Audubon Bright
Star Wilderness Addition - In around 37 minutes you can reach this area
from the Kern River Preserve. This 2011 gift to the BLM by Audubon now makes
the Bright Star wilderness easily accessible to hikers and birders. The habitat
consists of Mojave desert, cottonwood-willow riparian, mixed conifer and
interior chaparral vegetation. Consisting mostly of Joshua tree and rabbitbrush
scrub vegetation, this area is an important home for Pinyon Jay and Ladderbacked
Woodpecker along with other desert species. Nearby in the riparian woodland
desert bird species reach their extralimital nesting range, such as
Brown-crested Flycatchers and Bendire’s Thrashers.
Directions: 1. Turn left onto Highway 178 eastbound – drive
102 ft
2. Turn right onto Kelso Valley Rd – drive 17.1 miles (Keep right at the Y with
Kelso Creek Road.)
3. Turn right onto Piute Mountain Rd, drive 0.6 miles to the apiary/new parking
lot site on right.