Bird-Watching Takes Dangerous Turn

[Donna]

MISSION - It was an attempted getaway. Authorities say a white van was filled with illegal immigrants.
 
"The van looked suspicious.  But when he noticed the agents, he went ahead and pulled over and about 15 subjects bailed from the vehicle," said Joe Trevino, a Border Patrol agent.

Agents searched a patch of woods located along Military Highway, near Bryan Road in Mission. Fifteen people were arrested. The driver got away.

It's a definite change of pace for some nearby bird-watchers.  They caught some of the action.

Roger Zachary witnessed the incident.  He and his wife, Ruth, are from California.

"We did notice the helicopter.  We didn't know what was going on.  We saw another van," said Zachary.

"There is no set time for these incidents to happen; there really is not a clock to determine when it happens.  That's one of the points we try to make.  Our agents are ready for it all the time," said Trevino.

The Zacharys are spending six weeks along the U.S.-Mexico border.

"Typically, when we're birding in a more reclusive area where bad people go, law enforcement come and check on us," said Ruth Zachary.
 
The Zacharys are working all the way down to South Padre Island.  They expect to catch more action along the way.