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Aplomado Falcon LbNA #12881

Owner:Silver Eagle Supporter Verified
Plant date:Dec 31, 2004
Location:
City:Harlingen
County:Cameron
State:Texas
Boxes:1
Found by: 2Grls1Guy
Last found:Jun 14, 2008
Status:FFFFFa
Last edited:Oct 19, 2015
*** Part of my TX Birding Trail Series ***
Terrain Difficulty: Easy (flat, 200 yards RT)
Status: alive


The Aplomado Falcon is like a small, long- tailed, boldly patterned Peregrine Falcon, but with a bold "mustache" on its face. It is on the U.S. Endangered Species List and is classified as endangered in Texas. Efforts are being made to help this species to recovery by releasing captive-bred birds in Laguna Atascosa NWR. It is part of the Arroyo Colorado Loop described on the Lower Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail map. You have a good chance of seeing this falcon, along with this microbox, so be sure to visit the next time you are in the Rio Grande Valley.

Directions:
From Harlingen, go east on Hwy 106 14 miles past Rio Hondo. Take a left at Buena Vista Road and drive 3 miles to the visitor center. From South Padre Island, take Hwy 100 out of Port Isabel and exit right on FM 510 at Laguna Vista. Continue 5.4 miles to the Cameron County Airport road, take a right and continue about 7 miles to the visitor center. Stop to pay fee and get map, then drive to Lake Atascosa and park by the Overlook. NOTE: It has been reported that the road to the overlook is currently closed.

Clues:
Find the Lakeside trail to the right of the overlook and walk down it for about 100 yards to a small side trail on the left leading to a bench overlooking the lake. From the bench, go back the way you came on the side trail for 10 steps, then go left another 10 steps at 320 into the brush to a small tree (watch out for stickers). The microbox in camo tape is in the crotch of the tree about 2 feet high under sticks and leaves. Please re-cover well.