Most of us think of butterflies when we think of pollinators in the Valley.

A free talk this Saturday in McAllen looks at a much bigger cast.

Wild Birds Unlimited McAllen is hosting "Pollinators of Managed Habitats in the RGV" on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 2 to 3 p.m. at the store.

Admission is free, and no ticket is needed.

The speaker, Mitch Sternberg, is a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in Alamo, where he has worked since 1998.

Since 2023 he has been documenting pollinator species on the refuges.

The talk centers on insects sampled right here in the Valley.

Pinned, museum-curated specimens collected by refuge staff will be on hand, so you can see them up close.

Sternberg will cover why these pollinators matter and where they were found, from replanted thornforest to restored coastal prairie.

If you've planted native flowers in your yard and wondered who's actually visiting them, this is a good hour to spend.

A question-and-answer time follows the talk.

Details

What: Free talk, "Pollinators of Managed Habitats in the RGV," with Q&A

When: Saturday, Oct. 3, 2 to 3 p.m.

Where: Wild Birds Unlimited McAllen, 7600 N. 10th Street, Suite 200A, McAllen, TX 78504

Cost: Free, no ticket required

Phone: (956) 762-8928

More: mcallen.wbu.com/events

Image: Wild Birds Unlimited McAllen event flyer (photo by Mitch Sternberg), via mcallen.wbu.com/events.

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