An optional preparatory webinar was scheduled for October 1, 2026, 7:00–8:00 pm Eastern.

An optional image-sharing and feedback webinar is scheduled for November 30, 2026, 7:00–9:00 pm Eastern.

The region is served by McAllen (MFE), Harlingen (HRL), and Brownsville (BRO). The tour begins in McAllen and ends near Brownsville, so different arrival and departure airports may be useful.

Airport and event transportation are not included. Participants need a vehicle and meet at each location; standard passenger cars are sufficient, but the itinerary involves considerable driving.

Ride sharing is encouraged, and passengers customarily contribute to fuel. It is a private arrangement; NANPA and Kathy Adams Clark do not insure or assume liability for it.

The published McAllen room-block rate was $129 per night plus taxes and fees, including breakfast. This rate applied to king or two-double-bed rooms.

Hotel instructions go to registered participants. The room-block deadline was September 30, 2026.

The November 1 group dinner is included. All other meals are on your own.

Likely locations include Bentsen State Park, Estero Llano State Park, Edinburg Scenic Wetlands, South Padre Island Birding, Nature Center & Alligator Sanctuary, National Butterfly Center, and Frontera Audubon Sanctuary; final choices follow weather and wildlife activity.

Bring a Texas State Parks Pass or budget $5 admission at each of two state parks. NANPA provides other listed attraction tickets when participants arrive with the group; late arrivals pay their own admission.

• Texas State Parks Pass
• National Butterfly Center

A minimal fitness level is required. Park and preserve walks are generally flat, usually under one mile, and longer exploration is optional.

Late October and early November can be hot, cold, humid, rainy, and windy. Mornings commonly fall around 65–70°F and daytime highs around the low 80s°F.

Bring lightweight long pants for thorny vegetation, comfortable walking shoes, a long-sleeved overshirt, T-shirt, hat, sunglasses, sun protection, and a windbreaker or fleece for cold fronts.

Bring a DSLR or mirrorless body, manual, bird lens, mid-range zoom, and optional macro or close-focusing lens, extension tubes, or diopter. A tripod is optional for photographers who normally use one for birds or insects.

Pack cleaning supplies, memory cards, chargers and batteries, sensor-cleaning tools, optional polarizer, rain towel, laptop and processing software, backup drive, flash drive, alarm/watch, phone, water, and snacks.

All experience levels are welcome, but participants should know their camera and bring the manual. Kathy provides field assistance and helps participants reach productive locations and times.

This is a Photo Tour rather than a formal workshop: no formal instruction sessions, assignments, or handouts are planned.

Only registered attendees may join group activities. Anyone joining part of the event or traveling with a participant during group activities must contact NANPA and pay the full registration fee.

Possible extensions include Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, and Valley Nature Center.

• World Birding Center guide

NANPA Photo Tour registration fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. If participant cancels their event registration, NANPA will not offer any refunds for event registration fees for this event regardless of when the cancellation is made or the reason for the cancellation. A participant who is removed from a Photo Tour for violating NANPA policies or the tour leaders’ safety instructions is not entitled to a refund.

NANPA reserves the right to cancel any event or activity due to insufficient registration or any unforeseen circumstances. It also has the right to substitute event leaders, or adjust the number of event leaders if those originally scheduled cannot attend, or other unforeseen circumstances arise.

If NANPA cancels the event, NANPA will offer a variety of options to participants, including the transfer of their registration fees to a future NANPA event or a refund of the event registration fee unless the cancellation is due to a force majeure* occurrence. NANPA assumes no liability whatsoever for fees, penalties, or other costs incurred by you from airlines, hotels, or any other sources outside of the event registration fees.

*Force Majeure

“Force Majeure” means that NANPA will not be liable for any alleged damages because of any circumstances including, but without limitation, explosion, flood, storm, fire, war or threat of war, civil disturbance, sickness, pandemic, quarantine, weather conditions or other unexpected occurrences. If a Force Majeure event occurs, NANPA will notify you of the nature and extent of the incident. NANPA may unilaterally vary or cancel an itinerary in cases of Force Majeure. Refunds or partial refunds will be at the sole and absolute discretion of NANPA. NANPA will attempt to reimburse you where possible however we will deduct from any refund the reasonable actual and potential costs to NANPA of the Force Majeure event.

Please know that sometimes unanticipated and uncontrollable circumstances will force us to alter expected plans during a photo tour. NANPA cannot be held responsible for unanticipated events (such as park closures, natural disasters, civil unrest, weather, etc.) that either prevents you from attending or us altering our location shoots. NANPA will do their best to work around any unforeseen circumstances.

Tour participants without travel insurance will be considered “self insured” meaning you assume all risks and losses for any condition requiring your cancellation.