Arizona’s Desert Wetlands are Vital to Birds on the Move

The deserts of the American Southwest are a hotspot for a diversity of birds found nowhere else in the United States. Gambel’s Quail, Gila Woodpecker, and many more rely on habitats that most think of as hot, harsh, and dry. But, perhaps surprisingly, many waterbirds also call the arid region home for all or part of the year along their migratory journeys. In fact, on an average day during migration, some 250,000 shorebirds can be found in the wetlands of the Colorado River Delta—twice previous estimates.

While only 2% of Arizona’s landscape is covered by rivers and wetlands, up to 80% of Arizona wildlife species are dependent on these areas — known as riparian habitats — for breeding, migration, shelter, and seasonal foraging throughout their lifetime. Protecting and managing water is crucial for birds, the habitats they need, and the communities that rely on healthy water supplies in the Southwest.

Long-term drought, extreme heat, and overallocated water supplies are putting the rivers, streams, and wetlands along the tributaries of the Colorado River—and the birds that depend on them— at risk. Throughout the arid West, communities and scientists are coming together to improve the resilience of watersheds and landscapes that provide essential water that birds and people need.

Approaches to protecting these habitats are just as diverse as the birds that rely on them. From advocating for bird-friendly policies, to removing invasive plants and re-establishing with native ones, to creating thriving habitats with purified reclaimed water, we can help support resident and migratory birds throughout their journeys.

Our Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix, Arizona is one of more than 30 Audubon conservation action centers throughout the country. It serves as the gateway to a unique urban green space in the heart of the city. By inviting the community in for a full calendar of environmental and cultural events, they’ve become a hub that connects people from across the Phoenix metro area to the wildlife in their backyards.

This is just one part of a much larger story. In Audubon’s Birds on the Move, a four-part documentary series, we follow these migrations from the Boreal Forest to Colombia—tracing the paths of the birds, and the people and places working to ensure they make it safely along the way.

Watch the third episode of Birds on the Move, “Desert Rivers” here and subscribe to our YouTube channel to follow the journey.