"Pathways to Conservation" Applications Now Open!

Author name

Are you eager to make a difference in local bird conservation, connect with like-minded people, and deepen your knowledge of the Mojave Desert’s birds and life zones? This fall, we have a program for you! 



Pathways to Conservation is our new volunteer and education program led by Alex Harper, our Education & Outreach Chair. This program is split into two cohorts: one for adults, and one for high school students interested in careers in biology and conservation.


Who Should Join?

People interested in volunteering for RRAS and supporting bird conservation should consider joining. After completing the course, you will have a wide breadth of knowledge in Mojave Desert life zones, priority bird species, threats and conservation, as well as laws that impact our birds and how our partnering agencies work. 


This course is designed to support go-getters and people who want to make a difference locally. A passion for birds and conservation is a must, as well as the ability to commit to the program and maintain a volunteer commitment to RRAS after the program ends. We are especially looking for people who are curious, committed, and communicative! 


Expect to Learn

Expect to get the background needed to get started at being an effective communicator about things that matter. To set you up, you will be introduced to the following and more:

  • The habitats of the Mojave Desert from riparian to alpine and everything in between
  • The bird families in Nevada, their roles in local ecosystems, and why they matter
  • The land managers and agencies that manage the land where Nevada’s birds live, how they operate, and how Red Rock Audubon members can work with them
  • The local and landscape scale threats to birds and their habitats, and what can be done
  • The history of Red Rock Audubon’s role in the community and what we can build from to meet the moment


How Will You Benefit?

The course is meant to give you the “needs to know”, and there are many ways to apply what you learn. How and where in your life you apply it is ultimately going to be what interests you the most, and so it should compliment your life and your other commitments. It's simple: we are successful and supported as an organization when we help you on your unique path. Here are a few ways that you’ll benefit:

  • You’ll gain skills to become an interpretative naturalist, outdoor educator, or wildlife biologist
  • You’ll gain the background to become a better communicator of complex ideas as an educator or advocate
  • You’ll be able to take an active role in teaching kids and teens about birds and habitats at interesting locations
  • You’ll have the clarity to feel sure about the best use of your time and focus to make an effective difference
  • You’ll meet land managers, biologists, and conservationists on the lands that they work on and about the land


What is Expected of You? 

The Pathways to Conservation begins in early September and ends in early December. To fully complete the program, you are required to attend the classes and field trips. The classes will be recorded. Each cohort will have:

  •  Ten evening weekday classes on Zoom on Tuesday nights
  • Five total field outings on weekends to learn more about local habitats, conservation priorities, and managing agencies, including:
  •   Mt Charleston
  •  Corn Creek at Desert National Wildlife Refuge
  • Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
  • Avi Kwa Ame National Monument 


After completing this program, it is expected that you begin give back a certain amount of time to RRAS as a volunteer. This is because we need people to play an active role in moving us forward. Expect to volunteer a minimum of 20 hours in 2025. Adults will step into supported RRAS-sponsored roles, such as:

  • Becoming a volunteer park or field trip leader by spring 2025
  • Communicating regularly with an agency or park manager and reporting to the appropriate RRAS committee. 
  •  Participating in citizen science programs, such as Christmas Bird Counts, shorebird surveys, or Great Basin Bird Observatory’s citizen science initiatives
  • Teaching students at schools, community centers, or the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
  • Providing education public presentations to partners and organizations curious about birds
  • Gathering information, preparing for, or engaging in discussions publicly or privately with policy-makers, park or land managers, and renewable energy developers
  • Assist in transportation or other logistics of youth program
  • Working in coalitions with our community partners
  • Joining the Board of Directors for an appropriate role


For high-schoolers, students will be expected to choose a local wetland or park (such as the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve) and do a habitat assessment and bird survey, as well as plan and execute a stewardship event and create a suggested management plan for the site. Students will learn how to do these steps through the program, and their final report will be delivered to the members of RRAS leadership. All of these skills make excellent resume boosters, and students will come away with professional connections to leaders in RRAS as well as our partnering agencies.

 

Class Times - Adults

Our ten adult classes are virtual on Tuesday nights, starting at 6:00 pm. Each course will be about 90 minutes. There are up to five field trips during the span of the virtual courses. They will be on Saturdays. To get the most benefit, you should aim to make most of the field trips.


Adult Virtual Meeting Times

September 10 from 6:00-7:30 pm - Mojave Desert Introduction

September 17 from 6:00-7:30 pm - Plant Communities Part One

October 1 from 6:00-7:30 pm - Plant Communities Part Two

October 8 from 6:00-7:30 pm - Nevada Birds Part One

October 15 from 6:00-7:30 pm - Nevada Birds Part Two

October 22 from 6:00-7:30 pm Laws and Regulations Protecting Birds

October 29 from 6:00-7:30 pm Threats to Birds in the Mojave and what You Can Do

November 12 from 6:00-7:30 pm - Threats to Birds in the City and What You Can Do

November 19 from 6:00-7:30 pm Communication of Complex Topics

December 3 from 6:00-7:30 Bringing it All Together


Adult In-Person Field Trip Dates 

Exact times to be determined, but generally dawn to lunch time. We will meet partners and do some birding! 

September 21 – Mount Charleston Life Zones and Intro to the Forest Service system

October 5 – Corn Creek Field Station and Intro to the National Wildlife Refuge system

October 19 – Avi Kwa Ame National Monument and Intro to the Bureau of Land Management

October 26 – Clark County Wetlands and Intro to Working with County Partners

November 9 – Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve and Intro to Working with City Partners

 

Class Times – High Schoolers

Our ten teen classes are virtual and will be on Thursday nights, starting at 6:00 pm. Each course will be about 90 minutes.

There are up to five field trips during the span of the virtual courses. They will be on Sundays. To get the most benefit, you should aim to make most of the field trips.


Virtual Meeting Times

September 12 from 6:00-7:30 pm - Mojave Desert Introduction

September 19 from 6:00-7:30 pm - Plant Communities Part One

September 26 from 6:00-7:30 pm - Plant Communities Part Two

October 3 from 6:00-7:30 pm – Get to Know Nevada Birds Part One

October 10 from 6:00-7:30 pm – Get to Know Nevada Birds Part Two

October 17 from 6:00-7:30 pm Protecting Birds

October 24 from 6:00-7:30 pm Threats to Birds in the Mojave and What You Can Do

November 14 from 6:00-7:30 pm - Threats to Birds in the City and What You Can Do

November 21 from 6:00-7:30 pm Communication of Complex Topics

December 5 from 6:00-7:30 Bringing it All Together


High School In-Person Field Trip Dates 

Exact times to be determined, but generally dawn to lunch time. We will meet partners and do some birding!

September 22 – Mount Charleston Life Zones and Intro to the Forest Service system

October 6 – Corn Creek Field Station and Intro to the National Wildlife Refuge system

October 20 – Avi Kwa Ame National Monument and Intro to the Bureau of Land Management

October 27 – Clark County Wetlands and Intro to Working with County Partners

November 10 – Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve and Intro to Working with City Partners

December 7 – Conservation Project at Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve

 

Ready? Fill Out Our Application


If you’re reading this and thinking, “that’s me!” then fill out the application to join the program today. Space is limited in each cohort, and applications close on September 1st. If you have additional questions, reach out to Alex Harper at alexharper@redrockaudubon.com


We will try to work with you if your transportation options are limited. We don’t want to turn anyone away because they can’t make it to in-person portions, but we need time to plan for it. If you would like for us to try to sponsor or support local and relevant travel, please let us know in the application.

RECENT ARTICLES

American Avocets

March 28, 2025
By Jackson Roth Last Fall we went to Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve to find some migratory birds to add to our life list. There is an informative woman at the front desk who often gives advice about the recently seen birds in the preserve. As we were chatting, she mentioned that there were some avocets in an area of the preserve that we had never visited. I looked at the Merlin and Audubon field guides, and, seeing how beautiful and elegant they were, I instantly wanted to see them. I was excited but cautious, since it was migration season, and the avocets might have already flown away. Nevertheless, I suggested that we pass by it during our excursion into the preserve. After a bit of walking around, we crossed the preserve and got to the turn in the path that we had never gone to before. With high expectations, we turned left at the fork and went along the path. I was assuming there would be clear views onto a lake bursting full of waterfowl. But, as we walked, my high expectations started to falter. It was unexpectedly hot, we were dusty, and there was no lake vista beyond the trees. Eventually we saw our first sign of a lake, some Northern Shovelers chilling on the banks in a small peeking area in the trees. We watched them for a while, but we had seen shovelers all morning, so we moved on, expecting to see the avocets at any step. But, again, I was disappointed. The trees were just too dense; there was no view of the lake. The entire path was trees on one side and a neighborhood on the other. As we walked a bit farther, I finally offered a suggestion. “Maybe we should just turn back. Maybe that peek of the shovelers was the only view we’ll get.” But my parents convinced me that we should keep going; there might be a better view of the lake later on. The heat was getting us in a bit of a going-home mood, but finally we turned a corner, and there it was, a beautiful shining lake. And the avocets. The avocets were everywhere. Sitting, standing, pecking, chattering. It was amazing to see the large flock of them all clustering and communicating. My mom pulled out her camera and started frantically snapping pictures. While the pictures made the avocets look like fuzzy white blobs, it was a good way to remember that incredible day. My dad and I pulled out our binoculars, furiously swooping back and forth, trying to see all of the action in this avocet flock. We came back about a week later, and they were gone. That is one of the joys of migration season: see a beautiful sight one week, and it's gone the next. It leaves you with a feeling of “wow, I saw something that will happen in a year or might never happen again. I saw something rare. And really cool.”

Advocacy Alert: Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

March 26, 2025
By Morrigan DeVito  From now until April 15, Red Rock Audubon members have a chance to submit a public comment to the BLM and stand up for birds and biodiversity in the Amargosa Valley. On February 27th, the Amargosa Conservancy hosted a public rally and meeting with the BLM to express the need for a mineral withdrawal in Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. A mineral withdrawal would protect these sensitive areas by withdrawing them from new mining claims, and board members John Hiatt and Alex Harper gave verbal comments at the public meeting to express their support alongside the local Amargosa community. There is still time to submit written comments online by visiting the “Save Ash Meadows” campaign on the Amargosa Conservancy’s website , which helps you draft a comment and provides more history on the campaign. The Amargosa Valley, and Ash Meadows especially, is an oasis for 26 endemic species alongside both migratory and resident birds who seek water, nesting habitat, and food in the form of invertebrates and seeds. Ash Meadows is a RAMSAR wetland of international importance , and a National Audubon Important Bird Area , two designations that reflect the abundance of water and habitats (wetlands, mesquite bosques, desert scrub, alkaline salt flats) found here. It’s no wonder Ash Meadows is a popular birding spot, where springtime migrants like Common Yellowthroats and Yellow Warblers can be heard singing from the springs, and wintering waterfowl and sparrows are among the frequently counted in the annual Ash Meadows Christmas Bird Count. That’s not to mention birds of high conservation concern that make this landscape home, like migratory shorebirds and breeding songbirds like the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and Least Bell’s Vireo. All of these birds face rapid population declines across the West as habitat is degraded or altered. They can’t afford to lose more. Today’s threat of exploratory drilling and new mining poses an alarming risk to groundwater depletion or alteration of natural spring flows, both of which could drastically alter the habitat so many bird species have come to rely on. Protecting birds is one reason among many to express the need for a mineral withdrawal to the BLM. Amargosa Conservancy is encouraging people to continue submitting their public comments and stand up for this precious landscape. You have until April 15th to make your voice heard on behalf of birds, water, Tribes, and the local communities of the Amargosa Valley. To submit your comments online and get tips on what to say, visit the Save Ash Meadows campaign on Amargosa Conservancy’s website . Don’t be afraid to get personal! Tell the BLM what Ash Meadows means to you as a birder. This broad support helps show how important a mineral withdrawal is to a variety of communities across the Mojave. .

April Birding Forecast

March 26, 2025
By Alex Harper In March, Turkey Vultures, swallows, Ash-throated Flycatchers, Lucy’s Warblers, Hooded Oriole, and Yellow- headed Blackbirds sneak into southern Nevada. These species are among the most obvious returners to the region as springtime ushers in breeding and migratory activities for hundreds of birds. A common thread among these birds is that they do not come from a long way away from our region; many of them may have spent the winter in Arizona, southern California, or northern Mexico. The increasing pulses of birds moving into southern Nevada throughout April are also driven by the instinct to breed. As the northern hemisphere warms up and trees begin to produce buds and flowers, birds come in to feed on resources that are not available during the winter and find cover in trees that were previously bare. The movement of migratory birds in the spring is largely dependent on weather. Most species of songbirds migrate during the nighttime and fly on clear nights with favorable winds. In the spring, birds are in a rush to reach their breeding grounds to claim the best territory for nest rearing. Driven by hormones that are largely signaled by increasing daylight, they are compelled to push northward. To do this, they will need to store their energy in their wintering grounds and not take unnecessary risks to have the best chances for survival. For this reason, birds often fly with favorable tailwinds as opposed to against energy-depleting headwinds. Songbirds employ a few strategies to help them migrate and navigate at night. It is believed that songbirds rely heavily on stars and other features of the night sky to help them navigate, recalling the skills early human navigators. Perhaps just as remarkably, songbirds have an ability to orient using magnetic fields. In the eyes of many birds is magnetite. Magnetite moves across the eyes depending on their orientation to the north and south poles, suggesting that they can visualize and perceive the magnetic fields suspended over our poles. You can think of this as having compasses in the eyes, and songbirds that migrate have higher concentrations of magnetite in their eyes than nonmigratory birds. Along with these adaptations, birds utilize and memorize landscape features such as mountain ranges, valleys and river systems. They employ all these innate and learned tools for navigation in conjunction to move about the world, and perhaps have other tools that we are unaware of. Using these remarkable adaptations and navigational skills are millions of colorful songbirds that are rearing to migrate into and across Nevada in the months of April and May. To best see these species, one may not need to wander far outside of the city; many local parks and even backyards can attract a diversity of migratory species. Some of the most popular locations for viewing vireos, flycatchers, thrushes, warblers, sparrows, orioles, buntings and grosbeaks are Corn Creek Field Station, Floyd Lamb Park, Craig Ranch Park, Sunset Park, Clark County Wetlands, and the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. These parks are easily visible to birds flying towards or over the city, have available water, and offer a variety of options for resting and refueling. Palo Verdes and mesquite trees begin to bloom in April, and because they are native to the southwestern deserts, they’re familiar to insects and the birds that eat them. A grove of Palo Verde trees in a small park can be a gift that continues to give all spring. Fruiting mulberry trees can also be magnets for some birds. The Winchester-Dondero Cultural Center, Floyd Lamb Park, the vicinity of the Safekey building at Sunset Park, and the orchard at Corn Creek Field Station all have fruit-producing mulberries, and they can be extremely rewarding places to sit and watch colorful migratory birds. There are a few things to remember when looking for migratory birds this spring. Firstly, well fed and healthy birds often begin migrating shortly after sundown and can fly for well over fourteen hours after launching. That means that even though birding activity is overall higher around dawn, newly arriving birds may not touch down into a place that you are birding until late morning. Secondly, pay attention to the weather in the immediate area and in locations to the south where most birds are coming from. Birds move when there is a gentle tail wind coming from the south and clear skies. Do not expect to find many newly arriving migratory birds during a period of northerly winds. You can learn how to better predict these movements by following an online migration tool called BirdCast. BirdCast uses global weather tracking data to estimate bird traffic at night. By following weather patterns and, you can better predict the presence or absence of migratory birds. Predicting migration is difficult, so expect a steep learning-curve and deep satisfaction in the learning process. It's not just songbirds that move into the region during April. Waterfowl mostly move out of wetlands as the month moves along, but shorebirds start to move in. Avocets, stilts, plovers and sandpipers may begin congregating at the Las Vegas Wash from Sunrise Manor down to Pabco Weir, the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, and along reservoirs. Scan shallow shoreline edges and mudflats and you may well run into shorebirds. The end of April and early May is a peak period for shorebird migration in the Mojave region. In our own neighborhoods and communities, residential birds continue along in breeding activities. You will hear familiar backyard birds maintaining territories though chasing off competition, singing, displaying, and courting. By the end of the month, you may hear nestlings begging from nests or following parents around for food. Northern Flickers, kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warblers, White-crowned Sparrows, and Brewer’s Blackbirds vacate our neighborhoods and parks. Meanwhile in the higher elevations surrounding Las Vegas, breeding activity is more staggered. Typically, mountainous birds begin breeding a few weeks later than birds in the low valleys. As you get out and wander in April, notice that seed-eating sparrows move through before most insectivores like flycatchers and warblers. Pay attention to how diet and the scarcity of resources are connected to temperature or the life histories of species of birds. For migratory birds there is a sweet spot that must be met: they want to be early enough to claim the best territory, but not so early that they meet challenging weather. .
Share by: