It is estimated that free ranging cats kill from 1.4 to 3.7 billion birds every year in the lower 48 states, the median range being 2.4 billion.  That's BILLION with a "B."
 
More than 100 million cats reside in the United States. They are a non-native invasive species responsible for the deaths of more birds than are killed from collisions with windows, communications towers or vehicles, or poisoned by pesticides, second only to habitat loss.  Un-owned, wild roaming cats are estimated to be responsible for 69% of birds killed. Owned cats that are allowed to roam free outdoors kill over 700 million birds every year in our country.  Migratory and nesting birds are particularly vulnerable at certain times of the year.

​Spring migration is ramping up with birds and birders flocking to the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve.
 
On a recent Sunday, thirteen volunteers from Red Rock Audubon worked hard to make this return more enjoyable for all.  Clearing out brush, trimming back trees and replacing cages around plants to protect them from the voracious rabbits improves the habitat for birds and opens up views for the rest of us.

A Review of the presentation “Hummingbird Photography” by Steve Kaye
By Sunshine Jowell

The Red Rock Audubon Society is excited to announce a new recurring bird watching event at Cornerstone Park!

​​Located in Henderson at 1600 Wigwam Pkwy, Cornerstone Park is a relatively “under birded” yet superb spot that typically yields an impressive variety of species. The walk is approximately 2.5 miles in length and will be leisurely in pace. Restrooms, parking and a mobility accessible path are available at the park. The birding “highlight” and centerpiece of the park is the 31-acre Railroad Lake, which is cradled by a variety of habitat types that typically harbor a good assortment of resident & migratory birds.

Join guide Chris Aquila on March 7th on a trip around the park to see what birds you can spot while enjoying some fresh air and beautiful sights.

Every spring and fall Red Rock Audubon members are treated to an explosion of visitors.  Not the human type that enjoy all the great activities special to the Las Vegas area but of birds migrating to and from their nesting sites in the north.  A huge majority of many bird species return each year to these boreal forests of Canada and the Northwest to raise their young.  For example, 98% of Palm Warblers, such as the one above, nest in boreal forests.*

​Read on to learn more about birds we love to see that are reliant on the boreal forests and how Red Rock Audubon is leading an effort to protect these critical habitats.

With all the grief 2020 bestowed upon us there is some good news to share.  Volunteers monitored several burrowing owl nests (outdoors and socially distanced, of course) in and around Gilcrease Orchard during the 2020 nesting season.   A total of 24 chicks fledged!

Chrisitiana Manville, Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, would like to share her letter to the volunteers with you.