Birding Fairbanks Spring
Birding Around Las Vegas, Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Fairbanks Spring
 
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Fairbanks Spring
View out across marshes below Fairbanks Spring. The main marsh is out there in the distance.

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.

Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Fairbanks Spring
View out across marshes below Fairbanks Spring.

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.

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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© Jim Boone; Last updated 081125
 
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