Saturday, February 17 is the date and Plaza Blas María Uribe is the site for San Ygnacio’s First Annual Feather Fest, a celebration of the unique avian species found in the historic Spanish colonial town 36 miles south of Laredo along U.S. Hwy. 83.
The event begins at noon with offerings of food, music, a cakewalk, games, Bingo, face painting, and a street dance. A Mardi Gras masquerade competition will confer awards for first, second, and third prizes.
Vendors are invited to set up booths and sell their wares in the plaza.
Long a favorite site for birders from across the country and from other countries, San Ygnacio is home to a treasure trove of birds that include, to name but a few, the White Collared Seedeater, Green jays, Vermillion Flycatchers, Muscovy Ducks, Long Billed Thrasher, Osprey, Grey Hawk, Golden Fronted Woodpecker, the Yellow Headed Blackbird, Least Grebe, and Red Shouldered Hawk.
The lush riparian habitat of the Río Grande at and near San Ygnacio, as well as ponds on area ranches, have been accessible to birders for the last six years during the annual Laredo Birding Festival hosted by the Río Grande International Study Center, Monte Mucho Audubon, and the City of Laredo Convention and Visitors Bureau.
For more information on participating in Feather Fest, call Olga Elizondo at (956) 489-1064; Rene Salinas at (956) 307-1207; or Ana Gutierrez at (956) 285-6418.
