Northeastern Nevada Bird Watching: Elko and Its Neighboring Counties Offer Hundreds of Species

Bird watching in the outdoors requires a little more effort than peering out from one's kitchen window. It involves immersing oneself in nature, and driving to scenic locales in search of birds not found commonly in town, such as predatory birds, shorebirds and waterfowl; and upland game birds.

Hotspots for bird watching in the Elko, Nevada, area include Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway, Bruneau Meadows and Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge to name but a few of the many popular viewing spots in the outdoors.
Mountain chickadees can be found between pines and aspens, as can birds such as red-breasted nuthatches. In pinyon/juniper forests, the juniper titmouse is fairly common. According to Larry Hyslop in his book "Ruby Mountain Visitors Guide," broad-tailed hummingbirds can even be found in Soldier Canyon in June. Most often recognized by their whirring sound and seen soon afterward, broad-tails and the silent calliope hummingbird summer in the Rubies. Other species that have been spotted, but are uncommon, are ruffous and black-chinned hummingbirds.

For the more adventurous, the rare Himalayan Snowcock can be found on high peaks in the Rubies above Island Lake. The Ruby Mountains is the only location the upland bird can be found in the United States. And, due to its observant nature in its bleak surroundings, hunters have a low success rate of harvesting one bird, let alone the two the state allows.

In the spring, yellow-headed blackbirds can be found at Bruneau Meadows north of Elko. It is joined by prairie falcons, northern harriers and golden eagles, as well as meadowlarks. At Charleston Reservoir's south overlook of the meadow, white pelicans, Canada geese, western grebes, great blue herons, white-faced ibis and various shorebirds are also present.

Aside from being a major attraction for area trout and largemouth bass anglers, the Ruby Marshes and Ruby Lake are home to an array of native and migratory birds. These spring and snowmelt-fed waters host dozens of species of ducks including canvasbacks, gadwalls and cinnamon teal. At the South Sump, hundreds of white-faced ibis may be seen along with double-crested cormorants and great egrets. Trumpeter swans, greater sandhill cranes American coots and various shorebirds, grebes and herons also frequent the area. In all, an estimated 200 species, 130 of which are local, can be found here. In the winter, 50 species are here on average, although the road is often hard going, and is most often impassible if attempting to cross Harrison Pass from the west of the Ruby Mountains. Many songbirds make their homes near the refuge and nearby Cave Creek, including hummingbirds, flycatcher, swallows, wrens, warblers, blackbirds, finches, western bluebirds and mountain chickadees.

For more information on the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge, contact the Fish and Wildlife office at 775-779-2237. Additional information on wildlife viewing areas in Elko County can be found online at www.ExploreElko.com.