteen miles farther down the road), the remaining caliche roadway, almost to the small town of El Indio, is passable during dry weather. This stretch of the road leads past an active strip mining operation where the restored grassland of bufflegrass and KR Bluestem attracts a variety of birdlife.
Two studies by the U. S. Geological Survey were conducted on the 70,000 acre Galvan Ranch that is approximately 36 miles from Laredo, or about eight miles from the end of the pavement. The ranch borders both sides of the roadway and stretches from the Rio Grande to U.S. Highway 83 to the north. These studies provided excellent research into the varieties and quantities of species in this area.
The first study, “Breeding Bird Surveys at the Galvan Ranch, Webb County, Texas,” was published in September 1998. The second study followed in October 2000, and is entitled “Surveys of Night Birds Along the Rio Grande in Webb County, Texas.
A number of rare species were detected during the studies, including Red-billed Pigeon, White-collared Seedeater (both were regularly sighted), and infrequent sightings of Gray-crowned Yellowthroat, Masked Duck and Muscovy Duck. “Fourteen of the tropical species cited were at or beyond the known limits of their ranges.”
The research on night birds yielded Elf Owls, Least and Common Nighthawks, Common Poorwill, Common Paurauque, Whip-or-will as well as the familiar Great-horned Owl and Eastern Screech Owl.
Intermittent grasslands and the adjacent native brush serve to attract numerous Harris’s and Red-tailed Hawks year-round. American Kestrels, Northern Harriers and Loggerhead Shrikes are found during the fall, winter and spring months. A great variety of sparrows will be found during the winter months.
Stopping at intervals to listen and search the roadside and scrub brush will yield a variety of
songbirds year-round and migrants in the fall and spring.

Scenic Overlook and Picnic Area on Highway 83 to Zapata.
A hidden jewel, this scenic overlook and picnic area is located thirty-two miles south of Laredo on Highway 83. The elevated site overlooks the Rio Grande and allows a spectacular view into the riparian habitat that borders both sides of the river.
Green Jays can usually be found flying from tree to tree. This is good habitat for White-collared Seedeater, White-tipped Dove, and perhaps Red-billed Pigeon since they have been seen both upriver and downriver from this site. Black-throated Sparrow, Cassin's Sparrow and Bewick’s Wrens can be found year-round in the brushy area leading down to the ledge.
Laredoan Ron LaDuque is a founding member of the Laredo International Birding Associatiion. For a copy of his exhaustive assessment of birding opportunities in this area, please contact him at 727-2100.