Estero Llano Grande

INTERPRETIVE GUIDE JOIN US AS WE FIND MORE BIRDS AND BUTTERFLIES IN THE PARK! ENJOY VIEWING THEM, Since 2006, the park has recorded more than 340 species of birds and over 180 species of butterflies in the park. Many of these species were first seen during the park’s weekly nature tour programs. Visit the park’s website for the latest tour schedule or follow the park’s social media for more photos and tour information. ESTERO LLANO GRANDE STATE ESTERO’S SPECIALTY SPECIES PARK’S VARIED HABITATS Common Pauraques (above) are very likely heard at night, or in known roosting areas during the day. Mexican Bluewing butterflies flutter through the Green Jay Trail much of the year. Mesquite lizards are tough to see, but the park has many of these secretive lizards. Altamira Orioles nest in the park – look for their long pendulous nests. WELCOME – BIENVENIDOS! A SANCTUARY FOR BIRDS AND THE PEOPLE WHO WELCOME ALL WHO VISIT. GREEN JAYS AND PLAIN CHACHALACAS SING FROM ABOVE, LEAST GREBES AND SORA QUIETLY FEED IN THE PARK’S WETLANDS, WHILE COMMON PAURAQUES QUIETLY SLEEP ON THE Estero Llano Grande State Park 3301 S. International Blvd. (FM 1015) Weslaco, TX 78596 • (956) 565-3919 www.tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/estero-llano-grande GROUND – TO THE DELIGHT OF MANY PARK VISITORS. © 2022 TPWD. PWD BR P4502-0179M (7/22) 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. This publication can be found at tpwd.texas.gov/park-pubs ESTERO LLANO GRANDE STATE PARK E S T E R O L L A N O G R A N D E S T A T E P A R K FROM FARMLAND TO WETLAND WHAT’S IN A NAME? Estero Llano Grande translates from Spanish as “estuary by a large grassland.” Grasslands historically covered parts of the Rio Grande Valley, especially around the area’s sparse natural lakes. Although nearby Llano Grande Lake is now bordered by the Rio Grande River Floodway system, the park’s wetlands are still surrounded by grassy areas as they used to be in generations past. VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE Different habitats combine to make up the perfect formula for attracting a wide variety of animals to the park. Dry mesquite/ prickly pear scrublands, wetlands and ponds, grasslands, and a mixed native/non-native tropical forest provide food and shelter for many animals and attracts occasional bird and butterfly species that are out of their normal range. NOT JUST FOR THE BIRDS Least Grebes Mexican Bluewing Ecotourists aren’t just looking for birds when they come to the park. Estero Llano Grande provides safety and food for a variety of insects and reptiles found nowhere else in the United States. Mexican Bluewing butterflies, Saucy Beauty moths, mesquite lizards, and black-striped snakes excite tourists and local residents alike. M Sora ost of Estero Llano Grande’s wetlands did not exist before 2004. A collaborative effort with Ducks Unlimited created 14 acres of wetland habitat providing thousands of migratory birds a rest stop during their annual migrations. Staff carefully manage water depths throughout the year to mimic local resaca lake levels for the benefit of these birds. Black-necked Stilt