The most over looked Birding jewel in the Continental US is the “Big Empty” of the State of Nevada. Mantled under the perceived nothing of the sagebrush desert valley bottoms that melt into the purple haze of the distant ranges is one of the undiscovered wonders of the Birding world. The diverse landscapes of Nevada provide for the lives of some 250 species of birds that are known to breed here while 450+ species have been sighted. The diversity of the birds mirrors the landscape in the areas from around Death Valley to the tops of some 300 mountain ranges, many with 11,000 ft mountain peaks.

The areas of Northern and Western Nevada are particularly awesome as they contain habitats from brine lakes and salt playas that are home to the Snowy Plover, Avocets and Black-necked Stilts to the Alpine Forests and the above timberline snow fields that house the Black-backed Woodpecker, Hermit Thrush and Himalayan Snowcocks.

The real secret, it is the transitional Sagebrush, Riparian and forest habitats of the Carson, Smith and Mason Valleys which house the Yellow-rumped warbler, Western Tanager, Lazuli Bunting, Willow Flycatcher, Pine Grosbeak, White Headed Woodpecker, Black-throated Sparrow, Sage Thrasher, Sage Sparrow, MacGillveray’s Warbler, Prairie Falcon, Golden Eagle, Red Tail Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk and Swainson’s Hawk.

During the fall migrations these wintering grounds host large number of transient Rough-legged Hawk, Furruginous Hawk, Merlin and Harriers as well as numerous Sparrows and other small birds at the southern end of their ranges.

There are a few who recognize this birding wonder and actively seek out the thrill of finding and identifying the Nevada birds. The large scale efforts are led by the Conservation Groups and large multi-state or international Bird Tour Operators. “Birding Under Nevada Skies” is a small local operation dedicated to the joy of Birding in Northern and Western portion of Nevada and the Sierra Nevada Mountains of near by California. Its goal is to provide small custom tours or individual guided excursions in to field in search of the birds and the other joys of the outdoors.
You won’t find a real extravagant tour here; I like the old west approach of just going out and having some fun finding the birds, a good conversation or two, a respect for the life around us and a satisfaction at the end of the day of having birded under Nevada skies.