Carson is for the Birds

Over the past half year, it seems that some previously overlooked hobbies have come into vogue, namely birding and baking bread. I have to admit, I’ve been more involved in both than ever before. I mean, prior to 2020, I would bake a loaf of bread now and then. And I have always enjoyed the devil-may-care attitude of the pinyon jay. But over the past few months, these pastimes have played a much larger role in my life. And the Carson Valley is a particularly good place to indulge in a little bird-watching. In fact, it’s even designated as one of 40 Nevada Important Bird Areas by the Audubon Society. Winter can be good for spotting both waterfowl and raptors (as those familiar with the annual Eagles and Agriculture event can testify), but spring and summertime offer opportunities for observing nesting songbirds and even members of the resident colony of Tricolored Blackbirds. Photo at left: Wikimedia Commons, Daniel Schwen.

The Audubon Society even has a suggested birding route of the valley that starts out by heading south along the foothills on Jacks Valley Road to Genoa. This drive takes you through both farm/ranchlands and wetlands, and Mormon Station State Historic Park can provide sightings of both mountain and valley birds. Both Mormon Station and Genoa Park are good birding locations. A bit farther up the valley in the marshes by Centerville Lane is where you might catch a glimpse of the aforementioned Tricolored blackbirds. This colony is one of the few outside of California and is said to be the only one in Nevada. From here, one option on the tour is to visit the Incline Village General Improvement District Wetlands Enhancement Facility. With pre-arranged permission, you can explore this area that includes marshes and evaporation ponds and draws a wide variety of wetland birds. This site is good both for driving and walking. You can also swing over to Carson River Park in Carson City to look for some feathered friends in the riparian zone. This area is good for both the raptors and songbirds and also offers access to Silver Saddle Ranch, a publicly owned area offering more than 700 acres of open space, including the Mexican Ditch Trail. Photo at right: Facebook, Mormon Station State Park.

The Audubon Society’s list of birds in the area focuses heavily on the raptors that are so attention-getting and so visible in the colder months, but they do also note the Osprey that can be seen in the summer, and in addition to the notable presence of the Tricolored Blackbird, mention the Sandhill Crane, which is more often seen over by Elko. Of course, for more of the water-oriented birds, you can always pop north into the Washoe Valley to check out Washoe Lake State Park and the other handful of parks and recreation areas tucked away here. The Scripps State Wildlife Management Area here is particularly well-suited to birding. Photo at left: Wikimedia Commons, Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren.

And to be honest, one of the great things about the Carson area is that you’re never too far from nature and the open spaces, so you can indulge in a little bird watching almost anytime and anywhere. To spot a particular breed, you might have to visit a particular habitat, such a brushy side hill or a nearby marsh, but you’re likely to run into several birds just by going about your everyday life. (I don’t think I can remember a single drive through Washoe or the Carson Valley when I didn’t spot a raptor scoping out the fields for its next meal). But if you’re just starting out on this fun little hobby, try putting the Mountain Bluebird at the top of your bucket list. What better way to begin your Nevada birding fun than by spotting the Nevada state bird?