Avi Kwa Ame National Monument ~ Time of the Harvest Moon

OCTOBER 2024

With the feeding of their young now behind them, birds throughout the monument are turning their attention to getting where they want to be during the winter. Of course, there are those birds who live in and near the monument year round (like sparrows, blackbirds and cactus wrens), but Avi Kwa Ame is also getting visited by migratory birds looking for water on their way south. The pond at the Mystery Ranch has proven to be a tempting stop for a few orioles, warblers, ruby-crowned kinglets, meadow larks and even western tanagers.

Drought-stressed plant life is putting all its cards on the table, with some trees and shrubs dropping leaves to prevent further water loss, and wizened cacti searching inward while they patiently wait for rainfall.

Big thanks to Alex Harper, Education and Outreach chair of the Red Rock Audubon Society for providing us with photos and details for this month’s seasonal update! He’s currently leading the Pathways to Conservation volunteer and education program which includes learning about the importance of the Mojave Desert, its different plant communities, and Avi Kwa Ame’s path to becoming a National Monument. Sign up for Red Rock Audubon’s newsletter to get spring announcements about new programs.