{"id":2206,"date":"2016-11-14T13:26:55","date_gmt":"2016-11-14T20:26:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/aziba.org\/?p=2206"},"modified":"2016-12-07T12:57:01","modified_gmt":"2016-12-07T19:57:01","slug":"joshua-tree-iba-trip-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aziba.org\/?p=2206","title":{"rendered":"Joshua Tree IBA Trip Report"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by Jennie MacFarland<\/p><\/div>\n

Trip report by Craig Anderson for his Arizona IBA Big Year.<\/em><\/p>\n

If solitude and serenity are what you are seeking for your next birding adventure, Joshua Tree IBA (one of \u00a0Arizona\u2019s\u00a0<\/strong>newest important Bird Areas) is definitely a trip for you!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Two and a half hours north of Phoenix, off Highway 93 and immediately west\u00a0of Wikieup, Joshua Tree IBA is like visiting the enchanted \u201cTruffula\u201d tree forest\u00a0of The Lorax fame. The 30-40 foot Joshua trees are unique and spell binding\u00a0with their variety of different shapes and twists. While the forest includes some\u00a0open spaces, there are places where the Joshua trees are so numerous you\u00a0can barely walk through them. Other parts of this mixed and robust desert\u00a0forest include huge Juniper trees, Saguaro cactus, Spanish Dagger, Creosote,
\nMesquite trees and numerous flowering plants.<\/p>\n

I was joined on this trip by Terri Ratley, Arizona birder and adventurous\u00a0camper. She was so appreciative of the opportunity to learn about Audubon\u2019s\u00a0IBA program first hand, that she gladly made a $25 donation to support the IBA\u00a0program.\u00a0The adventure started as we stopped for lunch at the rustic Wikieup Trading\u00a0Post Restaurant. Angie, our waitress and local resident, enthusiastically\u00a0shared her knowledge of Joshua Tree when we told her of our quest. She was\u00a0surprised that the area she loves is now a designated \u201cImportant Bird Area\u201d\u00a0and destination for \u201cBird Watchers\u201d. She came back frequently between\u00a0serving other quests, to learn more about our desire to camp in the area. \u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0breathtaking and so quiet\u201d, she said, and then asked in a concerned voice, if\u00a0we had \u201cfour-wheel drive\u201d, \u201cIt\u2019s a must, there are some rough spots, especially\u00a0if it rains\u201d, she said.<\/p>\n

Leaving our new friend, Terri and I followed her instructions to turn left off Hwy\u00a093 just beyond the Chevron station. \u201cChicken Springs Road\u201d was reasonably\u00a0maintained but rutted and rocky; four-wheel drive sure smoothed out the\u00a0bumps. After a couple of miles, we encountered on the right the white \u201cSign-In\/Out\u201d station. While there are no fees to enter, you must register your car,\u00a0date in & out plus the purpose of your visit. During hunting season, the area is\u00a0used by hunters seeking Mule Deer, Javelina, Gambel\u2019s Quail and ducks that\u00a0visit the ponds. ATV\u2019ers are permitted to use the main roads and trails. \u201cOffroad\u201d\u00a0travel is not permitted.<\/p>\n

\"Cinnamon<\/a>

Cinnamon teal by Alexandra MacKenzie<\/p><\/div>\n

After reading the regulations, I prominently displayed the temporary pass from\u00a0my rearview mirror. We then proceeded 13 miles toward the intersection with\u00a0\u201cAlamo Lake Road\u201d. At the intersection stood a classic, large steel frame\u00a0windmill, one of many we would see in Joshua Tree. The water tanks are\u00a0owned by local ranchers, most prominently the \u201cBar S\u201d ranch. Signage clearly\u00a0says you are welcome to visit these areas but \u201con foot\u201d only.<\/p>\n

Most of these areas are short hikes\u00a0to good birding. West of the\u00a0intersection\u2019s windmill is a stock tank\u00a0where we had our first surprise \u2013 four\u00a0Cinnamon Teal dabbling on the\u00a0pond. We also observed Roughwinged\u00a0Swallows swooping down to\u00a0take insects emerging from the\u00a0water, Turkey Vultures, Western\u00a0Red-Tails, Cooper\u2019s, three\u00a0spectacular Harris Hawks and a\u00a0single Wilson\u2019s Snipe.<\/p>\n

Looking for a campsite, we followed\u00a0a rough trail that started just south of\u00a0the intersection and headed west. It\u00a0didn\u2019t take long for us to find\u00a0ourselves among big, bold and\u00a0uniquely formed Joshua trees, along\u00a0with massive Juniper trees, Yucca,\u00a0Prickly Pear and Spanish Dagger.\u00a0The land here is mostly owned by BLM and therefore offers remote camping\u00a0without fees. There is no water or services. You need to be completely self-sufficient\u00a0including trash bags for your waste.<\/p>\n

Our campsite included a forty foot plus Joshua two feet in diameter and a\u00a0massive companion Juniper Tree that provided some shade. We set up our\u00a0minimalist camp that did include however, a \u201ctent toilet\u201d. I try not to leave\u00a0anything except our foot prints, packing up all trash and waste. Other campers\u00a0seem to share the same values as we saw very little trash throughout the IBA.<\/p>\n

Our first birding activity was a dusk visit to the adjacent water tank. While the\u00a0water tank and surrounding habitat provided some good birding, the stock\u00a0pens throughout the IBA were the most productive. Around these, we got good\u00a0looks at Lucy\u2019s Warblers, Say\u2019s Phoebe\u2019s, Brewer\u2019s, Black-throated, Whitecrowned\u00a0Sparrows and numerous finches such as House and Lesser Goldfinches.<\/p>\n

Our first night, while sitting\u00a0around my gas fire ring, brought\u00a0us what turned out to be the\u00a0highlight of our trip \u2026 the trifecta\u2026 Great Horned, Western\u00a0Screech and the diminutive Elf\u00a0Owl. They all quickly responded\u00a0to my playback of the Western\u00a0calls. While the Western Screech\u00a0Owls provided the larger and\u00a0most sustained chorus, the Great\u00a0Sonoran Desert Borderlands IBA\u00a0Horned and Elf Owl could be heard periodically throughout the evening. A\u00a0single Elf Owl responded to my 6:00 AM playback the following morning. The\u00a0most striking event each day was the dawn chorus of Bendire\u2019s Thrashers that\u00a0surrounded our camp site. I found Joshua Tree one of the best places to study\u00a0the Bendire\u2019s behaviors and calls.<\/p>\n

\"Elf<\/a>

Elf Owl by Bryant Olsen<\/p><\/div>\n

There are 78 resident and migrating birds listed for the IBA, 10 of which have\u00a0conservation status. I suspect however, that as more birders visit the area in\u00a0the coming years, more species will be added.<\/p>\n

Persistent in our birding efforts, we were rewarded by getting most of the\u00a0\u201cconservation status\u201d species along with many others. Owling at night along\u00a0the road to our camp and visits to the adjacent stock pen was a special treat.\u00a0We had a beautiful 3\/4 Moon to provide light for our footsteps.<\/p>\n

Over the next two days, we drove approximately 14 miles exploring the roads\u00a0and marked trails. I was extremely pleased we had four-wheel drive as we\u00a0often encountered rough and sandy spots. Occasionally, we had to back up, as\u00a0the trail became too treacherous to proceed. We walked a total of 3-4 miles to\u00a0the various water tanks and stock pens. There were only a few other campers\u00a0in the area. Our closest neighbors were over a half-mile from us. We never\u00a0heard them! The ATV\u2019ers were respectful and usually traveled the main roads.<\/p>\n

At slightly over 3,000 feet in elevation, I will visit this special Mojave Desert\u00a0IBA many more times during October-May. It features easy access to remote\u00a0camping, the uniqueness of the Joshua tree forest and good birding. The\u00a0solitude and serenity provide what my soul needs the most to be renewed,\u00a0centered and made whole.<\/p>\n

Editor’s note: Joshua Tree IBA is also an excellent habitat for Bendire’s Thrashers and was recently granted Global IBA status because of this bird.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Bendire's<\/a>

Bendire’s Thrasher at Joshua Tree IBA by Dave Kreuper<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Trip report by Craig Anderson for his Arizona IBA Big Year. If solitude and serenity are what you are seeking for your next birding adventure, Joshua Tree IBA (one of \u00a0Arizona\u2019s\u00a0newest important Bird Areas) is definitely a trip for you! Two and a half hours north of Phoenix, off Highway 93 and immediately west\u00a0of Wikieup, … <\/p>\n

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