Tres Rios Nature Festival

South of Avondale and within eyesight - not to mention hearing distance - of a sprawling Nascar racetrack is the Base and Meridian Wildlife Area, owned by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.  The area is also called Tres Rios due to the nearby confluence of the Salt, Agua Fria and Gila Rivers. Once a year, the city of Avondale and a combination of parties interested in the viability of the waterway and its native habitat come together in the form of the two day-long Tres Rios Nature Festival.

Besides entertainment and food, the event features water sports like paddle boarding sponsored by REI Sports Equipment and bird walks hosted by the local Audubon Society.  In addition, the local utilities are there to explain the history of the waterway and how they've managed to restore the once dry riverbed back into a natural riparian preserve.

While it doesn't take a festival to enjoy the wildlife that call the preserve home, the event reminds nature lovers that it takes an entire community to protect and preserve a river habitat in the increasingly crowded and thirsty desert. 

The restored Gila River's riparian habitat in the Tres Rios Preserve.

American coots and a white-faced ibis at Tres Rios.

White-faced ibis close-up at Tres Rios.

Cinnamon teals in wetlands near the Gila River at Tres Rios.

The Gila River under the 115th Avenue or Avondale Blvd Bridge at Tres Rios.

Sleeping barn owl on its nest under the Avondale Bridge at Tres Rios.

Close-up of a sleeping barn owl on its nest under the Avondale Bridge at Tres Rios.

Common raven acting as an ambassador for Fallen Feathers, a rescue and rehabilitation group for birds, at the Tres Rios Festival.

Burrowing owl, acting as an ambassador for Fallen Feathers, a rescue and rehabilitation group for birds, at the Tres Rios Festival.

Male American kestrel, acting as an ambassador for Fallen Feathers, a rescue and rehabilitation group for birds, at the Tres Rios Festival.

A one-eyed Harris' hawk, acting as an ambassador for Fallen Feathers, a rescue and rehabilitation group for birds, at the Tres Rios Festival.

Great-horned owl, acting as an ambassador for Fallen Feathers, a rescue and rehabilitation group for birds, at the Tres Rios Festival.

Turkey vulture, acting as an ambassador for Fallen Feathers, a rescue and rehabilitation group for birds, at the Tres Rios Festival.

A soaring black-crowned night heron at the Tres Rios Preserve.  The riparian preserve has restored and maintained critical habitat for this and many other native birds and animals.