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 —
FREE TALK
Saturday, August 29th
"How YOU Can Become a Texas Master Naturalist!" | In-Store | 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Check Facebook event page for updates.
Are you passionate about the Rio Grande Valley's unique birds, butterflies, insects, and plants? If so, this presentation is for you!
Come learn about the Texas Master Naturalist Program, which will help you build your knowledge, learn how to educate others, and become an advocate for the RGV's special ecosystem and wildlife.
ABOUT OUR EXPERT SPEAKER
As President of the South Texas Border Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist (TMN) Program, Velma H. Schmidt channels both a love for the natural world with a desire to be of service to others. A Certified Texas Master Naturalist herself and an Edinburg native, Velma has a special place in her heart for the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands and World Birding Center, where she often volunteers to help with educational programming and nature events. In addition to her TMN outreach and service, Velma works professionally as a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, and the owner of RGV Play Therapy Center, and is a passionate advocate for helping children and adults through play and interaction with the natural world.
FREE TALK
Saturday, September 5th
"Watershed Management in the RGV" | In-Store | 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Check Facebook event page for updates.
Please join us for a fascinating discussion about our local RGV watershed (land that drains into a common waterway), the plans and progress being made to help protect it, and how YOU can be a good watershed steward!
There'll also be hands-on models to explore rainfall, soil, and how the watershed works.
ABOUT OUR EXPERT SPEAKER
Through her work at the Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI), Samantha Colunga helps advance the Arroyo Colorado Watershed Protection Plan (WPP) in South Texas. With a Master of Science in Agricultural, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences from UTRGV, Samantha has a research background in soil carbon sequestration, semi-arid climates, sandy soils, conservation agriculture, soil health, and reforestation, and has worked as a soil scientist assisting with wetland determinations and playa restoration projects for groundwater recharge.
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.
FREE TALK
Saturday, September 12th
"Hummingbird Migration in the RGV" | In-Store | 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Check Facebook event page for updates.
It's finally time: migration of the popular and iconic Ruby-throated Hummingbird is reaching its peak in the Rio Grande Valley! But did you know we get three other regular species of hummingbirds, too?
Come celebrate these gorgeous birds by learning about their amazing brains and bodies, which species to expect (and when), plus how to attract them to your yard!
ABOUT WBU STAFF SPEAKERS
Wild Birds Unlimited McAllen is locally owned, operated, and staffed by Valley bird lovers, just like you! Staff are WBU Certified Birdfeeding Specialists,™ trained to show you how to turn your yard into a bird feeding habitat that not only brings song, color and life to your home, but also benefits the wild birds and the environment in the Valley.
COMMUNITY EVENT
September 12–20
Latino Conservation Week | latinoconservationweek.com
Latino Conservation Week is Sept 12–20, 2026. An initiative of the Hispanic Access Foundation, it was created to encourage the Latino community to get outdoors, show support for protecting our land, water, and air, and participate in local conservation efforts. And all of this, of course, helps our beloved RGV birds!
To learn more or find events near you, visit their website.
FREE TALK
Saturday, September 19th
"Rare Plants of the RGV" | In-Store | 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Check Facebook event page for updates.
Did you know several thousand species of plants are found in the Lower Rio Grande Valley?! Many are hard to find, while some are quickly disappearing due to habitat destruction and climate change.
Please join us for this free talk by Eric Luebanos, where he'll share his knowledge of the RGV's rare plants and even bring some of his favorites in for you to see. These plants are yet another reason why our region is so special—don't miss them!
ABOUT OUR EXPERT SPEAKER
Eric Luebanos is a Texas Master Naturalist and a plant enthusiast extraordinaire, with an emphasis on rare RGV native plants. He's a member of the Native Plant Project, the RGV Orchid Society, and RGV Garden Club, and also holds a certification in nativescape design through the RGV Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas. His focus on rare natives began as a collector and evolved to a conservation approach.
COMMUNITY EVENT
Saturday, September 19
Latino Conservation Festival: ¡Viva la Naturaleza! | Alamo, TX | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Don't miss this wonderful FREE family-focused event with kayaking sessions, a gator talk, painting sessions, kids’ nature activities, vendors, conservation booths, live entertainment, and more!
The festival is part of Latino Conservation Week, Sept 12–20, 2026. More info above.
- Location: Santa Ana & Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuges, 3325 Green Jay Rd, Alamo, TX
FREE TALK
Saturday, September 26th
"Birds in Focus: Bird and Nature Photography for Beginners" | In-Store | 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Check Facebook event page for updates.
Learn to spot, identify, and capture stunning images of RGV birds in this free talk by a local award-winning nature photographer!
This will be a totally beginner-friendly introduction to photography basics, as well as local birding using helpful tools like the free smartphone apps Merlin and Seek.
ABOUT OUR EXPERT SPEAKER
Alejandro "Alex" Maldonado is a Texas Master Naturalist and award-winning nature photographer. He's also a professional science teacher at Ramiro Barrera Middle School. Check out his amazing photography on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fourpointadventures
COMMUNITY EVENT
Saturday, September 26th
Bentsen Outdoor Skills Showcase BOSS 2026 | Mission
Don't miss this great opportunity for the whole family! The FREE Bentsen Outdoor Skills Showcase or B.O.S.S. event is focused on providing local families and beginners with the competency and expertise to master the outdoors. Activities will include:
- Tent setup
- Orienteering/navigation
- Campfire builds
- Knot tying
- Fish print
For details, visit their website or Facebook event page.
FREE TALK
Saturday, October 3
"Pollinators of Managed Habitats in the RGV" | In-Store | 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Check Facebook event page for updates.
Come for an up-close look at some of the vast diversity of bees, wasps, and flies sampled here in the Valley by Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge staff and volunteers. But never fear, these are pinned insect specimens (museum-curated)—so no worries about bites or stings!
We'll be learning about the value of these important pollinators and the habitats where they were found: replanted thornforest, restored coastal prairie, and protected old growth forested sites on refuges here in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The talk will also include a Q&A with our expert biologist!
ABOUT OUR EXPERT SPEAKER
Mitch Sternberg has been a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Fish and Game Service (USFWS) since 1998. His office is located in Alamo, Texas, at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. Mitch has focused on documenting species of pollinators on national refuges since 2023. He enjoys science, especially applied science, that can guide habitat management to protect and restore wild places and maintain the wonderful wildlife diversity of the Rio Grande Valley.
COMMUNITY EVENT
Saturday, October 17
Rio Reforestation | Pharr | 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Please join the WBU McAllen team at this phenomenal local event to help bring life back to our beautiful South Texas thornforest! We'll be joining hundreds of other local volunteers to help plant 10,000 native tree seedlings, as part of the local American Forests team's 32nd annual Rio Reforestation Event. It’s an unforgettable experience—seeing the power of community in action and restoring a critical ecosystem, one tree at a time. There will also be educational information on native habitats, promotional items, food/drinks, and interaction with our conservation partners in the RGV. We can’t wait to get our hands dirty with you that morning—let’s grow something great together!
- Location: Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge's Milagro Tract, Pharr (use address: 904 W Doffin Rd, Pharr, TX 78577)
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
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!
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.