Date: 6/13/26 11:12 am From: henry detwiler via groups.io <henry_detwiler...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Cibola area--Experimental Reveg Site
Greetings Birders,
If you're looking for new places to look for birds in Imperial County, birding the Colorado River Valley has a distinctly different feel than either the Imperial Valley or the foothills of the Laguna Mountains. An excellent location that I had not explored before yesterday (12 June 2026) is the eBird hotspot named "Cibola area--Experimental Reveg Site," which was started in 1979 as an area to test the reintroduction of cottonwoods in dredge spoils. The area is roughly two by one-half miles in area, and composed of indivual sections of cottonwoods, willows, and mesquite forest. It is criss-crossed with sandy dirt tracks which provide excellent walking access. Some of the roads (such as the perimeter) are suitable for sedans, others require 4x4.
Despite the heat (90 degrees), two hours at this site yesterday morning yielded a profusion of birds. Most were singing, such as Bell's Vireos, Ash-throated Flycatchers, a Willow Flycatcher, Yellow-breasted Chats, Lucy's Warblers, Crissal Thrashers, and Blue Grosbeaks. One of the Ash-throated Flycatchers was carrying food, and one fledgling Lucy's Warbler was begging and chasing an adult. A Red-tailed Hawk was nesting in the vicinity and tried to chase me off. Later, in another part of the site, a Western Kingbird and a Bullock's Oriole tried to chase the hawk away. There were over a hundred Gambel's Quail running around and calling, and White-winged Doves were cooing everywhere. I counted 28 Abert's Towhees! Other wildlife included a coyote and a coachwhip.
If you're heading to Cibola NWR just across the Colorado River in Arizona, this location might well be worth a stop.
If you have already joined the California Breeding Bird Atlas Project, we thank you! If you use eBird and would like to assist, please visit https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/home eBird report with photos:https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S356231269
Good Birding!Henry D. <Detwilerhenry_detwiler...>, AZ
Finding Birds at the Salton Sea and in Imperial County, Californiahttps://www.southwestbirders.com/swb_Imperial_County_Book.htmFinding Birds in Southwest Arizonahttps://www.southwestbirders.com/swb_SWAZ_Book.htm
