271:
104:
is known for impressive bird-viewing opportunities, with 358 species documented within the park boundaries. The 760-acre (310 ha) park was acquired in 1944 for the price of US$ 1 from the
Bentsen family with the stipulation that it be used "solely for Public Park purposes." It was initially
39:, and the local communities in which the parks reside. The stated mission of the World Birding Center is to "protect native habitat while increasing the understanding and appreciation of the birds and wildlife", with an additional emphasis on promoting local economic development through
294:
The World
Birding Center does provide numerous forms of educational outreach including "Nature Camp" for children, a website photo gallery and sound library of commonly encountered birds for the region, and individually tailored bird "checklists" for each of their sites.
172:
Thicket Park bordering the west side, and the Hugh Ramsey Nature Park on the east, and McKelvey park situated in between. There are numerous paved and unpaved hike and bike trails within the parks, but they do not completely interconnect the site.
181:
Historic museum and birding center featuring five-mile hike and bike trail, as well as historic steam-powered irrigation pump house. Visitors can still view the antique boilers and infrastructure used to irrigate the farmland around the city of
198:
mansion with a mission focused on education and environmental stewardship. The site participates in the education of 10,000 students annually. Also features "Native Plant Walks" and programs on
784:
251:
804:
799:
809:
789:
286:, and a man-made wetland using fresh water from the island's adjacent water treatment plant, which serves to attract numerous species of local and migrant birds.
112:
The World
Birding Center has its headquarters at this site, and the structures were designed by the Lake Flato architectural firm, known for their attention to
230:
brushland. There are many opportunities for guided wildlife viewing, including an interpretive "Nature Tram Tour", as well as hiking and biking trails.
51:
Encompassing over 10,000 acres (16 square miles) of preserved land extending along a 120-mile (190 km) river corridor between the small town of
309:
36:
195:
101:
255:
32:
250:. The center is located on scenic bluffs situated 120 feet (37 m) above the river, which allows good viewing including across the
319:
432:
304:
160:), which is named for both the presence alligators, as well as its shape. The review of park alligator safety tips is recommended.
121:
436:
145:
67:
with over 500 recorded species of birds, and serves as potential habitat for locally endangered wild cat species such as the
215:
279:
219:
136:. Notable in that it was developed through re-vegetation of agricultural lands and exists entirely in an urban setting.
508:
814:
373:
496:
270:
794:
362:
223:
113:
709:
385:
262:
and the surrounding area. A small site, it is also the westernmost point of the World
Birding Center.
168:
An urban center consisting of multiple close by parks which follow the Arroyo
Colorado waterway, with
314:
84:
779:
60:
685:
428:
203:
24:
710:"Roma Bluffs World Birding Center - Lower Rio Grande Valley - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service"
278:
A 50-acre (20 ha) bayside preserve which features a five-story viewing tower facing the
677:
169:
117:
199:
157:
133:
106:
473:
652:
183:
56:
532:
386:"Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park History — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department"
148:
is a 230-acre park built partially on reclaimed agricultural land. Known best for its
105:
preserved from agricultural use by the family due to the presence of beautiful native
773:
227:
556:
411:
Refuge on the Rio Grande: A Regional
History of Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park
339:
628:
604:
64:
733:
23:
is the official title given to a combined nine parks and nature preserves in the
239:
52:
580:
247:
153:
72:
40:
689:
283:
243:
132:
A 40-acre (16 ha) site situated within a municipal park in the city of
449:
474:"Estero Llano Grande State Park — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department"
653:"Resaca de la Palma State Park — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department"
149:
762:
259:
68:
413:. Austin: State Parks Division, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
116:. The resulting buildings and grounds were named one of the top ten
274:
Boardwalk of South Padre Island
Birding and Nature Center at Sunset
269:
80:
76:
28:
190:
Quinta
Mazatlan Historical Mansion and World Birding Center
509:"Alligator Safety — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department"
678:"9 Sites Near the Texas Border: the World Birding Center"
226:, the park features 1,200 acres (490 ha) of native
425:
Sustainable Design: Ecology, Architecture, and
Planning
16:
Nature preserve in south Rio Grande valley, Texas, USA
177:
Old
Hidalgo Pumphouse Museum and World Birding Center
194:An urban 20-acre estate preserve centered around a
533:"World Birding Center | Harlingen Arroyo Colorado"
785:Ornithological organizations in the United States
63:, the park system hosts a large amount of native
242:, which was once the furthest port upstream for
557:"World Birding Center | Old Hidalgo Pumphouse"
164:Harlingen Arroyo Colorado World Birding Center
128:Edinburg Scenic Wetlands World Birding Center
75:, as well as sanctuary for much of the other
8:
266:South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center
605:"Our Mission - About Us - Quinta Mazatlan"
581:"City of Hidalgo | Old Hidalgo Pumphouse"
124:Committee on the Environment (AIA/COTE).
805:Protected areas of Hidalgo County, Texas
800:Protected areas of Cameron County, Texas
629:"World Birding Center | Quinta Mazatlan"
310:Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
331:
152:including "Alligator Lake" (a restored
37:United States Fish and Wildlife Service
810:Protected areas of Starr County, Texas
790:Bird sanctuaries of the United States
7:
734:"World Birding Center | Roma Bluffs"
427:, Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley, 2007,
102:Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park
96:Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park
33:Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
320:Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge
14:
340:"World Birding Center | About Us"
305:Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail
409:Leffler, John J. (August 2013).
238:Located in the historic city of
234:Roma Bluffs World Birding Center
122:American Institute of Architects
31:managed by a partnership of the
186:during the early 20th century.
146:Estero Llano Grande State Park
140:Estero Llano Grande State Park
1:
738:www.theworldbirdingcenter.com
676:Glusac, Elaine (2010-04-06).
633:www.theworldbirdingcenter.com
561:www.theworldbirdingcenter.com
537:www.theworldbirdingcenter.com
344:www.theworldbirdingcenter.com
216:Resaca de la Palma State Park
210:Resaca de la Palma State Park
220:Battle of Resaca de la Palma
282:, more than half a mile of
831:
218:, site of the historical
206:for the general public.
120:designs for 2006 by the
114:sustainable architecture
609:www.quintamazatlan.com
275:
87:Tamaulipan brushland.
83:of the last remaining
585:www.cityofhidalgo.net
273:
196:Spanish Revival Style
423:Daniel E. Williams,
315:Sabal Palm Sanctuary
290:Educational outreach
256:Ciudad Miguel Alemán
252:International Bridge
224:Mexican–American War
21:World Birding Center
497:Estero Llano Grande
454:www.edinburgwbc.org
91:Parks and preserves
815:Brownsville, Texas
682:The New York Times
276:
61:South Padre Island
204:Rio Grande Valley
25:Rio Grande Valley
822:
795:Harlingen, Texas
766:
765:
763:Official website
748:
747:
745:
744:
730:
724:
723:
721:
720:
706:
700:
699:
697:
696:
673:
667:
666:
664:
663:
649:
643:
642:
640:
639:
625:
619:
618:
616:
615:
601:
595:
594:
592:
591:
577:
571:
570:
568:
567:
553:
547:
546:
544:
543:
529:
523:
522:
520:
519:
505:
499:
494:
488:
487:
485:
484:
470:
464:
463:
461:
460:
446:
440:
421:
415:
414:
406:
400:
399:
397:
396:
382:
376:
371:
365:
360:
354:
353:
351:
350:
336:
280:Laguna Madre Bay
55:, and the outer
830:
829:
825:
824:
823:
821:
820:
819:
770:
769:
761:
760:
757:
752:
751:
742:
740:
732:
731:
727:
718:
716:
708:
707:
703:
694:
692:
675:
674:
670:
661:
659:
651:
650:
646:
637:
635:
627:
626:
622:
613:
611:
603:
602:
598:
589:
587:
579:
578:
574:
565:
563:
555:
554:
550:
541:
539:
531:
530:
526:
517:
515:
507:
506:
502:
495:
491:
482:
480:
472:
471:
467:
458:
456:
448:
447:
443:
422:
418:
408:
407:
403:
394:
392:
384:
383:
379:
372:
368:
361:
357:
348:
346:
338:
337:
333:
328:
301:
292:
268:
236:
212:
200:natural history
192:
179:
166:
158:Arroyo Colorado
142:
134:Edinburg, Texas
130:
98:
93:
49:
17:
12:
11:
5:
828:
826:
818:
817:
812:
807:
802:
797:
792:
787:
782:
772:
771:
768:
767:
756:
755:External links
753:
750:
749:
725:
701:
668:
657:tpwd.texas.gov
644:
620:
596:
572:
548:
524:
513:tpwd.texas.gov
500:
489:
478:tpwd.texas.gov
465:
441:
416:
401:
390:tpwd.texas.gov
377:
366:
355:
330:
329:
327:
324:
323:
322:
317:
312:
307:
300:
297:
291:
288:
267:
264:
235:
232:
211:
208:
191:
188:
178:
175:
165:
162:
141:
138:
129:
126:
97:
94:
92:
89:
57:barrier island
48:
45:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
827:
816:
813:
811:
808:
806:
803:
801:
798:
796:
793:
791:
788:
786:
783:
781:
778:
777:
775:
764:
759:
758:
754:
739:
735:
729:
726:
715:
711:
705:
702:
691:
687:
683:
679:
672:
669:
658:
654:
648:
645:
634:
630:
624:
621:
610:
606:
600:
597:
586:
582:
576:
573:
562:
558:
552:
549:
538:
534:
528:
525:
514:
510:
504:
501:
498:
493:
490:
479:
475:
469:
466:
455:
451:
445:
442:
438:
434:
433:9780471709534
430:
426:
420:
417:
412:
405:
402:
391:
387:
381:
378:
375:
370:
367:
364:
359:
356:
345:
341:
335:
332:
325:
321:
318:
316:
313:
311:
308:
306:
303:
302:
298:
296:
289:
287:
285:
281:
272:
265:
263:
261:
257:
253:
249:
245:
241:
233:
231:
229:
228:semi-tropical
225:
222:early in the
221:
217:
209:
207:
205:
201:
197:
189:
187:
185:
176:
174:
171:
163:
161:
159:
155:
151:
147:
139:
137:
135:
127:
125:
123:
119:
115:
110:
108:
103:
95:
90:
88:
86:
82:
78:
74:
70:
66:
62:
58:
54:
46:
44:
42:
38:
34:
30:
26:
22:
741:. Retrieved
737:
728:
717:. Retrieved
713:
704:
693:. Retrieved
681:
671:
660:. Retrieved
656:
647:
636:. Retrieved
632:
623:
612:. Retrieved
608:
599:
588:. Retrieved
584:
575:
564:. Retrieved
560:
551:
540:. Retrieved
536:
527:
516:. Retrieved
512:
503:
492:
481:. Retrieved
477:
468:
457:. Retrieved
453:
444:
424:
419:
410:
404:
393:. Retrieved
389:
380:
369:
358:
347:. Retrieved
343:
334:
293:
277:
237:
213:
193:
180:
167:
143:
131:
111:
99:
65:biodiversity
50:
20:
18:
714:www.fws.gov
450:"Our Story"
437:p. 253
240:Roma, Texas
107:Ebony trees
53:Roma, Texas
780:Rio Grande
774:Categories
743:2017-07-09
719:2017-07-09
695:2017-07-09
662:2017-07-09
638:2017-07-09
614:2017-07-09
590:2017-07-09
566:2017-07-09
542:2017-07-09
518:2017-07-09
483:2017-07-09
459:2017-07-09
395:2017-07-09
374:Jaguarundi
349:2017-07-09
326:References
248:Rio Grande
244:steamboats
73:jaguarundi
41:ecotourism
27:region of
690:0362-4331
284:boardwalk
170:Harlingen
299:See also
150:wetlands
47:Features
246:on the
202:of the
184:Hidalgo
156:of the
688:
431:
363:Ocelot
260:Mexico
85:native
69:ocelot
35:, the
258:, in
154:oxbow
118:green
81:fauna
77:flora
29:Texas
686:ISSN
429:ISBN
214:The
144:The
100:The
79:and
71:and
19:The
254:to
59:of
776::
736:.
712:.
684:.
680:.
655:.
631:.
607:.
583:.
559:.
535:.
511:.
476:.
452:.
435:,
388:.
342:.
109:.
43:.
746:.
722:.
698:.
665:.
641:.
617:.
593:.
569:.
545:.
521:.
486:.
462:.
439:.
398:.
352:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.