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Kirby Lake
Location of Kirby Lake in Texas, USA.
Location of Kirby Lake in Texas, USA.
Kirby Lake
Location in Texas
Location of Kirby Lake in Texas, USA.
Location of Kirby Lake in Texas, USA.
Kirby Lake
Location in the United States
Location Abilene, Texas
Coordinates 32°22′35.34″N 99°44′4.46″W / 32.3764833°N 99.7345722°W / 32.3764833; -99.7345722
Type reservoir
Built 1928
Surface area 740 acres (300 ha)
Max. depth 16 ft (4.9 m)
Kirby Lake near Abilene, Texas
Kirby Lake at sunset

Kirby Lake is a large, man-made lake covering 740 acres. It's located on the south side of Abilene, Texas, near Highway 83. The city of Abilene manages this lake.

About Kirby Lake

Kirby Lake was built in 1928. It is a reservoir, which means it's a lake created by building a dam to store water. The deepest part of the lake is about 16 feet. The land around the lake is mostly open grasslands, called prairies. Kirby Lake is also part of the larger Colorado River Basin (Texas) system.

Fishing at Kirby Lake

Kirby Lake is a great spot for fishing! Many people enjoy catching different kinds of fish here. Some of the most common fish you can find include blue catfish and other types of catfish. You might also catch bluegill, largemouth bass, carp, and white crappie. Most people fish from the banks of the lake instead of using a boat.

Wildlife at Kirby Lake

Kirby Lake is a wonderful place to see many different animals, especially birds and butterflies.

Bird Watching

Bird watchers love Kirby Lake because many kinds of birds visit. You might spot pectoral sandpipers, cactus wrens, and Baird's sandpipers. Sometimes, rarer birds like the long-tailed jaeger, red knot, and red phalarope can be seen. During spring and fall, you can also see desert cardinals, scarlet tanagers, and various waterfowl as they migrate.

Butterfly Species

The area around Kirby Lake is famous for its many types of butterflies. It's one of the best places to see a wide variety! Some of the butterflies you might find include the Pipevine swallowtail, Sleepy orange, Reakirt's blue, Horace's duskywing, tawny emperor, common buckeye, and sachem.

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