Balmorhea Lake

Ecosystem Overview

The Balmorhea Lake ecosystem supports 29 documented wildlife species across 25 taxonomic genera. Located in Reeves County, Texas, this area provides critical habitat with diverse natural communities. The location hosts 6 frequently observed species and 5 occasionally documented species, creating a balanced ecosystem with both resident and visiting wildlife. Compared to nearby Pecos, Balmorhea Lake hosts 190% more species diversity. This location ranks #2 for species diversity among 5 Reeves County County natural areas, placing it in the 60th percentile for biodiversity.

Biodiversity Highlights

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

Regional Rank

Out of 5 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common6 species

Common9 species

Occasional9 species

Rare5 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#2 of 5 locations

60th percentile for diversity

vs. Pecos

+190% species diversity

Ecosystem Overview

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Biodiversity Highlights

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Species Distribution

Very Common‌

Common‌

Occasional‌

Rare‌

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

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Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 29 total documented species.

Aechmophorus clarkii

Clark's Grebe

Very Common5 obs.

Larus delawarensis

Ring-billed Gull

Very Common3 obs.

Aechmophorus occidentalis

Western Grebe

Very Common3 obs.

Podiceps nigricollis

black-necked grebe

Very Common3 obs.

Lophodytes cucullatus

Hooded Merganser

Very Common3 obs.

Chlidonias niger

Black Tern

Common2 obs.

Stercorarius longicaudus

long-tailed jaeger

Common2 obs.

Branta canadensis

Canada goose

Common2 obs.

Spatula clypeata

Northern Shoveler

Common2 obs.

Bos taurus

Domesticated cattle

Common1 obs.

Trachemys scripta

slider turtle, red-eared terrapin, red-eared slider

Common1 obs.

Fulica americana

American Coot

Occasional1 obs.

Megaceryle alcyon

Belted Kingfisher

Occasional1 obs.

Buteo swainsoni

Swainson's hawk

Occasional1 obs.

Pandion haliaetus

osprey

Occasional1 obs.

Nyctanassa violacea

Yellow-Crowned Night Heron

Occasional1 obs.

Numenius americanus

long-billed curlew

Occasional1 obs.

Gavia pacifica

Pacific Diver

Rare1 obs.

Gavia adamsii

Yellow-billed Loon

Rare1 obs.

Gavia immer

great northern loon

Rare1 obs.

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Most Common Species

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Want the Complete Field Guide?

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Get Your Personalized Field Guide

Download a professional PDF field guide featuring all the species found in Balmorhea Lake. Perfect for outdoor adventures, education, and nature exploration.

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

Species Count

-6%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 4 nearby locations in Reeves County County, Texas

Nearby Natural Areas

Pecos

Importance: 0.40

10 species

+190% vs. current

Reeves County

Importance: 0.35

100 species

-71% vs. current

Balmorhea

Importance: 0.26

7 species

+314% vs. current

San Solomon Springs

Importance: 0.12

7 species

+314% vs. current

About This Comparison

These comparisons are based on documented wildlife observations from citizen science data. Locations with higher species counts may have more observation activity, different habitat types, or larger coverage areas. Regional rankings help identify biodiversity hotspots and unique natural areas within Reeves County County.

Regional Comparison

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Regional Ranking

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Species Count

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vs. Regional Average

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Nearby Natural Areas

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About This Comparison

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

Species Count

-6%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 4 nearby locations in Reeves County County, Texas

Nearby Natural Areas

Pecos

Importance: 0.40

10 species

+190% vs. current

Reeves County

Importance: 0.35

100 species

-71% vs. current

Balmorhea

Importance: 0.26

7 species

+314% vs. current

San Solomon Springs

Importance: 0.12

7 species

+314% vs. current

About This Comparison

Ecosystem Overview

Biodiversity Highlights

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

Regional Rank

Out of 5 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common6 species

Common9 species

Occasional9 species

Rare5 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#2 of 5 locations

60th percentile for diversity

vs. Pecos

+190% species diversity

Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 29 total documented species.

Aechmophorus clarkii

Clark's Grebe

Very Common5 obs.

Larus delawarensis

Ring-billed Gull

Very Common3 obs.

Aechmophorus occidentalis

Western Grebe

Very Common3 obs.

Podiceps nigricollis

black-necked grebe

Very Common3 obs.

Lophodytes cucullatus

Hooded Merganser

Very Common3 obs.

Chlidonias niger

Black Tern

Common2 obs.

Stercorarius longicaudus

long-tailed jaeger

Common2 obs.

Branta canadensis

Canada goose

Common2 obs.

Spatula clypeata

Northern Shoveler

Common2 obs.

Bos taurus

Domesticated cattle

Common1 obs.

Trachemys scripta

slider turtle, red-eared terrapin, red-eared slider

Common1 obs.

Fulica americana

American Coot

Occasional1 obs.

Megaceryle alcyon

Belted Kingfisher

Occasional1 obs.

Buteo swainsoni

Swainson's hawk

Occasional1 obs.

Pandion haliaetus

osprey

Occasional1 obs.

Nyctanassa violacea

Yellow-Crowned Night Heron

Occasional1 obs.

Numenius americanus

long-billed curlew

Occasional1 obs.

Gavia pacifica

Pacific Diver

Rare1 obs.

Gavia adamsii

Yellow-billed Loon

Rare1 obs.

Gavia immer

great northern loon

Rare1 obs.

Want the Complete Field Guide?

Get all 29 species with 3-4 high-quality images each, detailed descriptions, and a downloadable PDF for offline use.

Premium field guide includes identification tips, seasonal patterns, and professional layout optimized for field use.