Flocks of Birdwatchers Head to Lake Havasu City to See the Nutting's Flycatcher

Coveted Sighting for Birdwatchers

For birdwatchers everywhere, the sharp weeep call of a Nutting’s Flycatcher makes the heart skip a beat, especially for so-called “listers” who try to see as many of the world’s 10,000 species as they can in one year. It’s a passion popularized in the recent Hollywood movie, “The Big Year.”

News that a Nutting’s was spotted in January near Lake Havasu City in the Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge has spread worldwide. Since early last month, flocks of birders descended upon this Colorado River town, home for 40 years to the historic London Bridge. In fact, Birdfinders, one of Britain's most successful birdwatching holiday companies, ran a trip to Lake Havasu City in mid-January.

Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge Recognized by Audubon Society

The blogosphere was all atwitter. PioneerBirding.blogspot.com raves, “… it was a bird to enjoy in a completely beautiful place - the Bill Williams River NWR right on the fringe of a major riparian area in the middle of some fairly harsh desert. All in all, a glorious morning and one to remember.”

Birding is becoming big business for the Lake Havasu area. “We host hundreds of birders here a week,” reports Kathleen B., Blair, Ph.D., an ecologist for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Visitors to the Bill Williams River NWR are handed a small card to leave with local businesses that reads, “Your business has been patronized by a birdwatcher.”

“By emphasizing that wildlife conservation is good for business, we hope more people will support wildlife conservation,” said Blair from the visitor’s center of the 6,105-acre refuge near Parker Dam.

Adding to the allure of the Bill Williams, which hosts 366 different species of birds, is its recent designation by the National Audubon Society as a Globally Significant Important Bird Area, its highest level of recognition. The riparian (riverside) zone, 23 miles from Lake Havasu City, is a desert haven for plants and animals alike, where the cool, fresh Bill Williams River winds through the Sonoran Desert beside majestic cliffs.

The rare desert marshland of the Bill Williams River NWR harbors species of global conservation concern, supports assemblages of range- and biome-restricted species, and represents a bottleneck which populations of migratory waterfowl and terrestrial birds pass through seasonally.

"The refuge is a vital stopover for neotropical migrant birds using the Colorado River flyway. It provides nesting habitat for endangered and threatened species, including the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher and Yuma Clapper Rail,” said Tice Supplee, Director of Bird Conservation for Audubon Arizona. “By calling attention to the spread of invasive exotic species spreading into riparian habitat along the river, and excessive public recreation, we hope to help preserve this Arizona gem.”

The Important Bird Areas program is a global effort to identify and conserve areas that are vital to birds and other biodiversity. By working with Audubon chapters, landowners, public agencies, community groups, and other non-profits, Audubon endeavors to interest and activate a broad network of supporters to ensure that all Important Bird Areas are properly managed and conserved.

Learn more about the National Audubon Society at www.audubon.org.

Learn more about the Bill Williams River NWR at fws.gov/refuge/bill_williams_river/.

Learn more about the Lake Havasu City region at www.golakehavasu.com.

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About Lake Havasu City

Lake Havasu City, three hours driving time from Phoenix, 2-1/4 hours south of Las Vegas and four to five from the Los Angeles region, attracts 775,000 visitors a year thanks to its dry, desert weather, more than 300 sunny days a year, a range of restaurants and lodging, and a boatload of special events.

For more information on Lake Havasu City, Arizona’s only waterfront resort destination, including a 2014-15 calendar of events, visit golakehavasu.com or call 928-453-3444. Also find Lake Havasu City online at facebook.com/lakehavasucityarizona and twitter.com/golakehavasu . Photos of dozens of images of local recreational activities, restaurants, lodging and scenery are available upon request.

Contact:

Jeff Blumenfeld

Blumenfeld and Assoc. PR

203 655 1600, jeff@blumenfeldpr.com

Michelle Gardia Lake Havasu City CVB 928-453-3444 michelle@golakehavasu.com