The Rose Queen of Texas
In the rose capital of the United States, a tradition wrenched off track by the pandemic is back and in full bloom.
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In the rose capital of the United States, a tradition wrenched off track by the pandemic is back and in full bloom.
Originally from Vermont and now based in Harlingen, Bilodeau has spent nearly every week since 2017 at Boca Chica, surveying the populations of birds that depend on the mud flats, beaches, and wetlands here to feed, breed, or rest during migration. “Elon always said this was the place to launch rockets because there’s nothing here, that it’s just a big wasteland,” she says. “But that’s just not true. It’s an amazing place for shorebirds. It’s got to be one of the best places for shorebirds in the country.” Glance at a map, and it’s not immediately clear why this place is s...