El Cielo Nature Festival 2007 February 18th through 21st, 2007, with bird and butterfly watching in La Florida, El Encino, Alta Cima, and El Naranjo. Roger & Karen Hett

Loading the bus at McAllen First Stop, Mezcal Distillery & Museum Mezcal Distillery Museum Mezcal Distillery Mezcal Distillery Mango Pies Sold Here Mango Store Gardens Mango Store gardens, with philodendron in the tree Birders in front of Mango Pie Store, with Hector leading the pack It's a Rare Species! Grab your binoculars! The Inaugural Ribbon Cutting at the Hotel Mante Participants, with visiting dignitaries at the end of the table La Musica! Our Boss, Sonia, welcoming us to Mante The fabulous dancers have arrived! Early the next morning, on the trip to Alta Cima Getting ready to board the 4 x 4s for El Cielo A very bumpy ride! Entering El Cielo Preserve And now, to get down to business! Roger y el burrito Cute little pre-schoolers The village school The co-op's craft store and cafe On the way to the bird banding experience Our local guide, taking the bird out of the net Now the bird is in his hand Bird banding participants Observing the bird banding The guide holds the bird He identifies it, an Arcadian Flycatcher He measures it He blows on it to determine body fat He demonstrates the banding He prepares to release the bird Now we have another bird, a Blue Mockingbird We are all fascinated! Another local guide with a bird, an Olivaceous Woodcreeper Finally, we get to eat lunch!