Wildlife Calendar of Events

USFWS Photo

This calendar is meant to provide visitors with a general guide to seasonal events on Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge.

JANUARY

Annual waterfowl hunt closes. Concentrations of ducks, geese, and swans are present. Flights of ducks and geese can be seen each evening near the North Marsh and Upper Lake. Bald eagles are present.

FEBRUARY

Wintering waterfowl begin migrating north. Migrating sandhill cranes begin to arrive. American white pelicans can be observed on the Upper Marsh.

MARCH

Shorebirds frequent exposed mudflats. Sandhill cranes present near refuge headquarters. Cormorants present on North Marsh and Upper Lake.

APRIL

Spring bird migration begins with arrival of migrants. Numerous migrating cinnamon teal can be seen.

MAY (check here for a more complete list of recent sightings)

Great blue herons, egrets, and cormorants begin nesting on the refuge. Waves of migrating Wilson's and yellow warblers can be observed in the cottonwoods and willows around lakes and springs. Black-chinned humming birds arrive. Bright fuscia-colored blooms appear on beaver-tail cacti. Indigo bush is in bloom. International Migratory Bird Day is celebrated.

JUNE

Broods of mallards and Canada geese can be observed. Endangered southwestern willow flycatcher begins nesting. Orioles, tanagers, and flycatchers are numerous in riparian habitat. Adult red-tailed hawks can be seen feeding their young. Young Gambel's quail can be observed as they run for cover. Young redheads and canvasbacks can be viewed on the Lower Lake. Milkweed is in bloom. National Fishing Week is celebrated.

JULY

Young Clark's grebes can be observed hitching a ride on their mother's back. Colorful young American coots abound. Willow flycatcher young begin to leave their nests. Nighthawks can be observed feeding on insects in the late evening and early morning. Red coachwhip, California kingsnakes, and Mojave rattlesnakes can be observed crossing refuge roads.

AUGUST

Young coyotes can be observed learning to hunt rodents on their own. Great-horned and barn owls are plentiful. Yellow-headed blackbirds can be seen in the marsh. Summer temperatures can reach 110 degrees Farenheit.

SEPTEMBER

Dove hunting season opens. Raptors are plentiful. Refuge impoundments are flooded for migratory waterfowl.

OCTOBER

Waterfowl season begins. Sandhill cranes arrive on their migration south. Swans, geese, and hoards of ducks including canvasbacks, teal, redheads, shovelers, and pintail can be observed on refuge lakes and marshes. Cottonwood leaves turn bright yellow after first freeze. National Wildlife Refuge week is celebrated during the second week of the month.

NOVEMBER (check here for a more complete list of recent sightings)

Quail and waterfowl season underway. Ducks and geese increase with large concentrations of pintails and Canada gese in the North Marsh during the waterfowl season. Mule deer migrate down from the surrounding mountains, often followed by mountain lions. Bald eagles arrive.

DECEMBER

Osprey and bald eagles can be observed on the Upper Pahranagat Lake. Migrating Northern harriers abound and can be see gliding low over fields in search of prey. Lakes can be frozen over during hard winters.