A BIRD HAVEN
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is an oasis
in the desert. Its deep sandstone canyons provide a perennial water
supply, cool temperatures and a wide variety of vegetation which serve
as ideal habitat for many bird species. In fact, over 100 bird
species have been identified within the conservation lands.
Many birds, such as birds of prey, although not exclusively found in
the desert, exhibit specific behavioral traits which allow them to
survive in arid lands. Eagles and hawks conserve water by soaring
in high altitude air currents where strong winds allow them to stay
aloft with little exertion, and temperatures can be 20 degrees cooler
than at ground level. Obtaining water is no problem for these
birds; their water needs are satisfied by eating the moisture-rich
flesh of small animals. The dark silhouettes of the red-tailed hawk,
Cooper's hawk, golden eagle and other raptors can be seen against the
blue sky above the conservation lands.
Some birds have learned to use desert plants, especially those of the
cactus family, for protection of captured prey. The Loggerhead
Shrike, though a predatory bird, has weak feet and is unable to hold
struggling prey in its grasp. To immobilize prey, the shrike will often
impale it on cactus spines. It will eat the prey immediately or allow
it to sun dry for later consumption. The cactus wren, identified by its down-turned bill, heavily streaked body and fan shaped tail, uses the
spiny branches of the cholla cactus to protect its nest. The nests,
which resemble a football, are built from desert plant stems and flower
stalks. Up to 10 nests may be built by one pair of cactus wrens, but
only one will be used to raise young. The unoccupied nests may serve to
confuse and frustrate predators hampered by cholla spines. The
cactus wren does not wander far from its nests, rather it hunts
succulent spiders, insects and larvae in the nearby vicinity.
Watch for the cactus wren and loggerhead shrike throughout the Red Rock
Canyon National Conservation Area.
A few birds have not only adapted behaviorally, but
also have special body modifications to meet the demands of desert
life. One such bird is the roadrunner. This desert member of the cuckoo
family is a large bird, about the size of a chicken. It is heavily
streaked, has a bristle tipped crest and long tail. It is most easily
identified, however, by its habitat of streaking across the desert on
foot, much like the Roadrunner cartoon character. It rarely
flies, but will make short, hopping flights to escape danger or aid in
the capture of lizards, snakes, ground squirrels and insects. These
prey have a high percentage of body moisture which satisfies the
roadrunner's need for water. The roadrunner pants to keep cool and
voids excess blood salts through special nasal glands similar to those
found in marine birds. Watch for this lively bird throughout the Scenic
Loop Drive.
Many Birds found in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area have
no special behavioral or body adaptations. It is only the
presence of water in perennial streams or potholes after rains which
allows them to survive in this area. Such birds include the
rufous-sided towhee, morning dove, white-throated swift, chukar and
Gambel's quail.
The rufous-sided towhee is usually seen in oak tree and shrub
vegetation near water. Its red sides, dark head and black and white
underbelly identify this bird. It has a strong bill for crushing
seeds, but it will also eat insects and berries.
The morning dove, recognized by its plump, brown body and wedge shaped
tail, needs daily drinking water in order to survive. It arrives
in the Conservation Area during the spring months and constructs flimsy
nests on shrubs or the branches of the cholla cactus within one mile of
water. These nests often fall apart during high winds or
stormy weather, killing the young. However, the high reproductive rate
of these birds allows a few nests to be lost without much harm to the
overall productivity of the breeding pair. The parents feed their
young a white liquid produced in their crop; the liquid is so rich in
protein that young can fly in 10 days. Some young doves have left
the nest within one month. The parents will
then begin a new nest. Adult morning doves may raise up to six separate
groups of young per breeding season in this manner. Watch for
this bird as it flies to and from water sources throughout the
conservation lands.
The white-throated swift is a small bird with long
narrow, stiff wings and a short tail. It can be distinguished from
other swifts by the contrasting black and white pattern on its
underside. Its small size and pointed wings grant it great speed and
maneuverability that aid in the capture of insects. Swifts are
frequently seen flying in steep canyons and over pools of water
throughout the area.
Both chukar and Gambel's quail need a supply of water to supplement the
moisture they derive from the seeds they eat. Although in the same
family, they prefer different habitats within the Conservation Area.
The Gambel's quail occurs in the desert thickets near washes, while the
chukar prefers steep, rocky slopes where grasses are plentiful. Both
rely on their feet for travel, but will make sustained flights in times
of danger.
Many more bird species inhabit the Red Rock Canyon National
Conservation Area; too many to detail here. You are encouraged to
explore the diversity of bird life in the region and to learn about the
desert environment. Only through close observation can the beauty and
majesty of the desert and its associated life forms be appreciated.
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