Resaca de la Palma

Resaca de la Palma SP https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/resaca-de-la-palma https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resaca_de_la_Palma_State_Park Resaca de la Palma State Park is one of three state parks belonging to the World Birding Center. At 1,200 acres, Resaca de la Palma State Park is the largest of the World Birding Center sites and is located in Brownsville. A resaca is a type of oxbow lake that can be found in Texas, and is a former channels of the Rio Grande. It is naturally cut off from the river, having no inlet or outlet. The primary recreational activity at Resaca de la Palma State Park is birdwatching. The park offers several trails for hiking and biking, a tram tour, observation decks, and a butterfly garden. Resaca de la Palma's various trails are accessible by foot, bike, and tram.

For assistance using this map, contact the park. Resaca de la Palma State Park – World Birding Center TexasStateParks.org/App TexasStateParks.org/SocialMedia #TexasStateParks #BetterOutside LEGEND Experience South Texas in its natural state – but don’t forget your water, hat and sunscreen! 4 mi. resaca Visitor’s Center • Texas State Parks Store • Restrooms • Meeting Room Disfruta del entorno natural. ¡Y no olvides llevar agua, sombrero y bloqueador solar! Parking Restrooms Tram Stop Mesquite Trail – 0.60 mi. Observation Deck Mexican Olive Trail – 0.30 mi. North Mexican Olive Trail – 0.37 mi. N Hog Trail – 0.20 mi. Butterfly Garden Hiking and Biking Trails Flycatcher Trail – 0.99 mi. Screwbean Alley – 0.20 mi. Kiskadee Trail – 0.05 mi. Quail Loop – 1.36 mi. ADA-Accessible Trails Tram Road Hunter’s Lane – 0.67 mi. White-wing Dove Loop – 0.91 mi. 0.17 mi. Texas State Parks Store T-shirts, caps and one-of-a-kind gift items are available at the Visitor’s Center. Ebony Trail – 0.24 mi. Tram Road – 2.76 mi. Coyote Trail – 0.33 mi. Yellowthroat Loop – 1.18 mi. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 714 Olmito, TX 78575 Bobcat Lane – 1.3 mi. 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. © 2023 TPWD PWD MP P4502-117 (2/23) This publication can be found at tpwd.texas.gov/spdest/parkinfo/maps/park_maps/ 1000 New Carmen Avenue Brownsville, TX 78521 (956) 350-2920 fax (956) 350-3814 www.texasstateparks.org PARK RESERVATIONS TexasStateParks.org ParquesDeTexas.org (512) 389-8900 Proud Sponsor of Texas State Parks 

For assistance using this map, contact the park. For a web version of the map text, visit our Trails Information page. Kingfisher For information on #TexasStateParks, visit texasstateparks.org Sign up today for free email updates: texasstateparks.org/email /TexasStateParks @TPWDparks @TexasStateParks Sponsor: Whole Earth Provision Co. 

The Hidden Treasure of South Texas Resaca de la Palma State Park is situated at the Rio Grande river delta, the southern tip of Texas, only minutes from downtown Brownsville. Named for one of the shallow oxbow ponds once formed by the river, the park’s diverse habitats attract many rare migratory birds, as well as local specialties such as the Plain Chachalaca, Altamira Oriole, Green Jay, and Groove-billed Ani. Two endangered amphibians are supported by this biologically significant subtropical wetland. Lush woodlands dominated by Texas Ebony and Anacua trees, considered one of the most threatened plant communities in the United States, border the resaca (oxbow lake) that transects the park. Visitors can explore over 11 miles of nature trails or relax on the tram as it navigates through the well-preserved ecosystem. The park also features a Visitor’s Center with a state-of-the art meeting facility, gift shop, and butterfly gardens. SUGGESTED HIKES “Quick, Easy & Educational” 2 hours • 2 miles Take a short walk down Ebony Trail. Explore plant signage and interpretive panels along the trail leading to a resaca overlook at Deck A. Visit butterfly gardens, then walk the tram loop to the first bridge and back, enjoying the sights and sounds of nature! “Scenic Stopovers” 3-4 hours • 3 miles Explore the park’s historic resaca from three different observation areas. Hike the tram loop and explore the park’s wetlands at the first bridge. Continue following tram loop and next explore the resaca from Kiskadee Trail and Mexican Olive. “Resaca Roundabout” 3-4 hours • 3.5 miles Venture into the more remote regions of the park. Hike the paved tram loop to Hunter’s Lane then down Yellowthroat Loop. There’s a picnic table located on Yellowthroat overlooking the resaca. Several different trailheads, located at the end of Hunter’s Lane, are available for additional hiking and biking. TRAIL INFORMATION Ebony Trail .2 miles Easy The closest trail to the Visitor Center. This trail curves through old growth ebony-anacua woodlands. Observation deck and boardwalk at terminal end with plant signage along the way. Trailhead in back of Visitor’s Center. This is an ADA-compliant trail; please do not use bicycles here. 1 mile Medium Mesquite Trail Curving through Tamaulipan thornscrub and revegetated grassland savannah. Trailhead off of tram loop. .4 miles Medium North Mexican Olive Trail This trail connects Mesquite with Mexican Olive. This is a slightly more rugged trail. Trailhead off of Tram Loop. .3 miles Easy Mexican Olive Trail This is an ADA-compliant trail; please do not use bicycles here. The trail leads to scenic observation Deck C. Trailhead off of Tram Loop. .03 miles Easy Kiskadee Trail Sugar hackberry and ebony woodlands line this short trail leading to observation Deck A. Trailhead off of Tram Loop. This is an ADA-compliant trail; please do not use bicycles here. 1 mile Medium Flycatcher Trail Loops through thornscrub/savannah. Trail head off Tram Loop. .2 miles Medium Hog Trail Take this trail from Flycatcher to access observation Deck D. .3 miles Medium Coyote Trail Trail with tight curves through ebony and mesquite woodland. .7 miles Medium Hunter’s Lane Entrance to southern remote portions of our park. Use this trail to access Screwbean Alley and the loops Quail, White-winged Dove and Yellowthroat trails. Screwbean Alley .2 miles Easy This trail is short, yet rugged. Rest at the bench with scenic view of resaca. 1.2 miles Hard Quail Loop White-wing Dove Loop .9 miles Hard Recommended biking loops that venture through grasslands. 1.2 miles Easy Yellowthroat Loop Recommended wildlife watching trail. Several habitats are represented, providing opportunities to see an array of wildlife. “Eco-Explorer” All day • 11+ miles 1.2 miles Easy Bobcat Lane Recommended biking trail. Bobcat borders the western edge of the park property, running along a levee. There are over 11 miles of trails open to the public, many suitable for a long walk or a bike ride, and most trailheads can be found off the tram loop. Pick and choose your own hike and enjoy! 3.2 miles Easy Tram Loop Recommended easy trail. Paved loop meanders through 1,200-acre park, crossing two overlooks, with excellent viewing opportunities. Seven trailheads are located on Tram Loop. Resaca de la Palma State Park Self-guided Trails RANGER PROGRAMS Butterfly Walk Bird Walk Nature Tram Tours Nature Hike Yoga in the Park Trail Blazers School and group field trips SPECIAL EVENTS Archery 101 Jolly Night Hike Night Hike Junior Ranger Camp entrance fees Adult Day Use: $4 Daily Child 12 Years and Under: Free hours and info Park: Open daily, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Visitors Center: Open Wednesday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (956) 350-2920 tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/resaca-de-la-palma World Birding Center — Resaca de la Palma State Park Experience South Texas in its natural state – but don’t forget your water, hat and sunscreen! 4 mi. resaca Legend: Disfruta

BIRDS OF RESACA DE LA PALMA S T A T E P A R K A FIELD CHECKLIST 2022 INTRODUCTION R esaca de la Palma State Park is a 1,200-acre park and World Birding Center site located to the northwest of Brownsville, Texas. The flora and fauna in the park are sustained by a resaca. The resaca, or dry riverbed, was formed by the flooding of the Rio Grande; when seasonal rains fill the resacas, wildlife come to the water, creating an opportunity for people to view wildlife and enjoy the natural world. Park staff can control the water level in the resaca to support a variety of wildlife throughout the year. The resaca also supports a variety of habitats that are vital for the survival of the wildlife. White-tipped Doves and Green Jays call from within the hackberry forest and migrating warblers forage for insects on the hackberry’s large leaves. In the Ebony forest, Groove-billed Anis quietly watch the visitors, and Whiteeyed Vireos and Long-billed Thrashers use the dense vegetation for nesting. Olive Sparrows and Northern Mockingbirds sing as they forage through the thorn-scrub. In the revegetated grasslands one will find White-tailed Kites, Mississippi Kites and other raptors searching for prey. Northern Bobwhites call from the grass, where they nest and raise young. In the resaca itself, Least Grebes, Green Herons, Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks and other water birds forage through the water and mud. In one visit to the resaca, a birder could easily see Belted, Ringed and Green Kingfishers. The trail system, over 8 miles, winds through these different habitats. Although vehicular traffic is not permitted past the Visitor Center, visitors can access the trail system from a tram that circles a 2.7-mile loop through the park for easy wildlife viewing. This checklist includes 284 bird species that can be found in Resaca de la Palma State Park. Previous versions of this checklist were compiled by John C. Arvin, modified by Katherine S. Miller, natural resource specialist at Resaca de la Palma, and edited by Sherry Wilson. The current version was edited by State Park staff using eBird reports. While some birds live here year-round, others use the dense habitat to rest during their migration or are seasonal residents. For this reason, the checklist shows the bird species’ abundance by season to aid birders in planning their trips to Resaca de la Palma. Track Resaca’s recent sightings on Ebird.org. The nomenclature and taxonomic organization follow the American Ornithologist’s Union Check-list of North American Birds, 7th Edition (1998) as currently supplemented. The checklist will be updated with further observations, so please report your sightings by utilizing the e-bird kiosk in our visitor center, where birders can record and view sightings and the location within the park on a user-friendly computer. Please note that playing any audio recording of bird songs in an effort to attract the birds is prohibited. This disrupts the birds from their daily 1 activities and can cause nest failure. For your safety and for the preservation of the wildlife, stay on designated trails at all times. We appreciate your cooperation and hope you have a pleasant visit to our park. LEGEND Seasons Sp = Spring: March, April and May Su = Summer: June, July and August F = Fall: September, October and November W = Winter: December, January and February Abundance A = Abundant: always present and observed, large numbers in proper habitats and seasons. C = Common: numbers vary but always found in proper habitat and season. U = Uncommon: present in proper habitat and season, but not common and may be overlooked. R = Rare: seldom recorded, may not be recorded every year. X = Few to no records. CHECKLIST Sp Su F W ___ Fulvous Whistling-Duck..................................... U ___ Black-bellied Whistling-Duck............................. C C C U ___ Greater White-fronted Goose.............................. U U ___ Snow Goose......................................................... U ___ Ross’s Goose........................................................ X ___ Muscovy Duck..................................................... X X ___ Gadwall............................................................... X X U U ___ American Wigeon................................................ X X U U ___ Mallard................................................................ R ___ Mottled Duck....................................................... C C C C 2  Sp Su F W ___ Blue-winged Teal................................................ C X C C ___ Cinnamon Teal................................................... X U ___ Northern Shoveler............................................... X X U U ___ Northern Pintail.................................................. X U ___ Green-winged Teal.............................................. U U ___ Canvasback......................................................... R _

-Official- FACILITIES Get the Mobile App: MAPS ACTIVITIES TexasStateParks.org/app T O Y O T A T U N D R A The Toyota Tundra is built to explore the great outdoors. No matter what the weekend throws at you, your Tundra takes it on with ease. | toyota.com/tundra Official Vehicle of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation CONTENTS 4 100 Years of Texas Parks 6 Parks Near You 8 90 Checklist DIRECTORY TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT 52 68 20 38 60 30 84 68 David Yoskowitz, Ph.D. Executive Director Rodney Franklin State Parks Director Mischelle Diaz Communications Director TPW COMMISSION Arch “Beaver” Aplin, III, Chairman Lake Jackson Dick Scott, Vice-Chairman Wimberley James E. Abell Kilgore Oliver J. Bell Cleveland Paul L. Foster El Paso Anna B. Galo Laredo Jeffery D. Hildebrand Houston Robert L. “Bobby” Patton, Jr. Fort Worth Travis B. “Blake” Rowling Dallas T. Dan Friedkin, Chairman-Emeritus Houston Lee Marshall Bass, Chairman-Emeritus Fort Worth 52 Panhandle Plains 48 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 illustration: Brad Woodard, bravethewoods.com Texas State Parks Official Guide, Nineteenth Edition © TPWD PWD BK P4000-000A (3/23) TPWD receives funds from DHS and USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin (including limited English proficiency), disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, visit tpwd.texas. gov/nondiscrimination or call (512) 389-4800 for information on filing a complaint. To obtain information in an alternative format, contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915, by Relay Texas at 7-1-1, (800) 735-2989, or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you speak a language other than English and need assistance, email lep@tpwd.texas.gov. You can also contact Department of the Interior Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Civil Rights, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240, and/or U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), Mail Stop #0190 2707, Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20528. 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 This year is very special for Texas State Parks: We are celebrating our 100-year anniversary in 2023. More and more Texans are discovering the beauty of State Parks and exploring the outdoors in new and adventurous ways. Our teams across the state are incredibly excited to welcome outdoor enthusiasts, especially those who have yet to discover what our parks have to offer. The variety of Texas’ lands is unmatched; from the mountains of west Texas to the Gulf shores, the Texas State Park system celebrates and preserves the natural and cultural treasures that make Texas such a special place. The 640,000-plus acres that make up the state park system are nearly as diverse as the people of Texas. Since 1923, our mission has been to help connect our visitors with the outdoors. As we honor those who have come before us, I invite a new generation to be a part of the story of the lands that connect us all. There is more to enjoy in our parks than you know, so please join us in our celebrations and activities. Every day we look for new and better ways to ensure your state parks are welcoming to every Texan, regardless of their background or experience being outside. I hope you’ll visit soon and often, while bringing your friends and family along. YOU are a natural and we’re looking forward to celebrating the 100-year anniversary of state parks with you! WHAT’S NEW IN STATE PARKS Galveston Island State Park reopened the beachside of the park with a new headquarters, campsites, restrooms, and more. Bastrop State Park unveiled an extensive new group of trails, the “Tree Army Trails,” many of which are ADA-accessible. Improvements and major repairs are planned for Indian Lodge, Tyler, Inks Lake, Cedar Hill, South Llano River, Eisenhower and several other state parks All-terrain “GRIT” wheelchairs are now available at 10 parks with more adaptive equipment on the way to help people of all abilities experience Texas State Parks. Learn more about our accessibility efforts, page 14. More information: TexasStateParks.org/whatsnew 100 Years of Texas Parks The crown jewels of Texas road trips started as an unfunded wish list before the Depression. Back in 1923, Governor Pat Neff realized rising numbers of new car travelers needed places to camp overnight on multi-day trips. Neff convinced the state legislature to create a six-member State Parks Board, half men, half women. Isabella, the Governor’s mother, and her family donated acreage on the Leon

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 Actividades y Programas 4 Parques Cercanos 6 Lugares para Quedarse 8 Tarifas y Pases 9 Directorio 10 Mapa de Parques 18 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 Pre