For a country of over 300 million citizens, wildlife preserves are certainly common in the United States of America. One place you might not expect to find one, however, is in the metropolitan area of Las Vegas, Nevada. The Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve is located in Henderson, Clark County and it has become a great tourist attraction in recent years.

A few places like this may be a bit difficult to locate if you’re not entirely sure how to navigate your way around Las Vegas. Luckily, the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve is in prime position next to the highway, and it’s certainly large enough to be spotted. You’ll find the preserve on Moser Drive, right next to Boulder Highway and Sunset Road.

As far as what you’ll see in there, well, the name pretty much says it all. It’s not like a zoo with multiple types of animals. The Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve is for various types of migrating birds, endangered species, a large variety of waterfowl and other species of birds.

The bird preserve is actually one of the more popular family-friendly destinations in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. It’s away from The Strip and the many casinos – meaning it’s also away from the crazy drivers and the heavy traffic. Admission is also free and anyone’s welcome at the facility to view the birds.

The Henderson preserve happened more out of necessity than anything. The water was always there, and there had been a few species of birds that lived on the property and needed protection. Folks have been visiting the area for more than two decades to see the birds. In 1998, the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve was dedicated undisturbed.

Once you arrive and go through the gates, you’ll come across a visitor center with all the little bells and whistles you’d expect – a gift shop, employees offering information, etc. Once you walk through, you’ll see nine separate ponds and thousands of different birds around.

The entire facility is rather large. You can choose to walk around the paths of the ponds, or you can enter into one of the bird viewing facilities so you won’t disturb any of the animals (bird species dependent). You’ll also find outdoor classrooms, restrooms, and much more at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve.

Most of the birds on site are free to come and go as they please. The area acts as a rest stop for the birds, their oasis in the middle of the desert. Apart from the ponds, the 147-acre facility also has a series of makeshift wetlands, basins and lagoons.

You can find basically any type of bird you’re looking for. Birds of prey are always on display. There are also many birds indigenous to the desert area, as well as many wading birds and rare breeds.