The Binocular Site
Desert National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada
The Desert National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1936. The refuge is located about 30 miles northwest of Las Vegas, and covers 1.5 million acres of the Mojave Desert in southern Nevada. It is the largest wildlife refuge in the continental United States.
Desert Refuge is the definition of a desert, receiving less than four inches of rain annually. Six major mountain ranges lie within the refuge, their elevations ranging from 2,500 feet to almost 10,000 feet. These mountains are home to numerous bighorn sheep and numerous other wildlife species.
More than 320 bird species also occupy the refuge. It's not uncommon to find great horned owls, western tanagers, western bluebirds, and even Baltimore orioles. Corn Creek Springs is an oasis within Desert Refuge, filled with trees and spring-fed ponds. It attracts numerous migrating birds that are not normally found in desert environments, giving birders the opportunity to see species they may not otherwise have the opportunity to observe.
The best time to see migrating birds in Desert Refuge is during spring and fall migrations. Corn Creek Springs offers hiking trails, archaeological sites, wildlife viewing areas, and an auto-tour route. See the Desert National Wildlife Refuge website for more information.
The state bird of Nevada is the Mountain Bluebird and you can find a checklist for birding activities in Nevada here.
Photo credit to neil_arellano, used with permission under the creative commons license.
If you've visited Desert National Wildlife Refuge, please take the time to share your experience and any tips or insight you have about this Nevada birding location below.
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Average User Rating
I highly recommend Corn Creek. It has very unique characteristics in that it is a little oasis in the middle of the desert. Anything can show up at anytime. The hiking trails are much fun and there is plenty of vegetation for some very good photography. There are bathrooms if needed so that's a plus, especially if with children! I've captured so many wonderful images from that site; definitely worth the trip up north from Las Vegas anytime of the year.
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