The Living Desert

Directions: 47900 Portola Avenue, Palm Desert, 92260. Phone (760) 346-5694. www.livingdesert.org From Interstate 10, take the Monterey Avenue exit and go south for 6 miles. Turn left (east) on Highway 111, and continue 1.5 miles. Turn right on Portola Ave., go 1.5 miles and look for the Living Desert on the left.

About the Site: The Living Desert was established in 1970 as a 360-acre desert wilderness preserve, and today is an AZA-accredited zoo and botanical garden. A leisurely walk through the grounds is a great way to see many of our wild desert residents (birds, butterflies, reptiles) that are attracted to the lush vegetation and permanent water. Some of the best areas to spot birds include: Main entrance, Demonstration Garden, Butterfly Garden, Hummingbird Garden, Vizcaino Garden, Sonoran Pond.

Habitats: Botanical gardens represent the following North American deserts – Upper Colorado (the section of the Sonoran Desert including the Coachella Valley), Mojave , Sonoran, Chihuahuan and Vizcaino. There is also an African section that features plants and animals adapted to the drier portions of Africa.

Birds and Other Wildlife: Signature Species: Gambel’s Quail, Black-crowned Night Heron, Greater Roadrunner (often seen in the parking area), Cooper’s Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Costa’s Hummingbird, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Least Bell’s Vireo, Verdin, Cactus Wren, Phainopepla, Abert’s Towhee. Rarities: Northern Saw-whet Owl, Red-naped Sapsucker, Vermilion Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Painted Redstart.

Best Times to Visit: October – May. Arrive early enough to beat the heat when the wild birds and zoo’s animals are most active. The California Desert Nature Festival is held in April.

Additional Notes: Hours 9am-5pm daily (except summer 8am-1:30pm). Admission fee. Wildlife shows often feature Harris’s Hawk and Golden Eagle. Monthly birdwalks are free to members, and guided trips to the Salton Sea are offered every January. Except for guide dogs (call ahead), pets are not allowed either inside the Living Desert or inside parked vehicles -temperatures can soar quickly.