Description

The Wetlands Park Nature Preserve is a work in progress that shows great promise for urban birding. In time, the birding could rival Corn Creek on the Desert National Wildlife Range, but for now, birding at the Wetlands Park is good but not the best. This isn't to say that there are no birds or that it isn't a nice place to walk; it just isn't the best for birding. The ponds and creeks attract birds and dragonflies, but the vegetation (cattail, common reed, and bulrush) is so overgrown in many places that it can block views of the water. The staff is trying to manage the overgrown vegetation, so there should be a few places to see the ponds. The staff is actively planting native species the area and trying to reestablish semi-native conditions.

Link to Wetlands Park Nature Preserve map.

That said, the Wetlands Park is a nice place to go for a quiet walk and watch a few birds and dragonflies. It is located out on the edge of town, so if you mostly look north or east, almost forgetting that you are in Las Vegas. There is some shade, but walking in the morning and evening probably is best. Fremont's cottonwood, Gooding's Willows, and covered picnic tables provide relief from the sun. The trees also attract warblers like magnets.

Some older published maps of the Wetland Park are artist's renditions of concepts rather than reality, and this can cause confusion as people try to find the places marked on the maps. The Nature Center is a good source of current information.

In the main Wetlands Preserve area (the nature preserve area), there are about 2.5 miles of paved (concrete) trails, and probably about that much more in unpaved trails. A paved 1.8-mile loop trail runs around the perimeter of the Preserve. Again, a good walk, but not the best birding. For birds, it is better to shortcut the perimeter trail using the paved trail that winds around the lower pond (Vern's Pond) near the main entrance and then visiting the new boardwalk areas on the west side of the preserve.

The paved trails are suitable for wheelchair access, but stop at the Nature Center to check on current conditions (sometimes they wash out during floods). The paved trails are nice for birding because they are quiet (no crunch of gravel under your feet makes it is easier to hear the birds).

A number of gravel and dirt trails wind through the main Preserve area, and another runs south to the Duck Creek area. In the Preserve, these trails generally follow creeks or connect to the ponds.

Location

First off, discard any map that shows a Nature Center on Broadbent Road. Don't look for a Nature Center on Broadbent Road because it isn't there. The Nature Center is located at the far east end of Tropicana.

Link street to map.

From downtown, drive south on Highway 93-95 to Tropicana. Exit the highway, turn left onto Tropicana, and drive east. Cross Boulder Highway and continue east until Tropicana bends to the right in a broad, 45-degree turn to the right (south). At the curve, Tropicana becomes Broadbent Blvd. On the outside of the curve, Tropicana continues east, but the name changes to Wetlands Park Lane. Watch for a small sign for the Preserve at the intersection. Drive east on Wetlands Park Lane (Tropicana), bending to the left at the end into the parking area.

Trails start at the Nature Center and lead north and east into the wetlands area.

Another nearby place to bird is the Duck Creek Trail area. To get to Duck Creek, drive back out to Tropicana and turn left onto Broadbent. Drive southeast on Broadbent to just past the cinder block wall on the east (left) side of the road (few hundred yards). The Duck Creek parking lot is marked by a wooden fence and a "Wetlands Park, Duck Creek Trail" sign. Park here; this is the trailhead (Site 0711). For information on this site, see the description of Duck Creek Trail.

Hours

The Wetlands Park Nature Preserve is open dawn to dusk, 7 days per week. The Nature Center is open from 9 AM to 3 PM, and they lock the gate at 6 PM. If you want to stay until dusk, park outside the gate and walk into the Preserve.

Fees

Free admission.

Specialties

I've birded here several times, and it is still hard to say what to expect. There is water and brush, and it is on the edge of the desert, so there is a mix of wetland birds (Mallard Duck, American Coot, Common Moorhen, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Black Phoebe) and desert birds (Black-throated Sparrow, Abert's Towhee, Verdin, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, thrashers, House Finch, Gambel's Quail, Mourning Dove). The sky is wide open in many areas with good views to the southeast over the Las Vegas Wash, potentially providing views of soaring birds (Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Harrier, Turkey Vulture, Northern Rough-winged Swallow) hunting over the shrub thickets and marsh. Listen for rails calling from the reeds, and Gambel's Quail call from the shrubs. During migration, lots of things might show up (e.g., Yellow Warbler).

Link to scanned copy of Wetlands Park Bird List.

Keep an eye out for other species too. The Las Vegas Wash area is only place around Las Vegas to find raccoons and beaver. Also watch for Desert Cottontail, Black-tailed Jackrabbits, and Round-tailed Ground Squirrels. In the wash and ponds, look for spiny softshell turtles. In the ponds, look for Red-eared Sliders, crayfish, tropical aquarium fish, and some pan-fish too (e.g., bluegill and largemouth bass).

For More Information

Visit the Wetlands Park Nature Preserve website. Dogs and bicycles are not permitted in the Nature Preserve.