Birding Around Las Vegas, Urban Las Vegas Valley
 New Access Road - follow that car! |
Description The Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve (BVP) is becoming one of the best places in southern Nevada to watch birds. Marsh and stream-side habitat in the nearby Las Vegas Wash, combined with open ponds and trees in the BVP ponds, attracts birds of all kinds to water in this otherwise parched land. Desert species, waterbirds, wading birds, migrant songbirds, and shorebirds can be abundant here. Paved (accessible) and dirt walkways run on dikes that divide the area into several brush-lined ponds and provide many vantage points. An elevated platform gives good views over much of the area. Access to the area is free, but it closes early, especially during summer. |
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 New Access Road - follow that car! |
The BVP began as part of the Henderson city sewage treatment system, but with changes in the treatment process, the BVP now uses reclaimed water and the odor is gone. Even so, the staff still ask people to remain on the trails and stay out of the mud. Check the ponds for waterbirds, check the shrubs (mostly saltbush) and cattails for passerines, watch the shrubs outside the fence for sparrows, quail, and thrashers, and keep an eye on the sky for falcons, hawks, swallows, and swifts. The mesquite thickets and river bottom beyond the northern fence are in the Clark County Wetlands Park Nature Preserve, another birding area. |
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 Visitor Center |
For birding, a good short walk is to go north between Pond 1 and Pond 2, then east to the blind on the south edge of Pond 9, make a loop around Pond 9, and head back to the visitor center. This short walk provides viewing opportunities over open ponds (ducks), cattail marshes (Marsh Wrens and Yellow-headed Blackbirds), and loafing islands (shorebirds, wading birds). Starting from the Visitor Center, walk out the paved trail staying to the left. Bend to the right at the first trail junction and walk along the dike between Ponds 1 and 2 to a bench looking north over Pond 2. The tree-covered island just offshore from the bench usually is loaded with birds. Follow the trail to the right and walk east, past Pond 5, to the blind on Pond 9 that overlooks loafing islands (watch for sleeping ducks and shorebirds). From there, loop around the east end of Pond 9 (cattails and reeds), and back between Ponds 6 and 9 (good views in both directions). |
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 Entrance. Be sure to sign in for access. |
For a good longer walk, hike the entire perimeter of the area, perhaps wandering through the middle of the Preserve on the way back. Starting from the Visitor Center, walk out the paved trail staying to the left. Strolling between the ponds and the perimeter fence provides opportunity to see desert species in the shrub thickets and flats outside the fence and waterbirds on the ponds. Pond 4, a pond in the northwest corner of the Preserve, always seems to have lots of ducks, and the boardwalk area is good for viewing shorebirds. Following the perimeter around to the east will eventually bring you to Pond 9, a shallow pond in the southeast corner of the Preserve with reeds and loafing islands. |
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 Friends on a paved trail between Ponds 1 and 2 |
Be sure to chat with the Visitor Center staff to see where the action is and if any unusual species have been seen recently. Also be sure to pick up (or at least take a look at) the Preserve map. Out in the Preserve, strategically placed benches provide places to sit quietly and watch the ducks and grebes, and trash cans and outhouses around the Preserve provide for other needs. Remember, this was a sewage treatment facility, so stay out of the water. All visitors must sign-in before entering the Bird Viewing Preserve, so don't walk around the building into the preserve. |
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 Bird blind on Pond 9 |
Location The Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve is located on the southeast edge of the Las Vegas Valley, about 15 minutes from downtown, in the town of Henderson. From downtown, drive south on Highway 93 for 11.5 miles to Galleria Drive (Table 1, Site 1180). Exit the highway, turn left onto Galleria, and drive east for 1.8 miles (across Boulder Highway) to the HBVP Access Road (one block before Moser Drive) (Site 1177). Turn left and drive north 300 yards, then turn right and follow the pavement as it winds east and north into the HBVP parking area and the Visitor Center (Site 0450). Watch for temporary signs. |
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 Managers work to clear views into the reeds |
Hours The Preserve is open daily, but last entry is 30 minutes before closing time.
Closed December 24, December 25, and January 1. Fees Free admission, but all visitors must sign in at the Visitor Center and sign a liability waver. Don't worry, the area is safe for smart people. |
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 Observation tower |
Specialties During winter, this is a good place to see waterfowl and other waterbirds (e.g., grebes, wading birds, shorebirds, and gulls). During spring and fall migrations, a great variety of species may be found here, and the site is good for flycatchers (e.g., Kingbirds, Black Phoebe, and Say's Phoebe), swallows, swifts, and sparrows. This site also attracts desert species such as Gambel's Quail, Sage Sparrow, Crissal Thrasher, Verdin, Abert's Towhee, Black-chinned Hummingbird, and Costa's Hummingbirds. Summer is the quiet time of year, but there always are interesting birds around (e.g., Greater Roadrunner and Abert's Towhee don't leave when it gets hot, and Least Bittern breed here). |
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 Information signs and benches on Pond 3 |
For More Information For more information, call the Preserve (702-267-4180) or visit the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve website (note: if this link doesn't work, google "Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve"). Improvements during 2010 and 2011 include additional bench seating and improved accessibility, an elevated viewing tower, and a boardwalk into Pond 4. |
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Be sure to watch for other wildlife, such as this beautiful gopher snake that was crawling across the trail! Also look for western whiptail lizards, zebra-tailed lizards, coyotes, black-tailed jackrabbits, desert cottontail rabbits, pond turtles, lots of dragonflies and damselflies, and others. |
 Watch for Roadrunners on the roads! |
 Wading birds in shallow water |
 Lots of duck species |
 Ducks and grebes |
 Wading birds flying in |
 Great Egrets in roost trees |
 Double-crested cormorants resting on Pond 9 |
 Swallows on telephone wires |
 Mixed ducks on Pond 9 |
 Mixed ducks on Pond 9 |
 Variegated Meadowhawk dragonflies in a mating circle |
 White-faced Ibis in flight |
 Managers work to clear views into the reeds |
 Birders using a small blind |
 Observation blind |
 Observation blind |
 Amphitheater near Visitor Center with a view. |
 Boardwalk before the pond is flooded |
 Loafing islands in Pond 9 |
 Birdwatching from atop the observation tower |
 Boardwalk in Pond 4 |
 Shorebirds resting on spit at end of Boardwalk in Pond 4 |
Table 1. GPS Coordinates for Highway Locations (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S). Download Highway GPS Waypoints (*.gpx) file.
| Site # | Location | Latitude (°N) | Longitude (°W) | UTM Easting | UTM Northing | Elevation (feet) | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0450 | Henderson BVP Visitor Center | 36.07513 | 115.00147 | 679967 | 3993930 | 1,621 | Yes |
| 1177 | Galleria Dr at BVP Access Rd | 36.07110 | 115.00400 | 679748 | 3993478 | 1,612 | GPS |
| 1180 | Hwy 93/95 at Galleria Dr | 36.07157 | 115.03573 | 676890 | 3993471 | 1,709 | Map |
Typical lists produced by HBVP personnel throughout the year:
| Winter | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56 species, January | 89 species, April | 55 species, June | 80 species, October 2011 |
| Pied-billed Grebe Eared Grebe American White Pelican Great Egret Snowy Egret Green Heron Black-crowned Night Heron White-faced Ibis Snow Goose Wood Duck Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Ruddy Duck Northern Harrier Cooper's Hawk Gambel's Quail Sora Common Moorhen American Coot Greater Yellowlegs Western Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Dunlin Long-billed Dowitcher Ring-billed Gull Rock Pigeon Morning Dove Greater Roadrunner Belted Kingfisher Black Phoebe Say's Phoebe Common Raven Northern Rough-winged Swallow Verdin Ruby-crowned Kinglet Black-tailed Gnatcatcher Crissal Thrasher American Pipit Orange-crowned Warbler Audubon Warbler Abert's Towhee Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle House Finch |
Pied-billed Grebe Eared Grebe Western Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Great Egret Snowy Egret Green Heron Black-crowned Night Heron White-faced Ibis Turkey Vulture Canada Geese Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard (nesting) Blue-winged Teal Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Redhead Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Ruddy Duck Osprey Cooper's Hawk Peregrine Falcon Gambel's Quail Sora Common Moorhen (nesting) American Coot (nesting) Semipalmated Plover Killdeer (nesting) Black-necked Stilt (nesting) American Avocet (nesting) Greater Yellowlegs Spotted Sandpiper Western Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Short-billed Dowitcher Long-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Phalarope Red-necked Phalarope Bonaparte's Gull Ring-billed Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Greater Roadrunner Black-chinned Hummingbird Western Wood Pewee Black Phoebe Say's Phoebe Cassin's Kingbird Gray Flycatcher Western Kingbird Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow No. Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Verdin (nesting) Marsh Wren (nesting) Ruby-crowned Kinglet Black-tailed Gnatcatcher European Starling American Pipit Orange-crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler Yellow Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Myrtle's Warbler Audubon's Warbler Black-throated Gray Warbler Townsend Warbler Common Yellowthroat Wilson's Warbler Western Tanager Chipping Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Black-heard Grosbeak Blue Grosbeak Red-winged Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Bullock's Oriole Hooded Oriole House Sparrow (nesting) |
Pied-billed Grebe (nesting) Eared Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Least Bittern Great Blue Heron Great Egret Snowy Egret Cattle Egret Black-crowned Night Heron White-faced Ibis Turkey Vulture Gadwall Mallard (nesting) Cinnamon Teal (nesting) Northern Shoveler Redhead (nesting) Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Common Goldeneye Ruddy Duck (nesting) Osprey American Kestrel Gambel's Quail (nesting) Virginia Rail Sora (nesting) Common Moorhen (nesting) American Coot (nesting) Killdeer Black-necked Stilt (nesting) American Avocet (nesting) Spotted Sandpiper Forster's Tern Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Black-chinned Hummingbird Black Phoebe Say's Phoebe Western Kingbird No. Rough-winged Swallow Verdin Marsh Wren Black-tailed Gnatcatcher Northern Mockingbird Crissal Thrasher Orange-crowned Warbler Lucy's Warbler Common Yellowthroat Abert's Towhee (nesting) Black-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Bullock's Oriole House Finch House Sparrow |
Canada Goose |
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© 2012 Jim Boone; Last updated 111219
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