Oh!mazing Ocelots

The Edinburg Scenic Wetlands and World Birding Center will host their monthly program: “Friday Night with a Naturalist” (FNWN) this Friday March 2, 2007. FNWN is a free, fun and educational family program held on the first Friday of each month. Seating starts at 5:30 p.m. and presentations begin at 6 p.m.

For this month’s topic, “Oh!mazing Ocelots”, EWBC has invited Stacy Sanchez, a park ranger from the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, to give an exciting presentation on the rare and beautiful “painted leopard” better known as the Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis).

“Today there is less than 100 ocelots left in the United States. The majority of them can be found in South Texas. Our goal here with the Fish and Wildlife Service is to protect and provide habitat for the breeding population of ocelots”, informs Sanchez.

This event is open to the public. Children are encourage to attend. Stacy will be bringing a collection of pelts and photos of this elusive creature and other South Texas wild cats for both viewing and discussion.

EWBC is located at 714 S. Raul Longoria (in the Edinburg Municipal Park) in Edinburg, Texas. For more information on this or other programs, call (956) 381-9922 or visit http://www.worldbirdingcenter.org/

Attention junior birders! Bring out your field guides and wipe off your binocular lenses because the 2007 Great Birding Classics Roughwing Youth Competition is on its way!

Designed and organized by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, this birding tournament was created to help teach youth about birds, bird habitat, and conservation.

Every year, the Edinburg World Birding Center (EWBC) sponsors a team of five young birders to join the Edinburg Eagle Eyes. Participants range from 13 years old or younger and is open to both new and experienced birders.

Member of the Edinburg Eagle Eyes will compete with other local Roughwing teams as each group will tract and record as many bird species they can. The team that identifies the most birds (by either sight or sound) wins the competition! Rewards and recognition are offered at the end of the competition.

Tournament Day will be held on April 21, 2007 from
8:00a.m. –9:00p.m.

If you would like more information on this tournament, please feel free to call the EWBC at (956)381-9922 . Or if you are interested in learning about birds please join the EWBC Kid’s Birding Club held every other Saturday from 3:30p.m. to 5:30p.m.