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Falcon State Park

United States, Texas

[edit] Overview

Falcon State Park is located north of Roma, in Starr and Zapata Counties. It is at the southern end of the International Falcon Reservoir, a 60 mile long lake which has formed from the Rio Grande River behind the dam. The 560-acre park consists of gently rolling hills, which are covered by mesquite, huisache, wild olive, ebony, cactus native grasses. October through Easter are the best and most popular time to visit.

This State Park is site LTC 084 on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail.

SECURITY ALERT: in May 2010 the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and the Zapata County Sheriff’s Office issued an alert warning boaters to stay on the US side of the lake and not to stray into Mexican waters, due to several armed robberies and attempted armed robberies. For more information please see this document: Law enforcement agencies urging caution on Falcon Lake

NB: Sept. 30th, 2010: there was a fatal shooting by Mexican pirates, of an American tourist who was riding a Jet Ski on the Mexican side of the lake.

[edit] Birds

[edit] Notable Species

The park has a diverse habitat ranging from lakeside woodlands to upland Tamaulipan thornscrub. Rio Grande Valley specialty birds can be found here: Great Kiskadee, Altamira Oriole, Plain Chachalaca, Vermilion Flycatcher, Couch's Kingbird and Green Kingfisher and a variety of shorebirds. The upland areas are home to Greater Roadrunner, Pyrrhuloxia, Scaled Quail, Bobwhite, Common Pauraque and Black-throated Sparrow. Tropical spring migrant species such as the Red-crowned Parrot are also occasionally seen in the park.The Crested Caracara, also known as the Mexican Eagle or Mexican Buzzard is plentiful as well.

[edit] Rarities

To do

[edit] Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

To do

[edit] Other Wildlife

150 species of butterflies have been sighted in the park, including some rarities, such as the green telea hairstreak, its first sighting in the US for more than 70 years. The rounded metalmark, giant swallowtail and silver-banded hairstreakalso occur here.

[edit] Site Information

[edit] History and Use

The park was leased from the International Boundary and Water Commission in 1949 and was opened to the public in 1965. This dam was built for conservation, irrigation, power, flood control, and recreational purposes. The name Falcón is pronounced Fal-cone and comes from a local pioneering Hispanic family, not the bird!

[edit] Areas of Interest

Nearby points of interest:

• Falcon Dam
• Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park (part of the World Birding Center)^[1]

[edit] Access and Facilities

Daily Entrance Fees:

• $2 per person 13 and older
• Holders of the Texas State Parks Pass, plus guests in the same vehicle have free entrance

Facilities:

• Open 7 days a week year-round; park gates are open 6am - 10pm daily
• Campsites, screened shelters & air-conditioned shelters are available
• Camping and facility use fees are separate from entrance fees
• Park store
• Boat ramp
• 3 miles of hiking/mountain biking trails, forming a loop right around the park
• 1 mile self-guided nature trail
• 3 bird blinds
• Butterfly garden - 150 different butterfly species have been sighted in less than two years, including several rarities.

Directions:

• From Zapata, take US Highway 83 to FM 2098, then go southwest for 3 miles to Park Road 46.
• From Roma, go 15 miles west on US Highway 83 to FM 2098 to Park Road 46.

[edit] Contact Details

Falcon State Park
P O Box 2
Falcon Heights, TX 78545
Tel: 956-848-5327

[edit] External Links

• Falcon State Park
• Map of Falcon SP
• Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail map for the Lower Rio Grande Valley

1. Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park (part of the World Birding Center)

Content and images originally posted by Gaga & HelenB