Birding Around Lake Mead
Birding Around Las Vegas

Lake Mead National Recreation Area (NRA), located just east of Las Vegas (map), is a good place for southern Nevada birders because we can find waterfowl and other water birds (translation: it's a change from the desert). Most of the species at the lake should not be anything special for visitors (e.g., ducks, grebes, waders, shorebirds, and gulls) because these are the same species found elsewhere in North America, but the area is scenic, worth a visit, and there is always the chance of finding an interesting desert species or two. During winter, feeding the wild ducks at the Boulder Beach Marina provides a unique birding experience. Birders can make a nice spring or fall day out of starting out at Boulder Beach and birding north to Bowman Reservoir, then taking Interstate-15 home.

For More Information and details of getting to Lake Mead, fees, and other information, see the Lake Mead NRA Overview page.

Boulder Beach. Big old trees, a wide swimming beach, and a marina provide places to look for waterfowl, shorebirds, and wading birds. Check the shrubs and trees for migrants and desert species.

Las Vegas Wash. Look for waterfowl and other waterbirds from the marina area or from bluffs overlooking the lake. Look for desert species in the campground trees. With the lake level so low these days, it might take a spotting scope to see the lake.

Wetlands Trail. Walk into a narrow, steep-walled canyon of Las Vegas Wash to find running water in southern Nevada. The creek and riparian shrubs attract desert species and migrants.

Bitter Spring. This is a neat little place where a trickle of flowing water forms a spot of green amid the vastness of the dry Mojave Desert. Under the best of conditions, the roads to Bitter Spring require a high-clearance vehicle.

Rogers Spring. Water and vegetation attract desert species and migrants. This is a place to sit under the palm trees, take a dip in the warm water, eat lunch on covered picnic tables, and watch a few birds. This is not a birding destination, it's just a nice place to stop while traveling out at the lake.

Blue Point Spring. A narrow strip of green with a creek, shrubs, and palm trees that attracts desert species and migrants. The ground is wet near the palms, but there is no pond. This isn't a birding destination, it's just a nice place to stop while traveling out at the lake.

Overton Wildlife Management Area. The Muddy River forms a delta where it once flowed into Lake Mead. There are extensive, seasonally flooded marshes, large cottonwood trees, grassy fields, and several ponds. The birding is good, but the roads aren't always drivable.

Bowman Reservoir. This reservoir with a ring of trees can be good for waterfowl, other water birds, and migrants. This is not a destination; it's just a place to make a quick stop.

 
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