At the bottom of the country, where the Rio Grande and the top or bottom of loops, as if determined to setting crossroads of territorial imperatives, it is a natural paradise called Sabal Palm Audubon Center. The rare birds color feasible on the Dart Rascheln jungle, while Slink snakes, turtles and the occasional lambinez Ocelot rarely acknowledges a vision.
After decades of the claim and conservation and millions of public and private funding dollars are spent, it was essential for a place in the nation is a very urban poor. In addition to the fines glotzend students, the center is also birders from all over the world, for money, the colour of his beloved olive Spatz in local restaurants and hotels.
But if you tend to hear the appeal of the ratternde Sabal Palm chachalaca to your travel plans should be a factor in the barrier. Yes, the barrier between gradual passing of the Berlin Wall and Christo’s Gates (Artist: Michael Chertoff, the secretary of Homeland Security, with a budget of the United States of America).
The Sabal Palm guards fear, and with reason, that in the case of the attempt, illegal immigrants, the Department of Homeland Security is to establish near the border north of the bird reserve squabbling effectively this natural treasure from the rest of the earth and probably force its closure. In other words, they say, a very thoughtful about 550 hectares for Mexico.
And this can be a gift that more and more. The nature and landowners also fear that the barrier through a stream of embracing wildlife corridor that stretches over several counties in Texas, carefully restored and maintained by, among others, the federal government.
Nagel-down Homeland Security plans, and in the field trying, difficult to understand the Ocelot. On the question of whether the Agency plans to build the north gate of the shrine, the leader and spokesman Russ Knocke said: “I can not exclude that, but I can certainly say that this will be the case “.
He stated that the Agency is adjusted their plans in the past to environmental issues, as far as possible (even though he announced last week that circumvent environmental assessments for the construction of the barrier). For example, he said, a show of the barrier, in the Arizona desert in columns containing an endangered lizard - columns “is too small for a human being to secure and large enough for the lizard.
Mr. Knocke said that the Agency should continue to listen and focus of complaints from citizens, but he stressed his desire to “too quickly”, given their mandate of members of Congress to install, fencing and other security measures along the southern border by the end of the year.
So when is the National Audubon Society know if its winds Sabal Palm shrine again south of the border? “I can not tell you a date,” said Knocke. “But there should be no doubt about how to move quickly, we want.”
Put yourself in the shoes dusty Jimmy Paz, 66, managers verwitterten Sabal Palm. For now, he is sitting at a picnic table outside the humble visitor center, tries to talk to cause some chachalacas feed bark grapefruit. From time to time, it breaks up, to emphasize the beauty of a landscape green and captivating, jay, or ask birders near where they are.
Montana, a little say. California, say others.
Mr. Paz, to Brownsville, but not only “beautiful Brownsville,” knows the region and their rhythms. He said that the barrier is a grey area from a swath of distinctiveness American soil, and the penalty Damage and wildlife, the opposite counter-productive: there will be the birders, and tourists - not illegal immigrants - the end of the year. There may also him a job.
“It was as if a barrier around Central Park,” he said.
Mr. Paz, remembers cycling as a boy to the “Palm” jungle along the Rio again adopt scenes of Tarzan films seen, it was just the Queen Theatre in downtown Brownsville beautiful. After ten years in the army, he returned to a number of jobs, including police officers and mechanics windshield, while the Audubon Society acquired plots of the jungle to create a sanctuary that are called to Sabal Palm, after stämmige Palms Rio Grande Valley.
Ten years ago, he was appointed head of the very characteristic, where he once imitates Johnny Weissmüller - property, sits near a bio-diverse keep possession of the Nature Conservancy of Texas, and a new swath of the country ‘United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Combined, Eden.
Mr. Paz came to those who know, who are often in this sanctuary: the buff-bellied hummingbirds, the long bill thrashers, depending on herumtreibend Border Patrol agents, the river wet visitors from Mexico, crossed. Driving with the explanatory memorandum to his pickup truck, he drew attention to a chat Base inflatable tube, which was abandoned near a river.
Ten years ago, he says, federal agents hundreds of illegal immigrants intercepted a month Sabal Palm reasons. But as border security and, as modified model, the number of interceptions has decreased dramatically. Well, he said, once a prisoner is not 20 months, with very little, like marijuana.
Yes, until recently, life was peaceful Sabal Palm. Students entering birders, and Mr. Paz and his assistant, Cecilia Farrell, the small fee, sell books, which for reasons. Come 5 o’clock, they would be removed from the custody in the sanctuary drahtig a night porter, who has lived on the ground for almost half a century. His name is Ernie Ortiz, it was 82 years, and it deals with a .38.
What is more, the relationship between the Border Patrol and Sabal Palm was very friendly. Border Patrol sensors are in the sanctuary of the earth in its Mesquite trees everywhere. And if Sabal Palm has directed a hawk out, the Border Patrol, which would be a turn for the recognition does not exceed the birds.
But now Sabal Palm lives of the rumor on the rumor, was attended including Mr. Paz, within the limits of conversations agents and a proposal for a card in a draft report by the Confederation. It is a barrier along the dike. A barrier along the seawall with a goal. A barrier along the seawall with a goal and Sabal Palm is a key role.
None of these facilitate the concerns that Anne Braun, executive director of the Audubon Texas, has insurance, the city - the sanctuary of life. “Should we examine the passports?” Demanda said. “Since the closure, the new frontier, what are we? Are we in Mexico? ”
Homeland Security, “she says betray his plans for Brownsville soon. In the meantime, those who love driving M. Paz, and not the reason that he was.