HARLINGEN –Not every part of the economy in the Rio Grande Valley is affected by the troops’ arrival as many visitors are still taking part in the RGV Birding Festival.

The festival has become a worldwide attraction, bringing in people from far beyond our U.S. boundaries.

Herbert Byaruhanga tells CHANNEL 5 NEWS he traveled 18 hours all the way from Uganda, located in East Africa, to get a glimpse of the unique birds.

KRGV’s John Paul Barajas spoke with the RGV Birding Festival chair, Sue Griffin, to see if our troubled border is impacting the number of visitors.

Griffin explains last year the festival had about 600 people in attendance – this year it’s down to 500.  

"We're still going to the same places that we intended to go we have not changed any of our plans and we feel very safe here,” she says. 

The event runs from Nov. 7 through Nov. 12 at the Festival Hall, located at 1204 Fair Park Blvd. in Harlingen.

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