cibola national wildlife refuge

I went, saw lots of dirt. there also happened to be a lot of scrub brush. it was a dusty environment. I poured some water out and counted 47 seconds before the first fly landed on it. yep. its a desert.

Best area in AZ to hunt ducks. Geese hunting also available via a lottery system. Also great viewing for cranes and geese. Well run visitor center. Narrow wooden bridge across the Colorado May not be suitable for a large RV or trailer. Area is about 20 minutes south of I10. Worth a visit to either hunt or view birds.

If you want to see thousands of Sand Hill Cranes, geese and other birds this is the place. They still farm the land here to feed the birds when they winter here and there is a self guided driving tour thru the fields where you can observe and get great pictures of these magnificent birds.

We have visited Cibola NWR on a number of occasions. We make it a day trip from home (San Bernardino) or on a trip to Phoenix or the Tucson area. It's about 30 minutes south of I 10 via Hwy 78 just west of Blythe. Get detailed directions of the local area, as crossing the Colorado river can be tricky. It has the largest concentrations of Sandhill Cranes for viewing near So Cal. Hunters and birders can coexist well. The developed birding area, Goose loop and nature trail, is separated from the hunting area and generally is not closed during hunting season. The goose loop is a driving loop which offers close up views of cranes feeding in corn fields. There are a few seasonal ponds. The nature tail is an easy walk for viewing migrating passerines. There is a good visitor center generally staffed by very helpful volunteers. Stop there to get current information and to view the wildlife exhibits.The best time to view Cranes is December and January. Dawn and dusk offer the preferred times for lighting conditions for photographers The mountain background and birds in flight can make for spectacular shots. We have camped nearby on BLM land.

We walked the tree lined trail to the lake-only a few ducks. But then we took the drive around the fields, and saw burrowing owls perched outside their burrows. Right at sunset, the sand hill cranes took to the air and flew over the hills-a beautiful sight.

This Refuge is out of the way so plan to spend time getting there, viewing the wildlife then driving to your next destination. Small visitor center but nice trails and self guided auto tour.

If you like birds this is the place for you. We saw lots of wildlife on the self guided driving tour including Sandhill cranes, Burrowing Owls, Kestrels, Hawks, and more. The kids loved it as well. The visitor's center is very nice. It looks old from the outside but the exhibits inside are excellent and modern. The visitor center staff are VERY knowledgeable and friendly. A must see! It is in the middle of "nowhere" - just follow the signs. This place is a short drive from Blythe, CA. You wont be dissapointed. Bring binoculars.