Birding Fairbanks Spring
Birding Around Las Vegas, Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
View out across marshes below Fairbanks Spring. The main marsh is out there in the distance.
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Description
Fairbanks Spring is located at the base of some low hills at
the northern edge of the Refuge. Water flows out into a broad marshy
area with some dikes (including the road) that create small ponds that
are completely overgrown with cattails and bulrushes. There are a
number of cottonwood, ash, and mesquite trees around the impoundment,
but there are few trees south of the road where the water flows out
into a broad, flat marshy area. The surrounding area is dry, sparsely
vegetated Mojave Desert scrub with creosote bush and bursage. |
View out across marshes below Fairbanks Spring.
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Location
Fairbanks Spring is located on the Ash Meadows National Wildlife, about 2 hours northwest
of Las Vegas and about 4.9 air-miles north of the Refuge Office.
From Las Vegas, drive out to Ash Meadows National Wildlife.
From the Refuge Office (Table 1, Site 691), drive out to the main
refuge road. Drive straight across the main road and continue driving
north (actually northwest here) on the well-graded dirt road for about
6 miles to the Fairbanks Spring marsh (Site 592). As a landmark, the
road passes Rogers Spring (Site 591) about 1.5 miles before reaching
Fairbanks Spring. The actual Fairbanks Spring is hard to find,
especially because the refuge map shows it to be west of the road and
flowing uphill. Regardless, there are ponds and marshes in the right
area. If you go past the spring area, you will exit the refuge (lots of
signs) onto Imvite Road (no street sign). Topographic maps show the
actual spring to be just east of this point (Site 696). |
No nore photos, yet.
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Hours
The refuge is day-use only: open sunrise to sunset.
Fees
None.
Specialties
Fairbanks Spring is a good place to see desert species when they come in for water. Check the
trees and shrubs for House Finches, White-crowned and Chipping
sparrows, Yellow-rumped and other warblers, Chukar, Gambel's Quail,
Mourning Doves, and similar species. Watch the marsh for Red-winged
blackbirds and Marsh Wrens.
Fairbanks Spring is also good for finding migrants, but the species mix depends on the season,
and during migration it depends on just who is moving through at the
time. Review the refuge
bird list for some ideas on what
to expect during the time of year when you will be visiting. |
Table 1. GPS Coordinates for Highway Locations (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S).
| Site # |
Location |
Latitude (°N) |
Longitude (°W) |
UTM Easting |
UTM Northing |
Elevation (feet) |
Verified |
| 591 |
Rogers Spring |
36.4792 |
116.3253 |
560444 |
4037112 |
2,301 |
yes |
| 592 |
Fairbanks Spring |
36.4869 |
116.3410 |
559032 |
4037954 |
2,251 |
yes |
| 691 |
Ash Meadows Refuge Headquarters |
36.4220 |
116.3280 |
560243 |
4030764 |
2,188 |
yes |
| 696 |
Fairbanks Spring |
36.4905 |
116.3412 |
559008 |
4038356 |
2,270 |
yes |
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