January-February 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon Society

8/9/2019 January-February 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon Society

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VERMILIONF L Y C A T C H E R

JanuaryFebruary 2009 | Volume 54, Number 1

Tucson Audubon Society | tucsonaudubon.org

Whats in a Name: Flammulated Owl 11

Tumamoc Hill: People and Habitats 12

Urban Landscaping for Bells Vireo 13

Sabino in Winter 16

TucsonAudubon

60th AnniversaryA Strong PastA Bright Future 2

A Vermilion Route 3

The Executive DirectorsSpeak 14

T U C S O N A U D U B O N S N E W L O O K B I - M O N T H L Y N E W S L E T T E R


2/28

Along with other changes marking Tucson

Audubons 60th year, we introduce a new

Tucson Audubon logo! Our redesigned

Vermilion Flycatcher logo (see upper left and

above right) captures, in a visual image, all that

Tucson Audubon has represented in our past 60

years, and all we hope to achieve in the future.

Our new visual image conveys TucsonAudubons continued commitment to supporting

birds and bird habitat. Its distinctive design

clearly sets us apart from other organizations

and provides a fresh perspective on Tucson

Audubons mission. Its brightness brings our

passion to the public, and it speaks to all ages

by bringing the Vermilion Flycatcher up close

and personal. The open mouth asks us to care

and challenges us to become active in our

conservation efforts.

The rectangular frame serves as a stamp of

authenticity and reflects the stability of an

organization with a long, rich history. It projects

our intention to continue well into the future.

The yellow background reflects the Sonoran

Desert sun. The blue represents our stunning

Sonoran Desert blue skies and all creatures

inhabiting the earth. The red of the Flycatchersplumage represents the positive energy of

Tucson Audubon.

Tucson Audubon would like to thank

Christine Scheer, the logo artist, for her creative

talent.

Our new visual image will leave a lasting,

positive impression on all who see it. This image

is memorable and should help ensure that

Tucson Audubon will be recognized and

respected by all. VF

2 Tucson Audubon Vermilion FlycatcherJANUARYFEBRUARY 2009

Vermilion Flycatcheris published bi-monthly. For addresschanges or subscription problems call 622-5622, or writeto Membership Coordinator, Tucson Audubon, 300 E.University Blvd, #120, Tucson, AZ 85705. Submissionsare due the 1st of the month, two months before the dateof the issue. Please send submissions as Microsoft Wordor RTF documents, or plain text files, to Matt Griffiths [email protected].

CoordinatorMatt Griffiths 206-9900Proofreaders Jane & Warren Tisdale 749-2139and Tucson Audubon staffLayout Eng-Li Green

Tucson Audubon Society is dedicated to improvingthe quality of the environment by providing education,conservation, and recreation programs,environmental leadership, and information. Tucson

Audubon is a non-profit volunteer organization ofpeople with a common interest in birding and naturalhistory. Tucson Audubon maintains offices, a library,and nature shops in Tucson, the proceeds of whichbenefit all of its programs.

Tucson Audubon Society300 E. University Blvd. #120, Tucson, AZ 85705

629-0510 (voice) or 623-3476 (fax)All phone numbers are area code 520 unless otherwise stated

www.tucsonaudubon.org

Board Officers & CommitteesMessages 622-5622

President Herb Trossman

Vice President Mich Coker

Secretary Robert Merideth

Treasurer Tom Rehm

Conservation Chris McVie, DevelopmentSandy Elers,Education Cynthia Pruett, Finance Tom Rehm,NominatingRobert Merideth

Additional Directors at Large Clark Blake, MaryKay Eiermann,Sandy Elers, Julie Gordon, Linda Greene, Craig Marken,Robert Mesta, Liz Payne, Susan Randolph, Bill Roe, JessieShinn, Linda Stitzer, Bob Wenrick

Programs & ActivitiesField Trips Darlene Smyth 297-2315Library David West 629-0510Membership Meetings Chris Harrison 629-0757Rare Bird Alert John Yerger 798-1005Report Rare Birds 798-1005

StaffExecutive DirectorPaul Green 777-9525

Operations ManagerMichael Monyak 629-0757

Education Program ManagerCarrie Dean 622-2230

Outreach Specialist Matt Brooks 629-0751

Membership Development Chris Harrison 629-0757

Membership CoordinatorJean Barchman 622-5622

IBA Conservation Biologist Scott Wilbor 628-1730

IBA Program Assistant Ruth Wilderman 628-1730

Restoration Program ManagerKendall Kroesen 206-9900

Field SupervisorRodd Lancaster 256-6909

Restoration Specialist Matthew Griffiths 206-9900

Mason Outreach CoordinatorLia Sansom 971-6238

University Shop ManagerSara Pike 622-2230

Agua Caliente Shop ManagerBecky Aparicio 760-7881

Nature ShopsTucson Audubon Nature Shop300 E University Blvd #120 629-0510

Hours: MondaySaturday, 10 AM4 PM(10AM5 PM Monday & Thursday); closed Sunday

623-3476 fax / 622-2230 Shop Manager

Tucson Audubon at Agua CalienteRoy P. Drachman Agua Caliente Park12325 E Roger Rd 760-7881

Hours: Tuesday, Friday, Saturday 9AM3:30 PM

Departments

3 News Roundup8 Events and Classes

17 Conservation & Education News

19 Field Trips

22 Birds & Business AllianceMembers Listings

24 TAS-ifieds

26 Nature Shops

FRONT COVER: Vermilion Flycatcher byTom Ryan. This small stunning flycatcher

has been Tucson Audubons logo bird for

60 years. Tom Ryan is an amateur wildlife

photographer whose favorite subjects are

birds. See more of his images at

http://regulus2.azstarnet.com/gallery/

tag/tomryan.

Do you have photos of birds that you

would like to see featured on the frontcover of the Vermilion Flycatcher? If so,

please contact Matt Griffiths at 206-9900

or [email protected]. Or

check out our Contributors Guidelines

posted at tucsonaudubon.org for full

specifications.

A Strong Past, A Bright FutureSara Pike, Main Nature Shop Manager

Features

11 Whats in a Name:Flammulated Owl

12 What is Tumamoc Hill up to?

13 Restoring Urban Habitat forTarget Species: Bells Vireos

14 The Executive Directors Speak

16 Sabino in Winter


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JANUARYFEBRUARY 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 3

I love maps. Growing up in England, I loved

those detailed Ordnance Survey maps that

revealed the history of my environment, from

prehistoric earthworks to Roman roads, and

villages that migrated as the landscape

changed. On those same maps, modern lines, in

bright vermilion, form a network across the

represented landscape, indicating the main

trunk roads, providing clear ways to move from

where you are to where you want to be.

This article is a kind of road map for our

new, reborn Vermilion Flycatcher. What you

hold now replaces the red, black, and white

newsletter that you have been receiving. Having

completed six decades of working with the

community of southern Arizona to appreciate

and conserve our natural environment, this is anopportune time to update how we interact with

you, our supporters and partners, as well as the

rest of the world. The starting point in this

process was a new logo with a more

contemporary look. Sara Pike explains

the thinking behind the new logo on the

opposite page.

Of greater importance was the question of

how we could improve communications and

access to information for all stakeholders,

including members, staff, board, volunteers, and

partners. How can we better organize and

provide information to make it easier for all of usto find what we need? How can we highlight the

interactions among our different areas of work

and activities? Our sloganconservation,

education, recreationmight leave an

impression of distinct classes of activities. In

practice, each is intimately linked to the others.

For example, education is one of the most

effective ways to bring about conservation, and

who can go out birding without learning

something new each time? Our goals include

breaking down the silo perception of those

activities.

We have designed the new-look Vermilion

Flycatcher(which you will also be able read on

our website) with the above objectives in mind.

In time, we shall also be expanding the range of

electronic methods through which we

communicate, using forums, blogs, and other

techniques.

From now on, you will receive a new

Flycatcherevery two months on the odd-

numbered month. While it looks different, the

biggest change is with the organization of

material, and you will find a listing of what is

where on the page opposite.First, we have grouped short items into

distinct departments placed near the front and

back of the magazine. To lead off, we have

combined the news from various programs into

a new Tucson Audubon News Roundup section:

you can learn about interesting developments,

achievements, and how you can become

involved. The News Roundup section is followed

by a Tucson Audubon Events section that

includes a summary calendar.

Towards the back, you will find detailed

listings of our free bird walks led by expert

volunteer leaders, details of other bird travelopportunities, services provided by our Birds &

Business Alliance members, and book and

product reviews. There is also a news section to

keep you informed about news of regional

importance in our sphere of interest: birds and

birding, environmental education, and

conservation issues.

In the middle pages of the magazine you will

find the substantive articles. For this first re-

designed issue, we include a new series written

by Larry Liese called Whats in a Name,

illustrated by George West, with Flammulated

Owl as the first piece. We would like to make

more use of color images to illustrate the articles

and would welcome contributions to help build

our digital image library. The new magazine

layout will continue to evolve and we hope to

include sketches, postcards, and comments

from you, our supporters.

Remember also that we have a page foradvertising, whether you are an individual or a

Birds & Business Alliance member (see

page 24).

Finally, we are printing our newsletter on

paper that is 50% recycled, 25% post-consumer

waste, and the virgin pulp is from sustainable

managed forests. The inks used are water-

based soy inks, and our Tucson printer,

Sundance Press, implements a wide range of

green practices.

Ultimately, the Vermilion Flycatcheris an

important tool to help us achieve the goal of

establishing a sustainable community insoutheastern Arizona in which there continues to

be a place for wildlife because of how effective

we are as stewards of our natural resources.

We hope these changes to our newsletter

help you feel that you are a better steward of our

natural environment through your support of

Tucson Audubon. VF

A Vermilion Route

COMMENTARYPAUL GREEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Vermilion Flycatcherhasbeen through a few iterations

over the years, going fromtypewritten, photocopied,and stapled sheets to themore recent two-colorprinted newsletter, and nowa full-color magazine. At farleft is a particularly historicissue from December 1963that begins with the tragicnews of President Kennedysassasination.


4/28

The Staff and Board honored the shop

and office volunteers Thursday,

December 4 with a reception in the

library room. The volunteers help is

essential to the success of Tucson

Audubon nature shops and in

assisting the office as a mailing crew.

We thank the local businesses for

providing gift certificates to be used as

door prizes: Chilis Restaurant, Frys

Food Stores, Jack Furriers Western

Tire, Outback Steakhouse, Romanos

Macaroni Grill, The Melting Pot,

Dennys Restaurant on Oracle, Desert

Bloom Nursery and Landscaping, and

Mane Street Hair Salon. Hors

doeuvres were provided by Trader

Joes on Oracle. There was a cookie

exchange afterwards.

Of the volunteers attending, a total

of 138 years of service was tallied.

Awesome!


There are countless other titles

that would fit this update (A

Large Load Finally Delivered to

Masons Doorstep, etc.) but

they may not be entirely

appropriate for this new,

cleaned-up newsletter.

However we want to say it, the

news is that after eight years of

planning and permitting, the

commercial-grade composting

toilets for the Mason Center are

finally here and ready to go inthe ground!

These toilets are a major

component of the upgrades

that have long been planned

for the Mason Center so that

we may expand our interaction

with, and availability to, the

public. They will be a part of

an ADA-compliant public

restroom built with strawbale

and we expect construction to

commence in early 2009.

This and other future

upgrades reinforce Tucson

Audubons vision of the Mason

Center to serve as a

demonstration site for

sustainable design and

technology. If you would like to

receive regular updates on the

progress of this project orparticipate in the Bathroom

Raising (like a barn raising,

just a little different), then

contact Lia Sansom at

[email protected]

or 971-6238.

If you are looking for an

opportunity to make use of

these new, compelling,

composting toilets and tofigure out just how they work,

then mark you calendar for

Saturday, April 25 for the

Ironwood Music Festival,

starting around 5 PM. We will

celebrate the 10th anniversary

of the dedication of the Tucson

Audubon Mason Center with

live music,

dancing, foodand drink. Look

for more details

in the next issue

of the Vermilion

Flycatcher.

TUCSON AUDUBONNEWS ROUNDUP

The toilets have arrived!Lia Sansom, Mason Audubon CenterOutreach Coordinator

Lia Sansom with one of the new Clivus Multrum commercial composting toilets.

Kudos and cookiesJean Barchman, Membership Coordinator

Above left to right: Cookie exchange table; long-serving volunteers Jean Rios (15 years) and Kathy Olmstead (29 years).

TUCSONAUDUBON VOLUNTEERS

YEARS OF SERVICE

ALLPHOTOS:KENDALLKROESEN

Liz Anderson

Buffalo Exchange

Economy Birding Services, Inc.,Clifford Cathers

Sarah Craighead

Margaret Ellsworth

Richard Filley

Mitchell & Charlotte Griffith

William Harrison &EliseSchepeler

Kathryn Hines

Janice Johnson

Karen Jones

Jane Klipp Lt. Col. Bruce Larsen

Milton Mallory

Kenny & Melissa Miller

Clayton Niles

Pam Phillips

David Popham

Carol Pry

Richard Stevens

Ann Marie Wood

Jean Barchman,Membership Coordinator

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!


5/28


Farewell to VivianMacKinnon

Paul Green, Executive

Director

We bid farewell to Vivian MacKinnon

from our Membership Department.

Vivian brought to Tucson Audubon a

knowledge of birds and birding and awide range of skills from a diverse

background that included catering,

managing recreational facilities, retail,

and public outreach. She had an easy

way with members and volunteers. I

was always impressed at how she

could turn a call from someone with a

concern into a warm and friendly chat

that resolved any issue the caller may

have had.

Our Membership Department will

continue to provide high quality

services to Tucson Audubon membersas we transition to a new Membership

and Development Manager.

Please join with me in wishing

Vivian all the best in her future

endeavors.

In mid-January, our IBA teams

will begin their 2009 bird

surveys at sites across Arizona.

Seven more surveys will follow

throughout the year at

Important Bird Areas that weare monitoring. Visit our

growing Arizona IBA Bird

Survey Database to see past

results, www.aziba.org.

Our trained IBA volunteers

will be asked to help in a group

effort within the Lower San

Pedro River IBA in April to

assess bird migration use of

the river corridor.We have made the

conservation and protection of

the Lower San Pedro River, the

greater Sabino Creek/Tanque

Verde watershed, and

Patagonia/Santa Rita Mountain

area the top priorities for 2009.

As youll see on pages 19

21, many popular field trip

destinations areImportant Bird

Areas. Look for

the IBA logo.

Monitoring migrating birds in Lower San Pedro IBAScott Wilbor, Important Bird Areas Program Conservation Biologist

Tucson Audubons habitat

restoration program is working

through the winter to conserve

and restore bird habitat at sites

along the Santa Cruz River.

Conserving habitat

preventing lossesis hard

enough work. Restoring

damaged habitat is an even

bigger job. We need your help!

We have public volunteer

days scheduled for February

14 and March 14 at

Esperanza Ranch. Work days

last from 8 AM to noon. The

group meets in Tucson at 7 AM

to carpool down to the site.

We will be planting trees,

shrubs and grasses during

these work days, as well as

picking up trash and doing

other restoration tasks.

It can be an absolute joy to

spend a winter Saturday

morning outdoors at this

conservation easement north

of Tubac. Most days are sunny

and cool this time of year.

Northern Harriers swoop past

us and the winter sparrows are

twittering. Red-tails soar

overhead.

There will be other

opportunities to volunteer as

well, such as removing invasive

giant reed from Sabino

Canyon. See the Vermilion

Flycatchercalendar of events

(page 8) for these and other

upcoming conservation

volunteer opportunities.

Winter is a beautiful time to restore habitatsKendall Kroesen, Restoration Program Manager

Tucson Audubon initiated the Arizona Important Bird Areas Program in 2001. San Pedro River in winter (above) is thelocation for IBA bird surveys in April. To donate to this program, please contact Scott Wilbor [email protected].

Vivian in the Tucson Audubon NatureShop on University Blvd.

JESSIES

HINN


6/28

If the urge to get back to nature is

calling and after reading about

Flammulated Owls (page 11) you are

inspired to learn more about our

unique Sonoran Desert home, then

we have the class for you!

Tucson Audubons Institute of

Desert Ecology, run since 1971,

brings the enthusiastic teaching of our

local experts to participants from

around the world. Over two thousand

individuals have graduated to date,

learning and sharing experiences that

connect them with the varied habitats

of the Sonoran Desert.

Focusing on Sonoran Desert

ecosystems, emphasis is on the

dynamic relationships between plants,

animals and the physical elements of

the desert. The Institute is held at

Catalina State Park, located in the

foothills of the spectacular Santa

Catalina Mountains near Tucson.

The fee of $425 per person ($395

for Tucson Audubon members)

includes park entrance fee and

camping from 4/15 to 4/19, expert

instruction and all meals beginning

with Thursday breakfast and

continuing through Sunday lunch. The

Institute ends Sunday, April 19 at 2 PM.

The $80, non-refundable deposit must

accompany the registration form.

Register early to reserve a space. The

balance ($345/non-members and

$315/members) is due by March 6,

2009. No refunds given for

cancellations after April 3.

For more information or

to register, please visit our website

www.tucsonaudubon.org/

education/ide.htm or call 622-2230.


TUCSON AUDUBONNEWS ROUNDUP

Learn how the desert works this AprilCarrie Dean, Education Program Manager

VOLUNTEER OFTHE MONTH

6

Doris Evans is a VolunteerNaturalist and helps with theEducation Program. She wasborn in Milwaukee, Wisconsinand moved to Tucson in 1962.

In 1970 she joined TucsonAudubon Society (TAS) until1978, then rejoined in 1988 tothe present. A retired teacher,Doris lives with her husband,Doug. Besides helping TAS, shealso volunteers for Pima CountyNatural Resources, Parks andRecreation.

SIX QUESTIONS

First time you went birding: Inthe 5th grade when we had a

bird unit and my dad and I tookhis binoculars and birded in theMilwaukee County parks. I stillhave those binoculars (dontuse themjust have them as akeepsake).

Your level of birding:

Intermediate

Favorite place to go birding:

Sweetwater Wetlands in Tucson(winterits Whitewater Draw).

Unusual event that happened

while birding: Seeing a KingVulture flying within a flock ofTurkey Vultures while on aTucson Audubon Birdathon inthe Yucatan.

Favorite bird and where did

you see it: I have had so manyfavorite bird sightings I cantbegin to answer this one.

Other hobbies: Travel,photography, reading, hiking.

Right: Expert herpetologist CecilSchwalbe (on the right) has beenbitten numerous times but hisenthusiasm for sharing his boundlessknowledge remains infectious. Below:Geologist Bob Scarborough oncedangled from helicopters but today hedemystifies time with a magicgeologic time stick in the perfectoutdoor classroom setting of CatalinaState Park.

SARAPIKE

SARAPIKE


7/28


Will you commit to doing a

days birding (a big day) for

Tucson Audubon this spring?

And to asking at least a couple

of your friends and colleagues

to sponsor your day of birding?Its a natural way to connect the

fun of birding with saving

habitats. By saying yes, you will

become part of our Tucson

Audubon Societys annual

spring fundraiser, Birdathon.

This year teams will be out and

about from April 10 through

May 10.

If you have not taken part in

a Birdathon before, we hope

that this is the year you decide

to take the plunge. Since the

event is not until April, all you

need to do now is to pencil in a

date on your calendar when

you will go birding. Once you

have done that, the rest is easy.The next step is to find a

friend or two with whom to go

birding. If those people include

first time birders and younger

people, so much the better.

Then, think of who you can get

to sponsor you at either a per-

species-seen amount or a flat

rate. We will provide more

information in the next issue.

Meanwhile, you can visit


chapter/birdathon.htm to read

interesting and fun accounts by

past birdathon teams. Last year

a number of teams opted for

zero- or low-carbon birdathons.

Fun and fundraisingPaul Green, Executive Director

Your year-end gifts

We extend a big THANK YOU to

everyone who has sent us their year-

end gifts. If you have not sent us your

tax-deductible donation, its not too

late. We have some very specific

needs in education, conservation,

advocacy, and development. Each of

these programs has an immediate

need of $25,000. In Education, Carrie

Dean is seeking to launch a new

youth birding program. In

Conservation, Scott Wilbor is seeking

to develop our new program of

community conservation along

Tanque Verde and Sabino Creeks. In

Development we are seeking funds to

hire a development professional on

contract to help us in our fundraisingefforts. Finally, we need financial

support for our work in advocating for

changes in legislation to support our

natural environment. To discuss ways

you can help, please contact Paul

Green at 520-777-9525 or

[email protected].

Sign up foremail news

We augment the Vermilion Flycatcher

with regular email messages that

contain news about upcoming events

and activities and important

conservation updates, including calls

to action. Around one half of our

members currently receive these

emails. If you would like us to add you

to the list, please email

[email protected] with

your full name and your email

address. VF

November 1321, 2009Tucson Audubon is restarting

its international birding tour

program in partnership with

Tucson-based international bird

tour company WINGS. We kick

off our program with Panama

as our destination, one of those

fortunate places where twogreat avifaunas meet. The

Central American birds of

western Panama gradually

drop out as the isthmus

narrows to join South America,

and such classic Neotropical

groups as hummingbirds,

antbirds, woodcreepers, tyrant

flycatchers, and tanagers

become increasingly diverse

and increasingly dominant.

Our November tour will

coincide with this exciting

regions drier season, when

resident species are joined by

migrants from North America,

creating a rich constellation of

tropical and boreal birds. Well

be based in the acclaimed

Canopy Tower and the newly

built Canopy Lodge, from

which well explore suchremarkable birding sites as

Pipeline Roadarguably the

best birding in Central America

and the Talamancan

Foothills.

Highlights from Gavin

Biebers most recent tour here

include a Tiny Hawk on a nest,

a stunning male Blue Cotinga,

19 species of hummingbird

including White-tipped

Sicklebill and Veranguan

Mango, six species of trogon,

and gaudy Rufous-winged,

Bay-headed, Emerald, Silver-

throated, Golden-hooded,

Crimson-backed, and Flame-

rumped Tanagers. We can look

forward to similarly exciting

birds against a background of

wonderfully varied landscapes,

superlative fresh food, and

great camaraderie!

The trip will be led by Gavin

Bieber. A native of Canada,

Gavin is a well-known and

popular field trip leader for

Tucson Audubon and a Senior

Leader at WINGS. Gavin has

birded and led tours in western

Europe, North and West Africa,

Bolivia, Peru, Panama, Mexico,the US, and Canada. A familiar

fixture on southeast Arizonas

birding scene, Gavin also

serves as the director and lead

guide for St. Paul Island Tours

and has enjoyed working in the

Pribilofs since 2002. But it is

the American tropics that have

increasingly captured his

fascination in recent years, and

in addition to his Panama tours,

Gavin is currently constructing

new itineraries to Guyana and

the Caribbean. The Tucson

Audubon representative on this

trip to Panama this will be our

Restoration Manager,

Kendall Kroesen.

Prices are in the region of

$4100 plus single supplement.

Contact Chris Harrison

[email protected]

for more details.

Birding in Panama with Tucson Audubon

2007 Birdathon team, SparrowsWenches (left to right): Sara Pike, LiaSansom, Mich Coker, Jessie Shinn,Carrie Dean.Matt Griffiths (left) and Matt Brooks

were members ofMountLemmonheads, one of two bicycleteams in the 2008 Birdathon.

Green Honeycreeper

PAUL&ENG-LIGREEN


8/28

Sabino Habitat RestorationVolunteer DayJanuary 4, Sunday January 17,Saturday February 1, Sunday February 21, Saturday, 8 AMnoonSabino Canyon Recreation AreaTucson Audubon continues to partner with

several organizations to remove invasive

giant reed (Arundo donax) at Sabino

Canyon Recreation Area. Volunteers are

needed on the first Sunday morning of

each month (contact Jim Washburn,

[email protected], 626-4107) and

on the third Saturday morning of each

month (contact Jean Hengesbaugh,

[email protected] or Kendall,

971-2385). Wear sturdy shoes or boots, a

long-sleeve shirt and long pants toprotect the skin on your arms and legs, a

hat and sunglasses or safety glasses.

Tools and work gloves will be provided.

Urban Wildlife LandscapingCourseJanuary 1031, Saturdays 911 AM,Wednesdays 79 PMWednesday meetings will be held atthe Tucson Audubon offices. Saturday

meetings will be held at other locationswhere natural and landscaped

reference sites are available.

This course is designed for landscape

designers and installers, and other

interested parties. It consists of seven

meetings on consecutive Saturday

mornings (911 AM) and Wednesday

evenings (79 PM). Wednesday meetings

will be held at the Tucson Audubon

Society offices. Saturday meetings will be

held at other locations where natural andlandscaped reference sites are available.

A plant list, an optional reading list, and

other useful materials will be provided as

part of the cost of the course. Cost: $250

To sign up, please send a deposit of $50

(not refundable after December 15). Send

a check to Tucson Audubon, Attn. Jean

Barchman, 300 E University Blvd, #120,

Tucson, AZ 85705, or call Jean at 622-

5622 with credit card information. For

more information about the course,

contact Kendall Kroesen at 206-9900,

[email protected] cell or

971-2385.

Living With NatureLecture Series

TUCSONSecond Monday of the month,September through April, 7 PMDuVal Auditorium, University Medical

Center (UMC)

January 12, MondayBEYOND JUST BIRDSPUTTING IT

ALL TOGETHER with Rich Hoyer

Rich Hoyer has been an avid birder since

the age of 14. Well before then he was

fascinated with all facets of natural

history. As a pre-teen he began keying ou

plants, rearing butterflies in his bedroom,

and identifying protozoans under the

microscope, and he has held a lifelong

fascination for reptiles and amphibians.

But after the discovery of birding, all of

these interests took a back seat, and he

became known as a skilled ear-birder,


TUCSON AUDUBONEVENTS AND CLASSES

Tucson Audubons Urban Habitat Program is part of a larger urban-oriented initiative designed to reconcilethe needs of people and wildlife through the enlightened design of urban and exurban spaces. The UrbanWildlife Landscaping Course will train landscape designers to create landscapes that not only meettraditional landscaping goals, but also provide food, shelter, and nesting opportunities for birds, and habitatother small urban wildlife.

KENDALLKROESEN

Sabino Canyon:

The Life of A Southwestern Oasis

by David Wentworth Lazeroff

Find out much more about the

natural history of Sabino

Canyon in this beautiful book

by longtime Tucson Audubon

member, David Lazaroff.

Packed with information

and stunning pictures, this

makes a fine reference as

well as a great coffee table book. Available in

our nature shops. $17.95

Do you want to make your yard into an

inviting habitat for wildlife,

but dont know where to

start? In our shops we

have a wide selection of

books on landscaping with

native habitat and wildlife

in mind. Available in our

nature shops. $24.95


9/28

finding rarities in his home state of

Oregon, working on various bird studies

as far away as Russia, and working as a

naturalist guide for two summers on Saint

Paul Island in Alaskas Pribilof Islands. He

then moved to Tucson in 1997 when he

began his dream job of leading birding

tours for one of the preeminent

companies in the field, WINGS.While leading birding tours to such

fantastic places as Jamaica, Mexico,

Costa Rica, Bolivia, Brazil, and the

Galapagos, it was impossible for him to

ignore the amazing diversity of natural

history; his post-tour lists always included

all the reptiles, mammals, and butterflies

they saw, and he has become known for

his breadth of knowledge for all things

living. Beginning with a Butterflies & Birds

tour with Jim Brock in southeastern

Arizona in 1999, Rich created similar tours

with Jim to the Gmez Faras area ofnortheastern Mexico, Costa Rica, and

Cristalino Jungle Lodge in Brazil. In 2006

he co-led the first Birds & Shakespeare

tour to Ashlands famous Oregon

Shakespeare Festival with Bryan Bland,

and in 2007 he co-led a Birds & Plants

tour to Bolivia with Greg Corman.

This presentation will offer pictorial

highlights to show the varied natural

history and mix of interests that Rich

brings to all his tours.

February 9, MondayPOLE TO POLE with Peg Abbott

Comparisons between the Arctic and

Antarctica are natural. Peg will take a

close look at these similar and contrasting

polar regions. She will share images and

adventures from trips to Svalbard

(Norway), Greenland, Arctic Canada,

South Georgia, Falkland Islands, and the

Antarctic Peninsula. In addition to images

from whales to penguins and Ivory Gulls,she'll share the magical beauty of ice in

low-angled polar light.

Peg Abbott is owner and guide of

Naturalist Journeys (a Birds & Business

Alliance member of Tucson Audubon), a

small travel company that puts people,

places, and remarkable experiences

together. She has worked in remote and

differing places around the world, from

seabird islands to wildlife refuges and

western ranches, from Alaska to

Argentina. She has a bachelor's degree in

biology and a master's degree in forestryand wildlife to give structure to her field-

gained knowledge. I've worked in wild

places, and every mile I've tread has

offered its lessons. I value the years of

experience as I take groups into new and

exciting places.

GREEN VALLEYThird Saturday of the month, Octoberthrough March, 10 AMGreen Valley Public Library

January 17, SaturdayRAPTORS OF CAVE CREEK CANYONwith Helen Snyder

Cave Creek Canyons nesting raptor

densities are the highest known in the US

and among the highest measured

anywhere in the world, due in large part

to the number of small insectivorous owls

that inhabit this canyon in the Chiricahua

Mountains. It is home to a large

population of Whiskered Screech-Owls.

The surprising concentration, only

recently confirmed, is five times that of


Jan 4, Sunday 8 AM. Sabino Habitat

Restoration Volunteer Day(details p 8).

Jan 1031. Tucson Audubon Urban Wildlife

Landscaping Course (details p 8).

Jan 12, Monday 7 PM. Living With Nature

Lecture, Tucson: Beyond Just Birds with Rich

Hoyer (details p 8).Jan 17, Saturday 8 AM. Sabino Habitat


Jan 17, Saturday 10 AM. Living With Nature

Lecture, Green Valley: Raptors of Cave

Creekwith Helen Snyder (details left).

Jan 23, Friday. IBA Tanque Verde Wash Owl

Survey. (details p 10).

Feb 1, Sunday 8 AM. Sabino Habitat


Feb 4, Wednesday. Tucson Audubon

Societys 60th Anniversary Gala with Dr.Michael Rosenzweig at the Arizona Inn.

Feb 9, Monday 7 PM. Living With Nature

Lecture, Tucson: Pole to Pole with Peg Abbott

(details left).

Feb 12, Saturday 10 AM. Living With Nature

Lecture, Green Valley: Arizonas Amazing

Animals with Amanda Moors (details p 10).

Feb 14, Saturday 8 AM. Esperanza Habitat


Feb 18 through Apr 1.Artist Ruth Canada

presents Birds With Attitude watercolors in

the Ranch House Gallery at Agua CalientePark. Ruth will donate 20 per cent of all sales

to Tucson Audubon. Call 760-7881 for details.

Feb 21, Saturday 8 AM. Sabino Habitat


Feb 28, Saturday. Arizona Audubon

Conservation Summitat the Arizona Sonoran

Desert Museum. Contact Paul Green at 622

5622 or [email protected] for

more information.

Mar 14, Saturday 8 AM. Esperanza Habitat


Mar 28 & 29. Riparian Family Institute. A

weekend event for the entire family focused

on the rich plant and animal life found

streamside along the San Pedro River. For

more information contact Carrie Dean 622-

2230 or cdean@tucson audubon.org.

Apr 1619. Institute of Desert Ecology. See

page 6 for more information or contact Carrie

Dean cdean@tucson audubon.org or 622-

2230.

Rich Hoyer

LYNNFERYUS

EVENTS CALENDAR


10/28

the world-famous Snake River Birds of

Prey National Conservation Area

managed by the BLM in Idaho. Cave

Creek Canyon is already the American

Birding Association members favorite

birding destination and a major

ecotourism destination, as well as the site

of many long-term research projects, dueto the presence of the American

Museums Southwestern Research

Station. Cave Creek Canyon is an urgent

candidate for a US Forest Service Special

Area designation as a Research

Zoological Area to be managed for

birding and ecotourism, and as a world-

class area for long-term scientific

research.

Helen A. Snyder is a retired wildlife

biologist living in Portal, Arizona. She and

her husband Noel spent their career

years helping save a variety ofendangered species such as the Puerto

Rican Parrot, the Snail (Everglade) Kite,

the California Condor and the Thick-billed

Parrot. In addition to research, Helen

writes, leads tours and occasionally

guides folks to see Cave Creek Canyons

spectacular raptor concentrations.

February 12, SaturdayARIZONAS AMAZING ANIMALS

with Amanda Moors

Did you know that hummingbirds can

beat their wings up to 90 times persecond and have a heartbeat ranging

from 500-1200 beats each minute? Even

the biggest badger will tip the scale at

only about 30 pounds, but he can move

more dirt that a human wielding a shovel.

And its true that X really does mark the

spotif the spot you're talking about is

the footprint of a roadrunner!

Learn more about Arizona's Amazing

Animals from Wildlife Biologist Amanda

Moors, a resident of Globe, Arizona, who

has studied everything from black bears

in New Hampshire to Spotted Owls, elk,

mountain lions, bighorn sheep, and

western box turtles all around the Grand

Canyon State.

IBA Owl SurveyJanuary 23, FridayTanque Verde Wash

Starts one hour after sunset and extends

a couple of hours. Open to all birders with

the ability to identify owls by call.

Fun/spooky. Limited openings. Call Scott

or Ruth at Tucson Audubon IBA office at

628-1730 to sign up.

Esperanza HabitatRestoration Volunteer DayFebruary 14 & March 14, Saturday8 AMnoonEsperanza Ranch conservationeasement north of Tubac

Volunteers help plant native vegetation,

control weeds and pick up trash at the

Esperanza Ranch conservation easement

north of Tubac. Tucson Audubon is

conserving and restoring habitat on this

300-acre conservation easement along

the Santa Cruz River. To sign up contact

Kendall Kroesen at 206-9900, 971-2385

cell, or [email protected] project is supported by Together

Green, an Audubon program with funding

from Toyota. VF


Planting trees during a volunteer day at Esperanza Ranch, January 2008.

KENDALLKROESEN

VIREO

TUCSON AUDUBONEVENTS AND CLASSES

For more information contact: 6157855 or

[email protected]

Tucson Mountain Park Birding Walk

Join birding expert John Higgins for a guided

bird walk in Tucson Mountain Park. Spot

thrashers, wrens, quail, hawks and other birds

of the desert Southwest among the saguaros

and palo verdes. Bring binoculars and water.

Free, all ages welcome. Reservations not

required. Saturday, Jan 10, 89:30AM. Pima

County Tucson Mountain Park Ironwood Picnic

Area, 1548 S. Kinney Road (on Kinney 1.5

miles south of Gates Pass Road or 3.8 miles

north of Ajo Way).

Feliz Paseos Park Birding Walk

Join naturalist Doris Evans on a stroll through

Feliz Paseos Park, where youre likely to see

thrashers, Cactus Wrens, Gambels Quail andother birds of the desert Southwest. Beginners

are welcome. Bring binoculars and water.

Free, all ages welcome. Reservations not

required. Saturday, Jan 24, 89AM. Pima

County Feliz Paseos Park, 1600 N. Camino de

Oeste (On Camino de Oeste, mile north of

Speedway/Gates Pass Road)

Sonoran Desert Kids Club:

The Life of Birds

We will take a peek at the life of birds as the

residents and migrants share habitat. Free,

kids ages 512 and their families. Reserva-tions not required. Saturday, Jan 31, 910:30

AM. Pima County Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E.

Roger Road.

Wake Up with the Birds

Desert meets water at this unique oasis park,

providing a unique crossroads for migratory

and resident birds, some of which are unique

to southeastern Arizona. Spot cardinals,

thrashers, hummingbirds, songbirds and rap-

tors among the mesquites and palms.

Binoculars available for use during the walk or

bring your own. Free, all ages welcome.

Reservations not required. Every Tuesday in

January. 8:3010:30 AM. Pima County Agua

Caliente Park, 12325 E. Roger Road.

PIMA COUNTY NATURAL RESOURCES,

PARKS AND RECREATION

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION EVENTS


11/28

So whats so flammulated about a

Flammulated Owl, anyway? Ive

wondered this for years. This is the first in

a new series of articles in which Ill

feature bird species with interesting

names, explain how they acquired them,

add lots of interesting tidbits from their

natural history, plus add hints on how to

find and ID one in our area. I welcome

back all my old Dastardly Duos readers,

and I heartily welcome back the efforts of

Dr. George West, whose illustrations will

also adorn this column.

Now back to that owl. Flammulated

Owls (Otus flammeolus) are named fortheir reddish color, from the Latin

flammeus flame-colored. This species

does not have distinct gray and red

phases, but instead has a clinal color

distribution with a core of gray birds with

coarse dark streaks centered in the Great

Basin and Rockies, slightly redder and

more finely-streaked birds to the

northwest, and much redder and

somewhat finely streaked birds to the

southeast (ours).

Though grouped with our screech-

owls, this species is of quite a differentcharacter. They depend almost entirely on

moths and beetles for food, plus other

arthropods. It is thought that they cannot

process adult vertebrate bonesone pair

kept in captivity and fed bird carcasses

died within two days! They had been

described as taking vertebrate prey for

over a century before it was realized that

no hard evidence substantiated this.

Flammulated Owls are one of the most

migratory of North American owls. They

breed north to central British Columbia,

yet their winter range has a northern limit

in central Durango in Mexico. Availability

of prey is thought to be a large factor

affecting this. Of note, Elf Owls are also

mainly insectivorous and migrate south in

winter.

Their habitat choice in our area is

strongly tied to ponderosa pine forest.

They prefer open, semi-arid forest withsome shrubby understory. They hunt for

food by gleaning from foliage, picking

food items from tree trunks and also from

the ground. They both nest and roost in

natural cavities and old woodpecker

holesnotably, abandoned flicker holes

in our area. Individual territories have

been known to be occupied for more than

twelve years running, though not by the

original individual. Life span in the wild

has been measured at up to eight years,

but much longer is possible.

An interesting fact is that this specieswas long considered rare until birders and

researchers started imitating its

vocalizations and getting responses

around the 1940s and 1950s.

Flammulated Owls are now considered to

be the most common raptor of the

montane pine forest of the western U.S.

and Mexico. So, if they are so common,

you might be asking why youve never

seen one. Good question! It was one of

the reasons I picked this bird to write

about.

Flammulated Owls have one of the

lowest-frequency songs of any small owl.

Their hoots are often described as

sounding like a larger owl much further

away. Unpaired Flammulated Owl males

will sing for hours on end early in the

breeding season. In quiet forests these

hoots can carry for half a mile. When

approached they lower the volume

substantially, which explains why birding

lore tells that if you hear one its probably

right next to you. To try to f ind one at

night, get to the right habitat and listen fo

soft, single hoots, repeated about every

two seconds. An even softer, lower-

pitched hoot is often added just before the

next one comes along. I liken the sound

to two metronomes of different pitch

synchronized with each other. Listen to a

recording to help recognize it in the field.

Nighttime visual identification might be

toughhopefully the bird will be calling.

For those lucky daytime views notice thedistinctive dark eyes. No other small owl

here has them. Also note the small ear

tufts, short tail and relatively pointed

wings.

I must fess up that Ive only had two

visual encounters with this owl. One was

a pair sitting next to their nesting cavity at

night near the end of the South Fork of

Cave Creek road in the Chiricahuas, and

one during the day far up a hiking trail

poking its head out of a hole. What a cute

little beastie!

So, if youre out there in the woods in

spring (perhaps doing a Tucson Audubon

Birdathon on Mount Lemmon or Madera

Canyon?), remember to listen for this

remarkable little owl. You might be glad

you did. Good luck! VF


WHATS IN A NAME

Flammulated OwlLARRY LIESE

Flammulated Owls are oneof the most migratory ofNorth American owls.

So, if they are so common,you might be asking whyyouve never seen one.

GEO

RGEWEST

100 Birds and How They

Got Their Names.

By Diana Wells

Interested in why other birds

have the names they do?

This fun little book is full of

myths, legends and true

stories about how birds got their

names. Great trivia for those drives between

birding hotspots. Available in our nature shops.

$18.95


12/28


13/28

As part of our Urban Program, Tucson

Audubon is promoting urban landscaping

that harvests rainwater, supports urban

birds and other wildlife, and addresses

the urban heat island effect. And while

urban landscaping will likely help many

bird species, we plan to focus on a select

few, namely those that appear on the

Audubon WatchList for Arizona

(http://az.audubon.org/BirdSci_

AZWatchList.html) and other morecommon species that are declining

(http://stateofthebirds.audubon.org/

cbid/index.php).

Bells Vireo, which nests in parts of the

Midwest, Great Plains, Texas, the

Southwest and northern Mexico, and

winters along the west coast of Mexico

and Central America to Honduras, is one

species that is in urgent need of help.

Bells Vireo has red status on the

WatchList. In the Southwest, it has

declined precipitously probably as the

result of a combination of habitat loss andparasitism from Brown-headed Cowbirds.

Members of this species are in southeast

Arizona from early March through mid-

October, with most reproductive activity

happening April through July.

According to the Tucson Bird Count,

Bells Vireo is absent from much of

Tucson, but is found along washes and

other dense vegetation in the foothills, the

east side (especially Tanque Verde

Creek), the Oro Valley area, and in the

foothills of the Tucson Mountains. You are

more likely to attract them if you live near

a wash or other areas where dense

vegetation already exists.

Bells Vireo is among the most difficult

Tucson-area species to attract to your

yard because of their specific habitat

needs. They require dense, shrubby

vegetation, which can be early

succession vegetation along streams, or

mature, dense vegetation along washes

or in mesquite thickets. The critical

element is dense understory and midstoryvegetation.

This species eats almost exclusively

small insects (caterpillars, bees, beetles,

wasps, grasshoppers, moths) and spiders

that it gleans from vegetation, so your

seed feeders will not attract Bells Vireos.

They forage widely through vegetation

levels, so a wide range of trees, shrubs,

and understory is helpful. This species

nests lowmost often from 1.5 to 5 feet

off the ground, building its well-hidden

nests in dense shrubs and small trees.

Heres how you can help support thesevireos. First, if you already have dense,

native vegetation on your land, especially

along a wash, do not clear or trim it!

Landowners are often tempted to clear

out dense vegetation in order to afford

access, create sight-lines, or simply to

make it look cleaner. These activities

reduce or eliminate the value of the

vegetation for Bells Vireo.

Second, if you have areas that you can

revegetate, plant the kind ofnative

vegetation they like! We suggest a variety

of small and large shrubs, and smalltrees. Good diversity of plant species

makes it more likely that the insects and

spiders they like to eat will be present. We

think that some of the most useful around

Tucson would be shrubs like burro weed

(Isocoma tenuisecta), graythorn (Ziziphus

obtusifolia), condalia (Condalia warnockii

var. kearneyana), desert hackberry (Celtis

pallida), wolfberry (Lycium spp.), and

trees like netleaf hackberry (Celtis

reticulata), whitethorn acacia (Acacia

constricta), blue paloverde (Parkinsonia

florida), foothills paloverde (Parkinsonia

microphylla), and velvet mesquite

(Prosopis velutina). Screwbean (Prosopis

pubescens) may be helpful if you are in

bottomlands where additional moisture is

present in the soil. In upland areas

ironwood (Olneya tesota) is helpful. In

moist areas use seepwillow (Baccharissalicifolia). Do notuse the introduced

South American mesquites or other exotic

species. There are a variety of other plan

species that may be useful. Explore your

area and look at what dense native plants

are growing along washes.

Plant these trees and shrubs close

together so that as they mature, they will

grow into each other and create

continuous, intergrading vegetation. It wil

take some time for them to mature and

create the kind of habitat Bells Vireo is

looking for. If you do not succeed inattracting Bells Vireo, you will have

created habitat for a number of other

speciesespecially species that use

similar dense vegetation. These might

include Curve-billed Thrasher, Verdin,

Lucys Warbler, Pyrrhuloxia, Northern

Cardinal, and others.

Whatever birds you attract, make sure

to spend plenty of time outdoors enjoying

them, learning their vocalizations, and

becoming friends!

Bibliography

Brown, Bryan T. 1993. Bells Vireo (Vireo bellii),

The Birds of North America Online (A.

Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab ofOrnithology; Birds of North America Online:

http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/03

Tucson Audubon Society. 2007. Finding Birds

in Southeast Arizona, Seventh Edition.

Tucson Audubon Society: Tucson.

Tucson Bird Count. 2008. Tucson Bird Count.www.tucsonbirds.org.

VF

Restoring Urban Habitatfor Target SpeciesBELLS VIREO

KENDALL KROESEN | RESTORATION PROGRAM MANAGER

SCOTT WILBOR | IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS PROGRAM CONSERVATIONBIOLOGIST

V I R E

O


Dense small mesquites and acacias on Dr. JohnMaddens property within the Sabino and LowerBear Creek IBA.

KENDALLKROESEN


14/28

David Yetman19921995

In late 1991, having

spent twelve years on the

Pima County Board of

Supervisors, I had taken

nearly a year off to write a

couple of still-unpublished novels and other

books. The prospect that I would soon have to

seek real employment lay heavily over me. I was

thus delighted to receive a phone call from a

friend who had attended a general meeting of theTucson Audubon Society. The board president

had announced that Tucson Audubon had

decided to hire an executive director. Judy

Edison, then shop manager, confirmed that

news, and she gave me the name of Doug

Forester, president of the board.

By early spring of 1992, I had become Tucson

Audubons first Executive Director. I went to work

as a two-thirds time employee and, in the first

months, I managed to secure funding to hire

Lucia Hoerr (Sayre) as full-time education

director. Dr. Virginia Furrow was generous

enough to cover one-half of the cost, and the

Tucson Audubon had sufficient cash flow to

cover the rest: 1.67 employees.

Other projects came on fast. Mrs. Orpha

Mason still lived in her house on Thornydale

Road, but she planned to leave the property to

Tucson Audubon. I remember phoning her on

her 100th birthday. We began to integrate the

Mason property into Tucson Audubons

education program, and it remains a treasure.

I established workshops for adults that would

take advantage of Tucson Audubons rich

educational resources, and we expanded ouradult institutes into Mexico and arranged a

variety of workshops led by some of our member

experts.

It was a challenging and stimulating job for

me. After three years, I moved to the University

of Arizonas Southwest Center where I remain

and continue to be proud of my association with

Tucson Audubon.

Kevin Dahl19972001

A Decade of Desert Protection. As we passed

the bag of bagels around the Tucson Audubon

conference table, no one thought we might be

biting off more than we could chew. Assembledwere Tucson conservation leaders from two

dozen groups who were meeting monthly to

exchange news and ideas, and hear from

various speakers. That particular day in 1997,

County Supervisor Sharon Bronson told us that

maybe a multi-species habitat conservation plan

would help to save the Cactus Ferruginous

Pygmy-Owl. And so it began....

More than 10 years later, after hundreds of

meetings, the coalition born that morningthe

Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection

(www.sonorandesert.org)now has a

professional staff supported by 30-plus groupsand 2,000 individual members. Tucson Audubon

can be proud of our initial sponsorship and

strong support of the effort. Because of the

coalition, Pima County has an award-winning

conservation plan protecting the habitat of 55

endangered and threatened species.

Among the coalitions accomplishments, two

stand out. In June 2000, President Clinton

established the Ironwood Forest National

Monument, protecting 129,000 acres of federal

land northwest of Tucson (only one month after


60TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL FEATURE

The Executive Directors SpeakDAVID YETMAN, KEVIN DAHL, SONJA MACYS, AND PAUL GREEN

As we complete our 60th year, four of Tucson Audubons Executive Directors

recount their tenure.

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Kevin Dahl (left), in halloween costume, with Paul Green.

CARRIEDEAN

Ive learned that all you need is a good idea,

the right group of people, and perhaps a little

cream cheese.KEVIN DAHL


15/28

Tucson Audubons first Ironwood Festival at the

Mason Audubon Center). In 2004, Pima County

voters approved (by 67 %!) $174 million for

conservation land acquisitions. Looking back, I

have learned that all you need is a good idea,

the right group of people, and perhaps a little

cream cheese.

After working for Pima County, Native Seeds/SEARCH andCenter for Biological Diversity, Kevin has returned to the

Historic Y as state representative for National ParksConservation Association.

Sonja Macys2001 2006

The fall to winter transition in Tucson is

wonderful. The heat breaks and the habitat

restoration team gears up for an intensive

season of field work, engaging volunteers and

the public in meaningful outdoor pursuits like

removal of non-native plants, building water

harvesting features, and planting native seeds.

Between 2001 and 2006, the restoration team

grew to become a regional leader in the field of

habitat restoration, largely because of the

dedicated professionals working on it and the

abundance of lands in need of help.

Like many other programs that flourished

during my time, my predecessor Kevin Dahl

planted the seed for the restoration program.

Kevins enthusiasm for land-based conservation

helped Tucson Audubon initiate the Important

Bird Areas program, habitat restoration, and

conservation lands as legacy gifts.

Looking back, my greatest contribution was to

help build the land-based conservation programthrough the acquisition of the Esperanza Ranch

conservation easement and the Madden

Property. These properties provide habitat for

birds and other wildlife andthey connect people

to place in a way that fosters a stronger

connection to conservation. I am honored to

have helped Tucson Audubon acquire these

lands and to have had the opportunity to get to

know Dr. John Madden and help cement his

legacy gift.

Sonja lives in Steamboat Springs, Colorado where she isExecutive Director of Yampatika. She was recently married

to Chuck Willard.

Paul Green2006present

Since 1989, I have been exploring ways to

engage birdwatchers in meaningful conservation

My work with the British Trust for Ornithology, th

American Birding Association, and most recently

National Audubon, was satisfying to a degree.However, the model presented by Tucson

Audubon is, to me, the most gratifying and

effective.

Perhaps it is because our work is regional

rather than national in scope, so we can see rea

outcomes on the ground. Perhaps it is because

Tucson Audubon successfully integrates

conservation with education and recreation,

providing ways for people to easily graduate from

learning about birds during a free field trip to

citizen science bird surveys.

A contributory factor is the multi-faceted

nature of the community in southeast Arizonathat allows academia, government, business,

and the nonprofit community to work

synergistically. This community provides the

people who make our work possible.

While information is critical to conservation

success in our community, we also need people

who understand the significance of that

information and can explain it to others. We need

people who understand what needs to be done

and can do it. Those people may be on our

boards, within our membership, and working

anywhere within our community.

Two recent examples illustrate this: oursuccessful fight to ensure Clean Water Act

protection of our rivers, and rebuffing the assault

on Santa Cruz Countys comprehensive plan by

development interests.

It is a great privilege to be working within such

rich and diverse non-profits here, many based in

the Historic Y, who can meet and discuss issues

efficiently. Our diverse and supportive

membershipyou!giving time, expertise, and

funding completes the circle of conservation

success. VF


Tucson Audubon now has 14 staff, some seen here havinga light moment with special Thanksgiving Sale items from

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16/28

Changes are everywhere with the

advent of our striking new publication,

and I welcome you to a fresh format for

Audubon Afield. Well focus on the birds

of our region, recent and upcoming. Youll

also find info on the diverse habitats in

our area and notes on regional birding

hotspots.

Recent sightings included some

interesting wings at Sweetwater

Wetlands: American White Pelican,

Barn and Northern Rough-winged

swallows, Plumbeous and Cassins

Vireos, American Robin, Summer

Tanagerand Tennessee Warbler. ATennessee Warblerwas also spotted in

the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve.

Catalina State Park saw Scarlet Tanager

and Wood Thrush. Short-tailed Hawk

and Osprey were spotted in Tucson,

while Red-breasted Mergansers showed

in Amado and Willcox. Rose-breasted

Grosbeaks and a Black-throated Green

Warblerwere spotted at Madera Canyon.

A Magnolia Warblerwas glimpsed in the

Huachucas, and aYellow-throated

Warblerwas found in Arizona City. A

male Elegant Trogon at Rio Rico and aGray Catbird in the Tucson Mountains

round out a great list. Check the recorded

or online Rare Bird Alert for more, or join

the Arizona-New Mexico birding listserv

(BIRDWG05).

Where to begin? Everywhere really

we are so fortunate! Sulphur Springs

valley in January cant be beat. Wintering

cranes flourish, and there are plenty of

raptors, sparrows and longspurs to go

around. Ditto for the Santa Cruz flats, lush

Patagonia, Mount Lemmon or Arivaca

Cienega. Heck, this is the desert

Southwest and its almost impossible to

have a bad day anywhere in January.

Sometimes though, a spur of the moment

birding break is just the ticket, and with so

many fine birding spots here in Tucson,

why not stay local? Theres plenty

happening right here, and small signs

already tease us of an approaching

spring. Have you noticed? Curve-billed

Thrashers and Northern Mockingbirds

begin to sing, Cactus Wrens begin tobreed and Great Horned Owls are calling.

If I want to decompress from holiday

drama, my favorite eastside hotspot is a

Southwestern oasisSabino Canyon

Recreation Area. I learned common

birds here, and I first heard a roadrunner

sing along the trail just past the Visitors

Center. Its a cool, quick getaway; a

perfect spot to withdraw from the city and

give stress the slip.

To me, Sabino Canyon has it all. Its

safe, never crowded when ones out early,

sports lots of choices and, mostimportantly, has cool, clear, w-a-t-e-r.

Because Sabino Creek supplies this

essential ingredient, the canyon boasts

varied desert habitats in short order. The

creek divides the riparian ribbon of

Fremont cottonwoods and Arizona

sycamores (deer and bobcats are seen

with regularity here), while not even a

quarter mile away, the Sonoran Desert

uplands, peppered by cholla, barrel

cactus, ocotillo and mesquites stretch we

into the distance. Up the Phoneline Trail,

palo verdes and giant saguaros interrupt

the rocky canyon slopes.

Close, beautiful, biologically diverse,

geologically significant, and birdy!

Phainopepla, Cactus Wren, Curved-billed

Thrasher, Gambels Quail, Black-throatedSparrow, Northern Cardinal and

Pyrrhuloxia are confiding, permanent

residents in the Catalinas uplands. Gilas

and hummers are never far away. The

broad-leafed trees in the delicate riparian

stretches bear Yellow-rumped and

Orange-crowned warblers and sometimes

wayward passerines. Spring and summer

add more species, Scotts Oriole, Bells

Vireo, Broad-billed Hummingbird, Brown-

crested Flycatcher, White-throated Swifts

and of course, more visiting warblers. In

fact, a Chestnut-sided Warblerwassighted just last week near the dam along

Sabino Creek, proving this a splendid

place year round.

As is typical in late winter and early

spring, its been warm, cool and cold

lately. Well likely see some freezing

temps and rain, but as we look toward

February, early migrants begin to appear.

Tree Swallows are evident, Western

Grebes and Cinnamon Teal can be seen.

Wintering ducks are showing brighter

plumage. Raptors and sparrows remain

abundant. Annas and Costas

Hummingbirds and thrashers will begin

nesting. Resident passerines burst into

song. Vermilion Flycatcher numbers build

and before you know it itll be HOT again.

Treat yourself to a close encounter with

the Sonoran Desert. Hike Sabino Lake

Trail, or head up Esperero and see what a

few hours of Sabino Canyon can do for

you! See you afield! VF


WHERE TO GO, BIRDS TO SEE

Sabino in WinterLIZ PAYNE | FIELD TRIP LEADER

Sabino Canyon is one of Arizonas most scenic Important Bird Areas. To find out more about IBAs and todownload a Sabino Creek Habitat Guide for Landowners, visit tucsonaudubon.org/azibaprogram.

LIZPAYNE

Thimble Peak and Sabino Creek in Sabino Canyona great place to bird year round


17/28


One of the main issues related to

Clean Water Act (CWA) protection

(see above) is how to protect

headwaters and ephemeral streams

(nth tributaries). If they are not

protected, serious consequences

occur downstream.

For the Santa Cruz watershed, our

particular and immediate concern

relates to a plan by California-Portland

Cement for two proposed limestone

quarries along Davidson Canyon.

Tucson Audubon believes that the

quarries should not be permitted and

developed for reasons that include but

are not limited to:

Davidson Canyon is a Pima County

designated IRA (Important Riparian

Area) within a state designated

regionally critical wildlife corridor

underneath Interstate 10

connecting the Empire, Santa Rita,

and Rincon mountain ranges.

(See talking points at http://


conservation/davidson_canyon.htm

and also see Pima Countys

Mapguide at http://www.dot.

pima.gov/gis/maps/mapguide/ and

at Arizona Wildlife Linkages

http://www.azdot.gov/

Highways/OES/AZ_Wildlife_

Linkages/index.asp)

The quarries and access road lie in

an area of high biological

significance containing habitat for

vulnerable species as outlined in

the countys Sonoran Desert

Conservation Plan. Local and

national conservation groups, the

Pima County Board of Supervisors,

and the Santa Cruz County Board

of Supervisors have all stated that

mining should not occur in this area.

Davidson Canyon supports two

perennial springs and several

species of concern such as the Gila

topminnow, Gila chub, Mexican

gartersnake, lowland leopard frog,

lesser long-nosed bat, and many

migratory birds.

Davidson Canyon has recently

received state recognition as an

Outstanding Arizona Water from

the Arizona Department of

Environmental Quality, approved by

the Governors Regulatory Review

Council, over the objections of

some business interests. This

designation means that no activity

that would cause permanent

degradation of water quality would

be permitted in the waterway.

Pima County has granted

California-Portland Cement a flood

plain use permit that would allow a

haul road across one crossing of

Davidson Creek (they will need four).

Supervisor Ray Carroll, who

represents the area, has said the

county should revoke the permit now

that the state has decided to give

higher protection to the area.

However, this only buys us a little

more time.

California-Portland Cement has

said it hopes to start work on pre-

mining activities in 30 to 60 days. The

county has spent millions of taxpayer

dollars over the last twenty or so years

to protect our water supply and quality

in the area, including purchasing the

Empire and the Bar V Ranches, and

contributing to the acquisition and

development of the Las Cienegas

National Conservation Area.

Cal-Portland needs to comply fully

with the CWA, and we want to insure

that they request review and

permission from the Army Corps of

Engineers for work affecting their four

proposed wash crossings. At the

moment, Cal-Portland maintains that

they can use a non-notifying

nationwide 404 permit. We believe the

project should require an individual

404 permit with greater official scrutiny

and an opportunity for the public to

comment. The Corps can exercise its

discretionary authority and insist on an

individual permitif they receive

overwhelming public support.

Tucson Audubon encourages

members to write to the Army Corps o

Engineers advocating for an individua

404 permit with a public review and

comment period for Cal-Portlands

proposal. Please write the Corps c/o

Ms. Marjorie Blaine, SPL, Senior

Project Manager/Biologist, USACOE,

5205 E Comanche Street, Tucson,

85707 or email Marjorie.E.Blaine@

usace.army.mil . You may also fax the

Corps at (520)5841690. Time is of

the essence!

More information at

http://www.azstarnet.com/

allheadlines/270669.php.

CONSERVATION & EDUCATION NEWSCHRIS MCVIE, PAUL GREEN, KENDALL KROESEN, SCOTT WILBOR, CARRIE DEAN

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on December 3,

2008, reinstated Traditional Navigable Water status for two

portions of the Santa Cruz Riverone stretching from Tubac to

Continental Road and the other from the Roger Road sewage-

treatment plant north to the county line. This designation brings

back the highest level of protection under the Clean Water Act .

The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers are evaluating the

remainder of the river.

This is good news for the Santa Cruz River, but there is no

guarantee that similar waterways and tributaries will receive the

same protection. Passing the Clean Water Restoration Act is the

only way to achieve this. For more information, see the link at

http://tucsonaudubon.org/conservation/scr_navigablewater.htm.

Santa Cruz Riverprotection reaffirmed

Davidson Canyon needs your help now


18/28


CONSERVATION & EDUCATIONNEWS

National Audubons Annual

Members Meeting and

National Board Meeting 2009

Friday, January 30, and Sunday,

February 1, 2009; Fiesta Resort and

Conference Center, Tempe, Arizona.

The meetings are open to all

Audubon members. For information

or to attend, contact Lynn Tennefoss

at [email protected] or 800-

542-2748. VF

If you are interested in becoming an

effective Audubon conservationist in

Arizona, come and join others whoshare that interest during a day-long

workshop at the Arizona-Sonora

Desert Museum in Tucson on

Saturday February 28, 2009.

Among the goals of our Audubon

Conservation Workshop are to

determine what we consider to be the

most important wildlife conservation

threats in our state in 2009 and to

determine the scope of their

importance. Which threats span our

local region, the state, and the nation?

How do we in Audubon effectivelyaddress these threats, and how do we

ensure that we work most effectively

within the context of other

conservation groups in the state, and

in the context of other chapters, our

state office, and National Audubon?

Inevitably, many of the issues upon

which we work will fall within broader

priorities for Audubon at the national

level, for example, questioning details

of land use and planning decisions

may be part of broader concerns

related to climate change and water.

Our day will be a mix ofpresentations, discussions, and

smaller workgroups, and will include

representatives from other

organizations, our state office, each

chapter in our state (and perhaps from

other states also), and from National

Audubon. We anticipate setting up

workgroups to work on issues

following our summit, and there will be

homework to do in advance.

Please let us know today if you

want to be involved. Please send your

contact details to [email protected] or call Jean at

622-5622.

Youll be able to access

homework materials online at

www.tucsonaudubon/ conservation.

In addition, we shall endeavor to find

local Audubon members who will

provide accommodations for those

traveling from outside the Tucson

area.

A few months ago the western

series of ponds at Sweetwater

Wetlands in Tucson were closed for

some modifications. Starting in

January the east ponds will be

closed. Due to logistical needs and

safety, the regular entrance, parking

lot and restrooms will be closed.

Signs will direct birders to temporary

parking across the street a little

farther west from the current

entrance. A gate across the street

from the new parking lot will allow

pedestrian access. Portions of the

wetlands not affected by

construction will remain open.

The eastern ponds will be

drained and burned (a controlled

burn happens annually, so this is

not new), and liners will be placed in

parts of the ponds as was done on

the west side. The stream south of

the parking lot and north of the

ponds also will be cleared and

receive a liner, since dense cattails

and bulrushes have impeded flow

there. However, this will not affect

Hidden Pondonly the stream to

the east and west of Hidden Pond.

Construction is expected to

begin in January, and the burn will

happen some time in March. The

liners are expected to be down

some time in April and this part of

the wetlands may be open toward

the end of April. However, this time-

table is tentative.

For progress reports or

information on access contact Bruce

Prior 349-5492. Terry Miley is a

secondary information source, at

490-6873.

Fun family birding in February

The Great Backyard Bird Count is back for its twelfth year over the

weekend of February 1316, 2009. Tucson once again led the

state in the 2008 count with 118 checklists containing 116

species, and many photos submitted, and we are looking for

increased participation across southern Arizona this year. The

event is excellent for engaging people new to birding. Read our

extended coverage in last years Vermilion Flycatcher

http://www.tucsonaudubon.org/verfly/VFFeb08.pdf or visit

birdcount.org.

Pima County Board of

Supervisors finalized an

agreement between the

County, Arizona Land and

Water Trust, and the landowner

of the historic Sopori Ranch to

permanently protect more than

4,000 acres of the Ranch. The

acquisition, a two-year project

of the Arizona Land and Water

Trust, includes part of the

Sopori Creek and associated

pastures with grandfathered

irrigation rights. The rest of the

13,000-acre ranch, which lies

in Santa Cruz County, currently

remains in private hands.

Due to its rich species

diversity, riparian areas, and its

cultural and historical value,

Sopori Ranch has long been a

high conservation priority for

the Arizona Land and Water

Trust, said Jeff Hampton,

President of the trusts board.

Stretching across the valley

between the Cerro Colorado

and Tumacacori Mountains, the

ranch connects an earlier

conservation acquisition

Rancho Seco and Santa Lucia

Ranch.

The ranch will be protected

using voter-approved 2004

Conservation Bond funds, a

key addition to Pima Countys

conservation portfolio.

Part of Sopori Ranch purchased byPima County

East Ponds at Sweetwater Wetlands closed

Get involved! Be part of Audubons ArizonaConservation Workshop

Aberts Towhee


19/28

January 3Saturday 7:30AM

Sweetwater Wetlands for New

Birders or Visitors to Tucson

As we stroll along paved/dirt paths, we

will chat about binoculars, field guides,

primary habitats, behaviors and

identification of common birds of this

reclaimed water site. Well likely share our

walk with warblers, hawks, woodpeckers,

flycatchers, sparrows, grebes, ducks,

rails, shorebirds, and others amidst the

cattail marsh, open-water ponds, shallow

basins, cottonwoods and willows, and

desert scrub along the adjacent Santa

Cruz River bed. Meet at Sweetwater

Wetlands parking lot. Done by 10:30AM

(Local). Leader: Cynthia [email protected]

January 7Wednesday 7AM

Whitewater Draw &

Sulphur Springs Valley

Cranes, Winterhawks, owls and sparrows.

Meet at I-10 and Houghton at 7AM. Heavy

rain cancels; bring lunch; be prepared for

hiking. 250 miles roundtrip.

Leader: Richard [email protected] 520-760-4935

January 10Saturday 6AM

Chino Canyon

Meet at the Frys parking lot Irvington & I-

19, at 6AM. Dress for the weather, sturdy

hiking boots recommended for 5 mileround trip hike on old forest service road.

Bring water, snacks and lunch. We will

look for sparrows, raptors and desert

birds. Return by 2 PM. About 80 miles

roundtrip. Leader: Michael [email protected] 577-8778

January 13Tuesday 6:30AM

San Rafael Valley

Enjoy a trip through Harshaw Canyon and

the San Rafael Valley. This lush canyon

and vast grasslands habitat is home for a

special variety of wintering species. This

will mos

January-February 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon Society

Documents