Store and Community Nature Events
Scroll for the list of local tours, talks, and other events sponsored by us or organizations we collaborate with. Sharing the joy of birds and nature is at the core of Wild Birds Unlimited. Here at your locally owned WBU McAllen store, we're committed to helping our fellow Rio Grande Valley residents and visitors connect with the unique ecology and wildlife the Valley has to offer.
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Looking to Partner? Give us a call if you're interested in:
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— Check OUR FACEBOOK EVENTS PAGE for Last-Minute Changes & New Events —
BIRDING
Daily in Sept. and Oct.
Hawk Watches | Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Mission, TX | 9:00–11:00 a.m.
The fabulous Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park and World Birding Center in Mission, Texas, sits under converging hawk migration routes, and they have a fantastic two-story observation tower with accessible ramp for great views.
The park is a birding hotspot that's always worth a visit, but on September and October mornings (weather permitting), you can join park volunteers and naturalists to spot, identify, and count thousands of migrating raptors. See event details, including park fees and what to bring.
BIRDING
Saturday, October 31, 2026
Free* Guided Bird Walk | Bentsen–Rio Grande Valley State Park | 8:30–10:30 a.m.
Check Facebook event page for updates.
We have another great day of bird spotting and learning lined up for you! In the morning, we'll be meeting at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, where a ranger will be leading us on a FREE guided bird walk. This park is one of the Valley's top birding and wildlife hotspots, with over 350 birding species having been spotted there.
- PARK FEE: The guided walk itself is free, but there is a small park admission fee you must pay. See the park's website for fees.
- Meet at the visitor center.
- Some parts of the trail may be unpaved—wear suitable footwear.
- Bring water, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, etc.
- Don't forget your binoculars! If you're looking to buy or upgrade your binoculars, we carry some fantastic options for birders. Stop in to check them out! The park may also have some for rent.
- Location: Bentsen–Rio Grande Valley State Park, 2800 S. Bentsen Palm Drive (FM 2062), Mission, TX 78572
Then in the afternoon, the park superintendent, Thomas Forwood, will be joining us back in our store for a FREE nature talk—see below.
FREE TALK
Saturday, October 31 (Halloween)
"Bats of the RGV: Our Most Misunderstood Mammal" | In-Store | 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Check Facebook event page for updates.
Bats are some of our most fascinating and highly adapted animals here in the Valley, but tend to be misunderstood. Often demonized in stories and made to seem scary, the truth about bats is usually much more interesting—and sometimes even stranger than the fiction!
Come learn about our bat species in the RGV and what makes them special and beneficial!
ABOUT OUR EXPERT SPEAKER
Thomas Forwood is Superintendent at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, one of the Valley's top birding and wildlife hotspots. Originally from Pennsylvania, Tom fell in love with birds while working as an interpretive park ranger with Montana State Parks. He's been with Texas State Parks for the past several years, first in Big Bend and now here in the Valley, where he spends most of his free time birding and enjoying other naturalist pursuits, as well as also traveling for birding. Birds are Thomas' first passion, but as a park ranger in Montana, he worked at Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park, where bats were a big part of their education and outreach, and has brought his knowledge and enthusiasm for bats to South Texas.
COMMUNITY EVENT
Saturday, October 31 & Sunday, November 1
Weslaco Gone Wild | Valley Nature Center | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Get ready for a wild weekend at Weslaco's wonderful Valley Nature Center, filled with spooky fun, creepy creatures, and plenty of Halloween excitement for the whole family! Details on their Facebook page.
BIRDING
Saturday, November 7, 2026
Free Guided Bird Walk at Valley Nature Center | Weslaco, TX | 8:30–10:30 a.m.
Please join us on this free guided bird walk with our friends at the Valley Nature Center. Whether you're a regular visitor or this would be your first visit to this gem of park, we'd love to see you there. Beginners welcome!
- PARK FEE: The guided walk itself is free, but there is a small park admission fee you must pay. See the park's website for fees.
- Meet in the visitor center lobby.
- Please wear suitable footwear.
- Bring water, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, etc.
- Remember your binoculars (though we'll have a few to borrow). If you're looking to buy or upgrade your binoculars, we carry some fantastic options for birders. Stop in to check them out!
- Location: Valley Nature Center, 301 S. Border Ave., Weslaco, TX.
Then in the afternoon, join us back in our McAllen store for a great FREE nature talk at 2 p.m.—details below.
About Our Guides
The team at Wild Birds Unlimited is passionate and knowledgeable about the birds of the Rio Grande Valley. They love connecting people and nature through events like these.
FREE TALK
Saturday, November 7, 2026
"Reptiles of the RGV" | In-Store | 2–3 p.m.
Check Facebook event page for updates.
Get ready for a wild, up-close encounter with some of the amazing reptiles that call the Rio Grande Valley home! Meet live native reptiles while discovering what makes each one unique, from their incredible adaptations to the important roles they play in our local environment. You'll have the opportunity to see these animals up close and even touch some of our reptile ambassadors!
ABOUT OUR EXPERT SPEAKER
Franco Salinas is an educator and program planner at the Valley Nature Center in Weslaco, Texas. He develops hands-on educational programs that encourage children, families, and community members to explore and connect with the nature world around them. Through camps, field trips, outreach programs, and live-animal presentations, Franco enjoys making nature education fun, approachable, and memorable.
COMMUNITY EVENT
November 7–10
Texas Butterfly Festival | National Butterfly Center, Mission
It's the 30th annual Texas Butterfly Festival, with fantastic field trips, speakers, tours, and more. And don't miss the FREE Community Day on the 7th, with fun for the whole family—stop by our booth to say hi! See the festival page for details.
COMMUNITY EVENT
Saturday, November 7, 2026
Arbor Day Celebration | McAllen Municipal Park | 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Native birds need native trees, and Texas Arbor Day (first Friday in November) kicks off the best season for tree planting in Texas. Catch the spirit—and get free trees—at this great celebration, with fun for the whole family. Details on their Facebook page.
COMMUNITY EVENT
November 11–15, 2026
RGV Birding Festival | Harlingen
This is a fantastic annual festival for bird lovers of all ages, with guest speakers, field trips, a silent auction, a raptor show, FREE FAMILY AND KIDS' EVENTS, and more. Note that some of the fabulous field trips have fees and require pre-registration; they can fill up fast, so don't delay.
Come see us at the festival's BIRDERS' BAZAAR TRADE SHOW, which is FREE and open to the public at the Harlingen Convention Center. There'll be tons of items and info for bird and nature lovers. Stop by to say hi and pick up some product!
COMMUNITY EVENT
Saturday, November 14, 2026
Arbor Day Celebration | Edinburg | 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Native birds need native trees, and Texas Arbor Day (first Friday in November) kicks off the best season for tree planting in Texas. Catch the spirit—and adopt a tree—at this great celebration, with fun for the whole family. Check the City of Edinburg's event calendar for more info.
*Morning Event*
NATURE TALK + PLANT SALE
Saturday, November 21, 2026
"Creating a Stock Tank Dragonfly Pond" | In-Store | 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Why not add a beautiful stock-tank dragonfly pond to your yard? You'll learn how at this great talk.
Along with interesting facts about dragonflies and their life cycles, we'll learn how to choose the right stock tank and location, which plants to consider, and get a suggested materials list. We'll also hear pro tips on preparing the site, installing the pond, adding plants, and maintenance, plus our speaker will share photos of her own own lovely pond.
PLUS, stay after for a NATIVE PLANT SALE!
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Kristy Baker is a Texas Master Naturalist living in Harlingen. She spends her spare time in her native plant garden and around her stock-tank pond where she enjoys watching birds, butterflies, bees, and dragonflies. Originally from small-town Iowa where she spent much time outdoors, she became a Tennessee Naturalist while living there for many years, coming to be known as "the Bug Lady" by neighborhood kids due to her large native plant garden and landscaped yard which attracted various birds, butterflies and pollinators. Visit Kristy's website.
NATURE TALK
Saturday, November 21, 2026
"Creature Connections: Our Pets & Their Wild Native Counterparts" | In-Store | 2–3 p.m.
Meet and get hands on with fascinating animal ambassadors—including a Curly-hair Tarantula, Russian Tortoise, White's Tree Frogs, and chinchilla! Then our speaker will help us compare these pets with the wild native RGV species that share similar features, so we can explore the unique adaptations that help native species thrive, and learn why wild animals belong in the wild. We'll also discover simple ways to help protect local wildlife and the habitats they call home. Don't miss it!
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Samantha Sing is the Animal Educator and Artistic Director for Han and Friends, whose mission is to teach and inspire kindness and compassion towards animals. Originally from New York City, she volunteered at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center known as the Wild Bird Fund and worked in the Insectarium and Butterfly Vivarium at the American Museum of Natural History. Her favorite bird is the Rock Dove, but after moving to the Rio Grande Valley in August 2025, she quickly fell in love with the Grackles.
*Morning Event*
NATURE TALK
Saturday, December 5, 2026
"Stepping Outside: Nature and Society in Texas State Parks" | In-Store | 10:30–11:30 a.m.
The story of Texas State Parks is a compelling one, rich in environmental and cultural history. In this talk, Professor Jason Julian will share the story behind his new book, "Stepping Outside: Nature and Society in Texas State Parks," which is filled with captivating photographs and based on archival research, historical data, more than a hundred interviews, and visits to all 89 state parks.
Jason will be discussing biodiversity hotspots across Texas, the relationship between the parks and wildlife, the connections we share with birds and other wildlife, and the role birders play in state parks.
Afterward, he'll be signing copies of his book!
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Jason Julian is a professor of environmental geography at Texas State University, where he teaches courses on conservation, water resources, and global environmental change. A former Fulbright Senior Scholar, he travels globally and conducts research on nature-society relationships, with a particular interest in conservation. The goal of his work is to inform the public about connections among nature, society, and history.
NATURE TALK + PLANT SALE
Saturday, December 12, 2026
"Quintessential Valley Plants and the Birds that Love Them" | In-Store | 2–3 p.m.
We’re excited to welcome back well-known local native plant expert Anita Westervelt to share her knowledge about quintessential RGV plants! She's promising a fun presentation about Valley-specific flora and the native birds that rely on them.
PLUS, stay after for a NATIVE PLANT SALE!
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Anita Westervelt is a Texas Master Naturalist with more than 10,000 volunteer hours. She is a newspaper columnist for the McAllen Monitor with native nature articles the first and third Saturdays of the month. She is also the author of Anita’s Blog on the South Texas Border Chapter Texas Master Naturalist site. A retired U.S. Navy Chief Journalist and former Federal External Affairs Officer, she holds degrees in communication and fine art. She is a writer, photographer, photojournalist, native plant guide, moth enthusiast, and presentation and workshop leader.
Please check our Facebook Events page for the latest events and changes to events.
This website may not reflect the most up-to-date information.
We're busy coordinating with local experts on a whole slew of new nature talks in the coming weeks. Here's a preview (subject to change):
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Regular Community Tours & Events
Native Plant Tours
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Run by ethnobotanist Benito Treviño (featured by American Forests) and wife Toni.
- 621 W La Sagunada Rd., Rio Grande City, TX 78582
Birding Tours and Retreats
- Nature Ninja Birding Tours offers exceptional guided tours and all-inclusive birding retreats in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.
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Led by local birding whiz Tiffany Kersten, featured in Texas Monthly magazine.
Free Admission to Edinburg Scenic Wetlands
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Last Saturday and Sunday of each month
- A 40-acre wetlands oasis in the heart of Edinburg where you can spot birds, butterflies, and other wildlife.
- Part of the World Birding Center network.
- 714 Raul Longoria Rd, Edinburg, TX 78542
King Ranch Nature Tours
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Recognized as an Internationally Important Bird Area, the King Ranch offers guided bird watching and wildlife tours through their diverse South Texas habitats where nearly 400 species of birds have been recorded.
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Home to the U.S.' largest known population of Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls.
- Locations vary by tour.
For older events, please see our Past Events page.