Watson Woods Riparian Preserve
Since 2009, Prescott Audubon Society and Prescott Creeks have collaborated on conducting migrating bird surveys in the Watson Woods Riparian Preserve portion of the Watson and Willow Lakes Ecosystem Important Bird Area. Surveys were initiated concurrent with ecological restoration work performed on Granite Creek to improve habitat for native birds in the Preserve.
2026 surveys are complete for the year.
Watch here for the 2027 WWRP IBA Survey dates announcement.
2026 Watson Woods Riparian Preserve IBA Surveys have been set as:
SPRING 2026
SP1: Sunday, May 3rd, beginning at 7 AM – Complete
SP2: Sunday, May 17th, beginning at 7 AM – Complete
FALL 2026
FA1: Sunday, August 30th, beginning at 6:30 AM – All volunteer slots filled
- FA2: Sunday, September 13th, beginning at 6:30 AM – Volunteers needed
Surveys generally take 3 hours or more to complete.
2026 IBA Survey Results
2026 Fall 3 – Mock Survey Results – 09/30/2026
This was a “mock survey” performed with a Prescott College class called Field Methods in Ecology, taught by Mariana Altrichter. On this day 7 observers on 2 teams counted 24 species and 81 individual birds. Highlights included two Great Horned Owls on the Middle transect, and a Common Black Hawk on the North transect.
See the 09/30/2026 eBird Trip Report here.
(No eBird account needed to view the report.)
2026 Fall 2 – Survey Results – 09/13/2026
On this day 12 observers on 3 teams counted 38 species and 225 individual birds. Highlights included Great Horned Owls on the Middle and South transects, and Common Black Hawks on Middle and North. The South team had the only Cedar Waxwings, plus 11 more species that were only seen on this transect. Middle saw the only Cooper’s Hawk, and North had the only Western Wood-Pewee. Beautiful spiders and their webs were found by the Middle and North teams.
See the 09/13/2026 eBird Trip Report here.
(No eBird account needed to view the report.)
2026 Fall 1 – Survey Results – 08/30/2026
On this day 12 observers on 3 teams counted 39 species and 254 individual birds. Highlights included a Pinyon Jay and a Green-tailed Towhee on the South transect—both are lifers for Prescott Creeks! The Middle team witnessed a Belted Kingfisher getting chased by several hummingbirds, a pair of Lesser Goldfinches building a nest, and a Willow Flycatcher. The North team was entertained by two Common Black Hawks. They also got the only Indigo Buntings of the day and had a javelina walk right through their group!
See the 8/30/2026 eBird Trip Report here.
(No eBird account needed to view the report.)
2026 Spring 2 – Survey Results – 05/17/2026
On this day 11 observers on 3 teams counted 42 species and 502 individual birds. Highlights included watching a Bridled Titmouse eating a relatively huge caterpillar, an Anna’s Hummingbird on a nest, and quite a few gorgeous Blue Grosbeaks.
See the 5/17/2026 eBird Trip Report here.
(No eBird account needed to view the report.)
2026 Spring 1 – Survey Results – 05/03/2026
On this day 11 observers on 3 teams went out simultaneously and observed a total of 44 species and 473 individual birds. While spring surveys were not conducted in 2025, the first spring survey of 2026 shows an increase in species observed in all sections from the fall 2025 surveys. Overall species observations increased more than 40% with the greatest increase occurring in the south section (+35%).
See the 5/3/2026 eBird Trip Report here.
(No eBird account needed to view the report.)
2025 IBA Survey Results
2025 Fall 2 – Survey Results – 9/7/2025
On this day we found a total of 36 species and 207 individuals. Each team saw more species than on the first survey, but North was the only one to increase the number of individuals. Highlights on this day included two Wood Ducks and a Nashville Warbler on the South team. The Middle team saw a Common Black Hawk again, as well as a Great-horned Owl, an Olive-sided Flycatcher, and two Warbling Vireos. The North team saw an adult Bald Eagle, a Common Black Hawk, and a Hutton’s Vireo. All three teams saw a Cooper’s Hawk.
See the 9/7/2025 eBird Trip Report here.
(No eBird account needed to view the report.)
2025 Fall 1 – Survey Results – 8/24/2025
30 species were observed during the survey with a total of 211 individuals. The Prescott Creeks Executive Director, Michael Byrd, indicated that “a quick review of Sunday’s data, against previous years back to 2020, suggested that the number of species is not materially different this year than in recent years. And total number of birds for North is actually up significantly from 2023 and 2021, but slightly down from 2020. There could be multiple reasons for this and more study of the data is needed to make any definitive interpretations.”
See the 8/24/2025 eBird Trip Report here.
(No eBird account needed to view the report.)
Birdwatchers can indicate their interest to participate in 2026 fall migration surveys by completing the form below.
Watch here for the 2027 WWRP IBA Survey dates announcement.
IBA Participation Interest Form
