SOUTH TEXAS PRIVATE RANCHES March 5 - 9, 2011 $1,795     Deposit:  $500 Airport:  McAllen, Texas Note:  A shortened version of our popular Texas Birds photo tour, held in conjunction with the NANPA Summit (3/9-3/13).

If you've ever visited a location and wished you had time to set up blinds in the most productive areas, your prayers have been answered.  Because of its location and habitats, Texas is home to more species of birds than any other state in the union.  However, only 2% of the state's land is not in private hands.  In South Texas, where a tempting kaleidoscope of tropical species fraternize with their northern cousins, photographers have been limited to a few tiny parcels of public land along the Rio Grande River.

The Texas Valley Land Fund Photo Contest opened up some fabulous habitat, but photographers who didn't have months to devote to the contest were still out of luck-- until now.  A group of ranches in the heart of the tropical/temperate interface have opened up their gates to photographers.  Not only have the ranchers constructed permanent blinds at the best sites, they have also built photogenic water holes and feeding stations to attract the wildlife.

Birds are the big attraction in this part of the country for good reason.  Many people come specifically for the tropical species--green jays, altamira orioles, vermilion flycatchers, chachalacas, green kingfishers and crested caracaras--but some of the U.S. species can also make exciting subjects.  Cardinals are always a favorite, and are usually the most common species around.  Pyrrhuloxias (the other cardinal), thrashers, various woodpeckers and raptors help spice things up. Birds may be the big draw, but you never know what will come to the water holes.  White-tailed deer, javelina and rabbits are common, and even bobcats are seen with some regularity from the blinds.  The potential for adding lots of species to your files and capturing some rarely seen behavior is extraordinary, thanks to the efforts of these ranchers.

We'll be spending time at several different ranches to let us experience a wide variety of habitats and species.  Each ranch has several blinds on their property.  We invite you to join us for some unparalleled photographic opportunities and legendary South Texas hospitality.