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www.wttrgv.com THE WINTER TEXAN - FALL EDITION 2017
Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park and World Birding Center
The Rio Grande Valley is unique in many ways. Some of those special qualities include neighboring Mexico, a lowcost of living, Winter Texans here six months a year or more and, of course, people visiting from all over the country (and the world at times) to see rare species of birds and butterflies at one of nine separate World Birding Centers, including Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park. Since it opened, Bensten has grown in its popularity for the wide variety of birds and insects it attracts. Travelers will come with bucket list (birding checklist) in hand to try and get a glimpse of tropical birds, butterflies and dragonflies that inhabit the
A Bobcat takes a drink at Bentsen RGV State Park and World Birding Center.
Rio Grande Valley. The 797-acre state park and World Birding Center has documented more than 350 species of birds and over 200 species of butterflies. Winter Texans have an avid love of the Valley’s state parks and birding centers, said Roy Rodriguez, director of Bentsen State Park. The feelings go both ways, he said. “We eagerly await the arrival of our Winter Texan friends,” Rodriguez said. “Most of our volunteers and hosts started out as winter visitors, hoping to see local wildlife while enjoying the mild weather. Many return year after year, excited about volunteering or introducing new friends to the park and some decide they like it so much, they move to the Valley permanently.” The park is located a few miles southwest of Mission, an area along the Rio Grande that was first settled by Spaniards in the 1740s. Land was portioned out and the area where the park is located was granted to Jose Antonio Zamora. A small settlement known as Las Nuevas was abandoned in the late 1930s when the Bentsen family purchased more than 3,000 acres. The Bentsens developed more than See BENTSEN pg. 11
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