E53 — Keith Hackland: Birding the Rio Grande Valley from the Alamo Inn

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott sits down with Keith Hackland, owner of the Alamo Inn B&B, Gear and Tours, and one of the best-known hosts in American birding. From the heart of the lower Rio Grande Valley, Keith shares what makes this corner of Texas one of the richest birding regions in the country — and why so many birders come once and then spend a lifetime coming back.Keith reflects on his path from South Africa to South Texas, the restoration of the historic Alamo Inn, and how a building that might have been lost became a home base for birders from around the world. Along the way, he talks about the valley’s remarkable mix of resident species, migrants, rarities, and vagrants, and why birds like Green Jays, Bat Falcons, Muscovy Ducks, Clay-colored Thrushes, and parrots tell a much larger story about habitat, geography, and adaptation.Scott and Keith also explore the culture of the valley itself — the food, the people, the influence of Mexico, the draw of South Padre Island and the ranch country farther west — and how birding here is about more than a list. It is about community, hospitality, and learning to see how birds and people shape one another’s worlds.This is a conversation about place, migration, friendship, and why some birding destinations become part of you.Learn more about the Alamo Inn and birding in the valley at the Alamo Inn B&B, Gear and Tours.For updates, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes notes from Naturally Scott, subscribe here: https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752