Overview

December 2011: The area is quiet, but construction continues. Portions of the area may be closed. The Birdsong Trail is open. Link to construction photos. The lower ponds have been drained, and the stream now flows into the pasture. I will update trails information and area photos as the construction is finished.

Corn Creek is a tiny spot of green in a vast sea of Mojave Desert Scrub that attracts desert birds and migrant species like a magnet. Of all the places to watch birds around Las Vegas, this is the best place for finding desert species, seasonal migrants, and unusual migrants -- historically, this has been where the birds show up. Water brings in desert species, trees attract migrants (fruit and cover), and the area is small enough to work it over and follow birds from one side to the other.

Link to map of Corn Creek.

Description

Corn Creek is a desert oasis located on the edge of a broad, flat valley at the foot of the Sheep Mountains. Several springs in the area provide water for Honey Mesquite, Cottonwood Trees, and wetland plant species. Two springs were used by late-1800s homesteaders, and these springs still water three ponds and the trees, grass, and orchards that remain.

Most of the habitat .immediately surrounding Corn Creek is low-elevation Mojave Desert scrub (creosote bush, white bursage, fourwing saltbush, and a few Mojave yucca). This area is in the rain shadow of the Spring Mountains, so it gets less rain than usual, even for a desert, and as a result, the vegetation is sparse and stunted.

To the north of Corn Creek, a long strip of Mesquite-Sand Dune Woodland habitat runs up the valley. This vegetation is supported by subsurface water flow and a few springs. Much of the Las Vegas Valley was covered by similar Sand Dune Woodlands before development. To the west of Corn Creek (along the entrance road), a broad saltbush flat covers the bottom of the valley. To the east, the Sheep Range rises to elevations of about 10,000 feet. These mountains have extensive Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands, smaller areas of Yellow-Pine Forest, and even Bristlecone Pine Forests at highest-elevations. These woodlands provide habitat for montane species that sometimes come down to Corn Creek.

Construction has affected the trails and routes through and around Corn Creek. Until new trails are established, bird the area by walking north past the information kiosk and into the area. Immediately to the left is the cement pond, and just past a foot bridge, a side trail turns right to the two springs that feed the area.

Beyond the footbridge, the trail wraps west around the north side of cement pond to a trail junction (dirt road). From there, use paths of least resistance to wander about and bird the area. With construction, it is hard to know which areas will be open.

Turning to the right on the dirt road, the route crosses over a low hill. To the left is the Pahrump Poolfish habitat, and to the right is the Railroad Tie Cabin. Following the dirt road around to the west about 75 yards past the cabin, the Birdsong Trail takes off to the right. This 0.4-mile loop starts on the old road and runs north to wet areas with trees (see site map), then comes back to the road at a point next to the maintenance yard.

There are no services at Corn Creek, so be sure you have enough gas to get there and back. Bring water and snacks. Picnicking is not allowed at Corn Creek, but there is a picnic area by a spring with cottonwood trees up the hill to the southeast (Table 1, Site 423). You can see the trees from the Corn Creek parking area, about a mile up the Mormon Well Road.

Location

Corn Creek is located northwest of Las Vegas on the Desert National Wildlife Range (a federal wildlife refuge), about 30 minutes northwest of downtown Las Vegas.

From Las Vegas, drive north on Highway 95 for about 30 minutes. Pass the turnoff to Mt. Charleston (a left turn to Kyle Canyon) and pass the turnoff to the Las Vegas Paiute Indian Reservation (the highway goes under an overpass). About 6 miles past the Paiute Reservation overpass, at about mile marker 101.5, the turnoff to Corn Creek (Site 350) is marked by a small refuge sign, a Corn Creek Road sign, and a well-graded, gravel road heading east across the desert. The turnoff used to be marked by an "artistic" collection of about 40 mailboxes, but now there are just a few "modern" cluster mailboxes. Corn Creek, located at Refuge Headquarters, is 3.8 miles from the highway (Site 106).

Hours

The Wildlife Range is always open, but Corn Creek is open sunrise to sunset.

Fees

None.

Birding Corn Creek

Corn Creek is a bird magnet. Everything eventually shows up here. During spring and summer, watch for Phainopepla, desert warblers, desert sparrows, thrashers, and hummingbirds; and during fall, watch for migrants and eastern warblers. This site is also good for falcons, accipiters, flycatchers, orioles, tanagers, grosbeaks, and buntings. Winter generally is quiet, but there is always something flitting about.

While driving on Corn Creek Road, watch the saltbush flats for Horned Larks, desert sparrows, and Le Conte's Thrashers; also check the sky for swallows, hawks, and other soaring birds.

Approaching Corn Creek, you first arrive at the southwest corner of the horse pasture. Stop here and check the trees, power lines, and the radio tower for perching birds. Continue past the pasture and the office buildings to a parking lot by an information kiosk.

Before entering the area, sign the visitor register so the Refuge will get credit for your visit (use a false name if you don't want the government to track your movements, but records of more visitors just might lead to more funding), then look around the parking area for Phainopepla in the Honey Mesquite, Gambel's Quail and Black-throated Sparrows among the shrubs, and hawks and swallows in the sky. This, the interface between the desert and the oasis, is a good place to watch for desert species (e.g., Greater Roadrunner, Mourning Dove, and House Finch) coming in for water.

From the parking area, enter the area on the trail just left of the information kiosk. You will immediately arrive at the southeast corner of the cement pond. Trees along the pond and up the creek to the right are good for warblers and other songbirds.

During warmer weather, watch for large Yellow-backed Spiny Lizards climbing on the tree trunks and Side-blotched Lizards and Western Whiptail Lizards on the ground. We used to have red-eared sliders and softshell turtles, but they probably are gone now. There were are lots of bullfrogs and crayfish in the ponds, but their numbers likely are down since the ponds were drained. The wildlife managers are trying establish poolfish here, hoping that the cement lining will help reduce the number of non-native species competing with, or eating, the poolfish. There is also man-made poolfish refuge on the north edge of the trees.

West of the cement pond, look for birds the grass and on the wooden fence around the Big House. The grassy area adjacent to the cement pond is good for sparrows and other ground birds, and the trees and fence posts provide perches for flycatchers. This area is where we most often see Lazuli Buntings, Blue Grosbeaks, woodpeckers, and Lucy's Warblers.

The old orchard (west of the cement pond) provides habitat for songbirds, flycatchers, and woodpeckers. The shrubs at the west end of the orchard often hide something interesting (e.g., Brown Thrasher, White-crowned Sparrow). Shrubs and trees around the orchard often are productive, as many birds seem to prefer drinking and bathing in the stream rather than in the ponds. Watch for frogs and toads in the creek too.

Just beyond the orchard, there is a brief view of the new wetlands. Historically this area has been good for Western Kingbirds and an assortment of other flycatchers. This is also a good area to look for "unusual" species such as Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, White-Faced Ibis, Killdeer, and Wilson's Snipe.

The trail then passes the remnants of Ponds 2 and 3. These ponds are gone, but the trees are good for all sorts of birds, including warblers; Hooded, Bullock's, and Scott's Orioles; flycatchers; Belted Kingfishers; Cedar Waxwings; and sparrows. Check the ground under the trees just south of the ponds. You also get a few elevated places along this part of the trail to scan the pasture for flycatchers and all sorts of perch-foraging and ground-foraging birds.

If you feel a little adventuresome, drop off the old dike and walk around the perimeter of the maintenance yard (the boneyard). The trail between the pasture and the boneyard is overgrown, so watch your footing (and watch for snakes during warmer weather). Alternatively, you can walk down (and stay on) the road along the north side of the boneyard.

Around the boneyard, check the trees and shrubs along the fence for sparrows, finches, and thrashers, and tanagers, and check the pasture again. The sunflowers along the south side often are full of Lesser Goldfinches and sparrows. The radio-transmitter tower on the northwest corner of the boneyard often hides something interesting (e.g., falcons and hawks).

From the west end of boneyard, scan the Honey Mesquite and Cottonwood Trees to the north, then walk back up the road along the north side of the boneyard towards the main area. The desert shrubs north of the ponds usually have interesting birds, so watch for Crissal Thrashers, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Verdin, and other desert species.

Continuing on the dirt road, stop and visit the poolfish house. The Fish and Wildlife Service built a refuge habitat in 2005 where they keep a remnant population of the endangered Pahrump poolfish. Native fish are having a hard time throughout the Southwestern U.S. deserts as springs, creeks, and ponds dry up from overuse and drought. Read the signs to learn of their plight.

Continuing east, the trees in the northeast corner of the area often are good for finding woodpeckers. Take a look at the Railroad Tie Cabin too. Imagine what it was like to live here some 100 years ago. Just past the buildings, turn left (east) and follow the trail that cuts up onto a little knob. This is a good place to get a bit of an overview and to get some elevation on the birds. Following the trail, it rejoins the road adjacent to the cement pond. Follow the trail to the left (east) and circle around the cement pond.

As you approach the parking area, there is a little bridge over a creek. Follow the creek upstream for about 100 yards to see the two springs that provide water for the area.

As you leave Corn Creek and drive back towards the main highway, check the saltbush flats for Horned Larks, desert sparrows, and Le Conte's Thrashers.

Specialties

Of all the places to go birding around Las Vegas, this is the best place for finding desert species, seasonal migrants, and unusual migrants -- this is where the birds show up. Watch for desert residents and seasonal migrants.

Corn Creek is a bird magnet. Everything eventually shows up here. During spring and summer, watch for Phainopepla, desert warblers, desert sparrows, thrashers, and hummingbirds; and during fall, watch for migrants and eastern warblers. This site is also good for falcons, accipiters, flycatchers, orioles, tanagers, grosbeaks, and buntings. Keep an open mind and look for unexpected species such as Zone-tailed Hawks, Hooded Warblers, and Harris' Sparrows. Winter generally is quiet, but there is always something flitting about.