Rio Grande Delta

South Padre Island Nature Trail & Board Walk

2009-09-01T11:22:00.001-05:00

For the last 15 years I've spent hundreds of hours walking the wooden planks of our boardwalk. I have both sat at the end and marveled at a sunset over the Laguna Madre, watching as the Skimmers glide silently across the waters into the fading light. I've stood in the glory of hundreds of birds preening at sunrise, beginning their daily rituals before rushing around in search of food. I've known our alligator for the same 15 years, I've seen her valiantly protect a nest of unfertilized eggs, only to never be rewarded with a clutch of her own. I've seen her slowly lose her sight. I've spent cold, raining, freezing days hunkered down watching as the brave little warblers hop from tree to tree, gathering what little food they can before starting their long journey south across the Gulf of Mexico. I've spent scortching hot, windy, mosquito ridden days silently awed as freshly hatched Plover and Rail chicks dart through the succulents, their parents always keeping a watchful eye for predators. I've even seen snow lining the railing. I've been stopped by police officers at two in the morning wondering why on earth I'd be out looking for and listening to the various frogs and toads which grace our little island with song after summer showers. I've known and seen such wonderful things on our South Padre Island Nature Trail & Board Walk. I've met such a wide variety of people, from so many corners of the world, many who remain life-long friends, mentors, and colleagues. I grew up on the Island, I grew up on the boardwalk at the convention center.

Now it is being taken away from us? Now we must pay admission fees? How is this fair or even beneficial to the Island? How many visitors to the convention center, waiting, bored, etc are inspired by nature simply because they happened to wander over and onto this beautiful little boardwalk? Now there will be a ramp, but a ramp blocked by a gate? Is this really happening?

What about those, like me, who love to walk the boardwalk in the pre-dawn light--must we now wait till 8am when the birding center opens? How about enjoying a sunset, are we simply no longer allowed? How about Holidays, or times the birding center might be closed for whatever reason? I understand the Birding Center faces monstrous financial hurdles, but is this really the way to combat them? How about donation boxes, guided, informative, walks, how about something that doesn't offended those who have known and loved the boardwalk as it is for so long.

It is not that I really mind paying for a yearly pass or something similar, I do that with many, many wildlife refuges, sanctuaries, and parks. What I do mind is that something that has been free and open is now suddenly being taken from us. No longer will I be able to run from a warbler hopping around the Warbler Rest Stop to see a Purple Gallinule rooting around in the shallows off the board walk. Now I will have a blockade, separating the two.

I understand the convention center, in conceding to this plan, saves money by letting the Birding Center maintain the existing structures--but it is so insulting to all those who have known and loved this area for so very long.

I for one will fight this, I personally think the Board Walk, including the new sections, should be free and open to all. I feel that if the Birding Center can offer enough interesting exhibits, educational programs, and smart gift shop items, that they will draw in plenty of people who will support the free-for-all boardwalk. I think they will even get many who wander over from the convention center, people who would not visited otherwise. IF this can't happen, at least separate the two.

I hope there are people out there who agree with me. I will become more vocal in the days to come.

Cocoa Damselfish

2009-08-31T17:17:00.002-05:00

The jetties on South Padre Island act as a nursery for many tropical species during our warm summer months.

flickr

2009-04-27T16:44:00.002-05:00

I've finally setup a gallery, visit my flickr here!

http://flickr.com/spatterd/

Star Trails

2009-01-24T01:34:00.003-06:00

The stars have really been shining through recently. This is a 5 hour exposure of the night sky from 12:45am to 5:45am near Rio Grande City.

Wall of Shame

2009-01-20T03:00:00.000-06:00

the WALL - continued

2009-01-16T15:12:00.000-06:00

Backyard Border

2009-01-14T19:04:00.002-06:00

Took a stroll through the backyard with my dad this evening, the property line ends right at the river.

the WALL

2009-01-12T02:55:00.003-06:00

Azúcar Caliente

2009-01-12T02:52:00.001-06:00

Misty River

2009-01-12T02:44:00.002-06:00

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night...

2008-12-25T23:19:00.003-06:00

Pitter-Patter of the Caterpillar

2008-11-13T13:54:00.004-06:00

With the Valley so green it's a great time for caterpillars, here are a few I've photographed the last few days.

Gulf Fritillary

Rustic Sphinx?

Julia Heliconian

Harris Hawks

2008-11-04T12:18:00.002-06:00

I recently found a nest of Harris Hawks and have been working them for a few mornings now. Here is a shot from today.

Zoinks!

2008-11-03T23:20:00.005-06:00

As if that last post didn't have enough images, here are some random shots I've taken recently as well.

A Breath of Fresh Air

2008-11-03T23:04:00.003-06:00

Finally have gotten a chance to pull my nose from the computer screen and breath deeply the crisp cool air we've been blessed with these last few weeks. Some shots from today.

To Kill Yah!

2008-10-16T20:30:00.002-05:00

Well it's that time of year again at the Gorgas Science Foundation, we're having our 2nd annual tasting. Last year we had Whiskey, this year it's Tequila and like last year, the tasting is the opening for one of our exhibitions: Viva La Revolución! Of course this means lots of work and I've been busy doing graphics design for various invitations, posters, etc... so no photography. But, here is an Ad I just did for the tasting, hope to see you there!

Not-So-Ruby Throated

2008-10-02T21:27:00.002-05:00

Young Ruby Throated male making its way South for the winter.

Crossing Starr County

2008-09-26T17:29:00.004-05:00

I accompanied Dr. Paull, Dr. Wilson, and students on a field trip across Starr County yesterday. While it was officially a "Geology" and "Cultural Geography" trip, I think the focus leaned more heavily on apertures and focal lengths. The Doctors are both shutter bugs and well, you know me, so it was a fun trip.

We started out at the Los Ebanos Ferry, which is the last hand-drawn ferry on the Rio Grande, and then moved west to the Santa Cruz Cross in Rio Grande City. After lunch at Caro's we continued westward to Roma, first at the bluffs and then town square. While it was a lazy day in Roma, Mexico was quick to scramble a helicopter after seeing our group aiming big lenses on tripods at the city of Miguel Aleman. They circled several times as Dr. Paull obliviously framed his shots, luckily no confrontations were had.

From Roma we continued upriver to the Santa Margarita Ranch for its stunning view and on to Salineno for the cool shade and river access.

For now here is one picture I took of the Ferry, more to come later (maybe!).

Creepy Crawly Valley

2008-09-19T12:23:00.002-05:00

Sunset on the Bahia

2008-09-14T17:35:00.002-05:00

Ike-a-rumba!

2008-09-14T16:29:00.004-05:00

Hurricane Ike swept across the gulf this weekend making landfall along the upper coast of Texas. Remarkably little impact was felt here in the Valley, little to no rain and insignificant winds. The one thing that we did get was storm surge, which in its own respect was very impressive. Several people found their vehicles stranded on the beach Thursday night as Ike pushed the gulf waters right up to them. By Friday morning the Gulf was flowing freely across the North end of the Island and into the bay at all of our "beach access points." It really makes you appreciate a continuous line of sand dunes, keeping the inner island--our homes--safe from the rising waters.

Of course, with heavy surf, comes surfers!

Birds, Butterflies, and Bulls

2008-09-01T14:19:00.002-05:00

Ran up to the Western end of the Valley this weekend to photograph the only (blood-less) Bull Fighting ring in the states. On the way I shot some flutter-bys and some birdies too... here are a few shots, I'll (hopefully) post more later.

Jabiru

2008-08-21T23:12:00.002-05:00

I'm sure by now everyone is aware of the dinosaur roaming through the still-flooded fields outside of Raymondville, here are some photographs I took earlier today.

I Toad You!

2008-07-26T19:26:00.002-05:00

Well, Hurricane Dolly has come and gone and left plenty of destruction in her path, some of which I've photographed and will post at a later date. For now, here are a couple shots from last night.

Mexican Burrowing Toad

Sheep Frog

Some little Scarab Beetle floating on a log in the pond.

Outer Bands

2008-07-23T00:16:00.002-05:00

Got some okay shots today, but after 10am or so the sky went gray and the light was bland so I went boogie boarding with my aunt! For sunset I rushed out to the beach to try and catch some shots of the first major bands from Hurricane Dolly moving in.