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Clark County Wetlands Park
preserves and enhances natural and cultural resources and provides educational, recreational, and research opportunities for the public.
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Thank you for subscribing to Wetlands Park Footprints newsletter. Share with your friends and let us know what you think at wetlands@clarkcountynv.gov.
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Wetlands Art Day is a free family event for the artist in all of us, no matter your age or skill level. Come to Wetlands Park on Saturday, March 18th from 10am - 2pm for art, poetry, music, food, and crafts. We will have artists painting in the Park, art workshops, and kid's activities. Advanced registration is not required. Artists who are interested in plein air painting are invited to arrive at 9am to set up their easels in the Nature Preserve.
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Wetlands Park is proud to announce its second annual Artist in Residence. Each year a different local artist will be chosen to immerse themselves in a dynamic wetlands ecosystem and create art inspired by the plants and animals they encounter. Artist will also provide the public with a rare first hand glimpse of their creative process.
The artist chosen as the Wetlands Park 2023 Artist in Residence is Southern Paiute artist Fawn Douglas. She will be creating art on site at Wetlands Park from March 22 through May 3. Stay tuned for more information about a creative workshop, open studio visitation hours, and a future exhibit of her work inspired by Wetlands Park.
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 The Color of Light by Claire Bischolff received First Place.
Now showing, don't miss your chance to see it!
January 22 - February 24, 2023
In the Nature Center Information Kiosk
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 9 am to 3 pm
Featuring signature members of Nevada Watercolor Society. A reception for their Signature Show was held January 22 giving people a chance to meet the artists. Awards were announced at the reception.
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On February 1st, the NFL Green and Las Vegas Raiders partnered with Verizon, Clark County Parks & Recreation, and Wetlands Park Friends to plant native plants, trees, and grasses at Wetlands Park's new Nature Play Corner alongside community volunteers and students from Cunningham and Mater Elementary Schools. The one-acre site was created to invite kids to explore nature using their imagination along with prompts from interpretive signage. Trees were planted to expand shade for families using the park. Grasses and plants were planted to attract wildlife. As part of a grant project, along with today's event, more than 1,000 plants were planted. This will help improve wildlife and pollinator habitat for more than 470 species of wildlife that live in the Park as well as reduce fuels for wildfire, improve air quality, and reduce the urban heat island effect for our local community.
Event speakers included NFL Environmental Program Director Jack Groh, NFL Environmental Program Associate Director Susan Groh, Environment and Sustainability Deputy Director Jodi Bechtel, Clark County Parks and Recreation Director Daniel Hernandez, Clark County Commissioner Jim Gibson, and Verizon Director of Government and Community Affairs Ku'ulei Jakubczak, and Clark County Wetlands Park Senior Programs Administrator Liz Bickmore. All the event speakers planted a ceremonial willow tree.
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 Volunteer, Suzann Pruitt, at Wetlands Park.
Passionate volunteers are priceless. They are the heart and voice of Wetlands Park. Suzann Pruitt is one such volunteer. We were able to catch up with her to find out what it is that keeps her coming back year after year.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background. I am a retired public health nurse that enjoys the outdoors. I am also a board member for the Wetlands Park Friends, a nonprofit that supports Clark County Wetlands Park’s mission through education and fundraising.
How long have you been volunteering at Wetlands Park? I have been a volunteer for 5 years.
How did you come to volunteer at Wetlands Park? I learned about volunteer opportunities at Wetlands Park through Volunteer Match.
What kinds of things do you do during a typical volunteer shift at Wetlands Park? As an education facilitator, I guide school age children on an exploration of Wetlands Park and the plants and animals that make Clark County Wetlands Park their home.
Why do you like volunteering at Wetlands Park? I enjoy the opportunity to be outdoors and explore the plants and animals that make Clark County Wetlands Park their home. Every day you can see something new!
What advice would you give someone thinking about volunteering at Wetlands Park? Come join us at Wetlands Park, there is a volunteer opportunity for everyone.
What is your favorite thing about Wetlands Park? I love bird watching at Wetlands Park. It is always fun to see a roadrunner along the trails.
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 Non-breeding white-faced ibis photo by Philip Martini
Nature Close-up: White-faced Ibis
Did a bird with a metallic shimmer of bronze, green, and maroon catch your eye this season while out in the Park? If so, you may have seen a white-faced ibis!
White-faced ibis may just be one of the oddest-looking birds in the preservation with its pink legs, red eyes, and glittering feathers. Both males and females of this species exhibit magnificent bronze, green, and maroon feathers that sparkle in the sun, while breeding individuals also display a bare, white patch around their eyes.
Although white-faced ibis can be found in most of the Western United States, these marsh-loving birds prefer shallow, muddy streams where they may use their curved beaks to sift through loose silt for a delicious, invertebrate snack. They’re no introverts, either! You’ll often find them feasting in groups almost like a never-ending family dinner!
It is speculated that the white-faced ibis evolved from a close relative, the glossy ibis, very recently during the time of American colonization. It’s not uncommon for the two species to interbreed and join each other’s flocks!
Next time you come down Wetlands Park Lane, take a glance at the Tropicana Wash for a chance to see a flock of these odd yet stunning birds!
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Volunteers Needed! Wetlands Park is seeking volunteers, especially Information Hosts in our Nature Center and Education Facilitators for school field trips.
Is volunteering at Wetlands Park right for you? The first step to becoming a volunteer is to attend this informational class about the history of Wetlands Park, volunteer opportunities, and the process to become a Clark County Volunteer.
Saturday, March 25, 1 pm to 2:30 pm
Sign up at volunteer.ccwetlandspark.com
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 Wetland Explorer kids learning about habitats and homes. Photo ©Wetlands
Winter brings WP Art Programs, Discovery Walks, Outdoor Stewardship Events, and kids' programs like Nature Tales, Wetlands Explorers, & Sunday Storytime. View our February Program Guide or our calendar. To learn more about all our programs and to register, visit programs.ccwetlandspark.com.
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 White-faced Ibis at Wetlands. Photo submitted by Llana Levine.
Have you taken a photo in Wetlands Park that you would like to share? Want to see your Wetlands Park photo featured in an upcoming newsletter?
Submit your high-resolution photo(s) to: wetlands@clarkcountynv.gov Include your name, date, and location of the photo.
Post about it on Social media!
#CCWetlandsPark
#CallforWPphotos
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 Take a Walk at Wetlands and Join the Club
Kick off the new year with a walk and earn rewards. Walking is good for one's physical and mental health, and a walk in nature is even better! Wetlands Walkers, a group of health and nature-oriented individuals, track their miles whenever they walk Park trails and earn rewards at various milestones.
Wetlands Park Discovery Walks make it easy and fun to earn miles.
Upcoming Guided Walks
Discovery Walk: Nature is Personal, Saturday, February 11, 9:00 am
Discovery Walk: Java Jaunt Birding, Saturday, February 18, 8:00 am
Discovery Walk: Hidden Trails, Saturday, March 11, 9:00 am
As a group, their mileage is tallied to reach a yearly goal matching the migration distance of one of the Park's visiting species. In 2023 the Walkers are recognizing the White-faced Ibis and have a collective goal of trekking 4,000 miles.
Where might you spot a white-faced ibis at Wetlands Park? Try Tropicana Wash, Las Vegas Wash, or the Mitigation Wetlands at Duck Creek Trailhead.
Can we collectively reach 4,000 miles by the end of the year? Join Wetlands Walkers to make it happen.
To learn more about the Wetlands Walkers program, the white-faced ibis, to sign up, or to log your miles, please visit our website, walkers.ccwetlandspark.com. Please visit programs.ccwetlandspark.com to sign up for a guided walk.
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