President Trump orders to build a border levee wall is coming to reality. Especially, at the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in the Rio Grande Valley area. Recently, the levee wall efforts have begun in Santa Ana NWR. Workers have been measuring and preparing to build a border wall in the most vital part of the Santa Ana NWR. Important wildlife depends on the ability to roam freely back and forth to Mexico and USA. For example, the Ocelot, is an endangered small cat with orange fur and black spots, that lives in Mexico and comes to South Texas occasionally to breed. Building this wall will not only prevent Ocelots from roaming it will also have a big impact on their habitat.
There are roughly around 400 bird species counted in Santa Ana NWR that need their habitats to be protected as well. Especially, the South Texas specialties such as Plain Chachalacas, Green Jays, and other species. The sounds of the drilling and construction of the levee wall will scare many migratory and non-migratory birds. It will cause a lot of birds and wildlife to desperately relocate in search for new homes. The levee wall can also play a role in many fatal bird collisons.
*On left, Plain Chachalaca, Male Photo by Sebastian Casarez
*Green Jay Photo by Sebastian Casarez
Ways you can help protect Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge:
1. Contact your state representatives tell them to Stop the Wall at Santa Ana NWR and Save the wildlife and their habitats.
2. Write a letter to your state representatives.
3. Join me at the Texas State Capital on Thursday, July 27 at 8:30am-9:30am to show your support to Stop The Wall! #MySantaAna Meet up in front of the State Capital Front Gates facing E.11th St and Congress.
4. Visit and Support Santa Ana NWR you will be in awe of the beauty of the rare tropical world in Santa Ana NWR!
#MySantaAna
Happy Birding!
Sebastian Casarez
The Texas Blue Jay Project
#TakeTheTexasBlueJayPledge
