September 2003 Vermilionlycatcher Tucson Audubon Society F www.tucsonaudubon.org Leaders in Conservation & Education since 1949 Volume 48, Number 1 ISSN 1094-9909 Tucson Audubon Family Institutes! Riparian Family Institute Tidepools Family Institute Come experience fall colors and explore the Explore the unique ecology of Puerto beautiful San Pedro River corridor at the Gray Peñasco, Mexico, and the Sea of Cortez. Based Hawk Nature Center, while gaining an appre- at the Center for the Study of Deserts and ciation of and understanding for this diverse Oceans (CEDO), families can learn about the ecological area. Families will delve into river ecosystems of intertidal habitats and estuaries ecology (and the and of other areas river itself), while Register for both Family Institutes and receive a of Puerto Peñasco. Winged participating in discounted price of $220 for adults and children Tucson Audubon hands-on, experi- ages 13 and up; $200 for children ages 6-12. naturalists, along Migration ential learning ac- with CEDO ma- Fundraiser tivities during this rine biologists, will Causes Big weekend excursion. Interpretive walks along the share their knowledge through educational pro- river, bird watching, mist netting for bats, grams, observation, hands-on activities and field Flap! bounding after butterflies, and snuggling trips. Bring your own tent, or “camp” in CEDO See story on snakes, are just a few of the planned activities. dorm facilities. One adult may be accompanied Bring your own tent, camp next to the river by up to two children. page 3. and find out why conservation of this area is The Tidepools Family Institute will be at so important. CEDO, Puerto Peñasco, Mexico, beginning The Riparian Family Institute will begin Friday evening, March 26, 2004, through noon Friday afternoon, October 17, 2003, and con- on Sunday, March 28, 2004. Inside clude Sunday afternoon, October 19, 2003. Price is $115 each for adults and children Price is $115 each for adults and children ages 13 and up; $105 for children ages 6-12 – ages 13 and up; $105 for children ages 6-12— includes five meals and use of CEDO dorms, Calendar .................. 11 includes six meals and use of the Gray Hawk library and labs. Conservation News ..... 4 Nature Center camping area and exhibits. For registration and more information con- Dastardly Duos ........ 22 For registration and more information con- tact Carrie Dean, Education Program Manager, Director’s Perch ......... 2 tact Carrie Dean, Education Program Manager, at (520) 622-2230. Education News ....... 12 at (520) 622-2230. Field Trips .................. 6 Field Trip Reports ...... 7 Library Lines ............ 25 Come join us for an evening slideshow preview of the Riparian and Tidepools Mason Audubon Center Institutes. Tuesday, September 9, 2003 at 6 p.m. in room 8403 of the Arizona News ...................... 14 Health Sciences Center, UMC, Sandy Anderson from the Gray Hawk Nature Cen- Meeting program ...... 28 ter and Tucson Audubon’s own Sonja Macys will present a fascinating look at these Membership Info. ..... 26 two diverse ecosystems. To RSVP for the slideshow, please contact Carrie Dean at Nature Shop ............. 20 (520) 622-2230. For parking and map, follow the directions for the Membership RBA Highlights ........ 23 Meeting on the back cover of this issue—instead of going to the auditorium, take Thanks & Wishes ..... 27 the elevator to the eighth floor and go south to room #8403. Travel Program ......... 18 Web Corner ................ 9 2 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon Society September 2003 Tucson Audubon Society Officers Directors Perch Sonja Macys President, Robert Merideth .................. 884-4393 Vice President, Bill Mannan ................. 621-7283 Secretary, Linda Stitzer ......................... 297-3173 Fall is gradually approaching and the Board of Supervisors. The Conser- Treasurer, Walter Kavanagh ................. 621-1750 many of us are impatiently awaiting the vation Bond Committee meets every Directors at Large joys it brings—cooler weather, native Monday evening at 6 p.m. at the Board Wendy Burroughs Lawrence Liese 578-3650 743-3520 plant sales at the local non-profit orga- of Supervisors Conference Room. For Don Eagle Chris McVie nizations, fall migration, and so much more information, contact Nicole Fyffe 629-0510 629-0510 Floyd Gray Robert Mesta more! Those who have been fortunate at 740-8800. Neighborhood Reinvest- 670-5582 629-0510 enough to escape the summer heat and ment Bond Committee meetings are in Lisa Harris Susan Randolph 629-0510 629-0510 are just returning may have missed the same location at 8 a.m. on Wednes- Steven Hopp Peggy Wenrick some recent happenings in the city and days (call Linda Leatherman, 740- 629-0510 629-0510 county that will shape the way that our Kristi Keller Roger Wolf 8351). Call Deseret Romero at 740- 629-0510 882-9633 community grows and defines its con- 8450 for the meeting schedule for the David Yetman nection to the Sonoran Desert. 621-2484 Bond Advisory Committee. All meet- In July, the Pima County Board of ings are open to the public and there Board Committees Supervisors voted 4-1 to put an Open are opportunities for public comment. Conservation, Bill Mannan .................... 621-7283 Education, Floyd Gray ........................... 670-5582 Space Bond Measure on the ballot in Your support counts! Development, Peggy Wenrick ............... 629-0510 May of 2004 (opposition, Supervisor Just as supporters of open space in Nominating, Susan Randolph .............. 629-0510 Carroll). And in August, Tucson’s Pima County were celebrating the op- Community Presence, Linda Stitzer ......... 297-3173 Mayor and City Council voted 6-1 (op- portunity to “take it to the voters,” so Programs and Activities Bird Alert ................................................. 798-1005 position, Shirley Scott) to place a fund- were Citizens for a Sensible Transpor- Bird Reporting ........................................ 696-4461 ing mechanism to support multimodal tation Solution. Since April 2002 the Bird Census, Susan Birky ...................... 743-9390 transportation on the ballot. Local gov- group has gathered signatures to put Library, Bill Scott .................................... 887-5813 Mailing, Gerald Sweeney ..................... 326-3701 ernment is asking for our help in de- a comprehensive transportation ini- Field Trips, John Higgins ...................... 578-1830 fining the future of our community and tiative on the ballot that encourages Program, Tom DeMoss .......................... 296-2963 we’re counting on Tucson Audubon mem- better bus systems, light rail, side- Audubon Nature Shop & Offices bers to respond. Our community’s walks and bikeways. This summer, 300 E. University Blvd. #120, Tucson, AZ 85705 growth can be beneficial or detrimen- they were successful in their endeavor. Nature Shop Hours: Mon.Sat. 104, Mon. & Thu. 105 tal to the birds and wildlife that we so If your City Councilmember sup- Shop Manager, Judy Edison Asst. Shop Manager, Susan Birky appreciate and enjoy. It is our choice. ported this measure, please call and (520) 629-0510 Fax: (520) 623-3476 Many of you were with us, encour- thank him or her (see p. 4). To learn www.tucsonaudubon.org aging the Supervisors to preserve habi- more, or to get involved, visit Citi- [email protected] Executive Director, Sonja Macys .......... 622-5622 tat for birds and other wildlife through zens for a Sensible Transportation Asst to ED, Jessie Shinn ........................ 628-1730 the Open Space Bond Measure. We Solution at www.savetucson.org. Accountant, Tina Eggert ........................ 629-0757 thank everyone who called, sent post- These are a few of your opportuni- MAC Outreach Coord., Jamie Brown ..... 744-0004 Education Prog. Man., Carrie Dean ...... 622-2230 cards and attended the Board of Su- ties to ensure that growth shapes our Education Specialist, Dan Wolgast ......... 744-0004 pervisors meeting. Your participation community in a way that is meaning- Development Director, Holly Foster ...... 629-0757 was important and it continues to be! ful, not just for the people who live here Restoration Projects, Ann Phillips ........ 206-9900 AZ IBA Coordinator, Scott Wilbor ....... 622-2230 We still need you now. If your Super- but also for the environment that sup- Permaculture/Com., Kendall Kroesen .. 206-9900 visor supported this measure, please call ports us. Now is the time to ask our- Editors, Jane & Warren Tisdale ............ 749-2139 and thank him or her (see p. 4). selves, “How do we want to live?” Mission Statement If you would like to be more in- “What are our core values?” “How do Tucson Audubon Society is dedicated to im- proving the quality of the environment by pro- volved, please attend meetings of the open space and transportation options viding education, conservation, & recreation pro- Conservation Bond Committee or the define society?” And, “How can we cre- grams, & environmental leadership & information. Tucson Audubon is a non-profit volunteer or- Neighborhood Reinvestment Bond ate a society of which we are proud?” ganization of people with a common interest in Committee. These committees have Please, take the time to be active in the birding & natural history. Tucson Audubon maintains offices in Tucson, an extensive library, been assembled to give recommenda- community. Connect to the place you & a Nature Shop where nature-related items are tions to the Bond Advisory Commit- sold for the benefit of our programs, (520)