Description

The Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve (HBVP) is one of the best places in southern Nevada to watch birds and dragonflies. Marsh and stream-side habitat in the nearby Las Vegas Wash, combined with open ponds and trees in the HBVP, 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 (fully accessible except for damaged pavement) and dirt (mostly accessible) walkways run on dikes that divide the area into nine vegetation-lined ponds. The dikes provide many vantage points, and an observation tower gives good views over several ponds. Access is free, but HBVP closes early, especially during summer.

The HBVP began as part of the Henderson sewage treatment system, but with changes in the process, the HBVP now uses reclaimed water, and the odor is gone. Even so, remain on the trails and stay out of the mud and water. All visitors must sign-in before entering the Preserve, so don't sneak around the Visitor Center building into the preserve.

Link to Area Map or Site Map.

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 and a Bird List (PDF). 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.

When walking through the preserve, 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.

Accessible Trail

For birders who need an accessible trail (or maybe just pushing a stroller), start at the Visitor Center and follow the paved trail staying to the left (northwest). Angle right at the first trail junction and follow the dike between Ponds 1 and 2 (north) to a bench looking north over Pond 2. The tree-covered island just offshore usually has ducks floating among the low-hanging branches and Black-crowned Night Herons in the branches.

Continue following the paved trail right (east) between Ponds 1 and 2. When the paved trail bends left (north), be sure to look south where freshwater flows into Pond 1. This area often has lots of ducks.

Continuing north on the paved trail along Pond 2, birders reach the Observation Tower. For those who can't climb the stairs, seek solace in the fact that the trees are growing so tall that they block most of the elevated view.

Past the Observation Tower, the paved trail bends left, looping around the north side of Pond 2. Now heading west, the trail runs between Ponds 2 and 4 with limited views into Pond 4. Farther west, the paved trail continues between Ponds 3 and 4. At the western edge of the Preserve, the paved trail bends left to loop around the west edge of Pond 3. The tree-covered island in the northwest corner of Pond 3 is the best place in southern Nevada to see Wood Ducks. Now heading back south, the paved trail runs along the west edges of Ponds 3, 2, and 1. The ground under trees on the right is where I expect to see Abert's Towhees. Benches and information signs are scattered all along this route. The paved trail leads straight back to the Visitor Center.

Short Walk

For birders who want a slightly longer route, a good short walk is to start at the Visitor Center and make a loop out around Pond 9 and back. This short walk provides viewing opportunities over ponds (ducks), open land (Horned Larks, American Pipits), and cattail marshes (Marsh Wrens, Least Bittern (rarely), and Yellow-headed Blackbirds).

For this short walk, start at the Visitor Center and walk out the paved trail staying to the left. Angle to the right at the first trail junction and walk along the dike between Ponds 1 and 2. When the paved trail bends left, continue straight (east) on the gravel trail past Pond 5 to the blind on Pond 9 (ducks, grebes, and other waterbirds). From there, loop around the east end of Pond 9 and back southwest between Ponds 6 and 9 to the Visitor Center.

Longer Walk

For a longer walk, my regular hike through the area, start at the Visitor Center and walk out the paved trail staying to the left. As with the short walk, stay right at the first fork and walk out to Pond 9. Continue east then north along Pond 9, and then continue north along the east edge of Pond 6. Strolling between the Pond 6 and the perimeter fence provides opportunity to see desert species in the shrub thickets and flats outside the fence. Continue north to the corners of Ponds 6, 7, and 8. Walk west between Ponds 7 and 8 until reaching an intersection at the start of the boardwalk onto Pond 4. Follow the boardwalk out through desert shrubs and trees to the edge of Pond 4. The boardwalk used to be good for viewing shorebirds, but trees are choking out the shorebird habitat because area managers have failed to manipulate water levels (a concept that is covered in entry level wetlands management courses). After the boardwalk, turn right and head south to the Observation Tower. From the tower, turn right onto the paved trail and continue west between Ponds 2 and 4 and the farther west between Ponds 3 and 4. At the next intersection, stay left around the curve on the paved trail and head back south along the west edges of Ponds 3, 2, and 1 to the Visitor Center.

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.

Link to Area Map or Site Map. [google map]

From downtown, drive south on Highway 93 for 11.5 miles to Galleria Drive. Exit the highway, turn left onto Galleria, and drive east for 1.8 miles (across Boulder Highway) to the HBVP Access Road. Turn left and follow the pavement as it winds east and north into the HBVP parking area.

For better directions, photos, and GPS coordinates, see HBVP Access Road.

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 first-time visitors must sign a liability waver. Don't worry, the area is safe for smart people.

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., Western Kingbird, Cassin's Kingbird, 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.

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").

Be sure to watch for other wildlife, such as gopher snakes, coachwhip snakes, western whiptail lizards, zebra-tailed lizards, coyotes, black-tailed jackrabbits, desert cottontail rabbits, pond turtles, lots of dragonfly and damselfly species, and others.