✨ 🎀 Day Five of the Twelve Days of Bird-mas! 🎀✨ Northern Cardinals and Pyrrhuloxias share a loud, metallic chip call, though the Pyrrhuloxia’s version is slightly lower in pitch. Cardinals may be more common, but stay alert—you might just spot (or hear!) a Pyrrhuloxia. 🐦 Happy birding, from the RGV's friendly backyard bird feeding specialists! 💛 🐦 #wbumcallen #rgvbirds #backyardbirding #mcallentexas #riograndevalley #Riograndevalleytexas

✨🎄Day Four of the Twelve Days of Bird-mas! 🎄✨ The Great Kiskadee has a big personality - and an appetite to match! Did you know their diet is widely varied? They go after anything from insects, snails, tadpoles, lizards, small snakes, bats and fruit! Give them a gift of something new to try - Bark Butter! 🎁 Happy birding, from the RGV's friendly backyard bird feeding specialists! 💛🐦 #wbumcallen #rgvbirds #backyardbirding #mcallentexas #riograndevalley #Riograndevalleytexas

🎄🐦 Day Three of the Twelve Days of Bird-mas! 🐦🎄 Altamira Orioles are master weavers, crafting long, hanging nests that sway from tall trees—and sometimes even powerlines. Watch for them during the summer breeding season! 🧡 Happy birding, from the RGV's friendly backyard bird feeding specialists! 💚 🐦 #wbumcallen #rgvbirds #backyardbirding #mcallentexas #riograndevalley #Riograndevalleytexas

The 126th Audubon Christmas Bird Count is almost here! From Dec 14–Jan 5, birders across the RGV will team up to help collect valuable data for bird conservation—and everyone, beginners included, is welcome to join. 🐦🌲 This is a fun, meaningful way to learn about our local birds and support a century-old citizen-science tradition. Join a team, count from your backyard, or help spread the word! 🦆✨ Individuals may also submit counts from their own yards if located within a designated circle. Contact the relevant team for confirmation and materials. Check whether your location falls inside a count circle here: https://gis.audubon.org/christmasbirdcount/ Learn more here https://www.audubon.org/conservation/join-christmas-bird-count Local Count Dates & Contacts: Dec 14 – Brownsville Contact: karl.berg@utrgv.edu Dec 16 – Coastal Tip Contact: naturalist@spibirding.com Dec 20 – Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge Contact: swmurray@outlook.com Dec 21 – Falcon Dam & State Park Contact: idratherbebirding@gmail.com Dec 26 – Weslaco Contact: john.yochum@tpwd.texas.gov Dec 29 – Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge Contact: txlacbc@flanwr.org Jan 3, 2026 – Harlingen Contact: hgtxcbc@gmail.com Jan 3, 2026 – Anzalduas–Bentsen Contact: roy.rodriguez@tpwd.texas.gov Count Circle Coverage Brownsville Circle: Resaca de la Palma State Park, Palo Alto Battlefield NHP, Rancho Viejo, and southeast to the Rio Grande. Coastal Tip Circle: Laguna Vista, Laguna Heights, Port Isabel, South Padre Island, and south to the Rio Grande. Santa Ana NWR Circle: McAllen, Hidalgo, Sharyland, Pharr, San Juan, and Alamo. Weslaco Circle: Donna, Mercedes, La Feria, and south to Progreso. Happy birding, from the RGV's friendly backyard bird feeding specialists! 💛🐦 #wbumcallen #rgvbirds #backyardbirding #mcallentexas #riograndevalley #Riograndevalleytexas

Calling all COFFEE LOVERS! ☕ Do you know if the coffee in YOUR cup is BIRD-FRIENDLY?🤔 You may not realize it, but your coffee can have an impact on bird populations. When you CHOOSE SHADE-GROWN COFFEES, you help preserve native forests that birds depend on for survival.🌴 🌳 🌲 You should also be sure the "shade-grown" claim is certified, like for the THANKSGIVING COFFEE we carry. This award-winning, family-owned roaster's SongBird line is not only delicious, but has earned the Smithsonian Bird Friendly® seal, so you can feel good about that cup of joe! Learn more: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/migratory-birds/ecological-benefits-shade-grown-coffee (clickable link in our bio's link tree) 🗓️ We'll be sampling this coffee ☕ SATURDAY before our FREE guided bird walk—please join us! (Small park entrance fee applies.) Details at https://mcallen.wbu.com/events This is one of the 7 SIMPLE ACTIONS you can take to help #savethesongbirds. With breeding bird populations in the US and Canada down by nearly 30% since 1970, our choices are important. Learn more: https://www.wbu.com/save-the-song-birds/ Happy birding, from the RGV's friendly backyard bird feeding experts! ❤️🐦 #wbumcallen #rgvbirds #backyardbirding #mcallentexas #riograndevalley #Riograndevalleytexas #birding #birds #shoplocal #supportsmallbusinessowners #nativeplants #gardening #uniquechristmasgifts

🕊🌟Day Two of the Twelve Days of Bird-mas! 🌟🕊 Who knew this bird's call already?❓Extra points to you!❕ Happy birding, from the RGV's friendly backyard bird feeding specialists! 💛🐦 #wbumcallen #rgvbirds #backyardbirding #mcallentexas #riograndevalley #Riograndevalleytexas

ZEISS Holiday Savings

With a compact, lightweight, and rugged design, the ZEISS Terra ED Binocular is the perfect companion for birding on-the-go! For a limited time, shop now at Wild Birds Unlimited for $100 off ZEISS Terra ED Binoculars! Happy birding, from the RGV's friendly backyard bird feeding experts! ❤️🐦 #wbumcallen #rgvbirds #BackyardBirding #mcallentexas #riograndevalley #Riograndevalleytexas #birding #birds #ShopLocal #supportsmallbusinessowners #nativeplants #gardening #ZEISS #ZEISSNature #birdwatching

🎄🕊 The 12 Days of Bird-mas begins tomorrow! 🕊🎄 Get ready! Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing fun and unique gift ideas inspired by our beloved Rio Grande Valley specialty birds. 🐦✨ Keep your eyes peeled — you won’t want to miss these festive finds! 🎁💚 Happy birding, from the RGV's friendly backyard bird feeding specialists! 💛🐦 #wbumcallen #rgvbirds #backyardbirding #mcallentexas #riograndevalley #Riograndevalleytexas

Take some stress🤯 out of the busy holiday season by making a little time to watch the birds and connect with nature. We've got several FREE GUIDED BIRD WALKS and NATURE TALKS lined up this month to help you do just that. 🦜 🦆 🦅 🦉👀🎤 🌐 Learn more at www.facebook.com/wbumcallen/events and mcallen.wbu.com/events And you can help your loved ones connect with nature—and take some stress off your wallet—by taking advantage of our 📣📣 25% OFF EVENT* 📣📣 going on through Dec. 1st. 🎁 (Some terms and exclusions apply—see our website. https://mcallen.wbu.com) Happy birding, from the RGV's friendly backyard bird feeding experts! ❤️🐦 #wbumcallen #rgvbirds #backyardbirding #mcallentexas #riograndevalley #Riograndevalleytexas #birding #birds #shoplocal #supportsmallbusinessowners #nativeplants #gardening #uniquechristmasgifts #blackfriday

Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃 We're thankful for YOU, our great customers! We love hearing about the birds you've spotted and all you're doing for our amazing Rio Grande Valley birds. Thanks so much for supporting our small business! 💛 Why not impress folks today with some TEXAS TURKEY FACTS? 🦃 🤓 Check out this great article from The National Wild Turkey Federation on the history and conservation efforts for the RIO GRANDE WILD TURKEY subspecies (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia): https://bit.ly/47tBgcB And don't forget: our ‼️ FILL-A-BAG EVENT‼️ starts tomorrow for Black Friday savings ALL WEEKEND! It's a great time to get a jump start on your holiday shopping or to stock up, with ‼️25% OFF‼️ everything you can fit in one of our free, reusable bags! (Conditions and exclusions apply—see our website.) https://mcallen.wbu.com Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday, from the RGV's friendly backyard bird feeding experts! ❤️🐦 Featured Birds: Rio Grande Wild Turkey #wbumcallen #rgvbirds #backyardbirding #mcallentexas #riograndevalley #Riograndevalleytexas #birding #birds #shoplocal #supportsmallbusinessowners #nativeplants #gardening

✨ Our Fill-A-Bag Promotion Starts Tomorrow! ✨ From tomorrow through Monday, enjoy 25% off every regularly priced item you can fit into our adorable recycled shopping bag! 🛍️💚 Exclusions: binoculars, smart feeders & accessories, and purple martin systems. Pack your favorites, fill your bag, and save big—while supplies last! 🌿💸 Happy birding, from the RGV's friendly backyard bird feeding specialists! 💛🐦 #wbumcallen #rgvbirds #BackyardBirding #mcallentexas #RioGrandeValley #Riograndevalleytexas

Another Saturday well spent! 🌿🌳 We enjoyed a beautiful walk at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife with superintendent (and expert guide!) Tom Forwood. Highlights included Altamira Orioles, Green Jays, Ringed, Belted, and Green Kingfishers, Rio Grande Wild Turkeys, a Gray Hawk, plus some handsome Blue Spiny Lizards! 🦃🦎 In the afternoon, Tom treated us to a fascinating talk on several of our local birds in their summer habitat—from Lincoln’s Sparrows to American Pipits and more. What a day! 🌞 Happy birding, from the RGV's friendly backyard bird feeding specialists! 💛🐦 #wbumcallen #rgvbirds #BackyardBirding #mcallentexas #riograndevalley #Riograndevalleytexas

One of the easiest ways to start getting involved in bird conservation is to simply WATCH BIRDS, either in your backyard or in one of the many fantastic birding reserves we have here in the Rio Grande Valley. 👀 🐦‍⬛ 🦜 🦆 🦅 🦉 Better yet, share your love of bird watching with others, especially younger generations. When we're more aware of the creatures around us, we care more and do more to protect them! 🗓️ Why not join us on one of our GUIDED BIRD WALKS? The next one is Dec. 6th in Weslaco. Beginners are welcome! We'll also have an in-store nature talk that afternoon. 🌐 Details at www.facebook.com/wbumcallen/events and mcallen.wbu.com/events Watching birds is one of the 7 SIMPLE ACTIONS you can take to help #savethesongbirds. Learn more: https://www.wbu.com/save-the-song-birds/ Happy birding, from the RGV's friendly backyard bird feeding experts! ❤️🐦 #SaveTheSongBirds #wbumcallen #rgvbirds #backyardbirding #mcallentexas #riograndevalley #Riograndevalleytexas #birding #birds #shoplocal #supportsmallbusinessowners #nativeplants #gardening

OK, POP QUIZ for all the bird nerds! 🤓 ❓ What's an IRRUPTION? ❓ And do you know why experts are predicting the best winter FINCH IRRUPTION in five years?! Don't worry, we aren't suddenly going to be seeing fountains of molten birds—it's not that kind of eruption. 🐦🌋🙃 An irruption is a sudden forced migration of animals, often due to food-supply fluctuations. This winter, slim pickings in Canadian forests are likely to drive finches elsewhere in search of food. It remains to be seen if we'll get more finches this far south in the Valley, but we could get "lucky" (though not so much from the birds' POV)! Either way, it's a fascinating phenomenon! To learn more, listen in on the latest #NatureCentered Podcast . 🎙️ 🎧 Tune in wherever you get your podcasts or on our website: https://mcallen.wbu.com/nature-centered-onewbu For an even deeper dive, check out the The Finchmasters - Finch Research Network Winter Finch Forecast: https://finchnetwork.org/winter-finch-forecast-2025-2026 Happy birding, from the RGV's friendly backyard bird feeding experts! ❤️🐦 #NatureCentered #wbumcallen #rgvbirds #backyardbirding #mcallentexas #riograndevalley #Riograndevalleytexas #birding #birds #shoplocal #supportsmallbusinessowners #nativeplants #gardening

🌿 We’re still not done talking about the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival! We had the pleasure of meeting Juanita, Norma, and Henry from the Instituto Hondureño de Turismo. What a wonderful crew representing Honduras — and highlighting the incredible and unique bird species found there.🦜🌴We’d love to visit one day! We were also thrilled to donate one of our Eliminator™ Squirrel Proof Feeders for them to place in one of their beautiful parks. ✨ https://order.wbu.com/mcallen/bird-feeders/squirrel-proof-feeders/eliminator-squirrel-proof-feeder The second photo also features two of the talented RGVBF guides — Kelly Smith American Birding Association and Brooke Ross Nature Ninja Birding Tours. It’s one of our favorite things about this festival — how it brings together passionate people from all over the world who share a love for birds and nature. 💚 Happy birding, from the RGV's friendly backyard bird feeding specialists! 💛🐦 #wbumcallen #rgvbirds #BackyardBirding #mcallentexas #riograndevalley #Riograndevalleytexas

Throwback Thursday! The first week of November is always one of the biggest for the Rio Grande Valley birding community — it’s Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival time! 🐦 We had an absolute blast connecting with birders from near and far, and catching up with local friends (both new and familiar faces). The Harlingen Convention Center was a hive of activity with field trips, live raptor shows, a silent auction, tons of vendors, inspiring lectures, and so much more. We’re already counting down the days to next year’s festival — hope to see you there! 💚 Happy birding, from the RGV's friendly backyard bird feeding specialists! 💛🐦 #wbumcallen #rgvbirds #backyardbirding #mcallentexas #riograndevalley #Riograndevalleytexas

🗓️ MARK YOUR CALENDARS for THIS COMING SATURDAY! 👀 9 A.M. Meet us at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife, one of the area's top birding hotspots, for a FREE guided bird walk! (The walk is free, but there is a small park admission fee. See the park's website for fees.) 🎤 2 P.M. Meet back at our store for a FREE nature talk by the park's superintendent: "Life After Migration: What Do Our Birds Do When They Aren't Here?" ABOUT THE TALK Have you ever thought about what the rest of the year is like for all those fantastic birds that just winter in the Valley? Several species end up in extremely different locales living a very different life during the long days of summer. Join us as we welcome Thomas Forwood, Superintendent at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, to ell us more. Be sure to stay after for one of our popular NATIVE PLANT SALES! 🛒🌻🌿 Event details at https://www.facebook.com/wbumcallen/events and https://mcallen.wbu.com/events Hope to see you there! Happy birding, from the RGV's friendly backyard bird feeding experts! ❤️🐦 #wbumcallen #rgvbirds #backyardbirding #mcallentexas #riograndevalley #Riograndevalleytexas #birding #birds #shoplocal #supportsmallbusinessowners #nativeplants #gardening

Give (or get!) the gift of exceptional clarity this holiday season. 🎁 Enjoy $100 instant savings on any Zeiss Terra ED binoculars 🔭 — premium optics designed for performance and precision. Visit us in-store 🏬 and our team will help you choose the perfect model. Offer ends December 31, 2025. ⏰ Happy birding, from the RGV's friendly backyard bird feeding specialists! 💛🐦 #wbumcallen #rgvbirds #backyardbirding #mcallentexas #riograndevalley #Riograndevalleytexas

See the recent Smithsonian Magazine post about the Blue Jay and Green Jay hybrid spotted in San Antonio? Fascinating! Learn more in the Smithsonian Magazine: https://bit.ly/3IG78kC 💛💛💛 And remember our CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAYS END TODAY. You'll save $10 on $60, $20 on $100, or $40 on $200.* Thanks for supporting our small business! (Use promo codes THANKS10, THANKS20, or THANKS40.) 💛💛💛 Happy birding, from the RGV's friendly backyard bird feeding experts! ❤️🐦 * Valid Nov. 6–16, 2025, on regularly-priced Items, in-store or online, excluding previous purchases, sale items, DSC memberships, gift cards, optics, smart feeders/devices, or Purple Martin systems. One discount per purchase. #wbumcallen #rgvbirds #backyardbirding #mcallentexas #riograndevalley #Riograndevalleytexas #birding #birds #shoplocal #supportsmallbusinessowners #nativeplants #gardening

🌿🦋 So many good things happening lately! It’s been hard to find time to share them all. A couple Saturdays ago, November 1st, we had the honor of participating in the Texas Butterfly Festival at the National Butterfly Center There was a whole kaleidoscope of butterflies—and of people—out enjoying them! 🦋✨ A huge thank-you to our gracious hosts and to everyone who stopped by our booth to say hello. In the afternoon, we were treated to a fascinating presentation by Lynette Castillo from Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife. She shared an engaging talk about spiders, weaving in the historical and cultural significance of arachnids—and even inspired the kids to try their hands at building their own spider webs! 🕸️🕷️ Also, huge congrats to our raffle winner (last photo) from the Butterfly Festival - Raquel Benitez! We hope you and the birds love the goodies inside. Happy birding, from the RGV's friendly backyard bird feeding specialists! 💛🐦 #wbumcallen #rgvbirds #backyardbirding #mcallentexas #riograndevalley #Riograndevalleytexas

Introducing "Backyard Birds Revealed," a 5-part series of short videos exploring hidden details of backyard birdlife. Watch Episode 1: "Epic Slow-Motion Landings" on YouTube at https://bit.ly/4hio25O Captured with a 1,000-frames-per-second camera, the brilliant acrobats of backyard birds are revealed in super slo-mo. The series is created by Tim and Russell Laman, an award-winning father-and-son wildlife photography team who have filmed exotic birds around the world. They decided to train their equipment and expertise on birds in their own Massachusetts backyard. The series is created with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and proudly sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited. Additional episodes will launch in January 2026—stay tuned! Happy birding, from the RGV's friendly backyard bird feeding experts! ❤️🐦 #wbumcallen #rgvbirds #backyardbirding #mcallentexas #riograndevalley #Riograndevalleytexas #birding #birds #shoplocal #supportsmallbusinessowners #nativeplants #gardening

On Veterans Day, we give special thanks to the members of our armed services, whose self-sacrifice and bravery help keep us all safe.🇺🇸 At WBU McAllen, 🎗️veterans enjoy 15% off non-food items ALL YEAR LONG.*🎗️ THANK YOU! FUN FACTS ABOUT BALD EAGLES Did you know the majestic Bald Eagle🦅 has been a symbol of American might since 1782, when it was adopted as our national emblem? By the 1960s, though, habitat destruction, hunting, and pesticides had nearly driven Bald Eagles to extinction, with only about 400 breeding pairs left in the continental U.S. But instead of a tragedy, the Bald Eagle is a conservation success story! Federal protections and pesticide regulations have succeeded in helping them rebound, and they're no longer considered threatened!👏 👏 👏 Happy birding, from the RGV's friendly backyard bird feeding experts! ❤️🐦 Featured Bird: Bald Eagle** * Discount does not apply to DSC membership fee, sale items, gift cards, smart feeders/devices, optics, or Purple Martin systems. ** Featured Birds may include species from across the USA, not just those seen in Texas' Rio Grande Valley. #wbumcallen #rgvbirds #backyardbirding #mcallentexas #riograndevalley #Riograndevalleytexas #birding #birds #shoplocal #supportsmallbusinessowners #nativeplants #gardening