Would you like a sound track of cicadas singing in the forest? The cicada concert is happening now in the Thornforest at Quinta Mazatlán. The high-pitched song of the insect is a mating call belted out by males. The females do not sing but respond by flicking their wings together. The noise can be heard up to a half-mile away, which makes the cicadas, pronounced suh-KEI-duh, one of the loudest insects in the world.
By Colleen Hook, Executive Director at Quinta Mazatlán
The best cactus hotel in the world is right in our backyard, the Prickly Pear Hotel. This hotel offers everything from food, water, shelter, medicines and beautiful South Texas landscapes.
So what is there to eat at the Prickly Pear Hotel? Everything, but carefully! The Prickly Pear cactus obviously gets its name from its sharp spines. The cactus is thought to have originated from Mexico and South America and has the ability to grow where there is little water.
By Colleen Hook, Executive Director at Quinta Mazatlan
A small shy wildcat called the Jaguarundi is on the endangered species list in Texas. It shares many characteristics with the Ocelot but is not as well known due to its lack of spots, which make for more charismatic wild cats. Texas is home to six wildcats that either currently or historically call Texas home. Two presently roam the state, the Mountain Lion and the Bobcat. The other four are residents of the Tamaulipan Thornforest and on the endangered species list in the United States; Ocelot, Margay, Jaguar and Jaguarundi.
Center for Urban Ecology, Quinta Mazatlan
Every spring and summer, nature centers and wildlife refuges receive countless phone calls asking the same question: What do I do with the baby bird I found?
The most important thing to do is be patient and assess the situation. The unfortunate truth is that many baby birds are inadvertently kidnapped from their parents simply because a concerned person sprang into action too quickly, thinking they were coming to the rescue. Before taking any action, there are two questions to answer: Is the bird hurt? How old is the bird?
By Colleen Hook, Executive Director at Quinta Mazatlan
The mornings in the Thornforest now belong to the White-winged Doves cooing “Who cooks for YOU…Who cooks for YOU”. Breeding season has begun for this dove and will continue through summer. The male and female construct their platform nest of loose twigs. In the Rio Grande Valley they prefer ebony, mesquite and prickly pear habitat. The female usually lays 2 smooth off-white, one inch oval eggs, and both parents incubate the eggs. Both parents also care for and feed the young, which are called “squabs’. Unlike most other birds, doves of both sexes produce a “crop milk” as a food source for their squabs. White-winged Doves are nearly 100% vegetarian.
The McAllen Parks & Recreation Department has published the new Summer 2020 Activity Guide. The programs featured are in a weekly summer camp format at each of the three City of McAllen Community Centers- Lark, PalmView, and Las Palmas.
Read more: McAllen Parks & Recreation Opens Summer 2020 Program Registration
By Colleen Curran Hook, Executive Director at Quinta Mazatlan
Along with our friendly pride, we have various symbols that officially represent Texas. Today we are recognizing our native shrub, the Texas Purple Sage. When it rains in the Valley, you will notice this shrub as the purple flowers dominate the plant. The old timers in Texas called it the Barometer Bush as it has a habit of blooming right before a good rain. The native plant has been featured in many a Texas Tile like the famous western novel, “Riders of the Purple Sage”.
