GotoBus

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Birds in Pahrump

Nevada has over 450 species of birds that been registered as seen. Amazing when most think of state as a massive arid desert.


The State bird  is The Mountain Bluebird


Nevada State Bird


The Pahrump Valley is an amazing place for bird watching. Here on our homestead we have identified over 50. 
Will be posting them randomly as seen. There are six different feeders on property,  2 are filled with black sunflower seeds 2 with thistle (niger) and the other 2 are for hummingbirds. 

There are several hummies now nesting on the property. The best hummingbird feeders are the ones with red glass. Purchasing this kind saves money as you wont need to buy the red 'nectar" that is sold everywhere for like $5.00 bucks for a small bottle.

Amazon has a great red colored humming bird feeder for under $10.00 bucks

Here is the recipe for the 'nectar'

1/4 cup sugar 
1 cup of water
( you can double recipe and store remainder in fridge up to two weeks)

Bring water to boil. stir in the sugar and keep stirring until completely dissolved. Take off flame and let cool.
This sugar water must be completely chilled and stored in fridge for 3-4 hous befor using. You dont want it to ferment. That would turn to alcohol and be dangerous for birds.

Place feeder in shade. During southern Nevada's hot summers, changes solution very 5 days or so;

There are also several vines, shrubs, flowers and fruit trees growing that supply plenty of feed to our visitors.

Three watering stations set up which are simply  - buckets with the same irrigation line attached that waters our goats, 
ducks and chickens


Here are birds spotted on property this week this week:
Anna's Hummingbird, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Phainopepla, Gambel's Quail, Great-tailed Grackles, White-crowned Sparrows, Say's Phoebes, Northern Mockingbird, Western Bluebird, Brewer's Blackbirds
Red-winged Blackbirds, Verdin, Yellow-rumped Warbler's, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, American Goldfinch, Cooper's Hawk, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Common Raven, Red-shouldered Hawk,
Northern Flicker, Blue-gray Gnatcher, Black Phoebe

For more info on local birding visit