Piute Ponds

Piute Ponds are a group of ponds located about 6.2 miles (10 km) southeast of Rosamond, California in the Mojave Desert, on the southwestern edge of Edwards Air Force Base and on the southern margin of Rosamond Lake, a dry lake bed.

They form part of the Harley Berhow Recreational Area and are home to over 200 species of migratory birds.

The largest remaining freshwater wetlands in Los Angeles County,[1] the site is cited as an important bird area of California,[2] and a resting ground for over 200 species of migratory birds such as the great blue heron, the great horned owl, the black-crowned night heron, and the western snowy plover.

[1] Restricted hunting is permitted with a license in the fall, and the Piute Ponds Tour is conducted for tourists and bird enthusiasts.

[3] The Piute Ponds have been studied extensively by ornithologists such as Kimball Garrett who collected data here over many years.