Gambel’sGambel’s Tales The Newsletter of the Sonoran Audubon Society Volume 13 Issue 5 January, 2012 At our next meeting…. Wednesday, January 11, 2012, at 7 p.m. George Wall—A Month in Kenya Africa George Wall started bird watching in April of 1997, when he went to Fort Morgan in Alabama to watch bird banding. It in- trigued him so much, that he joined the Hummingbird Society and then the National Audubon Society. He put up lots of feeders in his backyard, a martin house, a bluebird house, he planted 15 blueberry bushes, put in a grape arbor and all at- tracted birds. When he moved to Arizona in 1999, he found there were a lot of birds there. He first joined Birders’ Anony- mous, a group of birders in Sun City, and was soon the leader of that group which he did for 8 years. When the Sonoran Audubon Society came into existence, he also joined them. In 2004, he became a board member. In September of 2005, he became the editor of the monthly newsletter and in June of 2009, became the president of the Sonoran Audubon Society. He’s planned and led birding trips both short and long ones like to Alamos, Mexico. He’s a staunch conservationist. As a world-wide bird watcher, he’s trav- eled around the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Galapagos Islands, Nicaragua, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Gua- temala and Australia. He is extremely active in his church – The Church of the Palms in Sun City. He is the Moderator of the church, does the cooking for them, on the Finance Board, on four different committees, does usher- ing and is the service leader when asked. This program is about birds, wildlife and the people in Kenya. He spent the entire month of April 2011, in Kenya where he saw 762 species of birds and 81 species of animals. He took over 1500 pictures, but only kept 400 which he deemed suitable. There are 235 pictures in this program on 119 slides. At 75 years old, he said this was the most grueling and taxing trip he has ever taken as it was hard keeping up with the younger group. In fact, on a couple of hikes into the mountains, he had to stay behind as it was too rough for him. He missed out on another 20-30 species of birds by not taking those hikes. Golden-breasted Starling—Photo by George Wall Enjoy! Page 1 Gambel’s Tales What’s Happening in our Chapter Difficulty: 1 By your Editor, George Wall Meet in the parking lot of the Wildlife Zoo on Northern Ave. near the aquarium to leave at 8 a.m. Alternate meet- Your Board met on Wednesday, December 7, 2011, ing place is the Chevron stop and go gas station near cor- with ten members. The attendees were George Wall, ner of I-10 and Jackrabbit Road at about 8:15 a.m. Tim Cullison, John Arnett, Haylie Hewitt, Karen La- France, Andrée Tarby, Joe Ford, Jerry Theis, Eleanor For those who want to, we’ll be eating lunch at Campbell and Darnell Kirksey. Waddell’s on Jackrabbit Road or you can bring your own lunch. The minutes were approved and then committee re- ports were given. Saturday, January 28, 2012 Bush Highway—The recreation areas of Butcher In membership, there are 842 members of which 122 Jones, Saguaro Lake, Phon D Sutton, Coon Bluff and are “Friends”. The membership committee mailed out Granite Reef “Friends” invitations to all 842 members hoping to Leader: George Wall, 623-875-7057 [email protected] increase our “Friends” membership and also give cur- rent “Friends” the opportunity to renew their member- Always a great spot for bird watching is the entire area ship. This is one of the few ways that we can raise along Bush Highway. We can just about always see a Bald Eagle as well as some other interesting birds. money for our chapter. Difficulty: 1- Bring a lunch. We want to thank a Sonoran Audubon “Friend” who renewed with a $1000.00 check. A personal thank you Meet at the Burger King just off of 101 on Thunderbird to will be sent to this person. leave at 7:00 a.m. Alternate meeting spot at Denney’s in Fountain Hills to leave at 8 a.m. The programs are set through April. A May program is still needed and the program committee is contact- Saturday, February 11, 2012 ing prospective people to give a program. (Note: Af- Estrella Mountain Park ter I got home, I found that I had scheduled a program Leader: Joe Ford, 623-792-8154 [email protected] for May 2012. I had misplaced the information. All Joe Ford does this bird walk once a month and this is your programs are set through May—see page 10). chance to join in and just see what this park has to offer. With Education/Conservation was discussed. Since our the mesquite trees, cottonwoods and lots of shrubbery, there is chairperson moved away, it was decided to alternate always lots of birds. Down at the river, egrets and herons will the chairperson among the members. Darnell Kirksey show their feathers and once in a while a Belted Kingfisher flies will host the first meeting in February. Tim Cullison down the river. will host the meeting in May. See the article and trip report on page 6. —————————————————————- Difficulty: 1 It was a low turnout for the December Membership Meeting held on the 11th. The ones who did show up Meet at the visitors center to leave at 8 a.m. or at the Bur- were really entertained by the marvelous photography ger King just off of 101 on Thunderbird Avenue to leave of Joel Pearson who presented the story of a pair of at 7:15 a.m. Meet George Wall there for car-pooling. Red-tailed Hawks. It was fascinating! Note: There is an entrance fee of $6.00 per car. Saturday, February 18, 2012 2011 Field Trips—Winter Gilbert Riparian Preserve (Water Ranch) Leader: Richard Kaiser, 602-276-3312 Saturday, January 7, 2012 [email protected] Arlington Valley Leader: Donna Smith, 623-556-9535 Visit the Gilbert Riparian Preserve located at the SE cor- [email protected] ner of Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads behind the Re- gional Library. A bird list of more than 140 species has Arlington Valley west of Phoenix and south of Ar- been compiled there including more than 50 species of lington with its fields, ponds, canals, a dam, and a water/shorebirds like the Black-necked Stilts and Ameri- desert butte provides a variety of habitats to search for can Avocets. birds. Earlier in September of this year, 57 species Difficulty: 1 were seen with the best being a Wilson’s Phalarope. You are also always guaranteed to spot a Burrowing Meet at the NE parking lot at 7:30 a.m. Alternate meeting Owl along the roadside. spot is the Burger King just off of 101 on Thunderbird Page 2 Gambel's Tales (Continued from Page 2) top of a small peak (Eagles Nest) overlooking the 2012 Field Trips—Winter/Spring whole park which is a spectacular viewpoint. Within the park is a favorite nesting area of the Common Sunday-Monday, February 26-27, 2012 Black Hawk. There are a great variety of birds that Lake Havasu, Bill Williams River NWR and Parker have been seen here such as great flocks of Cedar Dam Waxwings and Red-winged Blackbirds, Blue Gros- Contact: Joe Ford, 623-792-8154 [email protected] beaks, Oregon Juncos, Spotted and Green-tailed Towhees, Lesser Goldfinches, Cardinals, Black- This is a trip designed to see a lot of water birds such headed Grosbeaks, Western Bluebirds, Summer and as ducks and loons, but there are always other birds to Western Tanagers, Bullock’s Oriole, Robins, Nut- be seen at the Bill Williams River National Wildlife hatches, Chickadees, Scrub Jays, Swallows, Red- Refuge. We are getting local leaders for each day and a shafted Flickers, Hairy and Ladder-backed Wood- fee will be levied to compensate them. peckers, Vireos and Warblers depending on the time of year. There is a $5 per car park entrance fee. Difficulty 2 – You will need some slipover wader boots as there are streams to cross or just wear tennis Difficulty: 2 Bring Lunch. shoes if you don’t mind getting them wet. Meet at Fry’s Electronics Store, 31st Ave. and Thun- Make your own reservations—suggested is the Travel derbird in the parking lot on the north side of the Lodge at 1-928-680-9202. building (N.E. corner) to leave at 7:00 a.m. Call leader for reservations and further information as Saturday, April 21, 2012 this trip will be limited to 4 cars (16 people). Mt. Ord Leader: Andrée Tarby 602-421-9425 Saturday-Sunday, March 10-11, 2012 [email protected] Tres Rios Nature and Earth Festival to be held at Estrella Mountain Park (More on this later) More on this trip later. Wednesday, March 14, 2012 Friday-Sunday, April 27-29, 2012 Hassayampa River Preserve Brown Canyon Ranch & Area Leader: Vera Markham, 623-974-1110 Leader: George Wall, 623-875-7057 [email protected] [email protected] This is a special trip that we have arranged with Bue- Hassayampa is always a nice place to take a bird walk nos Aires National Wildlife Preserve. We have re- as you never know what you’ll find. There are nice served the Brown Canyon Environmental Education easy trails to walk around the area and also to the river.