Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve

HOW AMAZING!
For years I’ve been meaning to come check out the preserve, and I am sure glad I finally did! This is a seriously hidden gem and I can’t believe it’s here, in the middle of the desert! Best of all — parking and entry are FREE!
I am not really a bird watcher, and if you’re like me, this is just a great area to go walk (or run). There are trails surround a few ponds and lots of space.
A couple of important tips: stay on the trails — don’t go to the water’s edge or mess with the birds. Also DO NOT feed the birds — this could mess up the migration habits.
I’m seriously in awe of this place and can’t wait to go back!

It’s amazing what you can find in the middle of an industrial park (OK, what Unilocal can find). My dad was in town and he has no interest in visiting the strip. I was browsing Unilocal for ideas and found the bird viewing preserve. After living here for so many years I was surprised I have never heard of it but so glad I found it.
There are plenty of signs for the preserve as you drive on Galleria Drive. The hours are limited so be sure to arrive early and with plenty of water. You will need to check in at the desk but it is quick and easy. They provide a map and list of birds you can see. Best of all ITS FREE. Yes, I said FREE. They have a paved section which is a ¾ mile walk around 3 different ponds. If you want to see the entire preserve it is about 2 miles round trip and involves dirt roads. The entire preserve is fenced so you can’t get lost.
It was very hot when we went so only did the ¾ mile trail but will return in the fall to see the rest. We saw several birds, ducks and a few rabbits running around. Beautiful, peaceful scenery. If you are visiting and need a break from the casinos or a local that just needs some peace and quiet to escape this place is great.

The bird preserve is a pretty cool (free) place to enjoy the outdoors. Lots of quiet walking paths and observation areas for the bird-​lovers in Las Vegas. Go in the morning during the spring and summer, as it can get quite hot and I believe they close early. Also, because of the wetlands and surrounding areas, be aware that there are a LOT of bugs to contend with. Other than that, pretty awesome place!

I am by no means a Birder, but my wife loves birds… she had me set up feeders in our back yard (I’m sure the neighbors love us). So, imagine my surprise when I was Googling a birdy my wife had seen and I noticed there was a bird preserve nearby. We had to check it out.
If you drove by the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, you’d probably miss it. We had our navigation on and still couldn’t find it… then I spotted a handwritten sign with an arrow pointing to the entrance. The road goes right behind the Henderson Animal Control building, drive through the gate and then there is a small parking lot in front of the building where you check in… the woman behind the counter is very helpful and knowledgeable, just sign in, initial a short form, head out the back door and you’re in.
The first thing you notice when you pass the covered picnic area is how big this park is… it’s huge. There’s a lot of large ponds all connected by paths like a grid. Some of them have decks that overlook the pond, pretty cool. There was a lot of wildlife roaming (probably would have seen a lot more if we had got there earlier). Lots of geese, ducks, cranes, roadrunners, quail, jackrabbits… I even saw a turtle crawling around. Couldn’t tell you what kinds of birds we saw (not a birder)…we also saw a dead duck, which tells me there are probably predatory animals there (coyotes? Such is nature, right?).
All in all a really cool place to spend an afternoon… you should definitely go out of your way to find this park, it’s a hidden gem in the middle of Henderson. And hey, it’s free!

Really great place to take the kids. I suggest going as early as possible to enjoy the most birds and the cooler part of the day. We saw a lot of unique birds! Definitely will be going back. Also a nice man who worked there stopped to talk to my girls about the Heron they seen, they enjoyed that little lesson. Thanks!

Right now the weather is so perfect, it would be a good time to visit. My kids loved all the birds and walking around in the reeds. What a surprise to find in Henderson.

When I moved here a few years ago I was worried that I would lose one of my favorite hobbies, birding. We were lucky enough to find the preserve and have really grown to enjoy all the different migratory birds and especially ducks that we can find here, in the desert! We have also seen coyotes, quail, and rabbits abound. There are birds of prey soaring overhead and hummingbirds zinging about, you really just need to stop for a few minutes.
They have recently made a ton of upgrades, they added a duck blind, some benches, and a gorgeous walkway over one of the ponds. My personal favorite is that you no longer have to be buzzed in, the gate is just open or closed. It’s important to stay on the paths and be quiet and courteous to those around you. This is a place where many serious birders get their fix, you’ll see them around, binoculars in hand dressed in beige from head to toe. They are generally pretty kind, even when we have a loud 2 year old in tow, but do your best to respect them and their hobby.
Obviously the early morning is the best time to come, but you will enjoy the walk even in the afternoon. They are only open for a few hours a day so this one is definitely for the early birds.
Even if you don’t know much about birds or bird watching, if you take the time you will find something to appreciate.

I really don’t have to say much about this place because everyone who has rated this a 4 or 5 star pretty much says it all. The end!

This place is somewhat of a hidden gem like a diamond in the raft. Somewhat hard to find, but luckily there are signs posted everywhere. I took my wife and son here since he likes birds so much. There is about 8 or so different ponds and all types of different birds, ducks, lizards, and roadrunners everywhere. Almost as if it’s there own island in the middle of a busy city and Las Vegas didn’t exist. Such a beautiful sight to see and best of all it is FREE!!! :)

A hidden oasis in Henderson. I found this place last year, thanks to a wildlife photographer and it’s been a favorite spot ever since. What makes this place stand out is the large variety of birds each pond has a different group. The species vary based on the time of day & season. I see the most birds early in the morning, the preserve opens at 6am.

The grounds are well maintained and the staff is very friendly and helpful. You sign in at the little office and out the door to the ponds. There are bird blinds, a pier type lookout and a 2 story observation deck located around the 7 ponds. You will also see plenty of rabbits, lizards and etc.
Located off of galleria in Henderson, the bird preserve is a great spot to visit. SUMMER HOURS ARE 6AM-​NOON. bring plenty of water, some sunscreen and a good pair of binoculars. Best of all it’s FREE!!!

This place is a gem (in my post it will be referred to as HBVP). I did my research before visiting my parents in Las Vegas last Christmas, and put HBVP at the top of my to-​do list. As a novice birder from Illinois, I was hoping to see lots of western avifauna and was not disappointed. I got 14 life birds at HBVP; that’s 14 species that I have never before seen in my life. It was very exciting.
The layout of the park makes leisurely strolling the way to experience everything. There were many large pools, with plenty of vegetation along the edges, as well as spans of scrubby desert. A spotting scope would be ideal but we didn’t have one and it didn’t really take away from the experience at all.
Some have complained about the hours of operation of HBVP, but I don’t understand their complaints. It’s a bird viewing preserve… not only are birds more active in the earlier parts of the day, but closing it for long stretches allows the birds to not be observed and relax a little bit with no humans around. It’s a fine policy and I support it 100%.
I was fortunate enough to find ecologist Jim Boone online, who runs a hiking and birding guide service. Him and his wife accompanied me and my brother on the trip and really were the «X factor» that made the trip truly memorable. Jim was very familiar with the park and the staff, and of course with the birds and other wildlife. I even got a lesson on Nevadan geology when I asked Jim about the surrounding mountains. You should really not hesitate to use his services if you visit Las Vegas.
Like a previous poster noted, I’d give HBVP 10 stars if I could! It’s worth the short drive out of Vegas, and along with Red Rock Canyon, is among the most delightful natural experiences you’ll have in the southwest.

Unilocal 100 Challenge * ⁷⁹⁄₁₀₀
Armed with the knowledge that closing times are cut short during the hotter months, one of my galpals and I came here on the first day of summer to delight in the valley’s naturistic sites while 120 degree days were weeks away.
We got to the preserve a little later than we intended. By 10:30am, many of the birds have already taken cover in outlying areas and most of what were left were eared grebes & northern pintails who kept themselves cool in the ponds. We might’ve spotted a gambel’s quail couple scurrying to cross one pavement but didn’t make it in time to snap a picture. Fortunately, we got to spend time with a cute verdin who kept flapping back and forth to check up on its nest.
By 11:30am, we were forced to hit the shade next to the visitor center or else we’d come home smelling like roast turkeys. It didn’t take us long to encircle the preserve. All you’d need to do is follow the concrete path and you’ll come across ponds 1 – 3. Short route but not a lot of birds to see. On the other hand, you can choose to veer off and take the dirt path to reach ponds 4 – 9. We were told that they are more active.
My friend and I had a lot of fun and felt like we were well away from the Vegas we know. The preserve was quiet, peaceful and provided the well-​needed company of serene wildlife. However, I believe the preserve could improve people’s enjoyment level more by adding a little more shade. Many benches lined the paths, but they did not look too comfortable under the 90-​ish degree sunlight. I understand that budget cuts are a problem (according to the guy at the visitor center) so for you (and your children’s) safety, wear a ton of sunblock and come in the wee hours of the morning. They do open at 6am in the summer!

I usually don’t give a place a five star rating without checking it out several times first. This place deserves an exception.
I love nature, solitude, serenity, and walking for exercise. This place gives an abundance of all of these.
The preserve was clean, beautiful, and deserted (saw no one except near the nature center). There was lots of wildlife though. Several jackrabbits, three different pair of quails, and of course, birds galore.
I myself am not a bird watcher, but for nature thats close to home (with lots of water), this place cant be beat !
And heres a shoutout for Christine, the friendly nature center guide. She was so nice & informative too.
I am SO coming back here. I camt believe its five minutes from my house and this is the first Time ive been here. Thats Vegas for you! Suprising hidden gems here there & everywhere :)

Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve isn’t just for the birds. It is also for people who want to spend a couple of hours outdoors enjoying nature. I am one of them.
The first impression of Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve is blah. It is located in an industrial area of Galleria Drive east of Boulder Highway. There is no grand scenery to welcome you to Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve [from here on abbreviated HBVP]. In fact, the driveway is by the Henderson Animal Control Center. The drive way to the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve is just like the driveway to a military base. After a curve, you enter a fenced in parking lot through an open gate. I am serious when I write that a couple of years ago when I first started visiting the HBVP, I had to stop at a gate, dial a number, and they would buzz me in. Near the gate are the posted hours. The hours are ridiculously short. In the winter they close at 2 PM. and the summer at 12 PM. It is worth noting that there is plenty of parking.
To get into the preserve, you have to make a stop at the preserve office. The knowledgeable volunteers will prompt you to fill out your name, where you live, and the time you check-​in. They will be enthusiastic to answer your questions and will be more than happy to provide you with a preserve map and birding check list.
The layout of HBVP resembles a tic-​tac toe board. There is a perimeter trail with interior trails that criss-​cross with ponds in the middle. There are at least twelve ponds. The majority of the ponds are alive with water and waterfowl. At the eastern periphery there are a couple of dry ponds. Supposedly they are home to owls. My favorite ponds are the ones in the southeast section. With their tall wetlands and healthy waterfowl population they remind me of a Florida wetland transplanted in the Nevada desert.
The City of Henderson has put some money into HBVP. There is a boardwalk that is placed over a large section of one pond and the adjacent wetlands (also looks over the back of Sam Boyd Stadium). Nearby there is an observation tower that provides fantastic views of the ponds and Wetlands Park out to Frenchman Mountain and Rainbow Gardens. There are visors for viewing the birds unnoticed.
According to the information signs, HBVP is home to many creatures. They include roadrunners, coyotes [Wow! A Roadrunner, Wild E. Coyote, and open desert], rabbits, owls, and so on. On my visits, I have only seen waterfowl and rabbits. Maybe if HBVP closed after 2 PM., I would see more creatures.
HBVP is more than bird viewing. The perimeter trails overlook the open spaces of Wetlands Park. In the distance over Wetlands Park stands Frenchman Mountain. The neat thing about the desert is that mountains look a lot closer than what they really are. I have taken a few pictures of Frenchman Mountain towering over the ponds. There are also a couple of trails that give the illusion that they lead to Frenchman Mountain. Frenchman Mountain vistas are such a part of HBVP that there is an information kiosk that explains the geology of Frenchman Mountain.
I really like HBVP. It really frustrates me that every time I visit the place that I get really into the experience and have to end up rushing out because it closes an hour before the usual lunch special ends. I appreciate all the work that the Volunteers do. However, this is a city park and the department of parks needs to hire a couple of employees to keep it open til sundown. A ridiculously early closing time takes away from the experience, which leaves me with no option to take off a star.

I went here for the very first time a week and a half ago and I have to say this place blew my mind. I found out while I was here it actually had to close down some of it’s lakes that used to be open, I only noticed this because as we walked around we saw the dried up lakes, but that said there’s still not 1, but 9 beautiful lakes here, a ton of birds, all the information you could possibly want, and best of all… It’s free.
This place is magic, an oasis in the middle of the desert for a ton of migrating birds and a lot that nest here as well. The people were all very friendly, and honestly the views from this place couldn’t be beat. We saw a ton of birds, bunnies, and even had an experience where some geese got all too curious about what I was doing and walked up to me to say hello.
This place is what 5 star ratings were meant for, I only wish I could give it 10.

I went two places yesterday to enjoy being away from the city in a different way than hiking. My first stop was here at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. I have friends from New Jersey who have been here twice on vacations to Las Vegas and they always said what a great place it was and they were right.
You enter the preserve through an office where you fill out a short form for contact information and save harmless for the City of Henderson. This is good for two years. You sign the guest book and then enter the preserve going out the back door. There are volunteers working here who make sure you have a map and a bird pamphlet so you can mark off the birds you see if you want.
From the back door, you’re on your own to explore and enjoy! There’s a dirt track that goes basically two miles around the exterior perimeter. You can see many of the pools this way. There is also a dry pond in one spot where burrowing owls have been spotted.
There are two places where the preserve has observation points. One is a boardwalk that goes out into one of the ponds where you can get closer to view some of the birds. There are benches at the end of this walk and there are benches in many places throughout the preserve to just relax and enjoy the solitude and sounds of the birds.
There are a couple of blinds with holes at different levels for different height people to stand behind to observe the birds. You can also get some good photos without scaring the birds. Finally, there’s a raised platform – you walk up a set of steps – that looks out over two of the ponds. It’s a great place to stop and watch what flies by.
I will be back. This is one of those places where going just once is not enough!

I am fairly new to birding, and was thrilled to find this place. We drove in and there were quail walking around the entrance. Inside there are 9 ponds where we saw American Coot, egrets, cinnamon teal, humming birds and even some red tail hawks. The woman behind the counter was incredibly friendly and extremely knowledgeable. I love this place.