PLANTS

Plants: Sedges, rushes, bulrush, and cattails grow in standing water along the river's banks, providing excellent cover for the resident and migrating birds which use the sparse springs and wetlands of the Mojave Desert. These riparian plants offer valuable ecological services as they cleanse the water, slow floodwater and help reduce the damage of flooding events. Willows and cottonwood trees often colonize the banks and upland areas surrounding riparian zones, experiencing seasonal flooding. These trees' deep roots help to stabilize the soil. Mesquites grow along smaller creeks and springs in the lower elevation desert, forming dense thickets. Screwbean mesquites and ash trees grow nearby wetlands and springs. Yerba mansa forms dense colonies at desert springs and wetlands.

Some common wetland species in the Mojave Desert include coyote willow (Salix exigua), Goodding willow (Salix gooddingii), western honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana), screwbean mesquite (Prosopis pubescens), velvet ash (Fraxinus velutina), mule's fat seepwillow (Baccharis salicifolia), spiny rush (Juncus acutus), Cooper's rush (Juncus cooperi) and yerba mansa (Anemopsis californica).



Left: Chairmaker's Bulrush (Schoenoplectus americanus)
Right: Southern Cattail (Typha domingensis)



Left: Yerba mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Right: Sweetscent (Pluchea odorata)

Wildlife: Riparian areas in the Mojave Desert are major rest stops for migrating birds, so there are a number of visiting birds which can be spotted along with year-round residents. Some common birds include hawks, northern harriers, mourning doves, hummingbirds, northern flickers, belted kingfishers, flycatchers, black phoebes, verdins, wrens, kinglets, blue-gray gnatcatchers, crissal thrasher, phainopepla, loggerhead shrike, vireos, warblers, song sparrows, red-winged blackbirds, yellow-headed blackbirds, orioles, and sometimes even golden eagles.

Some common mammal visitors include coyotes, foxes, jackrabbits, desert cottontails, desert bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and mountain lions.

Southern Nevada has several national wildlife refuges and conservation areas which were established to protect desert wetlands and springs. These locations offer birding, hiking, educational, and other recreational opportunities. One you explore the clear blue springs and the many small creeks flowing through the Ash Meadows wildlife refuge, your family will never forget the endemic wildlife and rich desert flora of this region.


Left: Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge after a rainstorm
Right: Ash Meadows, a view from the interpretive boardwalk

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area's main highlights include botanical, geological, and wildlife wonders. Come to visit year-round to see the red and white sandstone and limestone layers in the Sandstone Bluffs. The whole family can enjoy climbing and walking over the layered rocks at the Quarry site. The best time of the year to visit is in the spring to early summer, when visitors can catch a glimpse of colorful wildflowers, desert tortoise, and red-spotted toads. During the spring, the canyons are flowing with fresh snow-melt. If you hike up into the canyons during the hot summer, you can rest in the cool shade and look for wildlife. In the early morning, it is almost impossible to miss the basking chuckwallas and desert spiny lizards! If you are lucky, you may even see a family of bighorn sheep coming down into the canyon for a drink of water.

The nearby Red Springs picnic area boasts a new boardwalk which winds from the parking lot across the wet-meadow, guiding visitors to Red Spring. Signs illustrate both endemic and common bird and plant species. This facility has a parking area, primitive restrooms, and several shaded picnic tables. To take a walk around the boardwalk to enjoy the shade of velvet ash trees is a truly unforgettable experience at this year-round desert spring.

Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge protects acres of open ponds, wet meadows, and springs. At Pahranagat wildlife refuge every birding enthusiast can be satisfied; bring your binoculars, bird guidebooks, and a picnic lunch to enjoy this major migration stopover.