Falcon

Falcon SP https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/falcon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_International_Reservoir#Recreation Falcon State Park is 572.6 acres (2.317 km2) located between Falcon Heights, Texas, and Nueva Ciudad Guerrero, Tamaulipas, and is the southern end of a 98,960-acre (400.5 km2) International Falcon Reservoir. The park's main activities include camping, swimming, fishing, water skiing, and boating, with a self-guided nature trail. Bass fishing is particularly popular on the lake.

Falcon #TxStateParks State Park #BetterOutside /texasparksandwildlife @texasparkswildlife @TPWDparks TexasStateParks.org/App LEGEND PLEASE NOTE • N PARK ROAD 46 Wo ails s Tr • • • • Hiking trail loop = 2.6 miles total nd odla • • Whitebrush Trail • SPEED LIMIT 20 • MPH Roadrunner Trail • Headquarters CHECK OUT time is 2 p.m. or renew permit by 9 a.m. (pending site availability). Public consumption or display of any alcoholic beverage is prohibited. A maximum of eight people permitted per campsite. Guests must leave the park by 10 p.m. Quiet time is from 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. GRAY WATER AND BLACK WATER MUST BE DISCHARGED ONLY AT DUMP STATION. Pets must be kept on leash. Please pick up after them. Gathering of firewood is prohibited. Campfires are permitted only in fire rings provided at each site. No ground fires are permitted. Please use extreme caution with any burning materials during the high-fire danger summer brings. Stop the spread of invasive species. CLEAN, DRAIN and DRY your boat. Please review complete Park Rules and Regulations posted at headquarters. Favor de revisar las reglas del Parque fijas en la Oficina Central. Restrooms Showers Self-Composting Toilet Primitive Campsites Water and Electric Sites Full Hookup Sites Dump Station Hiking Trail Covered Picnic Parking Dumpster Sites 201-231 Screened Shelters 1 Sites 101-131 Shelters with AC Recreation Hall De Boat Ramp s er tT rai Fish Cleaning l Butterfly Garden Verdin Trail Wildlife Viewing Desert Trail Residence Maintenance Park Road 46 P.O. Box 2 Falcon Heights, TX 78545 (956) 848-5327 Falcon Reservoir TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TDD) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. © 2019 TPWD PWD MP P4502-060B (2/19) Texas State Parks is a division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. PARK RESERVATIONS TexasStateParks.org ParquesDeTexas.org (512) 389-8900 Proud Sponsor of Texas State Parks 

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE BIRDS OF FA L C O N S T A T E P A R K A FIELD CHECKLIST 2019 INTRODUCTION F alcon State Park is a 572.6-acre tract that lies at the southern end of the Falcon International Reservoir, partly in Starr County, partly in Zapata County. The dam was dedicated in 1953. Work was completed on the embankment in 1954. Falcon State Park opened to the public in 1965. Its Tamaulipan thornscrub woodlands and gently rolling terrain offer excellent birding. Blackbrush acacia, persimmon, cenizo, guayacan, allthorn and other native plants provide habitat. A 2.6-mile hiking loop circles the park and is clearly marked with signs that name each trail segment. The shoreline can be accessed from day use and boat launch areas. In the distant past, the Rio Grande River seasonally overflowed its banks as it carried a tremendous volume of water and sediment from the high mountains of Colorado and Mexico to the Gulf of Mexico. Frequently, flow from spring flooding and late summer storms would alter the course of the river. Today, dams such as Falcon International Reservoir help control water flow. The river originates in the Rio Grande National Forest of Colorado. By the time it reaches Presidio, Texas, flow is greatly diminished. Only water from the mountains of Northern Mexico now flows between Presidio and the Gulf of Mexico. Resident species such as Green Jay, Great Kiskadee, Greater Roadrunner, Bewick’s Wren, Verdin, Curve-billed Thrasher, Pyrrhuloxia, Olive Sparrow and Black-throated Sparrow are often easily seen. Specialties such as Zone-tailed Hawk, Ringed Kingfisher, and Black-tailed Gnatcatcher might be found. This checklist follows the nomenclature and organization of the 58th supplement to the A.O.S. Check-list of North American Birds. It was compiled by Sherry Wilson from data provided by visiting birders, with feedback from Mary Beth Stowe. Please report any new or unusual observations to the state park headquarters. Your contributions will help with future updates to this checklist. Please help us protect the natural avian communities in our parks by refraining from using playback tapes of bird songs. Frequent use of these tapes disrupts normal avian activity patterns and essential territorial behavior, and may lead to nest failure. Thank you for your cooperation. 1 LEGEND C U R X W Sp S F – – – – – – – – Common; often seen daily Uncommon; might be seen, some years more likely than others Rare; very few sightings Extremely rare; only a few records exist Winter (December, January, February) Spring (March, April, May) Summer (June, July, August) Fall (September, October, November) 2 CHECKLIST W Sp S F GEESE AND DUCKS ___ Black-bellied Whistling-Duck R U R R ___ Fulvous Whistling-Duck X ___ Snow Goose R R R ___ Ross’s Goose X X ___ Greater White-fronted Goose R U ___ Canada Goose X ___ Muscovy Duck X X ___ Wood Duck R R X ___ Blue-winged Teal U U U ___ Cinnamon Teal R R ___ Northern Shoveler U U R ___ Gadwall U U R ___ American Wigeon U U U ___ Mallard U U U ___ Mottled Duck U U U U ___ Northern Pintail U R U ___ Green-winged Teal U R R ___ Canvasback R R R ___ Redhead R R R ___ Ring-necked Duck U R ___ Lesser Scaup R R ___ Bufflehead U R R ___ Hooded Merganser R X R ___ Red-breasted Merganser R R ___ Ruddy Duck R R 3 R W Sp S F GUANS ___ Plain Chachalaca R U R R NEW WORLD QUAIL ___ Northern Bobwhite C C C C ___ Scaled Quail U U U U TURKEYS ___ Wild Turkey R R R GREBES ___ Least Grebe U ___ Pied-billed Grebe R U C C ___ Horned Grebe X ___ Eared Grebe U U PIGEONS AND DOVES ___ Rock Pigeon U ___ Red-billed Pigeon U R R R ___ Eurasian Collared-Dove C C C U ___ Inca Dove C C C C ___ Common Ground-Dove C C C C ___ White-tipped Dove R R R R ___ White-winged Dove U C C U ___ Mourning Dove C C C C CUCKOOS, ROADRUNNERS, ANIS ___ Yellow-billed Cuckoo U U ___ Greater Roadrunner C C C C ___ Groove-billed Ani R C C R GOATSUCKERS ___ Lesser Nighthawk 4 C C R W Sp S F ___ Common Nighthawk C C R ___ Common Pauraque C C C C ___ Common Poorwill R R X ___ Chuck-will’s-widow X ___ Eastern Whip-poor-will R SWIFTS ___ Chimney Swift U R R HUMMINGBIRDS ___ Ruby-throated Hummingbird U U ___ Black-chinned Hummingbird R R R ___ Rufous Hummingbird X X ___ Buff-bellied Hummingbird X R R RAILS, GALLINULES, COOTS ___ Sora R ___ Purple Gallinule R ___ Common Gallinule R R ___ American Coot C C R R C CRANES ___ Sandhill Crane R R STILTS AND AVOCETS ___ Black-necked Stilt R U X ___ American Avocet R R U PLOVERS ___ American Golden Plover R ___ Snowy Plover X X ___ Semipalmated Plover R ___ Killd

-Official- FA C I L I T I E S MAPS Get the Mobile App: ACTIVITIES texasstateparks.org/app Toyota Tundra Let your sense of adventure be your guide with the Toyota Official Vehicle of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation Tundra — built to help you explore all that the great state of Texas has to offer. | toyota.com/trucks BUILT HERE. LIVES HERE. ASSEMBLED IN TEXAS WITH U.S. AND GLOBALLY SOURCED PARTS. Contents 4 6 8 10 Activities and Programs Parks Near You Places to Stay Recreational Vehicles 12 Tips for Time in Nature Ray Roberts Devils River 14 Visitor Fees and Passes Directory TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT 18 Big Bend Country 26 34 48 56 64 80 86 Gulf Coast TPW COMMISSION S. Reed Morian, Chairman Houston Arch “Beaver” Aplin, III, Vice-Chairman Lake Jackson James E. Abell Kilgore Oliver J. Bell Cleveland Anna B. Galo Laredo Jeffery D. Hildebrand Houston Jeanne W. Latimer San Antonio Robert L. “Bobby” Patton, Jr. Fort Worth Dick Scott Wimberley T. Dan Friedkin, Chairman-Emeritus Houston Lee Marshall Bass, Chairman-Emeritus Fort Worth Hill Country Panhandle Plains Pineywoods Prairies and Lakes South Texas Plains Carter P. Smith Executive Director Rodney Franklin State Parks Director Josh Havens Communications Director Facilities and Activities Index 44 State Parks Map Special thanks to Toyota and advertisers, whose generous support made this guide possible. Texas State Parks is a division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Cover photo: Tyler State Park, Chase Fountain Texas State Parks Official Guide, Seventeenth Edition © TPWD PWD BK P4000-000A (5/20) TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. In accordance with Texas State Depository Law, this publication is available at the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries. WELCOME from Rodney Franklin, State Parks Director   Texas contains some of the most diverse public lands in the country. There is a wealth of cultural heritage. Wildlife abounds, landscapes flourish with beauty and our history is abundant. Your state parks are a part of the legacy that makes Texas proud. The people of Texas recently helped secure that legacy for future generations by voting yes to Proposition 5. Thank you! These 630,000-plus acres showcase some of our state’s greatest treasures. Parks help people make memories with family and find respite in nature’s playground. They strengthen local economies and bind communities. Most of all, parks enable each of us to spend time outside to recharge, be healthy and relax in our own way. I invite you to enjoy your state parks, exploring the best of Texas with friends and family. The parks are here for you. They belong to you. Please visit, have fun, and help protect them forever! Thank you, Texas! Texans voted to approve passage of Proposition 5 in the November 5, 2019 election. Now 100% of the sporting goods sales tax will go to fund the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas Historical Commission. This funding will help secure the future of local parks, state parks and historic sites for generations to come, all without increasing taxes. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude. See what’s in store for Texas State Parks: texasstateparks.org/better ACTIVITIES & PROGRAMS What is there to do in state parks? Enjoy a family picnic, tour a hallowed historic site or choose from some of these visitor favorites: Bike Pedal across parks at any speed, in any style, with any group. Choose the routes, surfaces and distances that fit your comfort zone. Walk Start with a shorter loop, tackle tougher terrain or join a guided tour. Fish Fish without a license in as many as 70 state parks. Many offer tackle loaner programs and special learnto-fish events. Boat or Paddle Rent canoes and kayaks, explore a Texas Paddling Trail or launch a boat. View Wildlife Discover the birds, mammals and plants that live in Texas. Many parks have signage and checklists to help you learn more about the wildlife around you. 4 Camp Swim Find a site that meets your needs. Test out new recipes, share your favorite stories and enjoy the stars. Beat the heat at creeks, rivers, lakes, springs, pools and ocean beaches. More information & reservations: texasstateparks.org (512) 389-8900 Many state parks offer special guided and self-guided progra

Guía de Parques INSTALACIONES Descarga la Aplicacíon Móvil MAPAS ACTIVIDADES texasstateparks.org/app ¡Los niños entran gratis! La entrada es gratis para los niños de 12 años y menores. Encuentra un parque: parquesdetexas.org Contenido Estero Llano Grande SP 2 4 6 8 9 10 18 Actividades y Programas Parques Cercanos Lugares para Quedarse Tarifas y Pases Directorio Mapa de Parques Instalaciones y Actividades BIENVENIDO Rodney Franklin, Director de Parques Texas tiene algunas de las tierras públicas más diversas del país, con una gran riqueza natural y cultural. La vida silvestre está por todas partes, los paisajes florecen con belleza, y la historia es abundante. Sus parques estatales son parte del legado que nos enorgullece. La gente de Texas ayuda a asegurar ese legado para las generaciones futuras al visitar y ser voluntarios. ¡Gracias! Estos más de 630,000 acres exhiben algunos de los grandes tesoros del estado. Los parques nos ayudan a crear recuerdos con la familia y a encontrar consuelo en la naturaleza. Los parques fortalecen las economías locales y unen a las comunidades. Sobre todo, los parques nos permiten pasar tiempo al aire libre para recargar energías, estar saludables y relajarnos a nuestra manera. Les invito a disfrutar de sus parques estatales, explorando lo mejor de Texas con amigos y familia. Los parques están aquí para todos. Nos pertenecen a todos. ¡Visítelos, diviértase y ayude a protegerlos para siempre! Foto de portada: Estero Llano State Park, Chase Fountain © 2021 TPWD PWD BK P4000-000A (5/21) TPWD recibe fondos del Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE.UU. (USFWS por sus siglas en ingles). TPWD prohíbe la discriminación por raza, color, religión, nacionalidad de origen, discapacidad, edad y género, conforme la ley estatal y federal. Para solicitar un acomodo especial u obtener información en un formato alternativo, por favor contacte a TPWD en un Teléfono de Texto (TTY) al (512) 3898915 ó por medio de “Relay Texas” al 7-1-1 ó (800) 735-2989 ó por email a accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. Si usted cree que TPWD ha discriminado en su contra, favor de comunicarse con TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, o con el Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE.UU., Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. De acuerdo con la Ley de Depósito del Estado de Texas, esta publicación está disponible en el centro de Distribución de Publicaciones del Estado de Texas y/o las Bibliotecas de Depósito de Texas. ACTIVIDADES Y PROGRAMAS ¿Qué puedo hacer en los parques estatales? ¡Disfruta de un día de campo, visita un sitio histórico o elige entre muchas otras opciones! Bicicletas Pedalea a lo largo de los parques a cualquier velocidad, en cualquier estilo, con cualquier grupo. Elige las rutas, el tipo de terreno y las distancias que cumplan con tu zona de confort. Caminatas Empieza con un circuito más corto, avanza a terrenos más difíciles o únete a una caminata guiada. Pescar Puedes pescar sin licencia en tantos como 70 parques estatales. Muchos parques ofrecen equipo para pescar a manera de préstamo y eventos especiales para aprender a pescar. Barcos Renta canoas y kayacs y explora uno de los senderos acuáticos en Texas. Nadar Animales Silvestres Acampar Descubre aves, mamíferos y plantas que tienen su hogar en Texas. Muchos parques tienen señalamientos y listados que te ayudan a aprender más. Encuentra un lugar que cumpla con lo que quieres. Prueba nuevas recetas, comparte historias favoritas y disfruta de las estrellas. 2 Más información y reservaciones: parquesdetexas.org Escape del calor en arroyos, ríos, lagos, manantiales, piletas y playas del mar. Tu seguridad en el agua es muy importante. Lleva el chaleco salvavidas. Aprende a nadar. Guarda a los niños. (512) 389-8900 ¡Pregunta en tu parque cuáles están disponibles! Los niños de 12 años y menores entran GRATIS Cielos Estrellados Escapa de las luces de la ciudad y goza de maravillosas vistas del cielo que no encontrarás en ninguna otra parte. Ven a una fiesta de estrellas o toma una excursión de constelaciones auto-guiada. Familias en la Naturaleza Elige un taller o diseña tu propia aventura. ¡Monta una tienda de campaña, cocina al exterior, prende una fogata y juega al exterior! Nosotros te Toma una publicación gratuita de actividades o pregunta por los paquetes gratuitos con los parques proporcionamos todo el equipo. No es necesario tener experiencia. participantes. Usa los binoculares, lupas, libros de bosquejos y libros de guías para explorar el parque. Mochilas para Exploradores Soldados Búfalo de Texas Descubre la historia con cuentos, vestuarios y herramientas. Sigue la pista de un animal, pesca con caña, cocina sobre una fogata, visita los fuertes y más. Adéntrate en las historias de vida de aquellos que sirvieron valientemente en los primeros regimientos Áfrico-Americanos de las Fuerzas Armadas. ! Seguridad en el Parque Ten cuidado con el agua Pr