Richard Moore Outdoor Report: Valley of the Chachalacas

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Snuggled together, this family of chachalacas perches peacefully on a shady branch in the cool of late afternoon. 

Tucked tightly next to one another, two restive, bright-eyed youngsters appear eager for an adventure. 

Ever watchful, mom and dad scan alertly for any hint of danger such as a hawk or cat, that might threaten. 

However, with no discernible peril, the little ones become sleepy and begin dozing. 

Chachalacas are extremely social, and while the youngsters nap, the parents indulge in mutual preening, taking turns to intimately groom one another. 

With naptime over, the little chaches stretch, and suddenly one leaps onto mom's back and over both parents, landing next to dad. 

Junior peers anxiously about in search of the vanished sibling, and after checking under mom’s wing, decides to leap, joining his compadre in the new location and promptly cuddling next to dad.   

Chachalacas barely edge into southernmost Texas, and are one of the specialty species attracting bird watchers from throughout the world to the Rio Grande Valley.  

For those of us who are fortunate enough to live here, these fascinating birds provide year-round enjoyment with their entertaining backyard antics. 

What better alarm clock could you have than a raucous chachalaca chorus announcing dawn with their namesake chortling? 

Baby chachalacas leave the nest at just a few hours old and, within a couple of days, are scurrying through the trees. 

These youngsters are only a couple of weeks old, and while becoming increasingly bold, remain very dependent on their parents. 

Only problem is they just don’t quite fit under the protective wing of the adults like they used to…but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep trying!