The Basin & Range Birding Trail includes 17 premiere birding sites in Modoc County, California. If you are looking for interesting and challenging birding and lots of wide open space to explore, the extensive network of bird watching sites listed on the self-guided birding trail will direct you to an experience of a lifetime.

While reviewing potential sites for organizing the Modoc County Basin & Range Birding Trail, we visited many places. One of my most memorable spots is the Howard's Gulch Campground located in the Modoc National Forest.  While we were having a meeting in the campground, we spotted numerous White-headed Woodpeckers (my first sighting of this great bird).  It immediately became my favorite place on the self-guided Basin & Range Birding Trail auto tour.  The campground also has an ADA accessible interpretive display which includes bird sounds and other information about the bird species found at the site. 

The Basin & Range Birding Trail is one of five developed self-guided birding trails in Northern California.  You will find a bird list, detailed maps for the sites, and interesting information about the region on the Basin & Range Birding Trail brochure included in the sidebar of this nomination as a PDF file.

The multitude of bird species found in Modoc County ranging from waterfowl to predators are listed at http://www.basinrangebirdingtrail.com/birds.php?c=modoc

If you'd like to visit my favorite birding site along the trail, following are directions to the Howard's Gulch Campground. From Canby, CA travel 5.9 mi N on Hwy 139. Turn W (L) off Hwy at Tent Sign onto FS Rd 42N14 and go 0.2 mi to campground.

Best Time for Viewing: Early morning and late evening

Best Months and Seasons for Viewing: April - June and September - November

An ADA accessible interpretive display is located at the Howard's Gulch Campground.