The descriptions, maps and directions provided here are based on  A Birding Guide to Reno and Beyond, Second Edition, published by the Lahontan Audubon Society in 2007. The print guide can be purchased from our online store.  The most current guides can be found here on our website.   We are looking for volunteers to help us update our older guides and add guides for newer birding hotspots.  For detailed species information and photographs, we recommend visiting All About Birds hosted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

  1. Carson Lake Wetlands **  (Fallon Area)
  2.  Carson River Ranches ** (Lyon County)
  3.  Carson Valley * (Douglas County)
  4.  Rosewood Nature Study Area - coming soon!  (Reno - East)
  5. Fort Churchill Road **  (Lyon County - Silver Springs)
  6. Galena Creek Regional Park ** (Reno - South)
  7. Honey Lake (Reno - North)
  8. Mason Valley (Fallon Area)
  9. Oxbow Nature Study Area (Reno - North)
  10. Peavine Peak (Reno - North)
  11. Pyramid Lake * (Reno - North)
  12. Rancho San Rafael Regional Park (Reno - North)
  13. Sierra Valley and Yuba Pass (California)
  14. Spooner Lake ** (Lake Tahoe)
  15. Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge ** (Fallon Area)
  16. Swan Lake Nature Study Area * (Reno - North)
  17. Tahoe Meadows and Upper Ophir Creek ** (Lake Tahoe)
  18. Verdi 
  19. Virginia Lake (Reno - Downtown)
  20. Washoe Valley * (Reno - South)

* Recognized by the National Audubon Society as a Nevada IBA.
** The Area lies within a Nevada IBA.

New additions since the 2nd edition print Birding Guide was published:

     Carson City Wastewater Treatment Plant (Carson City)
     Diamond Creek Pond ( Reno - Southeast)
     Dorostkar Park (Reno - Northwest)
     Mayberry Park (Reno - Northwest)

​For an interactive map about birding hotspots along with bus routes within the Reno/Sparks metropolitan area, please visit our page on the Birding By Bus program.
map Washoe Valley Virginia Lake Verdi Tahoe Meadows Swan Lake Stillwater Spooner Sierra Valley Rancho Pyramid Peavine Oxbow Mason Valley Honey Lake Galena Creek Fort Churchill Rd East Truckee Meadows Carson Valley Carson River Ranches Carson Lake Wetlands

I FOUND A BABY BIRD

​Determine if the baby bird is a nestling or a fledgling.

Fledgling: no need to intervene, as these birds will continue to hop out of the nest and start their independence! Their parents are usually nearby watching. Observe from a distance.

Nestling: sparsely feathered and incapable of hopping, walking or flitting, these baby birds will need some assistance. The nest is probably nearby. If you can find the nest, quickly and carefully return the baby bird to its home. Parent birds do not recognize their young by smell. Contrary to popular belief, they will not abandon the baby if it has been touched by humans.

A wildlife rehabilitator can assist in unique circumstances that jeopardize the livelihood of the baby bird.
In the spring when baby birds are hatching and the parents are flying to and from the nest to feed their chicks, sometimes one or more of the chicks fall out, especially when they are first learning how to fly. The parents will be aware that their chick has fallen from the nest and they will continue to feed and take care of it until it learns how to fly better. Do not touch or disturb these sensitive fledglings! Learning to fly is a process for young birds, they don’t leave the nest as perfect fliers, falling is a normal part of this process. 

If a healthy baby bird that has just fallen from the nest is handed over to a wildlife rehabilitator, you may be doing more harm than good. Baby birds are demanding and have unique needs that are not always able to be met by the rehabilitator, so your best option is to leave the bird alone and let the parents take care of it. Only registered wildlife rehabilitators can legally raise and take care of birds, so do not attempt to do so on your own. 

For more information on what to do if you find a baby bird, check out All About Birds, the National Audubon and the USFWS 

Determine if the baby bird is a nestling or a fledgling.

Fledgling: no need to intervene, as these birds will continue to hop out of the nest and start their independence! Their parents are usually nearby watching. Observe from a distance.

Nestling: sparsely feathered and incapable of hopping, walking or flitting, these baby birds will need some assistance. The nest is probably nearby. If you can find the nest, quickly and carefully return the baby bird to its home. Parent birds do not recognize their young by smell. Contrary to popular belief, they will not abandon the baby if it has been touched by humans.

A wildlife rehabilitator can assist in unique circumstances that jeopardize the livelihood of the baby bird.​​