Directions: 29200 Thousand Palms Canyon Road, Thousand Palms, 92276. Phone (760) 343-1234. www.coachellavalleypreserve.org From Interstate 10, take the Bob Hope Drive / Ramon Road exit. Go east on Ramon for 4 miles, and turn left on Thousand Palms Canyon Rd. In 2 miles, the main entrance to the Preserve will be on the left.

About the Site: The Preserve was established in 1984 to protect the habitat of the federally endangered Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard - a species found nowhere else in the world. Today, the 27,000 acre Preserve is managed by the Center for Natural Lands Management in cooperation with other state and federal agencies. Most of the birding activity will be near the permanent water between the Paul Wilhelm Grove (one of the largest palm groves in California) and the McCallum Grove.

Habitats: sand dunes, a total of 11 palm oases, creosote bush scrub, mesquite hummocks, desert marsh, cottonwood trees. Two major branches of the San Andreas Fault run though the Preserve, resulting in surface water that supports these habitats.

Birds and Other Wildlife: Signature Species: Gambel’s Quail, Greater Roadrunner, Great Horned Owl, Verdin, Cactus Wren, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Phainopepla, Sage Sparrow, California Fan Palm. Spring migration: periodic waves of warblers, vireos, tanagers, thrushes, flycatchers, swallows, grosbeaks, buntings and hawks. Rarities: Common Black-Hawk, Burrowing Owl, Lewis’s Woodpecker, Sage and LeConte’s Thrashers, American Redstart, Bobcat, Nelson’s Bighorn Sheep. Endangered species: Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, Least Bell’s Vireo, Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard, California Desert Tortoise, Desert Pupfish, Coachella Valley Milk-vetch.

Best Times to Visit: Spring and fall for birds, February - April for wildflowers (in wet years), May - September for reptiles, October - May for hiking.

Additional Notes: The Preserve is open every day, sunrise to sunset, except in July - August, when hours are limited. No pets are allowed.

Horse trails, and over 20 miles of sandy hiking trails, provide great places to observe animal tracks. The visitor center is staffed by volunteers, and hours vary.