If you live in or are visiting the Las Vegas, Nevada area and wish to enjoy an activity involving nature and communing with the great outdoors, then the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve is the place for you. The art of bird watching generally involves identifying birds as you encounter them while in the great outdoors. With the diversity found at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, the possibilities are endless, and the sights are astounding. Bird watching can be quiet an enjoyable and rewarding activity for anyone with an interest and even more so for those who never considered it at all.
The story of the preserve's creation is actually quite interesting. Henderson's Wastewater Reclamation Facility functioned for the purpose of treating wastewater to meet water quality standards. The treated water was then used to irrigate golf courses. In performing this municipal service, the City of Henderson, unknowingly created a habitat for birds. In the heart of Nevada’s heat and desert terrain, this safe heaven was created which provided an abundant number of birds with shelter, water and a place to relax before they made their journeys elsewhere. Eventually, birders from all walks began to migrate over to the preserve. Before long, the National Audubon Society began to keep track of the types and number of birds that frequented the preserve. The information was used to track how well different bird species were faring.
There are thousands of species of migratory waterfowl in the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. Waterfowl birds indigenous to the preserve include the Black-bellied whistling duck, Greater white-fronted goose, Snow goose, Ross’s goose, Tundra swan, Wood duck and many, many more. Desert birds are also native to the area such as the Killdeer, Black phoebe, Say’s phoebe, Vermilion flycatcher, Cactus wren, Rock wren, Bewick’s wren and the Marsh wren.
The preservation holds nine ponds, which attract an array of specimen available for birding. There is ample space for observing, walking and note taking. The preserve is approximately 140 acres so it is important to make sure you are prepared with the appropriate clothing, comfortable, sturdy shoes, a good supply of water, a hat to protect you from the sun as well as sufficient sunscreen. Summer is very hot so its imperative to come prepared. Summer birds include the American avocets, black-necked stilts and plenty of native waterfowl such as mallards and ruddy ducks. The preservation is a permanent home to desert birds such as verdin, Abert's towhee, crissal thrasher, and roadrunners. Fall is an exciting month for the preserve with the possibility of seeing warblers, thrushes, flycatchers, sparrows and many other species.
Overall, the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve will make an exciting, thinking out of the box experience for anyone who loves nature and the great outdoors.
