The World Birding Center, Texas is headquartered at Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park. Birders across the nation know "Bentsen" as the crown jewel of the Rio Grande Valley parks. For bird watchers, the park is a treasure trove of "Valley specialties". These birds, such as Green Jays and Plain Chachalacas, are found nowhere else in the United States. The park is also home to "Mexican vagrants", rare birds from nearby Mexico.
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park is currently offering:
Access within the park is by foot, bike and tram only.
You can contact the World Birding Center, Texas at worldbirdingcenter.org for more information.
Address
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park
2800 S. Bentsen Palm Drive (FM 2062)
Mission, TX 78572
Reservations and Phone Information:
Phone: (956) 584-9156
Fax: (956) 584-9126
Rare Bird Alert
(956) 584-2731
Hours
Admission
The Birds
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park is one of the largest tracts of Rio Grande floodplain forest in South Texas. The park has become a magnate for the "Valley specialties" that make the park famous. Aside from the Green Jays and Plain Chachalacas that congregate regularly at feeding stations in the park, other neo-tropical varieties such as Ferruginous Pygmy-owl and Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet are also likely. Virtual clouds of migrating Swainson's and Broad-winged Hawks are a popular spring and fall spectacle.
The Access
Visitors can take the transportation shuttle, ride bikes or walk through the park. A two-story observation tower gives visitors a bird's-eye view of the canopy as well as a peek into Mexico. Two enclosed bird blinds and a birding wall allow visitors to see birds up close and watch their behaviors. Over eight miles of trails with bird feeding stations and water features offer a variety of opportunities to encounter wildlife inside the park.
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