Activities: Final Field Trip Descriptions

Click here for Festival and Event registration!

Posted Jan 26th, 2010:

• Listed below are the FinaL Field Trip Descriptions.
• If there are any corrections or updates, they will be noted with dates & comments.

Click here to download 2010 Wings & Wildlife Festival area map

Key:

• Field Trips – we arrange transportation to the location, and kayaks or canoes for the activity.
• Nature Walks – you provide your own transportation to the location; we provide trip leaders, guides, or docents.

Field Trip Descriptions

Please note that for water-based events: • approved life vests are provided • begin with a brief instructional or safety lesson • dry bags or ziplock bags are available to help protect belongings • safety boaters will be present • may be canceled or rescheduled due to unsafe or unfavorable weather conditions • you may contact DRK 928-754-5320 with specific skills or equipment questions
Field Trip: Bat Mistnetting at Granite Springs Christy Klinger, a Biologist with the Nevada Department of Wildlife, will return to this year’s festival to demonstrate the process of Bat Mistnetting. Using fine thread nets, positioned so that the bats cannot see them, above a water source in the mountains at the edge of Laughlin, we will see if we can catch a few bats and Christy will explain the process of studying them. There will be a set-up using an echo locator computer program that will hear and broadcast the sounds the individual bats make. The echo locator allows all of us to hear several species of bats if they fly overhead and avoid the nets completely. Meet at Fisherman's Access at 5:00pm for a 20-minute drive to where the equipment will be set up. Expect to walk over uneven terrain in the dark. Bring a headlamp and/or flashlight. Dress warmly in layers for this trip and bring water and snacks for about 2 ½ hours.
Field Trip: Bill Williams National Wildlife Refuge (IBA) The Bill Williams National Wildlife Refuge at the south end of Lake Havasu is a gem on the Colorado River System. Bill Williams River NWR holds one of the last stands of natural cottonwood-willow forest along the lower Colorado River, creating a unique ecosystem that provides good habitat for resident and migratory wildlife. Refuge headquarters staff will provide an orientation and lead you down the peninsula ridge trail overlooking the south end of Lake Havasu. Stop at an area overlooking the Bill Williams River Delta, a wonderful marsh with a great bird population. The trail, less than ½ mile in length, is handicapped accessible and there are several benches along the way. You will have a good view of heron island with several breeding platforms for great blue herons and great egrets. Birders will have spotting scopes at several overlooks on the trail and will answer your questions. On the return trip, we will stop at Mesquite Bay (part of the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, IBA) to scan the edge of Lake Havasu for residents and migrants birds. Meet at Fisherman's Access at 6:30am for a 1 ¾-hour van ride to Bill Williams National Wildlife Refuge; expect to return at 2:30pm. Bring snacks and water for a 7-hour trip.
Field Trip: Black Canyon by Kayak Group will take a van to the Hoover Dam, launch kayaks, and head to Willow Beach. If we are lucky, Hoover Dam will be generating electricity and water will be flowing in the upper end of Lake Mohave, taking our boats with it. This is a guide-accompanied trip that will stop at 3 canyons with hot springs and several small beaches in this deep lava walled canyon. One of the best places to see Desert Bighorn Sheep in their native habitat and occasionally beaver, fox and coyotes, snakes, and lizards The trip is 11 miles of paddling in a flat-water lake that may have current in it going with us. Depending on the wind and weather this trip is rated moderately strenuous, but suitable for beginning kayakers with a sense of adventure. Good choice for seeing the bird life along and over Lake Mohave while enjoying kayaking or canoeing. We will use a combination of sit-on-top kayaks and sit inside kayaks and canoes for those more experienced paddlers. In the event of a windy day, we may switch to a motorized raft that will take you down the same area of the lake. Meet at Fisherman's Access at 5:45am for the 85-mile drive to Boulder City. Brief stop in Searchlight, NV for McDonalds coffee and bathroom break and arrive at the Hacienda Hotel about 8:00am. We will be off the water between 3:00-4:00pm at Willow Beach, AZ; once the boats are loaded, we will make the 1 ¾ hour return trip to Laughlin. Lunch, snacks, water, and Gatorade provided. ** Please Note: Security Checkpoint at Hoover Dam requires that you show a valid driver’s license or government issued photo ID.
Field Trip: Black Canyon by Motorized Raft The Black Canyon of the Colorado is the upper 11 miles of Lake Mohave, an area of steep lava cliffs, canyons with hot springs, and typical Mohave Desert riparian plants. This 3-hour motorized raft trip through this area will explore this wonderful place. We will look for Desert Bighorn Sheep in their natural habitat, as well as the birds that live here. Black Canyon Willow Beach Adventures will take you to the base of Hoover Dam and seat you on a large pontoon motorized raft. Lean back and relax as your guide motors you down the lake pointing out all beautiful sights of this wonderful place. Meet at Fisherman's Access at 7:00am for an 85-mile van ride Hacienda Hotel in Boulder City, NV. Expect to return to Laughlin around 3:00pm. A box lunch will be provided; bring water and snacks for an 8-hour trip.
Field Trip: Colorado River by Kayak Beginning level and easy 8-mile kayak trip from Community Park to Rotary Park. We will scout riparian banks of the river, some wonderful reed beds, the Big Bend of the Colorado State Park shoreline, and the old Boy Scout Camp riparian area. Suitable for beginning kayakers, as well as experienced birders looking for a way to get out and see some of the shoreline and reed bed that is inaccessible from the land. The water here is moving but calm and there are no rapids, but there are occasional eddy currents. We will provide both sit on top and sit inside recreational kayaks that are stable and easy to use. We will provide a brief lesson on the use of the boats and then launch the group on the river for the trip. Life vests are supplied and mandatory. Helen Howard of Desert River Kayak will lead this trip and there will be other safety boaters and birders accompanying the group. Meet at Fisherman's Access at 1:00pm for a 3-mile ride to Community Park (Bullhead City, AZ). We will provide dry bags for things you do not want to get wet but want to take with you. Bring water and snacks for a 4-hour duration trip.
Field Trip: Colorado River Tour by Water Taxi (Laughlin) Tour the Colorado River from 10:00-1:00pm. We will explore the shore of the river in front of the casinos, up to Davis Dam, and then down the river to the Laughlin Lagoon - a wonderful wetland wonderland in the city limits of Laughlin. This fun comfortable trip focuses on the edges of the river where shorebirds and land birds be seen. Keep an eye out for beaver and other land and water based animals. The Colorado River is wide with strong currents in this area with lots of small pockets of different types of habitats. Our water taxi driver is a birder and keen observer of river happenings and we will have other birders on board to spot and point out whatever we may see on these trips. The birds that live in our urban environment, just steps away from our casino hotels, will surprise you. Meet at Aquarius Casino Dock at 10:00am. Bring water and snacks for a 3-hour trip.
Field Trip: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve The group will travel by van for 2 hours to the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve a premier birding spot in the Las Vegas Valley. The ponds and wetlands, surrounded by native Mojave Desert vegetation, have flat, paved, level trails. This easy walk can be as long or short as you want. There are several benches, very close to the water’s edge, for resting or viewing. With over 250 species seen at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve (in Henderson, NV), it is possible to see 70 species during your 2-hour visit. Try for Crissal Thrasher, Abert’s Towhee, Greater Roadrunner, Gambel’s Quail, rails and bitterns, plus other shore and water birds. The HBVP Visitor Center has indoor restrooms, educational displays, and a gift shop. While the drive to and from Henderson is through the Mohave Desert at highway speeds it is sometimes possible to see birds along the side of the road and the scenery at the edge of the Mohave Desert Preserve is spectacular. We will also stop at Hemenway Park (Boulder City, NV) to look for Big Horn Sheep. If the sheep are in the park, be prepared to see these gorgeous animals very close up. Restrooms and benches are available in the park. Both locations are wheel chair accessible. The Birdmobile, a 6 seater golf cart to help those who have difficulty walking while birding the preserve, has been reserved for Monday’s field trip at HBVP. We will meet you at the Fisherman's Access at 6:00am and return to Laughlin about 1:00pm. Bring water and snacks for a 7 hour day.
Field Trip: Hualapai Mountain Park This trip will be a birding transect from the desert habitat found at the base of the Hualapai Mountains on the outskirts of Kingman, AZ to the pines found at Hualapai Mountain Park (10 miles uphill along Hualapai Mountain Road). Elevation ranges from 3000 to 7000 feet. Habitats include Crucifixion thorn (conotia), desert scrub, Manzanita scrub oak chaparral, pinyon pine woodland, Ponderosa pine/Gambel oak woodland, and Ponderosa Pine forest. The van/bus will stop several times and you may walk near the roadway birding, so wear sturdy shoes. Try for Band-tailed Pigeon, White-throated Swift, Acorn Woodpecker, Steller’s Jay, Western Scrub-Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Juniper Titmouse, Pygmy Nuthatch, Canyon Wren, Western Bluebird, Spotted Towhee, Dark-eyed (Gray-headed) Junco, Cassin’s Finch, and Lesser Goldfinch. With luck, we might even see a Zone-tailed hawk. Other wildlife, which occurs in the Hualapai Mountains, includes Mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk (introduced), and Abert’s (tassel-eared) Squirrel (introduced). Meet at Fisherman's Access at 6:00am and return to Laughlin about 1:30pm. Bring food and water for a 7-hour trip and dress in layers for current weather conditions plus a coat, hat and gloves for the higher elevations. Bring binoculars and a spotting scope if you have it.
Field Trip: Laughlin Lagoon by Kayak Come join us on this 22- acre wetland area inside the city limits of Laughlin at the Laughlin Lagoon. There is no current here, just reeds, shoreline, and riparian habitat that is a stopover point for thousands of migrating birds. Weather conditions and the stage of the annual spring migration will dictate what we will see. There are several different paths through the wetlands and this is an “explore on your own trip” to give everyone the opportunity for individual discovery. Suitable for both beginning kayakers who have never been in a kayak before and experienced birders who want a leisurely way to explore this fascinating area. There will be a brief lesson on how to use the equipment before launching you on this quiet backwater. We will use a variety of sit on top and sit inside recreational kayaks and Osage 17 foot aluminum canoes, along with fitted Coast Guard approved Type III Life Vests. Safety boaters will assist with any kayaking questions. Meet at Fisherman's Access at 8:00am for a 10-minute ride to the Laughlin Lagoon boat launch ramp. Bring water and snacks for a 4-hour trip.
Field Trip: Topock Gorge by Kayak We will launch at the upper end of the Topock Gorge for a 14.9-mile trip. Topock Gorge is one of the most spectacular sections of the Colorado River and few remaining natural areas of the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge (IBA). Plan for a stop at the beautiful Aha Macav prehistoric petroglyph panel, only a short walk from the river. Look for birds along the shores of the gorge, in backwaters, or on cliffs of the gorge. May also see Eagles and Raptors This trip generally lasts 5 ½ - 7 hours on the water and rated intermediate level because of it’s the length of time. Kayaks (or canoes for those experienced with them), paddles, seat backs and pads, and life vests, dry bags will be provided. The end of the trip lands us at Castle Rock Bay where we will need about 30 minutes to carry the kayaks to the parking lot and load them. Meet at the Fisherman's Access at 6:00am for a 1-hour ride to Topock Marina. The return drive to Laughlin will take 1 ½ hours. Bring water, snacks, and lunch for a 9-hour day.
Field Trip: Topock Gorge w/Captain Doyle Six people and a birding guide will board each of Captain Doyle’s 2 boats for a slow tour down the upper part of the Topock Gorge, one of the jewels of the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge (IBA). The Colorado River here is calm and flat moving water and these boats are perfectly designed for viewing the shore from comfortable seats with a shade cover. The Colorado River is wide and edged with a variety of habitats here. There are large wetland and reeds, small beaches, rocky cliffs and typical desert riparian banks with mesquite thickets. We never know what we might see here, but it is always interesting and the scenery is magnificent. If you wish to bring a scope, the boats are flat deck boats but will feel motion from the motor and current. There will be a small amount of time at the beginning and end of the trip when you may wish to bird the area at Topock Marina, a good birding destination in its own right. Meet at Fisherman's Access at 6:00am for a van ride to Topock Marina. You will be on the water from 7:00-10:00am and return to Laughlin between 11:00-11:30am. Walking is minimal. Bring water and snacks for a 5-hour trip.
Field Trip: Topock Marsh by Kayak Topock Marsh, created in the 1950s, is one of the most wonderful places to explore by kayak. The marsh itself is about 9 miles long with no discernable current. There are channels between reed beds and banks, large islands of reeds, sandbars, and banks with riparian habitat and some large open water areas. This is a guided trip through still water, reeds, riparian habitat and through the still standing trunks of an old mesquite forest that serves as a wonderful breeding area for many desert birds and wildlife. This leisurely trip will launch at one end or the other, depending on the prevailing winds, and kayak to the other end or to midpoint take out for about 4 hours. We will look for birds in the reeds and overhanging vegetation, as well as along the shore. Kayaks for the day will be sit on top Ocean Kayaks, some sit inside Current Design Kayaks, and if you are experienced with canoes, Osage 17 foot aluminum canoes. Once registered Desert River Kayak will contact you to determine what type of kayak or canoe you want to use. Trip is geared toward beginning kayakers and rated intermediate; more advanced kayakers will enjoy the opportunity to experience a not-often-visited area rich in birdlife. Meet at Fisherman's Access at 7:00am and travel by van to Topock Marsh; expect to return by 2:00pm. Bring water and snacks for a 7-hour trip.
Field Trip: Topock Marsh by Van/Bus Topock Marsh is one of the gems of the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge (IBA). The marsh itself is about 9 miles long with channels between reed beds and banks, large islands of reeds, sandbars, and banks with riparian habitat and some large open water areas. With its wetlands, tall trees in the developed areas, riparian habitat, and surrounding arid hills you will have the opportunity to see a variety of different birds and wildlife. We will have a trip leader and several seasoned birders along to help beginning birders experience this wonderful birding hot spot; Havasu National Wildlife Refuge is one of Arizona’s Important Birding Areas. We will stop at several of the access points to the marsh and have short walking tours with leaders to point out birds. Spotting scopes will be available. Meet at Fisherman's Access at 6:30am. Bring water and snacks for a 5-hour trip.
Field Trip: Wee Thump Joshua Tree Forest (IBA) Wee Thump is a mature Joshua Tree Forest about 50 miles from Laughlin. This area offers considerably more habitat diversity than the surrounding Mohave Desert and supports a broad assortment of wildlife including the only breeding population of Gilded Flickers known in Nevada. Nest cavities are one resource that are almost exclusively absent from desert sites, and it is this resource that makes Wee Thump unique. The ancient Joshua trees, many estimated to be over 250 years old, do offer cavities and so there is a unique guild of cavity nesters at the site. In fact, the cavities not only provide important nesting opportunities but offer winter refuge for certain bird species as well. These birds include Western Bluebird, Gilded Flicker, Northern Flicker, and Hairy Woodpeckers. Ash-throated Flycatchers are abundant here. Sharon Schafer, our featured Wildlife Artist for the Festival, will be leading this trip into one of her favorite areas; and will talk about wildlife art and how to create it. We will drive to an area of Wee Thump where dirt roads penetrate the wilderness and find places to pull over and get out for walking. Birders and other guides will point out what there is to see this time of the year. Meet at Fisherman's Access at 7:00am for a van ride to the IBA. Bring clothes appropriate to the weather and sturdy shoes, binoculars, cameras, protective sun hat, and snacks and drinks for a 5-hour trip. Expect to return to the festival hotel about 1:00pm.
Field Trip: Willow Beach & Hatchery Willow Beach, the closest access point to Lake Mohave below Hoover Dam, has beaches, open water, dry washes with mesquite thicket and typical Mojave Desert plants and wildflowers. We will walk the roadway, and explore the beaches and the thickets, from one end to the other of the short road that parallels the lake. Almost the entire area is handicapped accessible. We will also visit Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery, which raises native Colorado River fish such as Bonytail & Humpback Chub, Razorback Suckers, and the very rare Relict Leopard Frog. Most areas handicapped accessible. The Fish Hatchery tour will take approximately ½ to 1 hour. Look for: Black-tailed Gnatcatchers, Verdin, Phainopepla, Loggerhead Shrike, Yellow Rumped, Yellow, and Wilson’s Warblers, Robins, Black Phoebe, Western Meadowlarks, a variety of ducks, shorebirds, and wading birds. Notable birds include a small population of Wood Duck, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Double Crested Cormorant, Peregrine Falcon, Great Blue Heron, Egret, and several kinds of sparrows. Meet at Fisherman's Access at 7:00am for a 1 ¾-hour drive to Willow Beach; return to Laughlin about 1:30pm. Bring snacks and drinks for a 6-hour trip.
Nature Walk: Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area This area along the Colorado River has beaches for shore birds, mature mesquite thickets for common desert birds, and wetland areas and a lagoon for ducks and many other wading birds. Take a short walk over to the edge of the Laughlin Lagoon and through the mesquite thickets at the river’s edge to view an area important to migrating and late wintering birds. Possibility of early arriving summer birds too, so the birding should be excellent. Meet at the Big Bend of the Colorado Nevada State Recreation area at 7:00am in the East Parking lot. To get there turn left out of your hotel parking lot and follow South Casino Drive to where it dead ends at the Needles Highway, about 3 miles. Turn Left and go approximately 1 mile to the turn in to the park on your left. Go through the entrance station and proceed straight to the first stop sign, turn left, and park. Meet your guide here. We will have at least one walk leader here and other volunteers to answer questions about where to bird if you arrive later than the walk start time. Bring water and snacks for your normal 2-3 hour bird walk. Bathrooms are available and trails through the park are easy to find.
Nature Walk: Colorado River Nature Center Colorado River Nature Center is a great place for those looking to enjoy wildlife viewing of a wide variety of wildlife, including waterfowl, resident and migratory birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. The primary management emphasis for this wildlife area is to provide riparian/wetland protection and compatible wildlife-oriented recreation Zen Mocarski will talk about different types of venomous critters and mammals in the area. We will have other experienced birders along to answer questions and help spot birds in this natural riparian habitat. Meet in the Nature Center parking lot at 7:00am. Take Route 95 south, then turn west on Richardo Avenue. Pick up a map at the Festival Information table. Bring snacks and water for about 3 hours.
Nature Walk: Laughlin Riverwalk Take a leisurely guided tour of the Laughlin Riverwalk along the Colorado River from "casino row" to the Laughlin Bridge at the north end of Fisherman's Access Park. The Riverside Casino's FREE water taxi will take a minute to whisk us across the Colorado River to native desert habitat found on the east shore. We will search for several bird species on the Colorado River, along its banks, and in the adjacent desert scrub and park habitats. This is a trip best suited for beginning, novice, or leisurely birders. Meet at the Riverside Starview Room. Free with paid registration.
Nature Walk: Old Sportsman Park & North Reach Project This old abandoned park is a landscape that time forgot with mesquite and Palo Verde thickets along the edge of the river and inland. We will carefully pick our way over old foundations and dirt to see what we can find. There is always the possibility of a rarity in the fast water at the base of Davis Dam and this area is the best place for viewing. Expect Verdins and many smaller birds in the thickets, along with Gamble’s Quail and Abert’s Towhee. Look for ducks below the Davis Dam, and Double-Crested Cormorants and wading birds at the edge of the river. During our visit to this wonderful place, we will participate in a seed-collecting project by gathering Brittlebush seed heads for use in hydro-seeding contours of the new park. The general area, known as the North Reach of the Colorado River Heritage Greenway Trail system, is slated for trails, trailheads, an impressive day-use park area, and fishing nodes along the river that will greatly expand outdoor adventures. Meet at Sportsman Park (1500 N. Casino Drive) at 7:00am. Bring snacks & water for 3 hours.
Nature Walk: Petroglyphs at Grapevine Canyon Many first time visitors think the Mojave Desert is barren and desolate, but a walk through Grapevine Canyon offers another perspective. Evidence of the Prehistoric Indians who lived in this area is found by following the trail from the parking area to the mouth of the canyon, a ¼-mile walk. Rock drawings known as petroglyphs are etched on the large boulders at the entrance to the canyon. Jeanne Howerton will guide you on a short walk to the mouth of the canyon where there are some very fine petroglyph panels. The footing is soft sand and there is some climbing and scrambling involved to see some of the panels. Others panels can be seen without much effort. We will also have birders along to spot and point out birds in the area. This is one of the best places to see Phainopepla. The Grapevine Canyon Petroglyphs are located in Grapevine Canyon on Spirit Mountain (a short drive from Laughlin) and are listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. Grapevine Canyon is accessible from the Christmas Tree Pass Road, located off State Highway 163, six miles west of Davis Dam at mile marker 13. Turn right onto the dirt road. Two miles from the highway, a short spur road to the left leads into the parking area for Grapevine Canyon. Pick up a map at the Festival Information Desk. Bring water and snacks for 1-3 hours. These panels are not wheel chair accessible.

Click here for Festival and Event registration!