Residents of Alamo Heights in San Antonio are up in arms over the invasive presence of egrets, with the local neighborhood association issuing a desperate call to arms on Facebook—blast airhorns, clang bells, anything to clear out the noisy, smelly birds. "It’s like being in a crowded room at a party," Terry Glaser, a resident of the nearby Oak Park-Northwood neighborhood and a volunteer at the University of the Incarnate Word, explained the situation to KENS 5. The migratory egrets are wreaking havoc, decimating roofs and sidewalks alike with their droppings, while the stench and screeches have left the community searching for solutions.
Residents troubled by the egrets have only a limited window to deter these birds according to advice from the Alamo Heights Neighborhood Association; once the egrets begin nesting and lay their eggs, they are shielded by federal law, forbidding interference, residents are being encouraged to act quickly, and with volume, to fend off these feathered invaders.
In contrast to the avian problem, the city is gearing up for a musical extravaganza as the 13th annual Fiesta De Los Reyes announces a star-studded, 10-day lineup set to light up the Historic Market Square from April 19 to April 28, featuring over 150 local and international bands spread across five stages, including a new Jazz stage headliners like Latin Breed, Ruben Ramos, and Spazmatics are slated to perform at the event, "The musical talent performing at this year’s Fiesta De Los Reyes represent the music and culture that make San Antonio one-of-a-kind," said Jacob Valenzuela, Executive Director of the Rey Feo Consejo Educational Foundation which has been producing the Fiesta De Los Reyes since 2012. He shared his excitement with KENS 5.
San Antonio's spirit, clearly undampened by the egret siege, is looking forward to the Fiesta De Los Reyes, with its ten days of family-friendly activities and culinary delights, all celebrating the city's rich cultural tapestry, over 150 bands, from Latin jazz fusion to the nostalgic 80's and 90's anthems, will infuse the city with rhythm and soul as they perform for the crowds in this free event, further details and a complete band lineup for the Fiesta De Los Reyes can be found through the official event link.
