"Pathways to Conservation" Applications Now Open!

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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

January Bird Forecast

December 27, 2025
by Alex Harper Cold, dense air blankets the valleys and basins of the lowlands, and snow may cover mountain slopes. The sun arcs low across the horizon, and the days are especially short. Just about all the deciduous trees have lost their leaves after a few windy December days. The loss of leaf cover forces some songbirds to forage lower to the ground or move around locally to find fuel and cover. Since insects may only be active during the warmest parts of the warmest of January days, you may notice Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers using ingenuity to find dormant or dead insects and spiders. In lots and natural areas, White-crowned Sparrows and House Finches feed on seeding quailbush. Many January days can be bone-chilling, but on calm and warmer days, signs of breeding activities will be noticeable in urban areas. You may hear the loud popping sounds of displaying Anna’s Hummingbirds, see Eurasian Collared-Doves “paragliding” between powerlines, or notice robins and mockingbirds tuning up their songs. This is in response to the gradual increase in daylight following the winter solstice in December; birds are so attuned to light that some resident species may get a jumpstart on establishing territories and attracting mates. Wetlands, parks with water, and golf courses can host high species of duck diversity. Along the Las Vegas Wash from the upper wash to Lake Las Vegas, open water attracts teals, Mallards, American Wigeons, pintails, Gadwalls, Ring-necked Ducks, and Lesser Scaups. Wigeons and Gadwalls are especially drawn to weirs, where they feed on algae growing on rocks. Northern Shovelers may be absent along the Wash, preferring the calmer waters of the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. American Wigeons, Ring-necked Ducks, and Redheads all may be found at city park ponds and lakes, where they have learned to take handouts. Geese move in between nighttime roosts around water for open grassy areas during the day. Geese are grazers, and you may see small groups of Snow Geese and the odd Cackling, Greater White-fronted, or Ross’s Geese among Canada Geese on soccer fields or golf course lawns. Lake Mead can attract grebes, loons, and diving ducks. Check the areas where the Las Vegas Wash meets the lake, which is currently near Government Wash and 33-Hole. Large enough fish for grebes, loons, and cormorants are attracted to this outwash, and it can be an excellent place to look for these and other waterbirds that eat medium-sized to large fish. Lake Mead is also attractive to gulls in January and late winter. Gulls are dynamic, intelligent, can be difficult to identify to a species-level, and are prone to wandering. For these reasons and more, birders often find looking for gulls an exciting challenge. Only a few species are expected on any given visit to Lake Mead, but the reservoir lures in just about any North American gull species. Gulls go where they are fed, and they roost in safe areas close to consistent feeding areas. 33-Hole, Government Wash, Boulder Beach and Hemenway Harbor are all tried-and-true locations to look for gulls. Scan through flocks of ubiquitous Ring-billed, California, and occasional Herring for Lesser Black-backed and Iceland Gulls. Eventually, you may see something completely unexpected. Overall, January can be used to see waterfowl move and court one another, as well as life cycles of wintering and resident birds. For some bird species, they are weeks or months away from migrating to their breeding grounds, which in some cases may be in Canada or Alaska. For our year-round neighborhood birds, they may be transitioning out of their winter behavior of wandering for food and beginning to set up territory. By February, we will welcome the vanguards of returning swallows.

December Birding Forecast

December 1, 2025
In December, it is fair to say that winter has arrived. And throughout November, diehard birders and backyard birders alike turn over the stones to see or hear what types of wintering birds will be with us for the next few months. At parks, in canyons, and neighborhoods, our songbirds have mostly settled into their wintering areas. Mixed flocks of Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped, and Orange-crowned Warblers rove through a variety of habitats. White-crowned Sparrows move confidently in large groups, aggregating where food is plentiful. You may see them around seeding quailbush in much of the valley. Look for their cousins, White-throated and Golden-crowned Sparrows, which occasionally join groups of White crowned Sparrows. For the most part, songbirds tend to stay put once they find a wintering area. They are no longer migrating long distances, but they will move around locally and wander for food supplies. Some songbirds are a little less predictable. Red-breasted Nuthatches and a few finch species are such examples. They move around more freely throughout the winter, admonishing the idea that we usually have of songbirds: that they are supposed to move roughly north or south with the spring or fall. For birds like siskins, Evening Grosbeaks, and Red Crossbills, this may not be the case. These species are more nomadic, searching valleys and mountainous areas for their favored seed crops. Finches call frequently while in flight, so familiarizing yourself with their calls will help you detect them as they flyover. Detecting finches as “fly overs” is a common occurrence with this globally successful family of birds. At our wetlands and lakes, waterbirds move about in search of optimal feeding areas. Many of our geese and ducks continue to come and go as the winter season progresses. These birds are often hunted or disturbed in many wintering areas, so over time they naturally end up at wetlands where hunting is not permitted. It is in part for this reason that you will run into slightly more or different birds at places like Clark County Wetlands in January than you will in December. For those looking to get out of the city for a day of birding, consider visiting agricultural areas around Moapa Valley or south of Laughlin. Visiting these habitats during the winter can be highly rewarding. Agricultural areas attract heaps of bluebirds, pipits, blackbirds and sparrows. And with those, predators often follow; the Moapa Valley, Overton, and Warm Springs areas can be excellent places to see wintering falcons, Red-tailed Hawks and harriers. You may even spot a Ferruginous Hawk, the largest hawk in on the North American Continent. Another good reason to bird these areas is that few people often do. If you are the type of person that loves to sleuth around for interesting birds, you may well stumble across an unusual bird that no one else has detected yet. They are out there, and uncommon and rare birds will be found by local birders.

Birding at Primm: An Interstate Oasis for MIgrants and Birders

By Alex Harper • October 31, 2025
When the days grow shorter, the nights cooler, and winds begin to turn south, many birds begin to change their behaviors. The breeding season has come and gone. Some species spend their lives close to home, perfectly adapted to their habitats through all seasons. But for most North American songbirds, migration is a necessary annual act of survival in the seasonal pursuit of food, water, and safety. These include flycatchers, vireos, thrushes, sparrows, blackbirds, warblers, tanagers, grosbeaks, and buntings. As insects vanish and leaves fall across northern regions, many birds push south, traversing mountains, valleys, and deserts in search of suitable habitat. Many of these birds are intending to make their way to the warmer climates of Mexico and more tropical areas for the colder months. In the arid expanse of the Mojave Desert, safe stopover sites are few and far between. Migrants that are not desert specialists often must locate oases, which are small pockets of water, shade, and food, to rest and refuel. Some are natural: mountain springs and creeks, valley wetlands, or canyons. Others are entirely human-made: parks, cemeteries, and towns where irrigation and ornamental trees create relatively lush islands in a sea of desert. These green patches, although artificial, can mean the difference between exhaustion and success for a traveling flycatcher or warbler. One such refuge sits right on the California-Nevada border along I-15. This is the “town” of Primm. To most travelers between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, it’s another brief stop for gas and food. A defunct roller coaster and closed shopping outlet give the impression that Primm’s prime is behind us. But for birders, it’s a birding hotspot. Primm’s irrigated lawns and runoff from water sources draw birds from miles around. Its small size makes it easy to cover, and its isolation makes it stand out. It’s an island of green surrounded by dry lake beds and sparse vegetation. Primm is a classic “migrant trap,” where the color green and promise of water concentrates birds in one small place. Though songbirds navigate with remarkable precision by reading the stars, reading the Earth’s magnetic fields, and using landmarks - they do sometimes go astray. Young or disoriented individuals may travel the right distance but in the wrong direction, bringing eastern or Great Plains birds into western deserts. For birders, these navigational errors are the source of exciting discoveries, especially in the Fall. When one rare bird is found, more often follow. This is the “Patagonia Picnic Table Effect,” named after a famous site in Patagonia, Arizona, where a single unusual sighting decades ago triggered a rush of birders who went on to discover even more rarities. Primm functions much the same way: one exciting report draws others to look, and the increased attention yields more discoveries. The town’s lawns and patches of trees may not be appealing, but birders affectionately call it the “Primm Forest Preserve,” a tongue-in-cheek tribute made by biologists working in the region in the mid-2010s. The Fall of 2025 was especially exciting, with Baltimore Oriole, multiple Painted Buntings, a Blackburnian Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, and more showing up in a short amount of time. As birder and biologist Michael McCloy shared, “This oasis contains some of the only real trees and water for miles, acting as a magnet for any migrating songbirds in need of rest and refueling.” During his near-daily visits this September, he witnessed moments of pure wonder: “One day I turned around and there was a Lark Bunting and a Dickcissel at the same roadside puddle. Another day, a Marsh Wren perched twenty feet up in a tree. And when a Black-throated Blue Warbler showed up, it came within three feet of me. I wondered if it was going to land on my arm.” For Clayton Peoples, who visits regularly from Reno, Primm has become a staple of southern Nevada birding. “It’s one of my go-to places,” he said. “I used to stay at Buffalo Bill’s just to be right there at sunrise.” Clayton recalls finding a Nelson’s Sparrow with Dave Anderson, a Dickcissel while searching for a Painted Bunting, and most recently a hatch-year female Black-throated Blue Warbler. Many of these birds are considered “ review list ” for Nevada. He shares updates through the WhatsApp groups and Facebook, helping others join in on sharing are bird sightings. For birders from across the state, Primm has become an unlikely meeting ground for the birding community. On a population scale, migrant traps like Primm may seem insignificant. But for individual birds, these patches of green can mean survival - a brief chance to rest, feed, and rebuild strength before continuing south. Every visit is a gamble with the possibility of reward, especially in April-early June and August to late October when most songbirds are migrating. Whether you’re in Primm, Corn Creek, Indian Springs, or a patch of trees in your neighborhood park, have a look and be open to the idea of finding something you wouldn’t expect. You never know what might drop in.