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Over 300 species of birds call the 600,000-acre Anza-Borrego Desert State Park home at various times throughout the year. With elevations ranging from near sea level to 6,200 feet, habitats include canyons, groves of native trees, meadows, creeks, mesquite bosques, bajadas, mountains, and deserts, within and around 12 designated wilderness areas. In the midst of glassing all the birds, be sure to take a moment to simply listen. The songs and the silence here are inspiring.

BORREGO SPRINGS DESERT BIRDING FESTIVAL, MARCH 18-20, 2020

Here are some favorite places for birding.

North Anza Borrego:
Lower Willows - At the north end of DiGoirgio Road, take the Coyote Canyon Jeep Trail to the north end of Desert Gardens and walk northwest along Coyote Creek. Clark Valley - Take Rockhouse Canyon Road to the mesquite around Clark Dry Lake. Borrego Valley - Swainson’s Hawkwatch. Annually from approximately Feb. 15 to Apr. 15.

Central Anza-Borrego:
Borrego Sink - East of Borrego Springs off Borrego Palm Canyon Campground in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Peña Spring - Good birding area near Culp Valley Camp. San Felipe Valley - Pacific Crest Trail on the high ground, creekside trails on the low ground. Sentenac Canyon and Cienega - Riparian area with good bird and animal viewing, riparian plants. Pinyon Mountain Valley - In a pinyon-juniper woodland. A base for climbing Whale Peak. 4WD road to Vallecito-Fish Creek Badlands. Yaqui Well - Near the intersection of County Road S-3 and Highway 78. Hawk Canyon - Remarkable scenery, birding, and wildflowers in a peaceful canyon in the middle of the desert. San Sebastian Marsh Fish Creek Mountains - Remote, but don’t overlook the possibilities.

South Anza-Borrego:
Good birding often starts with a look at the earthquake faults. Earthquake faults can mean springs, and springs can mean birds. In the Tierra Blanca Mountains, water also can mean insects and the birds who feed on them. Look for birding opportunities in:

Agua Caliente County Park
Bow Willow
Canebrake Canyon
Indian Valley
Mountain Palm Springs

East of the mountains, the courses of Vallecito Creek and Carrizo Creek support large stands of mesquite. A place to check is Carrizo Marsh in 4-wheel drive country about 7 miles east of County Road S-2.

For information on Agua Caliente, Bow Willow, Canebrake Canyon, Carrizo Marsh, Indian Valley, and Mountain Palm Springs, see Guide to Birds of the Anza-Borrego Desert by Barbara W. Massey.

Watch the ABDNHA Web site for details.

Photo credit http://www.abdnha.org/

                                                     Here is a short blog on which takes you on a journey of  BIRDS OF BORREGO SPRINGS.  

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