Birding Grand Canyon River
Many people visit Arizona and the Grand Canyon to see the beautiful natural structures located here – but what they should realize is that birding Grand Canyon River is also a great trip.
Birding Grand Canyon River
The river located within the Grand Canyon is known as the Colorado River, and it snakes through this large gorge, which is part of the Grand Canyon National Park. This national park was one of the first national parks established within the United States, and it was done under President Theodore Roosevelt's supervision. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, and was carved out of stone over six million years ago. It reaches depths of over 1.6 miles and can be up to 18 miles wide.
One of the best parts of birding Grand Canyon River is the fact that there are so many different species of birds in the area. There are over 355 species of birds in the Grand Canyon National Park, with over 250 living in the Colorado River area. Not all of these species live in the river area at once, many choose the Grand Canyon as stopovers while migrating between two seasonal homes. Others choose to spend their winters in the Canyon, with the notable species being the bald eagle, who roosts here for his winter home.
There are also increasing numbers of waterfowl that call the Colorado River corridor their home. Due to the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam, water birds have started using the area of the river that is located below the dam for winter homes. Over 19 species have been reported to use this area as home, peaking in the months of late December and early January. There is a high density of ducks reported – 136 ducks per square mile!
Drier parts of the Grand Canyon have less inhabitants, but there are still around 30 species of birds that call these rocky cliffs their home. Around 100 pairs of peregrine falcons live in nests located on the cliffs, and the many bats and smaller birds that also roost here make for plenty of food for these birds of prey. Some endangered California condors, released into the wild as part of a breeding program, also live within the Grand Canyon area after choosing the spot as their home.
Birding Grand Canyon River can allow birders to experience many different habitats and species all within a relatively small space. You can be sure that you will have access to many different sights and interesting species while visiting this area.