January Bird Forecast

Author name

by Alex Harper



Cold, dense air blankets the valleys and basins of the lowlands, and snow may cover mountain  slopes. The sun arcs low across the horizon, and the days are especially short. Just about all the  deciduous trees have lost their leaves after a few windy December days. The loss of leaf cover forces some songbirds to forage lower to the ground or move around locally to find fuel and  cover. Since insects may only be active during the warmest parts of the warmest of January  days, you may notice Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers using ingenuity to  find dormant or dead insects and spiders. In lots and natural areas, White-crowned Sparrows  and House Finches feed on seeding quailbush.


Many January days can be bone-chilling, but on calm and warmer days, signs of breeding  activities will be noticeable in urban areas. You may hear the loud popping sounds of displaying Anna’s Hummingbirds, see Eurasian Collared-Doves “paragliding” between powerlines, or  notice robins and mockingbirds tuning up their songs. This is in response to the gradual increase  in daylight following the winter solstice in December; birds are so attuned to light that some  resident species may get a jumpstart on establishing territories and attracting mates. 


Wetlands, parks with water, and golf courses can host high species of duck diversity. Along the  Las Vegas Wash from the upper wash to Lake Las Vegas, open water attracts teals, Mallards,  American Wigeons, pintails, Gadwalls, Ring-necked Ducks, and Lesser Scaups. Wigeons and  Gadwalls are especially drawn to weirs, where they feed on algae growing on rocks. Northern  Shovelers may be absent along the Wash, preferring the calmer waters of the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve.


American Wigeons, Ring-necked Ducks, and Redheads all may be found at city park ponds and  lakes, where they have learned to take handouts. Geese move in between nighttime roosts  around water for open grassy areas during the day. Geese are grazers, and you may see small  groups of Snow Geese and the odd Cackling, Greater White-fronted, or Ross’s Geese among  Canada Geese on soccer fields or golf course lawns. 


Lake Mead can attract grebes, loons, and diving ducks. Check the areas where the Las Vegas  Wash meets the lake, which is currently near Government Wash and 33-Hole. Large enough fish for grebes, loons, and cormorants are attracted to this outwash, and it can be an excellent  place to look for these and other waterbirds that eat medium-sized to large fish. 


Lake Mead is also attractive to gulls in January and late winter. Gulls are dynamic, intelligent,  can be difficult to identify to a species-level, and are prone to wandering. For these reasons and  more, birders often find looking for gulls an exciting challenge. Only a few species are expected  on any given visit to Lake Mead, but the reservoir lures in just about any North American gull  species. Gulls go where they are fed, and they roost in safe areas close to consistent feeding  areas. 33-Hole, Government Wash, Boulder Beach and Hemenway Harbor are all tried-and-true  locations to look for gulls. Scan through flocks of ubiquitous Ring-billed, California, and  occasional Herring for Lesser Black-backed and Iceland Gulls. Eventually, you may see  something completely unexpected. 


Overall, January can be used to see waterfowl move and court one another, as well as life  cycles of wintering and resident birds. For some bird species, they are weeks or months away  from migrating to their breeding grounds, which in some cases may be in Canada or Alaska. For  our year-round neighborhood birds, they may be transitioning out of their winter behavior of  wandering for food and beginning to set up territory. By February, we will welcome the  vanguards of returning swallows. 

RECENT ARTICLES

Birding as a Pathway to Healing for University Trauma Survivors

January 30, 2026
By Skyler Peterson Universities should embrace mindful birding as a form of ecotherapy to support students living with PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an increasingly urgent mental health issue for college students. Traumatic events such as campus shootings, sexual assault, racial violence, and natural disasters leave lasting effects. A recent study found that the prevalence of PTSD in college students rose from 3.4% in 2017–2018 to 7.5% in 2021–2022 (Zhai, 2024). This increase demands attention from universities and the broader public. How PTSD Affects Students PTSD impacts nearly every aspect of a student’s life. It impairs academic performance and increases the risk of substance use. Many students withdraw socially, unable to engage fully with their peers or professors. For those who experience trauma on campus, the sense of safety and belonging, essential to learning, may be shattered. The place they must go to succeed becomes filled with constant triggers they must struggle to navigate. Mindful Birding as Ecotherapy One promising tool for promoting healing is ecotherapy: structured, nature-based activities that restore mental and physical well-being. A growing practice within this field is mindful birding, also known as “slow birding.” It combines birdwatching with mindfulness to help individuals ground themselves in the present moment and connect with the natural world around them. The guiding principles are simple but powerful: awareness of being in the moment with birds, intention to turn attention to birds and nature for self-care, being without judgment to allow an experience to be what it will, and an exploration of curiosity in openness to experiencing awe. According to the Mindful Birding Network, this intentional focus on nature can foster resilience, reduce stress, and nurture a sense of belonging in the world. Connecting Birding to PTSD For students coping with PTSD, mindful birding offers a grounding practice that is both accessible and flexible. It requires no prior experience and can be done anywhere, even while walking to class. A student feeling dysregulated might pause to listen to birdsong, notice the flight of a sparrow, or observe the seasonal rhythms on campus. These moments provide a break from intrusive thoughts, reconnecting the student with body, mind, and surroundings. This connection to nature can create a sense of safety and predictability, something many survivors of trauma desperately need. The cyclical patterns of bird life remind us that the world continues in order, even amid personal chaos. Measurable Examples During the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro found that combining mindfulness with time in nature significantly reduced anxiety symptoms in students (Vitagliano, 2023). This serves as a vital lesson for higher education, where counseling centers are stretched beyond capacity. While campus green spaces are therapeutic as they boost students' physical, mental, and social well-being, not all campuses can afford to expand green infrastructure. Birding, however, is free. It can be practiced anywhere, costs nothing, and helps students connect with nature in a restorative way. Programs like Audubon on Campus demonstrate that mindful birding is not only feasible but also practical and appealing for budget-conscious administrators. A qualitative analysis on the impact of ecotherapeutic mental health interventions on stress reduction and mental well-being was conducted. All ecotherapeutic methods (nature-based mindfulness, forest therapy, and therapeutic ornithology) were found to improve general well-being at various levels and dimensions. These levels include sensory, emotional, cognitive, language, and emotional state. Participants of the study reported increased feelings of relaxation, release of tension, increased awareness, and aroused curiosity. (Simonienko, 2023) How Universities Can Act Universities are well-positioned to make mindful birding more accessible. Audubon on Campus, the collegiate branch of the National Audubon Society, already hosts birding events throughout the academic year. By partnering with campus mental health services and victim advocate programs, these initiatives could expand into intentional ecotherapy opportunities for students living with PTSD. Providing mindful birding workshops, guided walks, or even simple campus maps highlighting bird-rich areas could help students build grounding practices into their daily lives. The cost is minimal, but the potential benefits of greater resilience, stronger community connections, and improved well-being are immense. A Call to Listen As the prevalence of PTSD rises, universities must look beyond conventional therapies and consider innovative, accessible options for healing. Mindful birding is not a cure, but it is a powerful tool to help survivors reconnect with themselves, their peers, and their campuses. Birds are everywhere, singing and flying, reminding us of the continuity and resilience of life. By encouraging students to listen, notice, and engage, universities can give trauma survivors not just a coping strategy, but a pathway back to healing. Zhai, Yusen, and Xue Du. “Trends in Diagnosed Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Disorder in US College Students, 2017-2022.” JAMA Network Open 7, no. 5 (May 30, 2024). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.13874. “Mindful Birding.” The Mindful Birding Network. Accessed August 29, 2025. https://www.themindfincludeulbirdingnetwork.com/mindful-birding . Vitagliano, L. A., Wester, K. L., Jones, C. T., Wyrick, D. L., & Vermeesch, A. L. (2023). Group Nature-Based Mindfulness Interventions: Nature-Based Mindfulness Training for College Students with Anxiety. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(2), 1451. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph2002145 Simonienko, Katarzyna, Sławomir Murawiec, and Piotr Tryjanowski. “The Impact of Ecotherapeutic Mental Health Interventions (Forest Therapy, Therapeutic Ornithology, and Nature-Based Mindfulness) on Stress Reduction and Mental Wellbeing: A Qualitative Analysis.” Psychiatria i Psychologia Kliniczna 23, no. 4 (December 29, 2023): 324–31. https://doi.org/10.15557/pipk.2023.0040. Skyler Peterson is now the AmeriCorps Service Member for Red Rock Audubon. This story was written prior to her employment with the organization.

February Birding Forecast

January 25, 2026
By Alex Harper Neither in the depths of winter anymore and too early for the rush of spring, February is a month that may feel more stagnant than January or March. The increasing daylight triggers hormone production that may prepare some birds for breeding or migratory behavior. The behavior changes in birds may be obvious when observing some species, but not observable in others. There are indeed some birds on the move in February, and they are the harbingers of an incoming spring. For our local breeding birds, many will be engaging in territorial behavior or “tuning up” their songs. Residential birds at low elevations, such as in the Las Vegas area, will be most obvious. You’ll notice doves, hummingbirds and mockingbirds chasing each other around or displaying. You may even catch hummingbirds in the act of collecting nest materials; spider webs are amongst some of their favorite materials. The songs of House Finches may be heard on almost every city block in town. At local parks such as Sunset Park, the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, and Pittman Wash, you may hear the harsh song of the Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, a rambling Crissal Thrasher, or the hurried and stuttering song of the Abert’s Towhee. Since these resident birds are nonmigratory and are already in the area that they will attempt to breed, they can begin breeding activities now. For many of the migratory species, they are on a different schedule. At our parks with water and our reservoirs, we could still see influxes of winter-driven waterfowl, especially in diving ducks like goldeneyes, Red-breasted and Common Mergansers. Cooler temperatures to the north or farther inland can freeze ponds over, which directly affects the ability for waterfowl to forage for food. Diving waterfowl are impacted by any freezes, and they’ll move around throughout February when necessary. February is another great gull-watching month. Virtually any species can show up at Lake Mead during February. Some migratory birds are on the way from south of the border. Fast-flying swallows are amongst the first to arrive, and they’ll trickle into wetlands such as Clark County Wetlands Park and the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. Migratory Northern Rough-winged Swallows will join the small winter flocks at the bird preserve, as will Tree Swallows, followed by a few Barns and Violet-greens. Visit the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve towards the end of February, and you’ll notice the slow accumulation of swallows. Once the trees begin to produce new leaves again, insect and bird activity will escalate. From March to May, surges of spring-related activities such as singing, nest-building, and migration will be in full motion.

December Birding Forecast

December 1, 2025
In December, it is fair to say that winter has arrived. And throughout November, diehard birders and backyard birders alike turn over the stones to see or hear what types of wintering birds will be with us for the next few months. At parks, in canyons, and neighborhoods, our songbirds have mostly settled into their wintering areas. Mixed flocks of Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped, and Orange-crowned Warblers rove through a variety of habitats. White-crowned Sparrows move confidently in large groups, aggregating where food is plentiful. You may see them around seeding quailbush in much of the valley. Look for their cousins, White-throated and Golden-crowned Sparrows, which occasionally join groups of White crowned Sparrows. For the most part, songbirds tend to stay put once they find a wintering area. They are no longer migrating long distances, but they will move around locally and wander for food supplies. Some songbirds are a little less predictable. Red-breasted Nuthatches and a few finch species are such examples. They move around more freely throughout the winter, admonishing the idea that we usually have of songbirds: that they are supposed to move roughly north or south with the spring or fall. For birds like siskins, Evening Grosbeaks, and Red Crossbills, this may not be the case. These species are more nomadic, searching valleys and mountainous areas for their favored seed crops. Finches call frequently while in flight, so familiarizing yourself with their calls will help you detect them as they flyover. Detecting finches as “fly overs” is a common occurrence with this globally successful family of birds. At our wetlands and lakes, waterbirds move about in search of optimal feeding areas. Many of our geese and ducks continue to come and go as the winter season progresses. These birds are often hunted or disturbed in many wintering areas, so over time they naturally end up at wetlands where hunting is not permitted. It is in part for this reason that you will run into slightly more or different birds at places like Clark County Wetlands in January than you will in December. For those looking to get out of the city for a day of birding, consider visiting agricultural areas around Moapa Valley or south of Laughlin. Visiting these habitats during the winter can be highly rewarding. Agricultural areas attract heaps of bluebirds, pipits, blackbirds and sparrows. And with those, predators often follow; the Moapa Valley, Overton, and Warm Springs areas can be excellent places to see wintering falcons, Red-tailed Hawks and harriers. You may even spot a Ferruginous Hawk, the largest hawk in on the North American Continent. Another good reason to bird these areas is that few people often do. If you are the type of person that loves to sleuth around for interesting birds, you may well stumble across an unusual bird that no one else has detected yet. They are out there, and uncommon and rare birds will be found by local birders.