Walk with a Naturalist

Each month seasonal aspects of nature will be shared with guests along the trails at Quinta Mazatlan.

Each moment of the year has its own beauty
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Our Next Guest Naturalist

Jesus Franco presents Gardening for Bats

Did you know bats are a sign of a green and healthy environment, so creating a garden that's good for bats will also be good for people! Learn more about these small and fascinating creatures, their role in nature, and how to create a bat haven with Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Jesus Franco. Program will take place Saturday morning, January 21, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. during the Walk with Naturalist program at Quinta Mazatlan, the McAllen Wing of the World Birding Center.

Texas is considered one of the “battiest” states in the country. It is home to 32 of the 45 bat species found in the United States. Yet bats are seldom seen, often misunderstood, and usually feared. Overcome your fears and gain insight about our nocturnal visitors by joining Jesus Franco on a guided walk through the Quinta Mazatlan Trails and Gardens. Learn how bats benefit our environment and how our gardens are an important source of food, water and shelter for them. Guests will also become familiar with night scented flowers, bat houses, and other garden elements that play a crucial role in securing a future for bats.

Franco is the borderlands Assistant Park Superintendent for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Jesus has conducted bat research in Texas, Arizona and Mexico, and has conducted numerous bat management, educational, and field programs for audiences from kindergarten children to wildlife biologists.

Walk with a Naturalist program takes place every 3rd Saturday of the month and features a new topic and guide every season. General admission rates apply $2 for adults and $1 for seniors and no advance registration is required.

Schedule

• October15 Through the Lens - Bird Walk with Jaime Villareal, McAllen Texas
• November 19 Lasting Natives with Marissa Latigo, Weslaco, Texas
• December 17 Winter Birds with Mary Thorne
• January21 Gardening for Batswith Jesus Franco McAllen, Texas
• February18 Reptiles and Amphibians of the Thornforest with Mayra Oyervides, local herpetologist
• March17 Spring Birds with John Yochum, Park Naturalist at Estero Llano Grande State Park
• April21 Spring Season