THE QUARTERLY NEWS MAGAZINE OF TUCSON AUDUBON SOCIETY | TUCSONAUDUBON.ORG

Vermf li yl ci a to c hn e r July–September 2012 | Volume 57, Number 3 August in Arizona Is Awesome for Hummingbirds

A Late Summer Flood of Birds Field ID of the Sierra Madres

Birding, Hiking, and Camping in Aravaipa Canyon What’s in a Name? Rose-throated Becard Features The QuarT erly NewS MagaziN e of TucS o N a uduboN SocieT y | TucS o N auduboN .org 11 Birding, Camping, and Hiking in Aravaipa Canyon Vermf li yl ci a to c hn e r 12 August in Arizona is Awesome for July–September 2012 | Volume 57, Number 3 Hummingbirds August in 14 A Summer Flood of Birds Arizona Tucson Audubon Society is dedicated to improving Is Awesome for the quality of the environment by providing education, Hummingbirds conservation, and recreation programs, environmental 15 Field Identification of the Sierra leadership, and information. Tucson Audubon is a Madres in Southeastern Arizona non-profit volunteer organization of people with a 16 What’s in a Name: common interest in birding and natural history. Tucson Rose-throated Becard Audubon maintains offices, a library, and nature A Late Summer Flood of Birds shops in Tucson, the proceeds of which benefit all of Field ID of the Sierra Madres Birding, Hiking, and Camping its programs. in Aravaipa Canyon What’s in a Name? Tucson Audubon Society Departments Rose-throated Becard 300 E. University Blvd. #120, Tucson, AZ 85705 3 Commentary 629-0510 (voice) or 623-3476 (fax) All phone numbers are area code 520 unless otherwise stated. 4 Events and Classes www.tucsonaudubon.org 5 Events Calendar Board Officers & Directors President Cynthia Pruett 6 News Roundup Vice President Sandy Elers FRONT COVER: Flame-colored Tanager © Jim & Deva Secretary Ruth Russell 17 Conservation and Education News Burns, Scottsdale, AZ. To see more of their work visit Treasurer Richard Carlson Directors at Large Ardeth Barnhart, Gavin Bieber, 21 Field Trips their website, www.jimburnsphotos.com and follow Jim’s Jennie Duberstein, Debra Finch, Richard Fray, Bob birding blog at http://jimburnsphotos.com/pages/columns. Hernbrode, Linda Greene, John Kennedy, Linda Stitzer, 24 Birding Travel from our Business Partners html. Herb Trossman, Claire Zucker Board Committees Conservation Chair Chris McVie, 25 Birds & Business Alliance To have your photographs considered for use in the Development Sandy Elers, Education Jennie Duberstein, Vermilion Flycatcher, please contact Matt Griffiths at Finance Richard Carlson, Outreach Vacant, Nominating 25 Classified Ads Linda Greene, Personnel Cynthia Pruett [email protected]. Programs & Activities 26 Nature Shops Field Trips Kate Reynolds Library 629-0510 Membership Meetings Jean Barchman 629-0510 Rare Bird Alert Andrew Core | Report Rare Birds 629-0510 Staff (unless otherwise stated, dial 629-0510 plus extension) Executive Director Paul Green ext 7001 Explore Tucson’s Accountant Michelle Bourgeois ext 7003 Finance ext 7014 J A me S Pr UD en T e Other Gem Show Membership Coordinator Jean Barchman ext 7002 Development Manager Erin Olmstead ext 7009 Volunteer and Development Coordinator Kara Kaczmarzyk ext 7011 Environmental Education Coordinator Bété Pfister ext 7012

IBA Conservation Biologist Jennie MacFarland ext 7004 Al A n D. W I l SO Habitats Program Manager Kendall Kroesen ext 7006 Field Supervisor Rodd Lancaster 256-6909 Communications / Habitat Restoration -An D er SO n Matthew Griffiths 971-7924 T Birding and watchable wildlife O l B er Operations Manager Sara Pike ext 7008 T activities in Arizona

University Shop Manager ext 7007 D O nn A Tucson Audubon Nature Shops Our Sonoran Desert and Sky Islands offer the best August birding in the US. Join the fun at the 2nd annual $1.5 billion 300 E University Blvd #120 ext 7015 Tucson Bird & Wildlife Festival August 15–19, 2012. economic impact* 623-3476 fax / 629-0510 Shop Manager Hours: 10 am–4 pm, Monday–Saturday Birders mean Business for Tucson Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E Roger Rd 760-7881 • Our region is among the Top 3 birding destinations nationwide Hours: July–September, Thursday, 9 am–1:30 pm • Southeast Arizona is the best place in the U.S. to see hummingbirds • Birding is a big deal and growing! To learn more about birding *2001 USFWS survey and its economic impact, visit www.tucsonaudubon.org/birdingeconomics

Vermilion Flycatcher is published quarterly. For address changes or subscription problems call 629-0510, or write Conservation is getting nowhere because it is incompatible to Membership Coordinator, Tucson Audubon, 300 E. University Blvd, #120, Tucson, AZ 85705. Submissions are with our Abrahamic concept of land. We abuse land due the 1st of the month, two months before the date of the issue. Please send submissions as Microsoft Word or RTF because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. documents, or plain text files, to Matt Griffiths at mgriffiths@ tucsonaudubon.org. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we Coordinator Matt Griffiths 971-7924 Proofreaders Robert Merideth, Tucson Audubon staff, may begin to use it with love and respect.” and volunteers Design / Layout Eng-Li Green —Aldo Leopold © 2012 Tucson Audubon Society

2 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher July–September 2012 Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. COMMENTARY PAUL GREEN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Tucson Bird & Wildlife Festival—In Context

Stephen R. Covey, writing on how we regulate (carbon sequestration, water assess our roles in life and our value to purification); support (pollination, nutrient our community, focuses on relationships cycling); and enhance (cultural, spiritual, and functions. I wonder: why don’t we do recreational functions). Some recognition the same when we consider our natural of these realities was acknowledged by world? Too often nature is viewed as a the US Forest Service at the end of June commodity resource: for example, a tree when it indicated that it was considering may be valued for its lumber alone rather the effects of the proposed Rosemont than the many roles it plays as a living copper mine on our air quality, water BÉTÉ PFISTER organism. quality, water quantity, seeps, springs, Local conservationist Nancy Freeman riparian resources, dark skies, and sonorandesert.org/, focusing on these has estimated that the proposed socioeconomics (see p 19). issues for the last 15 years. The Rosemont copper mine would destroy Socioeconomics (as a cultural service community-driven Sonoran Desert at least 10,000 trees, including some of our natural habitats) is of particular Conservation Plan is the most valuable oaks that are more than 100 years old. interest to Tucson Audubon. At last count, planning and policy tool we have to to These trees absorb carbon dioxide, wildlife watching was worth $1.5 billion establish a balance between development bind the soil and reduce erosion by to our state. Wildlife watchers contribute and maintaining ecological services and wind and water, enabling the soil to more to Arizona’s economy than golfers, the quality of life we all value so highly. act as a sponge to absorb and slowly hunters, the gem show, anglers, or We all need to remain vigilant of political release water (100 mature trees can hosting the Super Bowl. Our community moves to weaken the Sonoran Desert reduce runoff caused by rainfall by up has the opportunity of growing the pot of Conservation Plan in the name of “the to 100,000 gallons). They reduce air monies and increasing Tucson’s share economy”. flow and filter out contaminants, support of regional Watchable Wildlife income. It is Tucson Audubon’s goal to help recreational and social functions for us, We have a unique resource with our and encourage our elected officials and and of course they produce oxygen and diverse habitats and wildlife (including our business community to comprehend contribute to maintaining the clean air many species found nowhere else in and then formally embrace the value of that we need to live healthy lives. Our the US), first class destination services, the wide range of ecological services trees are providing a broad range of information, and expertise in the region. provided by intact, fully functional natural services to our community. Are we ready And wildlife watching is only one way of ecosystems. We would especially like to sacrifice them? putting a value on the land that could be to see a strong voice from our business When contemplating the potential loss buried in mine tailings. community, working with us to protect of natural services, some communities A new report values ecosystem our health and safety by safeguarding consider how much they would have to services provided by natural habitat in meaningful conservation of our natural spend to develop artificial systems to the 48 contiguous United States at $1.6 systems. replace some of the ecological services trillion annually, which is equivalent to The Tucson Bird & Wildlife Festival provided by the natural services before more than 10 percent of the U.S. gross is perhaps the most conspicuous part making a decision on a development. For domestic product (GDP). It estimates of Tucson Audubon’s work in this area, example, Ugandans spared a Kampala that the loss of about 9.9 million acres and our Birds & Business Alliance is a wetland from agricultural development of wetlands in the U.S. since the 1950s growing part of that process. See page 17 after calculating it would cost $2 million a has resulted in an economic loss of more for some details of new funding we have year to run a sewage treatment facility— than $81 billion in all wetlands-related received to move our mutual community the same job the swamp does for free. ecosystem services. agenda forward. New York City opted to restore the The same report finds that outdoor polluted Catskill Watershed that had recreation, conservation, and historic References: previously provided the city with clean preservation activities for 2011 created a • The Economics Associated with Outdoor water. The cost of this investment in minimum of 9.4 million jobs, generated Recreation, Natural Resources Conservation natural capital was estimated at $1.5 federal, state and local tax revenues and Historic Preservation in the United States. billion, which contrasted dramatically of $107 billion, and resulted in total For: The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation with the estimated $8 billion cost of economic activity (equivalent to GDP) of By: Southwick Associates October 10, 2011 constructing a water filtration plant plus $1.06 trillion. the $300 million annual running costs. In Pima County, Tucson Audubon • Pima County Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan Ecological services do many things was a founding member of the Coalition Overview. Retrieved 2012. http://www.pima.gov/ for us: they provide (e.g. food, water); for Sonoran Desert Protection www. cmo/admin/Reports/ConservationReport/

Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. July–September 2012 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 3 TUCSON AUDUBON EVENTS AND CLASSES LOIS MANOWITZ DAVID MITCHELL DAVID Lifelong Learning Opportunities with Tucson Audubon

L to R: Savannah Sparrow; Red-faced Warbler.

Education Courses for Fall different habitats: desert, riparian and Winter: 2012–2013 and Sky Island. Course limited to 12 participants. For Beginners 2013 Classroom sessions: Saturday, April Backyard Birding and Beyond 13; 10 am–12 noon Open yourself up to the natural world Field trips: Saturdays, April 20, 27, by gaining skills and knowledge about May 4; TBA; Carpooling encouraged birding that you can take with you Cost: $125 for members, $160 for into your backyard or to any corner Birding is captivating with Homer Hansen! non-members of the globe! Topics to be covered include: principles of identification, Moving to Mastery 2012 groups that often leave us confounded Specialty Workshops binoculars and field guides, birding An advanced beginner to in the field! 2012–2013 vocabulary and etiquette, local bird intermediate level birding course Warblers: August 23 & 25, 2012 Intended as stand-alone classes, I.D. and lore, seasonal occurrence, Take your birding to the next level You will be taken through the steps these workshops are a great family characteristics, and gardening with our popular Moving to Mastery of how to accurately identify and opportunity to focus on a specific to attract birds. You will learn firsthand class. If you feel like you are ready to distinguish challenging fall warblers. group of birds and brush up on your why southeastern Arizona is such move your birding skills beyond the Key structural characteristics and identification skills. Homer Hansen a great place for birds and why bird basics, this is the class for you. Taught similar species comparisons will be is the instructor and he will go into watching is so rewarding. Taught by Wings Over Willcox chairman, taught during this workshop, along detail on similar species, identification by Lynn Hassler, longtime birder, Homer Hansen, this class will build with an introduction to learning techniques, and vocalizations. These educator, and noted author. Course upon knowledge that you’ve acquired warbler vocalizations. workshops are designed for advanced limited to 15 participants. through experience in the field, in beginner to intermediate birders. Flycatchers: September 13 & 15, Classroom sessions: Saturdays, a beginning birding class, or from All specialty workshops take place 2012 January 12, 19 (no class January private study. Homer’s techniques over the course of two days. In the Ready to leap into the identification 26), February 9, 16; 10 am–12 noon focus on structure and behavior to workshop summaries below, the of Empidonax and Myiarchus Field trips: Saturdays, February 2, 23; bring you to a better understanding of bird identification. Over the course of first date listed is the day of the flycatchers? This workshop introduces 9:00 am; Location to be announced five weeks, you’ll learn how to identify classroom session and the second you to the diverse family Tyrannidae Cost: $150 for members, $185 for some of the more difficult bird groups, date listed is the field trip outing. and highlights the ways to separate non-members The cost for all specialty workshops the kingbirds, pewees, empids and how to use technical references, and Birding by Habitat is $110 for members and $145 for flycatchers of southeastern Arizona. how to understand bird topography. Southeastern Arizona offers such non-members. All classroom sessions Course limited to 16 participants. excellent birding opportunities in part take place from 5:30 pm– 8:30 pm Spring Programming Classroom sessions: Thursdays, because of its variety of habitats. in the Tucson Audubon library in See our website for more detailed October 18–November 15, descriptions of each workshop. Elevation contrasts result in different our main office on University and 5:30 pm–8:00 pm temperature and moisture levels, 5th. Workshops are limited to 10 All taught by Homer Hansen Field trips: Saturdays, October 18– which in turn make for different participants. Sparrows: February 7 & 9, 2013 November 10, 7:00 am–5 pm assemblages of plants and animals. Raptors: February 13 & 16, 2013 Riparian areas support their own cast Cost: $250 for Tucson Audubon Fall Programming Birding by Ear: April 18 & 20, 2013 members; $285 for non-members Our specialty workshops start on the of avian characters. Come experience heels of the Tucson Bird and Wildlife the fun of birding in different natural Contact for all education activities: Festival! Homer Hansen is offering the Visit our Nature Shops to discover environments with instructor Lynn Bété Pfister at bpfister@ opportunity to focus on two species a whole world of resources to Hassler. One classroom session tucsonaudubon.org, 520-209-1812 support your learning experience. is followed by three field trips to

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR SUITE OF EDUCATION CLASSES, PLEASE VISIT WWW.TUCSONAUDUBON.ORG/EDUCATION

4 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher July–September 2012 Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. EVENTS CALENDAR

Education Program Living with Nature July 4. Offices and shops closed Mark your calendars for next season’s Living with Nature Lectures August 1–11. Main Shop closed for Sampler at our inventory and software update Tucson Bird & August 15–19. Tucson Bird & Wildlife Festival (see pullout for full details) Wildlife Festival! 8/15. First Annual Sky Islands Birding Cup Come meet our instructors and get a ANNOUNCING A NEW VENUE FOR

BOTH PHOTOS PCC BOTH PHOTOS 8/15. Wild & Scenic Film Festival preview of our beginning birding class OUR TUCSON LECTURES! 8/16. Birds & Beer Social and our specialty workshops! EASY PARKING! CENTRAL LOCATION! SPACIOUS ROOM! 8/16. Workshop: Beginning Birding with If you are a beginning birder, here Lynn Hassler Tucson Audubon is partnering with the is where to start: 8/17. Workshops: Sparrows and Raptors Pima Community College Downtown Beginning Birding Workshop with with Homer Hansen; Go Batty! with Campus to bring you next season’s Ronnie Sidner Lynn Hassler—Thursday, August 16 Living with Nature Lecture Series! All 8/17. Welcome Reception and Go Batty! with Ronnie Sidner—Friday, lectures will be held in the Amethyst Presentation by Rick Taylor August 17 Room on campus at 1255 N. Stone 8/17–8/18. Nature Expo with free 7 pm, the Learning to Look Workshop with Ave. The program begins at presentations throughout the day Richard Crossley—Saturday, SECOND MONDAY of each month 8/17–8/19. More than a dozen expert-led August 18 October through April. Please check half-day and full-day field trips Hummingbirds 101 Workshop with our website for details on topics 8/18. Workshops: Learning to Look with Sheri Williamson—Saturday, Richard Crossley; Hummingbirds 101 with and speakers. Sheri Williamson August 18 8/18. Keynote Banquet and Hummingbird Safari for Beginners Presentation by Richard Crossley with Sheri Williamson—Sunday, McCreedy, Pinau Merlin, Doug 8/18. Youth Birders’ Outing with August 19 GREEN VALLEY Moore, Scott Olmstead, Jonathan Richard Crossley Youth Sweetwater Outing with Richard Joyner-Green Valley Library, 601 N Overpeck, Anne Peyton, Tad Pfister La Canada Dr. 594-5295. The Green August 17–18. Main shop closed, but open Crossley—Sunday, August 19 The Living with Nature Lecture at Festival! Valley talks will now be at 10 am on Series will resume in October. If you are an intermediate birder, August 23 & 25. Specialty Workshop: the FIRST SATURDAY of the month, Stay tuned for the schedule in our sample Homer Hansen’s specialty Warblers (see p 4) October through April. next issue. If you are seeking out workshops and accompany him on September 3. Offices and shops closed A big thanks to our 2011/2012 opportunities for free natural history a field trip! September 13 & 15. Specialty Workshop: presenters who transported us talks this summer, join us at our Sparrow Workshop—Friday, Flycatchers (see p 4) to exotic birding destinations, Tucson Bird and Wildlife Festival on August 17 October 18–November 15. Moving to heightened our awareness of the August 17th and 18th at the Riverpark Raptor Workshop—Friday, August 17 Mastery course (see p 4) lifestyles of urban birds and how Inn to hear about a variety of topics November 3. Tucson Audubon Field trip to Las Cienegas National we interact with them, and gave that will be discussed as a part of our Harvest Festival (see p 8) Conservation Area—Saturday, us insight on how to continue FREE Nature Expo! (see pullout p IV). August 18 protecting the precious natural For more information, contact See pullout for more details on how resources we have in the Southwest: Bété Pfister, 520-209-1812 or to register! Kirby Bristow, Joan Cass, Karen [email protected], or visit Krebbs, Bill Mannan, Christopher tucsonaudubon.org.

Institute of Desert Ecology Hits the Road

Creating opportunities for you to learn Riparian habitats, before returning • 2015—Focus: about ecology, how all the living and to the Catalina mountains. We’ll be Riparian habitat; non-living parts fit together to form our partnering with friends to deliver these Partner: The amazing natural world, is one thing we exciting new programs. Nature Conservancy, in do with our Institute of Desert Ecology Aravaipa Canyon. SWAINSON’S HAWK, DOUG ZWICK HAWK, SWAINSON’S • 2013—Focus: Grasslands habitat; (IDE), heading into its 43rd year. For a Partner: Audubon Arizona’s number of years now the Institute has • 2016—We will return to Catalina BRING YOUR mPODS! Research Ranch at Elgin, south of been hosted on the mountain slope State Park. Start collecting your mesquite pods Sonoita (pictured above right) KROESEN KENDALL Details of dates will be published and get them milled at the Tucson habitats of Catalina State Park. But • 2014—Focus: Sky Islands habitat; in due course. Further information Audubon Harvest Festival on our Sonoran Desert has many diverse Partner: Southwestern Research from Bété Pfister at bpfister@ Saturday, November 3, at the habitats and, over the next three Station of the American Museum of tucsonaudubon.org Mason Center. See p 8 for details years, IDE is going on tour! Natural History in Portal of this fun event. The IDE will focus in turn on Grassland, Sky Island, and then

Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. July–September 2012 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 5 TUCSON AUDUBON NEWS ROUNDUP

Birdathon was a Blast! KROESEN KENDALL PHOTOS ALL Kara Kaczmarzyk, Volunteer and Development Coordinator

Clockwise from left: The crowd looks in anticipation at the next award winner; Quinn Agnew Many thanks and congratulations go Richard Fray, Jennie MacFarland, shows off the prize he won as Youngest Birder; Carsten Wintsch with his prize for Most to the 67 Birdathoners and hundreds Scott Olmstead, and John Yerger. A Money Raised by Young Male Birder; Birdathoners Brad Paxton, Laura LePere, Michael of personal sponsors who helped huge thanks goes to our Phainopepla Byers, and Becky Aparicio make the 25th Annual Birdathon Sponsor, Pima Federal Credit Union. spectacular. Thanks to you, we We would also like to thank George exceeded our fundraising goal of Andrejko and Bryan Holliday for $25,000! This year, we really shook serving as photo contest judges, and things up, with a shorter Big Week of thank our prize, AV, and restaurant birding, and it worked! Best of all, the sponsors, Audio Visual Management, birds get the benefit from funds raised Barrio Brewing Company, Bedroxx, for Tucson Audubon’s conservation Bookmans, Casa Video, Chuy’s, and education programs. Fourth Avenue Yoga, Golf N’ Stuff, Among the awards presented at Green Mountain Digital, Lotus the Birdy BBQ was the coveted title Massage & Wellness Center, REI, of Most Species Seen. This year’s Summit Hut, Sunglow Ranch, Pima winners were The Wrenegades, led Air & Space Museum, Renee’s by Tucson Audubon’s IBA Program Organic Oven, Sabino Cycles, Texas Coordinating Biologist, Jennie Roadhouse, Titan Missile Museum, MacFarland, who guided her team to Thunder Canyon Brewery, Tucson 147 species. The Grand Prize winner, Audubon Nature Shop, Tucson Touch whose combined fundraising and bird Therapies, Vantage Bowling, and Winning Photo in the Birdathon Photo Contest: Rufous-capped Warbler by Dick Tipton. Taken March 3, 2012 with a Canon EOS 50D Camera with a Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5- finding total outdid the competition, Vortex Optics. 5.6 L IS USM. The photo was taken at 1/1600 sec at f 8.0. ISO 400. “I was lucky enough was our own Kendall Kroesen! Mark your calendars for Birdathon to see a pair of these Warblers in Florida Canyon just above the work site camp. The Special thanks goes to our All- 2013, April 19–28! conservation of places like Florida Canyon and other areas of critical habitat is essential if we and future generations expect to continue to enjoy birding in the wild.” Star Team leaders, Gavin Bieber,

Tucson Audubon Gala: January 30, 2013

David Wilcove will be the keynote (1999), and No Way Home: The protecting endangered species. Center for Tropical Conservation, the speaker at our 2013 Gala, to be held Decline of the World’s Great Animal David previously served as Senior American Bird Conservatory, and the at the Hilton El Conquistador Resort. Migrations (2007). Tony Paniagua will Ecologist for The Wilderness Society Society for Conservation Biology. David is Professor of Ecology be our Master of Ceremonies. (1986–1991), where he developed Listen to the interview with David and Evolutionary Biology and Public From 1991 to 2001, David Wilcove the scientific foundation for the Wilcove by Terry Gross on NPR at Affairs, Woodrow Wilson School was Senior Ecologist at Environmental Society’s successful campaign to http://www.npr.org/templates/story/ of Princeton University, and author Defense in Washington, DC, where he protect the ancient forests of the story.php?storyId=16919118 . of The Condor’s Shadow: The Loss focused on developing economically Pacific Northwest. He has served on and Recovery of Wildlife in America and scientifically sound policies for the board of directors of the RARE

6 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher July–September 2012 Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. River Pathways Successfully Piloted in Tucson! Bété Pfister, Environmental Education Coordinator

This spring, Tucson Audubon resource management. The students We have one more classroom from

partnered with Audubon Arizona and then participated in two field trips. Cienega High School scheduled for BÉTÉ PFISTER BOTH PHOTOS the Bureau of Land Management’s The first field trip was to Sweetwater a fall program and this summer we (BLM) Tucson Field Office to pilot Wetlands, where they were trained will be planning for the next phase the River Pathways curriculum in riparian monitoring techniques. of River Pathways. If you are a high in two Vail district high schools: Then, they took a second field trip to school teacher who is interested in the Empire High School and Cienega Las Cienegas National Conservation program, or a volunteer interested in High School. River Pathways is an Area, a riparian area administered by engaging with high school students experiential education program that the BLM, to apply what they learned in the field, contact Bété Pfister at was developed by Audubon Arizona at Sweetwater and assist agency [email protected] or 520- and funded by the BLM. The goals scientists in collecting data used to 209-1812 for more information on how of the curriculum are to get students make management decisions. to become involved. outdoors, introduce them to Arizona’s At both field trip locations, the native habitats, and build their interest students engaged in three activities: in careers managing public lands and water quality and invertebrate Right, top to bottom: Amy Markstein, BLM natural resources. sampling, riparian woody species employee monitoring birds at Empire Gulch In the classroom, students monitoring, and a bird walk/survey. We with students from Empire High School. River Pathways students from Empire completed a five module curriculum reached 52 students this spring from High School monitoring invertebrates with focused on riparian ecology and Grade 10-12, in the two high schools. Tucson Audubon’s Kendall Kroesen.

EXPERIENCE Southeast Arizona’s Birding at its Best ERIN OLMSTEAD

AUGUST 15–19, 2012 • TUCSON, ARIZONA Sign up for Tucson Incorporating the Sky Islands Birding Cup Audubon’s eNews ARIZONA’S NEW WORLD-CLASS BIG DAY BIRDING COMPETITION Tucson Audubon sends out a weekly email of news updates to a list of around 2,500 people. In WINGS), GRAY HAWK (JAMES PRUDENTE) HAWK WINGS), GRAY / FEATURING addition, we send our supplemental Keynote Banquet emails to this list, for example and Presentation for urgent conservation action or by Richard special invitations. Crossley, author You can sign up for this list in of The Crossley a number of ways. The easiest is ID Guide to go to tucsonaudubon.org and click on the link that says Sign-Up Welcome E-newsletter. Otherwise send an Reception email to pgreen@tucsonaudubon. and Presentation org with your first and by Rick Taylor last name, or call Jean author of Birds of Barchman on 520-209- Southeastern Arizona 1802 and she will take your details. VF Check the pullout and visit tucsonaudubon.org/festival to register JOHN HOFFMAN ROW 1, L TO R: MONTEZUMA QUAIL (ROBERT SHANTZ), WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD (LOIS MANOWITZ), RED-FACED WARBLER (JOHN HOFFMAN) WARBLER SHANTZ), WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD (LOIS MANOWITZ), RED-FACED (ROBERT QUAIL R: MONTEZUMA TO ROW 1, L (RICH C. HOYER FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW (RICHARD FRAY), R: RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLER TO ROW 2, L

Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. July–September 2012 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 7 Mason Center Movements Kendall Kroesen, Habitats Program Manager CAROL PALMER CAROL KENDALL KROESEN KENDALL Way to Use Your of the bed (which may take years at College Degree our slow rate of “accumulation”), it It’s a good thing I have a Ph.D. (“pile is supposed to be ready to use as it higher and deeper”) because the mulch. I’ll keep you posted. maintenance of the Mason Center Cactus Relocation Some of the cacti have gone into composting toilets seems to have A big “thank you” to Ed Bartlett for an area of the demonstration gardens fallen to me. Sometimes I feel like along the path from the pedestrian single-handedly relocating hundreds CHRIS MIRACLE I get buried in work here at Tucson of cacti from the east edge of the gate, where you can visit them and Audubon, but I’m hoping that won’t Mason Center property. admire Ed’s work. happen in this case. Eventually, we are going to Among my toilet duties are the lose acreage there to the widening Plant Signs monthly dose of bacteria, keeping the of Thornydale Road, so we have We’ve got a lot of cool plants around wood shavings underneath damp, and started early with the relocation of the Mason Center, ones that grow “raking the pile.” Once the material mammillarias, hedgehogs, barrels, there naturally and others we’ve has been raked to the fourth quadrant small saguaros and other cacti. planted in the demonstration gardens. And now everybody will know what Clockwise from top left: they are! Butterfly on burroweed (left) and Harvest Festival, Saturday November 3 Our collaboration with Kathleen composting toilet (right) at Mason Center. Neighbor’s Service Learning Class at Paul Green and Erin Olmstead’s lucky sighting of Worm-eating Warbler on May Last November’s Soon it will be time to harvest Tortolita Middle School is paying off. 22. When Tucson Audubon’s Mason mesquite pod milling your mesquite pods (most are They received a grant from Marana Center was featured on KGUN9 News as at the Mason Center harvested in late June, though the Rotary Club to buy small signs to label part of their Southern Arizona Experience series a rare visitor decided to make an was so successful monsoon bloom often results in late plants. appearance! Check out the clip and the that we’re building an summer pods as well). Refer to the Plants in our demonstration warbler cameo at tucsonaudubon.org/ event around it: The Tucson last issue of the Vermilion Flycatcher gardens and along the nature trails news-events/tasnews.html Audubon Harvest Festival! for more on this, or go to www. will be labeled over the summer. There will not only be mesquite desertharvesters.org. Please come and enjoy! fairy duster, red justicia, chuparosa, milling, but a variety of native food At the Harvest Festival we Mason Hummer Haven hummingbird trumpet, snapdragon SEARCHNET MEDIA SEARCHNET displays, food vendors, lectures will also be celebrating the new We’re making the front porch of the vine, and desert honeysuckle. Come and hands-on activities to keep Conditional Use Permit that allows house at Mason a hummingbird sit on the porch and help us document you busy while you are waiting us to open the Mason Center to the viewing platform. There are now the hummingbirds that come! for your mesquite flour. So come public on a more regular basis. hummingbird feeders hanging around We’re also going to remodel the on Saturday, November 3, with We look forward to publishing the edge of the roof. In addition, area with the water dish behind the mesquite pods in hand, and join in regular hours that the center will be we’ve planted hummingbird plants just house. We’re hoping to make it better the celebration. You can help us put open, and having more people enjoy below the porch in a subtly depressed for birds as well as for the coyotes, up a rainwater harvesting system, it on a regular basis! rainwater harvesting basin. These javelinas and bobcats that come plant Kino Heritage Fruit Trees, and consist of Sierra Madre lobelia, Parry to drink. much more. penstemon, Fremont wolfberry,

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Quinn Agnew, Jan Ajemian, Judie Gricus, Diane Griffiths, Chad Hahn, Management, Louise Misztal, Anne Gloria Sutela, Allison Titcomb, Bill Albano, Jean Andrews, Paula D Ronald Hansen, David and Dorothy Moore, Eduardo Moreno and Jessica and Claudia Turner, Larry Venable, Arnold, Matt Bailey, Paul Bannick, Hart, Dewey Herndon and Bea Lamberton, Sue Myers, Ann Parker, Janice Warne, David Weeks, Donald Michael and Betsy Boxer, Robert Forbes, Phyllis Hibdon, Barbara Teresa Parker, Ronald Prasek, and Helen Weeks, Earl Wettstein, Brower, M.D., Susan Campbell, Hurley, Carol and Keith Jasberg, Norma Price, Steven Ramshur, Molly Wheelwright, Lisa and Paul Anne Carnahan, Sandra and Stewart Christina Jasberg, Betty Jones, Donna Ribka, Maria Rosati, Gerald Williams, Deb Woelky, Bob Womack Chan, Country Inn & Suites Tucson Jessica Jubin, Diane Kelly, Marilyn and Carol Rucks, Rick Saling, Tim We welcome Country Inn & Suites City Center, Jeremy Doschka, Kern, Victoria Khalidi, Jorie Kollauf, Schirber, Maria Schuchardt, Luke Tucson City Center and Merrill Lynch Melanie Emerson, Nancy Everist, Karen Lake, Carol Lamoureux, Jeff Schwarz, Charles Seniawski, C. A. Wealth Management as Copper Level Jim Falvey, Rick Fletcher, Keith Lark, David Larson, Joe La Tourrette, Shomaker, Lynne Skelton, Bob and Birds & Business Alliance members. and Cheryl Ann Friendshuh, Marc Troy Loftin and Natalie Scott, Barbara Mary Beth Slivka, Judith Ann Strahler, Goodman,Carolyn and Gerald Loos, Lyn Loveless, Karen Marchi, Jim and Laura Sullivan, Joyce Sutay, Greshuk, Robert Goodrich, Elizabeth Patricia McDaid, Merrill Lynch Wealth Jean Barchman, Membership Coordinator

8 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher July–September 2012 Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Volunteer News Roundup Our volunteer spotlight here shines Kara Kaczmarzyk, Volunteer & Development Coordinator on Dennis and Bonnie Weeks. This outstanding couple joined our team only a year ago, but caught Harvest Festival Welcome New Volunteers on quickly! In addition to being We’ve added another festival to the Barbara Hurley, Emily Litvack, the bright, cheery presence every Fall line-up, be part of it! Susan Matsushita, Fred Moss, Tuesday at our University-area Chelsea Powers, Sally Reeves, and Silent Auction nature shop, the Weeks have been Bonnie Wong Bring your creativity and help revamp indispensible in heading our offsite It’s Festival Time! the auction for our 2013 gala, it’ll be sales booths at festivals. They took In August, the second annual Tucson lots of fun! on five days at Wings Over Willcox Bird and Wildlife Festival hits town Fundraising with gusto, and then, in May, did the with a flutter! This simply could not be Help “make the ask” to different same for the Santa Cruz Nature and possible without a cadre of volunteers local businesses for small material Heritage Festival (and in between at I wanted to find out something helping to make it happen. From donations. the March Tucson Festival of Books)! the festival planning committee to One of the volunteers who worked most people don’t know about the Nature Shops registration processing to publicity with Dennis and Bonnie at Wings Weeks. Bonnie’s past life, come to Get started this summer to learn all help to all the volunteers who will Over Willcox gushed after that event, find out, was filled with drag racing you’ll need for the fall rush! be on-site during the festival, as “They are the best!” Matt Brooks, and horse farming! What car did she speakers, field trip leaders, shop Tabling Crew our former Nature Shop Manager, race? A 1969 Plymouth Barracuda staff, registration helpers, van Join a dedicated group that are the agrees, “Dennis and Bonnie truly are with a 440 engine: “It went really captains, AV go-to people, Emcees, face and voice of Tucson Audubon at a dynamic duo. They’ve jumped into fast.” and even more, thank you for outreach activities. volunteerism with Tucson Audubon In his spare time, Dennis enjoys yard work, walking, sight supporting Tucson Audubon in this Southwest Wings, August 1–4 in a big way, and we’re lucky to have them. What a great team!” seeing, vacations, and reading new endeavor, and for bringing the Swing by Sierra Vista with outreach The first time Dennis and Bonnie (he’s currently fascinated by festivities! If you are interested in materials for this festival. being part of this dynamic event, we went birding was in 1999, and they Freakonomics). Although he denies TogetherGreen Restoration would love to have you. haven’t looked back! The fateful event it, Bonnie claims that Dennis has Workdays occurred at the Nisqually National read every birding book. Plus, Current Opportunities As the weather cools, volunteers get Wildlife Refuge in Olympia, WA, she says, he retains it all (which Contact volunteer@tucsonaudubon. back outside to restore our lands. where the Weeks’ also volunteered must come in handy when fielding org or 520-629-0510 x7011 Don’t forget to join our volunteer email in a nature shop. At the Refuge shop, questions at the nature shop). Tucson Bird & Wildlife Festival, list to get timely news and opportunity they did ordering and management, I asked Dennis and Bonnie why August 15–19 updates! and are glad to be bringing that they love to volunteer at Tucson There’s still room to help on-site. Some of our most active experience to volunteering at Tucson Audubon. They think it’s a great volunteers also help at Tucson Wildlife Audubon. Now, their favorite place place to make friends, meet people, Center, and they’ve let us know that to go birding is Madera Canyon. and (in their own words) the people the Center is looking for volunteers to It’s close, relaxing, there is a wide that work here are exceptional. Well, help raise injured and orphaned baby elevation range, and they can bring Dennis and Bonnie, we staff think birds. Details at www.tucsonwildlife. their dogs too! the same about our volunteers! com/volunteer.

Thank You to Our Donors Birthday Fund: We wish to thank In memory of June Hirsch from In memory of Grace Nettie Jones from Mary Andrews, Betty Bengtson, Jean Mary and Edmund Caldwell Mark and Jean Hengesbaugh Barchman, Edmund Caldwell, Mary In memory of June Hirsch from In memory of Stewart Lancaster from Caldwell, and Nancy Tuhey for their Stella and Phillip Hotchkiss Matt Griffiths generous donations to the birthday In memory of Dr. Arnold Hollander In memory of Stewart Lancaster from fund in the second quarter of the year. from Martha C. Brasher Mrs. Janet C. Millar Gifts In Honor/Memory: We would In memory of Dr. Arnold Hollander In memory of Mimi Landwehr from BOTH PHOTOS KARA KACZMARZYK KARA BOTH PHOTOS from Donald Jeck Barbara Klein Top, Lto R: Jan Labiner, Olga Harbour, like to thank these donors for their gift and Sylvia Foster, with Membership in honor/memory of a special person. In memory of Dr. Arnold Hollander In honor of Larry Liese from Coordinator Jean Barchman, make sure In memory of Dr. Ben Brown from from Patricia Morgan and E Marguerite Howard our members get their birthday cards and welcome letters. Bottom: An eager Sam Campana Peter Salomon In honor of Cynthia Pruett from the crowd prepares for the Field Trip Leader In memory of Marjorie Cleveland from In memory of Dr. Arnold Hollander Brookdale Senior Living Inc. Appreciation Excursion to Willcox on from Jeanne and Frank Rabey Memorial Day weekend. Thank you for Linda Closs, Elva Cunningham, and In honor of Cynthia Pruett from the leading trips throughout the year! Larry and Pam Cunningham Los Cerros Garden Club

Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. July–September 2012 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 9 TUCSON AUDUBON NEWS ROUNDUP

BirdLog app, eBirding is eBirding Important Bird Areas easier than ever! Jennie MacFarland, IBA Conservation Biologist The new BirdLog app from BirdsEye The Arizona Important Bird Area abundance. This is a great (and free!) several potential IBAs, and submit for iPhones, iPod (IBA) program distinguishes itself way to keep track of your lists and the your checklists with quantities to Touch and Droid among other state IBA programs in website has some amazing features eBird, you are helping the program makes it easier the number of surveys we conduct. and interactive maps based on the and Arizona’s native birds. There is than ever to create This program, co-administered huge amount of data that birders also a way for you to let us know that and submit an eBird checklist. by Tucson Audubon Society and submit every day. This is a remarkable you purposefully birded in an IBA to Instead of writing down your Audubon Arizona, has one of the website and if you are not already gather information on the species whole list on paper and then later most extensive databases of any using it, I highly recommend it. there. Once you have completed a entering it all in your computer, IBA program in America. This effort eBird has also made it possible checklist, there is a feature called you can electronically enter it as has only been possible due to the for the Arizona IBA program to gather “share checklist,” here you can enter you go with this app. When you amazing IBA volunteers who have data from existing IBAs as well as the usernames or email addresses use it in the field, it pinpoints your generously given their time and skill potential IBAs in a whole new way. of other birders who were with you. location and creates a custom list to this program and helped carry out When any birder visits one of these If you make ArizonaIBA (no space!) of the species most likely to be in these surveys. In the past, this idea locations and reports what they find to one of the observers, your checklist that area. This app also works well of training groups of volunteers on eBird, the Arizona IBA office can then will come straight to the IBA office if you are in a remote area without IBA survey protocol and assigning see that data and use it to monitor along with your name. In the future coverage or are using an iPod them to areas with a schedule of these areas. Such information is we will recognize those birders who Touch (requiring wi-fi) and easily when surveys should be completed extremely helpful because there is so go out of their way to help the IBA creates an “off-line” checklist. was the only logical way to monitor much of it from so many areas. This program in this way. Happy eBirding! This app is very easy to use and what was happening in these areas. data becomes an extremely powerful recommended. But now the future is here! Advances tool when used in conjunction with the Areas of particular interest in modern technology have allowed data that the IBA program volunteers A complete list of Arizona’s IBAs birders to share their observations gather on their surveys. with detailed profiles can be found at with conservationists quite easily, These new data portals such as www.aziba.org but several areas of especially with eBird. When birders eBird also make it possible for all particular interest this year are: the create a free account at www.ebird. interested birders to help with the Patagonia Mountains, the Pinaleño org, they can enter checklists of conservation initiative of the Important Mountains (Mount Graham), the where they were birding and the Bird Area Program. When you bird in Chiricahua Mountains and the San species they observed and in what any of the 42 IBAs in Arizona, or the Pedro River. JENNIE MACFARLAND

Tucson Audubon’s Online Library Catalog About to Take Flight! Sherry Massie, Tucson Audubon Volunteer

Did you know that Tucson Audubon Basic and advanced search options, The planned launch date for the the project. The project to make the maintains a library for members similar to what you would find in your live link is September 1st! It will be library more accessible to Tucson with books located at our University public library online catalog, will be accessible from a link on our website. Audubon members and the broader and Mason locations? And now, the available. In the next two months most What kind of books can you public got a boost with a bequest from Tucson Audubon Society Online of the cataloging will be completed, as find in the Tucson Audubon library? the estate of member and volunteer Library Catalog is almost here! well as book relabeling with Library of Everything from general field guides Eugene Loring. Mr. Loring also made With this online catalog, you will Congress Classification numbers, with for flora and fauna in the Southwest a gift of books from his personal be able to search the collection from book pockets and cards all in place. to bird finding guides for national and library. Mr. Loring’s donation enabled the comfort of your personal computer If you have used the Tucson international locations, to specific Tucson Audubon to purchase library- by title, author, subject, Audubon library in the past you will reference catalogs such as the Birds cataloging and management software.

BOTH PHOTOS SARA PIKE SARA BOTH PHOTOS keyword, and other fields. remember that it was of North America, to nature sound arranged in very broad, CDs (including The Bird Songs of Special accolades go to Sherry general categories. Southeast Arizona and Sonora.) This Massie for heading the Tucson You will now see items library is a member benefit and we Audubon library online catalog project. arranged as they would be are always updating our selection of Sherry put countless number of hours in a college library. There books for you to use and checkout. doing research, working with the will be a call number list in Sherry Massie, Hal Myers, Carol online catalog company, organizing the library to point you in the Eagle, and Olga Harbour are the the update, cataloging books and general direction, or ask a volunteers bringing the catalog to training volunteers to help with the L to R: Tucson Audubon library volunteers volunteer if you can use a computer to fruition. Sara Pike and Matt Brooks effort. This could not have been done extraordinaire Olga Harbour, Carol Eagle, Sherry Massie, and Hal Myers search online while you are visiting. are the staff members supporting without Sherry’s dedicated work! VF

10 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher July–September 2012 Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. Birding, Hiking, and Camping

In Aravaipa Canyon SEE BIRDS TO JIM GESSAMAN

As a prime example of the Southwest’s cottonwood trees for nesting Common desert country, narrow and twisting Black- Hawks in March to June. At 11.4 Aravaipa Canyon has few if any equals. miles, the road swings close to the WHERE TO WHERE TO GO Aravaipa Creek, shaded by cottonwoods, cottonwoods. Scan for another Common sycamores, willow, and ash, has cut Black-Hawk nest. In late fall, bird numbers Aravaipa Canyon up to 1,000 feet deep and diversity are much reduced from in the 7,500-foot Galiuro Mountains. The May levels. I have tabulated a list of 126 canyon walls are wondrously carved; species seen in Aravaipa Canyon by canyon widths usually range from 300 to me and others reporting on eBird (find it 600 feet, but sometimes constrict to less online here: tucsonaudubon.org/birding/ than 100 feet. Sonoran Desert vegetation, aravaipa_birds.pdf). In Vertebrates of including saguaros, lines the dry canyon Aravaipa Canyon: A Checklist (a BLM walls that surround this riparian oasis. pamphlet no longer available), 239 The creek runs year-round from springs, species of birds are listed. seeps and tributary streams, and along I recommend either of two the water grows one of the lushest options: (1) birding from the riparian habitats in southern AZ. The main west trailhead, starting at canyon’s length is about 11 miles, and the sunrise, to Horse Camp, a Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness extends well side canyon 4.9 miles from the gain, it is not beyond the canyon to include surrounding west trailhead (about a 4-hour an easy hike, tablelands and nine side canyons. hike), and returning the same as the creek bed Aravaipa Creek is a tributary of the San day; or (2) birding to Horse Camp is rocky and sandy Pedro River. Canyon and camping out two nights in spots so the footing Birding: I have birded in Aravaipa as you explore the canyon eastward can be tricky. several times in May, October, and toward Turkey Creek, 1.8 miles from the To preserve the wild and remote November. Birding is exhilarating in May east trailhead. Good camping areas, well character of Aravaipa Canyon, no signs when migrants and summer residents are above the flash-flood line, are easy to are posted. It helps to carry a map and abundant; their showy breeding plumage find at the side canyons of Horse Camp count the prominent nine side canyons and boisterous singing is awesome. On and Booger (6.5 miles from the west along the stream to keep track of your Aravaipa Road at 6.6 miles from Highway trailhead); ground fires are permitted. All location. 77, carefully pull over to scan the lower water must be filtered or purified. Logistics: Directions from Tucson and Hiking: It is not possible to hike Phoenix to the west and east trailheads Aravaipa Canyon without getting your feet are available on BLM’s Aravaipa wet; hikers must cross the creek many Canyon website (www.blm.gov/az/st/en/ times during a hike. The trail appears in arolrsmain/aravaipa/driving.html). At the segments (typically the trail segments trailheads you will find a dirt parking lot, on the south bank are easier to follow information board, primitive toilets, but no than those on the north); you will end up drinking water nor campsites. bushwalking a bit when the trail segment A $5 per person per day permit is suddenly fades or ends at the bank of required to hike/camp in Aravaipa Canyon the creek. Look for a continuation of Wilderness. You can make a reservation the trail on the opposite bank. From the up to 13 weeks in advance of the day you west trailhead at 2,630-foot elevation, wish to hike by going to the BLM website a continuous 430-foot elevation gain (www.blm.gov/az/aravaipa). VF can be expected over uneven terrain to the east trailhead at 3,060 foot. Stream Jim Gessaman, who was a Biology professor wading and numerous stream crossings, at Utah State University for 35 years, retired to as well as hiking through dense riparian Tucson in 2006. He leads bird walks at Tucson brush, can slow travel time. It would take Audubon’s Mason Center, surveys birds for the a strong hiker about ten hours to hike the IBA program and the Tucson Bird Count, and 11-mile length of the canyon to the east hikes regularly in the mountains and deserts of trailhead. Although there is little elevation Southeastern Arizona. ALL PHOTOS BY JIM GESSAMAN EXCEPT COMMON BLACK-HAWK (INSET ABOVE RIGHT) BY NED HARRIS ABOVE RIGHT) BY (INSET COMMON BLACK-HAWK JIM GESSAMAN EXCEPT BY PHOTOS ALL

Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. July–September 2012 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 11 August in Arizona is Awesome

GEORGE C. WEST IN ARIZONA

Southeastern Arizona has the highest number of hummingbird species north AUGUST of Mexico with 18 species having been recorded here. The best time to see the most hummingbirds is in August and September. Their reproductive cycle is completed and the young birds are on the move, ranging widely from their nests looking for possible places to establish territories when they come back in spring. The rarer species often come up from Mexico at this time when they wander after nesting. And the migration of birds from the north pours down the Rocky Mountain chain heading for the Sierra Madre Occidental in Mexico and beyond where they will spend the winter. All of these birds are taking advantage of the LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD, MURIEL NEDDERMEYER LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD, MURIEL renewed food sources available during BURNS, WWW.JIMBURNSPHOTOS.COM HUMMINGBIRD, JIM & DEVA MAGNIFICENT the “second spring” of summer rains. These are just six of the incredible array of hummingbirds found in southeast Arizona during the late summer months. A Of the 18 species, two were only seen trip to any “Sky Island” can yield Magnificent and Blue-throated Hummingbirds, while the more rare Lucifer and White- eared will likely be found in the Huachuca Mountains or in Madera Canyon. Equally impressive are the more-common once. The Bumblebee Hummingbird species such as Broad-billed and Costa’s which inhabit the region year-round. was documented in the Huachucas and the Cinnamon Hummingbird was reported once from Patagonia but was of female Ruby-throated Hummingbirds Hummingbirds also overwinter and nest not documented with photograph or that closely resemble female Black- early in spring in the desert and move specimen. chinneds, there may be more here than to higher elevations in summer during That leaves 16 species, five of which have yet been documented. their annual molt. Anna’s Hummingbird are rarely seen: White-eared, Berylline, The 11 remaining species range is expanding its range east and north. Ruby-throated, Allen’s Hummingbird, and from abundant to uncommon. The most Many overwinter here, particularly in Plain-capped Starthroat. These species abundant is the Black-chinned that arrives the urban areas and low elevations but are often found in summer or fall at one in late March into April and returns to many more migrate through in September of the popular feeding stations in Madera Mexico in September. This species is and October heading southeast out of Canyon, Miller Canyon, Ash Canyon, the western version of the widespread California. Violet-crowned and Lucifer and Patons’ in Patagonia. Both White- and only common species in the eastern Hummingbirds are uncommon but eared and Berylline Hummingbirds have United States, the Ruby-throated. Black- regular nesters in southern Arizona. nested in Arizona and we thought they chinneds breed from the desert into Violet-crowned Hummingbirds prefer might become more common but that the low mountains and depending on watercourses with sycamores while seems not to be the case. White-eared food availability, may have two broods Lucifer Hummingbirds nest in the drier are seen almost annually in Miller and of two young each year. Broad-billed desert but wander into the mountains Madera Canyons. Berylline is rarer than Hummingbirds are common in southern after breeding. Finally, Calliope and White-eared and has been recorded in Arizona in the lower elevation riparian Rufous Hummingbirds are uncommon Miller, Ramsey, and Madera Canyon more zones but rare to the north. Broad-tailed in spring migration but are abundant fall frequently than at other Arizona locations. Hummingbirds are also abundant but migrants through Arizona, concentrating Allen’s Hummingbird, which is identified mostly at higher elevations like the top in the eastern Mogollon Rim and heading regularly at Hummingbird Monitoring of Mt. Lemmon and north in the Rocky southeast at higher elevations from there Network (HMN) banding stations, requires Mountains. Large numbers migrate to end up in central Mexico. a close look to note the differences south along the Rocky Mountains and As the weather cools from the heat of between this and Rufous Hummingbird. It many spill over into Miller and Madera summer, be sure to spend time during is more common than the Ruby-throated Canyons. Magnificent and Blue-throated August and September in the Huachuca that has only been documented a couple Hummingbirds also breed here and many and Santa Rita Mountains where of times in the state. Because a close look overwinter in southeastern Arizona but hundreds of hummingbirds will be loading is needed to make a definite identification remain in the mountains. Some Costa’s up their fat reserves for migration.

12 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher July–September 2012 Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. August in for GEORGE C. WEST Hummingbirds BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD, LOIS MANOWITZ SEARCHNETMEDIA FEEDING HUMMINGBIRDS AVAILABLE IN OUR NATURE SHOPS:­ Hummingbird books and feeders IN THE DESERT SOUTHWEST SUGAR SOLUTION: Use one part plain white

table sugar to four parts water (1:4). Bring the HUMMINGBIRD, LOIS MANOWITZ COSTA’S water to a boil, add the sugar and stir until it dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool before $21.95 filling feeders. Extra solution can be held in the refrigerator for up to one week. Plain white table $14.95 sugar most closely mimics the nectar produced in flowers utilized by hummingbirds and research has shown that sugar does not hurt the birds. However, never use honey, sugar substitute, food coloring or flavored nectars. Always clean your feeders thoroughly $22.95 $29.95 before you refill them EVERY time! A good scrubbing with a mild bleach solution (1 part bleach to 10 parts water) followed with a good rinse and allow to air dry will do the trick. Many WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD, LOIS MANOWITZ people keep an extra feeder they can fill and hang up while they bring in the dirty one for clean-up. $12.95 $8.95 The mold that grows in untended feeders can be fatal to hummingbirds. Please change and clean your feeders regularly. We suggest at least once a week in the cooler months and every three days in our hot summer. Try to hang your feeders in shady locations. If the solution is cloudy or you see any sign of mold it is time for a $9.95 cleaning. If you cannot remove mold from $4.95 the feeder, it’s time to replace it!

Please support the non-profit HMN George C. West, Professor of Zoophysiology, (hummonnet.org) whose research Emeritus, University of Alaska Fairbanks, will inform public and private land authored the American Birding Association’s managers of the need to preserve and Birder’s Guide to Alaska, and cofounded the protect hummingbird habitats that will Hummingbird Monitoring Network. He recently help to insure the future survival of published Do Hummingbirds Hum?, a question hummingbirds. VF and answer book covering all aspects of hummingbird behavior and biology. BLUE-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, DONNA SIMONETTI HUMMINGBIRD, DONNA BLUE-THROATED

Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. July–September 2012 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 13 A Late Summer Flood of Birds GAVIN BIEBER IN ARIZONA As a professional bird tour leader for Tucson-based WINGS birding tours, a Tucson Audubon Board member AUGUST and resident of Tucson for more than a decade I often find myself fielding questions regarding Arizona birding from actual or potential visitors to Arizona. One of the more popular questions seems to be “When should I visit?” My stock answer seems to surprise a lot of non- Arizonans, but rarely surprises locals; “If I were you I would try to come to SE Arizona in August”. The follow up question usually becomes “Why August, isn’t that one of the hottest months?” Unlike most of the United States the desert southwest is highly influenced by a late summer monsoon. From late July through September, moisture-laden air streams up from the south, bringing TOZIER AL frequent and often intense rains to the largely parched Sonoran Desert. This rain stimulates a wealth of plant growth, as palo verdes and ocotillos leaf out, grasslands turn green and lush, and a profusion of flowers sprout. Usually dry desert washes fill with water, and at night a chorus of frog song bursts forth seemingly from thin air. Small mammals and reptiles are much more in evidence, and a host of birds turn their attentions to breeding. It seems like virtually all of our resident bird species also respond to the increase in water, insect life, and forage by setting about the business of raising a second (or in some rare cases a third) brood of the year. It is in August when JIM & DEVA BURNS, WWW.JIMBURNSPHOTOS.COM JIM & DEVA usually cryptic species such as Botteri’s, JOAN POWELL Cassin’s and Five-striped Sparrows are Clockwise from top: The summer monsoon sometimes brings vagrant birds such as Aztec Thrush up from Mexico; It is in full song, when Montezuma Quail in August when cryptic species such as Five-striped Sparrow are in full song; In mid August, the first of the southbound chicks begin roaming the hills, and migrants such as Townsend’s Warbler can often be found in active feeding flocks on the upper slopes of the Sky Islands. when we reach our peak hummingbird diversity. With some diligent searching slopes of the Sky Islands. The rains also is arguably one of the richest and most and a few requisite hours looking at sometimes bring vagrant birds such as exciting birding areas in the country, but arrays of feeders it is possible to tally 12 Aztec Thrush or Plain-capped Starthroat remember to bring an umbrella! VF or 13 species of hummingbirds in a day up from Mexico. within 100 miles of Tucson! Our breeding It is a vibrant and dynamic time of year, Gavin Bieber leads birding tours throughout warblers, gems such as Red-faced, and although still hot, the afternoon rains the New World as a staff leader for WINGS. Painted Redstart, Grace’s, Black-throated break up the oppressive nature of our He serves as a member of Tucson Audubon’s Gray, Olive and Virginia’s are joined in summers. Board of Directors and will guide field trips mid-August by the first of the southbound It is no coincidence that Tucson during the Tucson Bird & Wildlife Festival. migrants such as Townsend’s and Hermit Audubon elected to hold the Tucson Check out his full bio at: tucsonaudubon.org/ Warblers and can often be found in Bird and Wildlife Festival during the who-we-are/board/288.html active feeding flocks plying the upper monsoonal months! Come join us for what

14 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher July–September 2012 Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. Field Identification of the Sierra Madres in Southeastern Arizona

RICK TAYLOR HABITAT TYPES HABITAT

Once upon a time—in 1884— Emory, Netleaf, Silverleaf, and Arizona ornithologist W. E. D. Scott reported an White. In favorable locations such as Bog Elegant Trogon in Arizona. Ever since, Springs in Madera Canyon, Madrean the avifauna of Arizona has been known oaks may attain a height of nearly 100 SE ARIZONA SE ARIZONA for its tropical affinities. First described feet. Anyone looking at the immense as a “a kind of Bird-of-Paradise,” trogons trunks of these ancient patriarchs would represented the iridescent feathered edge never associate them with the stunted of a Mexican invasion. communities of “scrub oaks” clinging to their movements much easier to detect. Birds: A summering trogon in Madera the surrounding hillsides. Most birds are Shelter, food, water, and safety: the Canyon is using Sierra Madrean pine-oak just as discriminating. canyon riparian is where almost all Sierra woodland, the same habitat an Elegant Elegant Trogons are scarcely found Madrean pine-oak woodland birds reach Trogon uses in the barrancas of Yecora away from the tall trees that flourish in their maximum numbers. less than 200 miles south, and the same the deep, moist soils of major canyons. Locations: Uneven rings of habitat community of plants that occupies 26 Comprised of the same species of ripple away from the mountaintops of TROGON, TAYLOR RICK ELEGANT percent of Mexico. Back in 1959, in his pines and oaks as the hillsides above, Arizona’s border ranges. Most Southern Wildlife of Mexico, A. Starker Leopold the riparian zone is interwoven with the Arizonans know that Rocky Mountain described pine-oak woodland as our supple white limbs of Arizona Sycamore. coniferous forest caps the Santa Rita, southern neighbor’s largest single biome. Sycamore’s soft heartwood makes it an Huachuca, and Chiricahua Mountains. Other avian indicators of the Sierra ideal substrate for woodpecker cavities. Almost everyone knows that broad Madres include Whiskered Screech-Owl, Aside from Elegant Trogons, woodpecker arid valleys—usually described as a Mexican Whip-poor-will, Blue-throated holes provide homes for Whiskered homogenous “sea of desert”—divide Hummingbird, and Arizona Woodpecker. Screech-Owl, and Brown-crested and these “sky islands.” At mid-elevations, Passerine birds include Dusky-capped Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers. Most Sierra Madrean pine-oak woodland is the Flycatcher, Mexican Jay, Mexican Violet-crowned Hummingbird nests are meat of the sandwich between the pines Chickadee, Bridled Titmouse, Painted placed under the protective shadow of and the spines. Redstart, Hepatic Tanager, and Yellow- a large sycamore leaf that also serves Road accessible examples of pine-oak eyed Junco. For U. S. birders, all of these as a ramada roof during the summer woodland occur in Madera Canyon in birds are most common in the mountains monsoons. the Santa Rita Mountains, Garden and of Southeastern Arizona. Aside from tall trees like sycamores, Huachuca Canyons in the Huachuca In his 1957 monograph Birds of Pine- canyons offer other advantages. Mountains, and all five branches of Cave Oak Woodland, Joe T. Marshall found Permanent water, both above and below Creek above Portal. Anomalously, at an that the bird communities in the northern the surface, fosters a lush understory that elevation below 4,000 feet in the Atascosa ranges of the Sierra Madre shared produces the succulent fruits of Canyon Mountains and requiring a hike, a superb more than 95% of their birds with the Grape, Southwestern Chokecherry, example of Sierra Madrean pine-oak Arizona border ranges—the Chiricahua, and Birchleaf Buckthorn. Frugivorous woodland flanks Sycamore Canyon Huachuca, and Santa Rita Mountains. species like Elegant Trogons share the for about three miles before yielding to Twenty years after Marshall’s book was bounty with Flame-colored Tanagers subtropical thornscrub. released, Eared Quetzals arrived in the some years, and with periodic pulses Elegant Trogons skirmished with birds Chiricahuas. The intervening years have of Aztec Thrushes—sometimes in the of temperate zone origins in the pine-oak seen first records of Short-tailed Hawk, same years. With fruits and new leaves woodlands of our border ranges well over Aztec Thrush, Crescent-chested Warbler, available, herbivorous insects reach peak a century ago. Other Sierra Madrean Slate-throated Redstart, Rufous-capped abundance in these natural mountain species have followed, and more are Warbler, and Flame-colored Tanager. salad bowls, and they in turn provide bound to come. For me, nothing beats a In 2008 a Tufted Flycatcher pioneered proteins for hungry nestlings. springtime saunter up Madera Canyon, a stretch of Cave Creek Canyon near Towering canyon walls also protect the listening for a new voice from Sonora, the Portal, and in 2009 both Gray-collared canyon floor from the worst of the winds. next flash of color from the treasure trove Becard and Brown-backed Solitaire The tiny but incessant seep notes of male of the Sierra Madres. VF sortied into Southeastern Arizona. The Blue-throated Hummingbirds defending Sierra Madres are still creeping north. a favorite patch carry over 100 yards for Rick Taylor is Managing Director of Habitats: The trees most often human ears, and probably much farther Borderland Tours www.borderland-tours. associated with Madrean woodlands for inquisitive female Blue-throats. In the com. His photographic field guide, Birds of are Chihuahua and Apache Pines, and still air of the canyon zone, approaching Southeastern Arizona, is available at Tucson spring deciduous oaks. Oaks include predators are audible farther away and Audubon’s Nature Shops.

Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. July–September 2012 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 15 Interesting stories about birds with interesting ­names Rose-throated Becard LARRY LIESE IN A NAME

Back when I started birding, it used to be said that 99% of ABA birders got WHAT’S their life bird Rose-throated Becard at the Roadside Rest just south of Patagonia. Sometime in late May or early June the word would get out that a pair was there nest-building and birders would flock to that magical stretch of riparian habitat down the scientific name Pachyramphus that the becards called home and there aglaiae we have the Greek pachys, they would be. Mine was in 1993 and the “thick” or “stout” and rhampos, “hooked” nest was right over the short trail there or “curved beak”, hence again we arrive and pretty hard to miss. Convenient again at thick, curved beak. The species for me, the male just perched on top of name aglaiae again is Greek and means the nest while the female’s head would “brightness, splendor”, associated with occasionally poke out of the nest hole. one of the three Greek Graces. In Greek It was around then that I truly realized mythology, the Graces were goddesses how special southeast Arizona was to of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity the birding world. Seeing visiting birders Gray-collared Becard, one wonders if we and fertility. They ordinarily number making their trek to that particular spot might see these birds more often in the three, (from youngest to oldest) Aglaea on the face of this earth, just to see that future. Researchers believe the northern “Splendor” (associated with our bird), one special bird—their faces lighting up edge of their range might be expanding. Euphrosyne “Mirth”, and Thalia “Good with delight following success. For us it Probably the most conspicuous aspect Cheer”. was just an hour or so drive to get there— of this species to birders is its nest. An If seeing this bird has eluded you here spoiled we were! immense bushel-basket sized globular in southeast Arizona, here are some hints In more recent times the roadside nest up to 30” long, it is composed to help you with success. Best of all is to rest hasn’t been a reliable spot for this of strips of bark, lichen, vines, spider keep tuned to the BIRDWG05 Listserv bird, but other riparian stretches in webs, and feathers. The nest is always postings or the Tucson Audubon rare our area have had sightings—some in placed near the tip of a slender branch bird alert recordings, as sightings of this unseasonable months. Coupled with a for predator avoidance, often over water. species will always be carried on those.

PHOTO AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY GEORGE WEST BY AND ILLUSTRATIONS PHOTO surprise visit by the much rarer congener The cavity inside is small compared Visit the Patagonia Roadside Rest and to the nest dimensions with a low get familiar with where these birds have entrance, which makes one wonder if built their nests in the past (most birders this construction helps reduce the extent you bump into there can point these out). of swaying in breezes. It is built mostly Though I don’t believe nesting has been by the female, with continued addition of observed along the upper Santa Cruz material through incubation (~20 days). River, that area may be the best bet for Young fledge in 20–30 days. After fledging where new lifer-seekers will be headed. the birds can be much harder to find— Good luck to them and you! VF foraging high in the canopy overhead they can be quite tough to see and confidently identify. AVAILABLE IN OUR NATURE SHOPS­ Long grouped with cotingas, becards Tucson Audubon’s have more recently been put with tyrant updated 8th edition flycatchers, though recent research of Finding Birds in suggests that a move to tityras would Southeast Arizona is be the best fit. The word becard (which, your best source of to set things straight—rhymes with detailed information checkered), is derived from the French that will help you plan word bec, “beak” and the High German your birdwatching –ard, “bold, hardy” (an intensifying suffix), adventures throughout thus we get “big beak”, which certainly southeast Arizona. is apt for this group of birds. Breaking $24.95

16 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher July–September 2012 Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION NEWS CHRIS MCVIE, PAUL GREEN, KENDALL KROESEN, AND BÉTÉ PFISTER

Death Pipes Need Attention

A while back, the grate blew off the Perhaps the biggest culprits are Tucson Audubon recently realized top of my chimney on a windy night. I plastic pipes set up at mining claims. that there are scores of metal pipe did not put it back in a timely fashion. A study of 854 of these in Nevada fence posts on land where we do Big mistake! A few days ago a White- found more than one dead bird per habitat restoration. We peered into winged Dove flew in and descended pipe. Bureau of Land Management some of them with flashlights and to the bottom of the flue (just above documents suggest there are more saw dead birds. Recently we started the fireplace and just behind the flue than three million mining claims in the capping them with metal screen, shutter). I was eventually able to get it state. Nevada now prohibits pipes though we’re still experimenting with out and set it free, but it wasn’t easy. that are not capped, and a law allows what kind of cap will last the longest. It turns out that very large numbers anyone to pull up claim markers that Please be aware of this problem of birds die when they enter vertical are improperly set. and cap any pipes that you find. pipes of one sort or another. We are While old mining claim markers More information is available at not sure why they enter. Maybe they are particularly numerous, any several sites such as http://kern. follow a bug they are chasing, maybe vertical, uncapped pipe (like my audubon.org/death_pipes.htm and they seek shelter on a hot day, or chimney) will trap birds. These include www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/ maybe they see it as a possible nest rooftop plumbing and heating vents, releases/111122.html. TOP PHOTO NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE; LOWER PHOTOS KENDALL KROESEN KENDALL OF WILDLIFE; LOWER PHOTOS DEPARTMENT NEVADA PHOTO TOP site. When they get to the bottom they vent pipes for large irrigation systems, Kendall Kroesen, Top to bottom: Dead birds from mining can’t spread their wings sufficiently to vertical exhaust pipes on tractors, Habitats Program Manager claim pipes in Nevada. Board members fly out. Reports document more than outhouse and well vents, and metal Sandy Elers and John Kennedy cap dangerous pipes at the Simpson Farm 45 species of birds dying in pipes, pipes used for fence posts. habitat restoration site managed by many of them cavity-nesters. Tucson Audubon.

Birding Ethically

We all get excited about the possibility Habitat: If consequences, and to be used only of seeing new or rare species of birds. you succeed in by specially trained and certified Most questionable birder behavior seeing a bird but in the called in close surveyors. There are certain sensitive happens in those moments when process are one of a crowd of birders by playing a recording of its song. or popular areas where playback you are trying to find lifers or unusual that trample and degrade habitat for While this can be an effective way is prohibited including all Nature DORIS EVANS species, especially when you think birds, you are working against your of getting a look at a bird, remember Conservancy properties and all units you might be close to seeing one. own best interest. Stay on roads or that you are pretending to be another of the National Park Service. Locally, This is where birding ethics come established trails whenever possible. bird of its species that is entering its Pima County Parks and Natural into play. The first priority for birders Beware of new, unofficial trails in a territory. When that bird comes to take Resources properties, South Fork of should be the health and safety of heavily birded area that may have a look at you, you are taking it away Cave Creek Canyon in the Chiricahua birds and of bird populations. This been made by just a few people from what it would normally be doing mountains, and Fort Huachuca all ban should come before your own life list walking into the grass or shrubs. (foraging, eating, nesting, resting). the use of playback. Use playback sparingly. Do not or desire to see a bird. Here are the Don’t follow. Photography: Use natural light basics of birding ethics: use it in heavily birded areas where Nests, Colonies and other whenever possible, avoiding the use many others may have been tempted Private Property: Do not enter Congregations of Birds: Stay back of artificial light. Do not approach birds also to play recordings. In these private property unless you are from birds’ nests and places where so closely that it causes birds to flush areas birds may spend an awful lot of absolutely sure you have been birds congregate such as nesting or otherwise be disturbed. time defending their territory against invited by the property owner or colonies and roost areas. Avoid fake intruders to the detriment of Groups: When in a birding group or a representative of the property excessive movements and use blinds other tasks they must do. The same on a tour, please follow the directions owner. If you are not sure if you have or natural cover. is true of some owl calls that cause of the group or tour leader. been invited, or if you are not sure Playback: There is a plethora birds to congregate to try to drive off exactly where a property line is, be Other information about birding of electronic gadgets these days the predator. on the safe side and do not enter. ethics and about leading birding that can contain recordings of bird Playback can be construed as Permission for birders to enter some groups can be found in the American vocalizations. Many more people harassment or harm of a threatened properties has been lost because of Birding Association Code of Ethics at now have these devices than a few or endangered species and, for trespassing. www.aba.org/about/ethics.html. years ago. Sometimes a bird can be those species, it is illegal, with Kendall Kroesen

Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. July–September 2012 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 17 CONSERVATION & EDUCATION NEWS

The Lower San Pedro River Valley: Threats and Conservation Opportunities

The BLM has selected the west Important Bird Area (IBA) yearly [email protected]) side of the Lower San Pedro River aziba.org/wordpress/?page_id=461. is in the public scoping phase (see valley as its preferred alternative route Simultaneously, the Department below). This voluntary Initiative while evaluating other alternatives, of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural will be a landowner driven venture including two through Tucson. The Resource Conservation Districts focused on restoring and conserving SunZia Draft Environmental Impact (NRCDs) and the US Fish & Wildlife rural working landscapes while Statement (DEIS) is open for public Service’s (USFWS) Working Lands enhancing local economies along comment until August 22: see www. for Wildlife Habitat Initiative www. the Lower San Pedro River corridor. blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/more/lands_ nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/ The USFWS has already reached out realty/sunzia_southwest_transmission. detail/national/programs/financial/ to dialogue with local landowners, html. The preferred alternative bisects whip/?&cid=stelprdb1046975 is ranchers, NRCDs, governmental Pima County’s keystone conservation focusing on cooperative efforts to agencies, Congressional delegation property in the area, the A-7 Ranch, assist ranchers in preserving their staff, the San Carlos Apache Nation, as well as skirting its Six Bar Ranch. heritage and way of life, strengthening and the Pinal Partnership’s Open

Lower San Pedro River GRIFFITHS MATT The DEIS notes that as many as rural economies while conserving the Space and Trails subcommittee. The proposed SunZia transmission three resource management plans endangered Southwestern Willow If private landowners choose to line would consist of two 500 kilovolt will need to be amended in part Flycatcher. participate, collaboration could offer (kV) transmission lines originating in because of the up to 175 foot height The Department of Interior’s a variety of tools and partnership Corona, New Mexico, and terminating of the power-line towers in order to American Great Outdoors Initiative opportunities to improve habitat in Coolidge, Arizona. It would “achieve conformity with land use americasgreatoutdoors.gov/ is and management for sensitive transport electricity generated from plans and allow for a grant of a major focusing on three areas in the desert species of plants and animals while various resources to western power utility right-of-way for this proposed borderlands: the Malpai Borderlands, contributing to a healthy river system. markets and load centers. The SunZia transmission line.” the Upper San Pedro River, and the Cooperation would also contribute transmission line was originally Representative Raúl Grijalva, the Lower San Pedro River. This Initiative to sustainable ecotourism via such proposed by the Southwestern Power ranking member on the House Natural operates from the premise that uses as interpretation, educational Group (SWPG), of which Tucson Resources Subcommittee on National protection of our natural heritage is a outreach, fishing, hunting, wildlife Electric Power is a minor partner, to Parks, Forests and Public Lands, non-partisan objective shared by all viewing and photography. Based on transmit energy from its gas fired, expressed dismay at the choice Americans. It turns to communities recent biometric studies conducted non-renewable Bowie Power Plant. of preferred route despite being a for local, grassroots conservation by the EPA, the USFWS and other SWPG could not build investor staunch supporter of alternative initiatives that also promote scientific experts, the San Pedro River support for that proposal and so energy. Grijalva said, “We need, and recreational opportunities which watershed’s ecosystem services are extended the SunZia line to central the public demands, a final route that support sustainable economies based extraordinary and offer tremendous New Mexico, stating that the extended has the fewest negative impacts to on working landscapes, cultural and biodiversity at the confluence of four line would provide “renewable archaeological resources, migratory historic heritage, and ecotourism. different ecosystems. The entire energy”. That inaccurate claim has birds and rural communities.” Over Most importantly, the Lower river is a “Keystone” Transition Zone since been retracted on the Bureau of four million birds migrate through San Pedro River Collaborative (tucsonaudubon.org/what-we-do/ Land Management (BLM) website. the Lower San Pedro River Global Conservation Initiative (contact conservation/339-lsprcci.html).

Comments Sought on Collaborative Conservation Initiative and Refuge Three public meetings on the Lower for protecting the valley from may bring landowners together to new visitors), but also to landowners San Pedro River Collaborative landscape fragmentation from new visualize a future for the valley; through new grant opportunities, Conservation Initiative were recently housing development and proposed how USFWS financial resources conservation easements, and held in Tucson, Cascabel, and infrastructure projects (e.g., SunZia and technical assistance may to landowners owning multiple San Manuel, as part of the 60-day and new highway/road proposals), to help traditional working lands stay parcels, having new opportunities for scoping period under the National opposed, particularly worries about productive and economically viable; conservation sales. Environmental Policy Act. possible impacts to traditional grazing and how proposed developments Comments will be taken on the The tone at the three meetings operations and leased lands. (threatening rural unfragmented collaborative conservation initiative could be summarized as follows: San Manuel: Opposition to the landscapes) and their associated and refuge proposal through August Tucson: Cautiously positive with federal government doing anything water extraction impacts could 6th by Jeanie Wagner-Greven, U.S. suggestions to ensure the greatest in the valley; ranchers feared federal be addressed collaboratively (the Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box ecological benefit for any refuge condemnation of their lands and new USFWS would actually work to 1306, Albuquerque, NM 87103. land acquisition, and concern over direct and indirect regulatory burdens, conserve high ground water levels in See tucsonaudubon.org/what- potential loss of local land tax base to along with “outside” interference by the valley). we-do/conservation/339-lsprcci.html the county. environmental groups or new visitors. Also unspoken was the potential for more information Cascabel: Mixed support—from Unspoken was how the for economic benefits to be gained, the positive side, particularly concern collaborative conservation initiative not only by local communities (through

18 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher July–September 2012 Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. CONSERVATION & EDUCATION NEWS

Arizonans Support Safeguards for Arizona’s Natural Beauty and Public Health

A survey of Westerners for Colorado Canyon National Park, with 70 percent Protection www.sonorandesert. College’s State of the Rockies of voters saying that the impact of org/, focusing on these issues for Project shows overwhelming support mining on land and water is a serious the last 15 years. The community for conservation of the landscape, problem in Arizona. driven Sonoran Desert Conservation with strong pluralities agreeing that “Spending by Arizona hunters Plan is the most valuable planning Rincon Mountain Wilderness Area “national parks, forests, monuments and anglers directly supports 21,000 and policy tool we have to achieve and wildlife areas, are an essential jobs and generates $124-million in these ends. Pima County has been HR 4089 “Sportsman’s part” of their state economies. Sixty- state and local taxes… Why wouldn’t recognized as a national leader in Heritage Act” five percent of Westerners identify we take steps to protect our parks, planning that conserves existent themselves as “conservationists” and national forests, and wildlife habitat?” resources, restores some of what we H.R. 4089, the so-called Sportsman’s GRIFFITHS MATT 78 percent said land protection and asked Tom Mackin, president of the have lost by reframing the elements Heritage Act, would “fundamentally conservation can go hand-in-hand Arizona Wildlife Federation. of regional planning to encompass shift” the legal framework under with a strong economy. See www2. Contrary to the recent passage the relationship that land has to which national parks and monuments coloradocollege.edu/stateoftherockies/ of the Bishop Bill in the US House natural and cultural resources, and are managed, said lawyers at the conservationinthewestsurvey_e.html. of Representatives, 73 percent of acknowledges the interdependence of Washington, D.C.-based firm Arnold The survey found that 9 in 10 Arizonans opposed suspending human, plant and animal communities. & Porter LLP. Their analysis found Arizona voters agree that public environmental regulations in the Soon Pima County’s application for the bill would require national parks lands such as national parks, forests, battle against illegal immigration. a federal Section 10 Incidental Take and monuments to undertake lengthy, monuments, and wildlife areas See www2.coloradocollege.edu/ Permit and Multi-species Habitat expensive and legally vulnerable are “an essential part” of the state stateoftherockies/Conservation_ Conservation Plan will be published in analyses in order to justify bans on economy, and the quality of life of West_Survey/CCArizonaPR.pdf. the Federal Register and be available hunting, fishing and recreational residents. Additionally, 72 percent of Homeowners near parks and for public comment. shooting in places such as the voters indicate support for the EPA protected areas are repeatedly seen Ironwood Forest and Sonoran Desert implementing the Clean Air Act and to have property values more than 20 National Monuments, Saguaro updating clean air standards—the percent higher than similar properties National Park, Pusch Ridge and highest level of support among elsewhere. Local data reveal Rincon Mountain Wilderness Areas, Western voters polled. They view increases in property values and and national historic sites. In other industry regulations as important property tax revenues associated with words, those places would be open safeguards for public health, and the proximity to healthy urban riparian to those activities without any review, natural beauty of Arizona. corridors. unless there was “a case-by-case The survey found strong support In Pima County, Tucson determination to limit these activities in Arizona for a 20-year moratorium Audubon was a founding member in any unit,” the firm writes. Catalina State Park on new uranium mining near Grand of the Coalition for Sonoran Desert SEARCHNETMEDIA Ninety-five percent of BLM’s 245 million acres are already open to shooting despite concerns for Constitutional Amendment Rosemont Copper Project Analysis Update public health and safety, noise, trash, HCR 2004 State and potential irreparable damage Sovereignty The Coronado National Forest riparian resources, dark skies, to cultural, historic, and natural is reviewing more than 25,000 socioeconomics, and transportation. resources. A proposed ban on The Arizona legislature is proposing comments received during the The additional analysis is necessary indiscriminate recreational shooting a constitutional amendment for public input period for the Rosemont to see whether the project could meet in the Sonoran Desert National the November 2012 ballot to claim Copper Project Draft Environmental applicable law, regulation, and policy. Monument was reversed under exclusive state sovereignty over all Impact Statement (EIS). Substantive The Forest is working with local, pressure from the National Rifleman’s air, land and water—basically to take comments have been identified, state, and federal agencies, including Association, Safari Club International control of any federal public lands or coded, and organized, and responses the U.S. Environmental Protection and a sportsman’s advisory council. waters and to supersede federal laws are being developed as part of the Agency (EPA), to identify and obtain A proposed management plan for the protecting public health and safety, National Environmental Policy Act the information necessary to prepare Ironwood Forest National Monument, such as the Clean Air and Water (NEPA) process as the Forest moves a complete, high-quality analysis of where irresponsible shooters have Acts, and the management of public toward a final decision on the project. the effects of the project. Consultation seriously damaged petroglyphs and lands. Though it is contrary to the U.S. “Public comments have helped with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service old growth saguaros, is pending. HR Constitution and the Arizona enabling to identify the additional work now is underway to determine effects on 4089 would also curtail presidential act, and the legislature has shown in progress to further analyze and threatened and endangered species. authority to utilize the 106 year itself unable to manage the resources determine effects for a number of A date has not been set for old Antiquities Act which has been currently under its jurisdiction for the topics related to the project,” said publication of the Final EIS. When the invoked by 16 presidents of both public benefit in a fiscally responsible Forest Supervisor Jim Upchurch. additional reports and analyses are political parties to preserve and manner, the legislature and Governor Upchurch has asked for additional received and reviewed, a timeline for protect America’s most precious are moving forward. analyses of air quality, water quality the Final EIS and Record of Decision public lands for current and future and quantity, seeps and springs, will be reported. generations.

Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. July–September 2012 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 19 CONSERVATION & EDUCATION NEWS TUCSON AUDUBON’S FUNDING SUCCESS

Tucson Audubon has received significant funding through seven awards from a number of organizations in the last three months. We received a TogetherGreen Innovation Grant of almost $30,000 for Nourishing the Community: Enhancing Urban Bird Habitat by Reconnecting to Our Roots, a project that will work to establish gardens for people and wildlife and use rainwater harvesting techniques to support food production. It will involve us in partnerships with the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and the Community Food Bank. Kendall Kroesen received his fifth consecutive TogetherGreen grant Arizona Natural Resources Protection Act for volunteer activities, this time for $9000, the maximum award available. Citizens to Save Arizona’s Natural historic sites help attract more than Kendall also received a $20,000 US Forest Service grant focused on PICACHO PEAK STATE PARK, ANTHONY CITRANO / WWW.ZIGZAGLENS.COM ANTHONY PARK, PICACHO PEAK STATE Resources is seeking signatures 2 million visitors, about half from out Buffelgrass removal. in support of an Initiative for the of state, who add $266 million to We received just under $20,000 from the Arizona Game & Fish Heritage November 2012 state ballot that our state’s economy each year and Fund Grant program for our Birders Mean Business initiative to develop would provide voter-protected funding support an additional 3,000 jobs, activities around the economics of wildlife watching, and we are in the for the management and protection mostly in rural areas that have been running for an additional $6000 grant to round out our capacity here. We of our state’s natural resources. among the most heavily impacted by thank the City of Tucson for partnering with us on this project. The Arizona Natural Resources the economic downturn. “The Heritage We are also part of another TogetherGreen Innovation Grant to develop Protection Act would: voter-protect Fund has a huge economic impact,” a Bird City concept. The grant will support Executive Director Paul Green the entire $10 million Game and Fish said Beth Woodin, President of the as he initiates the program with the Mayor, Council, and staff of the City Heritage Fund; establish a new State Heritage Alliance and former Arizona of Tucson. Parks granting fund for $10 million Game & Fish Commissioner. Parks Finally, we are part of another Arizona Heritage Fund Grant award, in to be used for habitat protection and was previously asked by the Governor partnership with Manzo Elementary School and Tucson Unified School purchase as well as environmental and legislature to operate like a District, for schoolyard bird habitat creation. education and historic preservation; business and make its own money. It Erin Olmstead, in her role as Development Manager, has been and protect all Arizona State Parks did just that but the legislature took all instrumental in our grant successes. We are working to match this success funds from future legislative sweeps. the money. by raising funds from individual donors to ensure the longterm success of It would ensure that all Arizonans and If successful, the Act will be our outreach and program work in conservation and education. VF visitors are able to enjoy the natural funded by donations from generous splendor, historic heritage and outdoor citizens when they renew their drivers’ recreational opportunities offered at registrations. The fee suggested is our Arizona parks and recreational $14, but you may opt out of it. This is areas, now and in the future. not a tax. It is voluntary. It is hoped A 2007 study estimated that 224 that citizens will donate so that State jobs were directly supported by Parks Parks may once again keep all parks Heritage Fund grants. Heritage- open and in good repair. VF funded improvements to parks and TOGETHERGREEN VOLUNTEER DAY, KENDALL KROESEN KENDALL VOLUNTEER DAY, TOGETHERGREEN

But what about the four milligrams birders because it is very, very close Conservation Corner! of mercury inside each CFL? There to Sweetwater Wetlands! Don’t let the controversy over Here’s why. Lighting is nearly are safe ways of disposing of CFLs so Contact Tucson Clean and mercury in compact fluorescent bulbs 20 percent of household electricity they don’t break open at landfills. Beautiful at 791-5000, or www. (CFLs) stop you from using them. use. Compact fluorescent bulbs To dispose of CFLs when they tucsoncleanandbeautiful.org, with Calculations show that over its lifetime use up to 75 percent less energy. burn out, do not throw them in the any questions about recycling a typical CFL releases only Changing even one bulb in each trash. Take them to the “returns desk” or hazardous waste. Additional about one quarter the house would create a huge reduction at either Home Depot or Lowes Home information on CFLs and mercury amount of mercury in electricity use. Improvement, where they will dispose is found at www.energystar.gov/ia/ into the atmosphere The biggest man-made source of them properly. partners/promotions/change_light/ than an of mercury in our environment is You may also drop them off at downloads/Fact_Sheet_Mercury.pdf. incandescent bulb electricity, because most electricity the Household Hazardous Waste As prices of new LED bulbs come assuming a worst- comes from burning fossil fuels Collection Program. It is located at down, you might consider them. They case scenario if that contain mercury. So reducing 2440 W. Sweetwater Drive and is use even less energy than CFLs and the CFL is sent to electricity use is the best way to open 8 a.m. – noon every Friday and do not contain hazardous waste. VF a landfill rather than reduce mercury in the environment. Saturday. This is a good option for Kendall Kroesen, being recycled. Habitats Program Manager

20 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher July–September 2012 Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. WEEKLY BIRD WALKS TUCSON AUDUBON FIELD TRIPS KATE REYNOLDS | FIELD TRIP COORDINATOR Thursdays—April & May 8 am; June 7:30 am Wake Up With the Birds at Agua Caliente Park. A stroll through the bosque and along the ponds. Loaner binocs available, meet in front of the ranch house. For more

KENDALL KROESEN KENDALL info call Pima County Parks and Rec., 520-615-7855. Saturdays—8–9:30 am Tucson Audubon’s Mason Center. Families and birders of all skill levels are welcome. Visit tucsonaudubon.org/ masoncenterResuming for details.in October

MORE FIELD TRIPS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE. Visit tucsonaudubon.org/ fieldtrips for more trips and the latest or expanded field trip Empire Cienega information or call us at 520-629-0510.

Verde and Catalina Highway. Back home by General Information July Tucson Audubon field trips are free. For general 3:00 pm. Bring a packed lunch, plenty of water, sun information call 520-629-0510. For specific July 12—Thursday 6:30 am protection, and a hat! Trip limited to 20 participants. information about a trip, contact the leader of Sweetwater Wetlands $5/car Rose Canyon fee. Sign up with leader. that trip. Join us for a walk through Sweetwater Wetlands Leader: Carl Lundblad [email protected] where we will look for summer resident birds and Please dress appropriately for your field trip. July 21—Saturday 6 am any surprises the monsoon (if it has started) may Always wear sturdy shoes, a hat, and use sun bring in. We will also enjoy other fauna we may Empire Cienega & Ranch protection. Bring plenty of snacks and water Join Tucson Audubon for a monsoonal check of the encounter. Please remember sun protection and for yourself. Always bring your binoculars, grassland and riparian species at Empire Cienega water. We will meet in the parking lot. Access to field guide, and for most trips a scope can be and Ranch just north of Sonoita. We’ll meet at Sweetwater may be limited due to the ongoing useful. Bring money to cover your share of the the northwest corner of Houghton Road and I-10 construction on the access road. Please sign up carpooling and any required entry fees (e.g. for at 6:00 am. Back by noon. Bring lots of water in advance. Leader: Michael Skinner 520-743-2403 state parks). [email protected] and sunscreen. Contact the leader Cliff Cathers [email protected] or 520-982-3272 to register. Limit Arrival Times July 17 —Tuesday 6 am of 20 participants. Please arrive before listed departure times. Trips Catalina Mountains will leave promptly at the time given. Mid-July is the perfect time to head up Mount July 31 —Tuesday 6:30 am Madera Canyon Lemmon, following the commencement of the Carpooling Sites Let’s check for possible rarities (maybe monsoon. We’ll stop at Bear Canyon, Rose Tucson Audubon strongly encourages the Aztec Thrush) in Madera Canyon. Our route Canyon, the Upper Sabino Riparian Area, upper carpooling and for some trips it may be will depend upon what has been spotted recently, Mount Lemmon, and possibly other sites where we required. Check our website for frequently used so bring a sense of adventure. Trip will probably can expect most of the Santa Catalina specialties carpooling sites. You are expected to reimburse include Proctor, Kubo and/or Chuparosa, and like Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Hepatic Tanager, the driver for the actual cost of fuel. Drivers and maybe the Carrie Nation Trail, so be prepared for Painted Redstart, Olive, Virginia’s, Grace’s, and trip leaders are not expected to contribute. plenty of Red-faced Warblers. We’ll also look for some hiking. Meet at 6:00 am at Fry’s Grocery at the Buff-breasted Flycatchers and Orange-crowned Irvington and I-19 to carpool (leader not present). Rare Bird Alert Warblers and talk about the migration research Or meet the leader at 6:30 at the McDonald’s in Listen to the latest rare bird alert at I conduct at the University of Arizona. With luck Green Valley. Exit off I-19 and turn right to the 520-629-0510 ext. 3. Report rare birds we might encounter something more unusual McDonald’s. Expected return about 2:00 pm. Bring at 520-629-0510 or rarebirdalert@ like a Northern Goshawk or even a Short-tailed binocs, lunch, plenty of water, rain gear, and a tucsonaudubon.org Hawk. Expect short hikes from various trailheads Madera Canyon Pass (if you have one). Leader: but nothing strenuous. Special bonus: We have Diane Touret [email protected] Don’t forget to stop in our Nature Shop permission to enter the observatory grounds. Meet for your field and ID Guides, and at 6:00 at the McDonald’s on the corner of Tanque other birding supplies.

Visit tucsonaudubon.org/fieldtrips for updates and more July–September 2012 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 21 FIELD TRIPS

August

August 2 —Thursday 8:00 am PIKE SARA

Mount Lemmon Butterfly Trip JAMES BASHKIN Anyone interested in trying something new? Join us for a fun morning of bird and butterfly watching. We’ll stop at Molino Basin for birding, then head up the mountain when the butterflies come out. Note that butterfly watching requires a lot of standing or Blacklighting Sabino Canyon walking in full sunlight, so it might be hot. Meet at the McDonald’s on the northeast corner of Tanque com Tucson, AZ Senior Leader, WINGS www. Limit 10 participants; for sign-up, contact Doug Verde and Catalina Highway at 8 am. Expected wingsbirds.com Moore at [email protected] or 520-682-0459. return about 2 pm. Bring close-focus binocs (if August 9—Thursday 5:30 pm you have them, a hat, lunch, and plenty of water. September Leader: Diane Touret [email protected] A Buggy Night in Peppersauce Canyon September 1—Saturday 7:30 am August 4—Saturday 7 am Join us for an evening adventure in a beautiful Sabino Canyon Sabino Canyon canyon of the Catalina Mountains. Arizona has We’ll bird Sabino Canyon Recreation Area walking We’ll bird Sabino Canyon Recreation the third highest number of insect species in the a 4-mile loop that includes both Sonoran desert Area walking a 4-mile loop that includes both US. The sky islands of the Sonoran desert offer an uplands and the riparian area of Sabino Creek Sonoran desert uplands and the riparian area of especially great diversity. Come and see beautiful along rocky uneven trails. Meet at the ramada Sabino Creek along rocky uneven trails. Meet at moths, impressive beetles, and fascinating mantids by the Visitor’s Center. $5 parking fee or a pass the ramada by the Visitor’s Center. $5 parking fee all attracted to our black lighting sheets. Bring required for Sabino Canyon Recreation Area. or a pass required for Sabino Canyon Recreation a flash light and your camera with flash. Great Return by 11 am. Sunhat, water and walking shoes Area. Return by 10 am. Sunhat, lots of water and outing for kids, but parents must go, too. Meet at recommended. Leaders are Sabino Canyon walking shoes recommended. Leaders are Sabino 5:30 pm for car pooling at Trader Joe’s on Oracle Volunteer Naturalists. Group size limited to 20, Canyon Volunteer Naturalists. Group size limited to and Magee. Sign up with leader in advance. email to reserve a spot. Leaders: Jean & Mark 20, email to reserve a spot. Leaders: Jean & Mark Leader: Margarethe Brummermann, Ph.D., Hengesbaugh [email protected] Hengesbaugh [email protected] Department of Entomology, University of Arizona September 4—Tuesday 7:00 pm [email protected] August 7 —Tuesday 6 am Madera Canyon at Night Catalina Mountains August 21—Tuesday 8:00 am Like its avian fauna, the insect population Let’s escape the Arizona heat with a trip up into Avra Valley of Madera Canyon has a touch of South-of-the- the Catalina Mountains. We’ll stop at various We will go to Avra Valley Waste Water Treatment Border tropical magnificence. We will set up black elevations to maximize bird diversity enjoying the Ponds looking for migrating shorebirds. Will be hot lights to attract those beauties to our sheets for desert floor, manzanita/oak, pine/oak, pine, and and sunny. Easy pace on flat ground. Beginners easy viewing of the most secretive night-prowlers. spruce/fir forests that make up Mount Lemmon. and non-birders are especially invited. Bring scope Bring flash lights and cameras with flash. Meet Short hikes from various trailheads are likely, if you have one. We will leave at 8 am from the at the top parking lot in the canyon at 7:00 pm. with some walking above 7000ft. Meet at 6:00 Mission Library parking lot at the northwest corner If the weather is right, we should find things to at the McDonald’s on the corner of Tanque of Mission and Ajo. Carpoooling encouraged. see until about 10 pm. Great outing for kids, Verde and Catalina Highway. Expected return 30 mile roundtrip. Back by 11 am. No need to sign but parents must go, too. Sign up with leader in ~3:00 pm. Bring a packed lunch, plenty of water, up before the trip, but call leader if questions. advance. Leader Margarethe Brummermann, a Catalina Mountain Pass (if you have one) and a Leader: John Higgins 520-578-1830 jghiggins@ Ph.D., Department of Entomology, University of sense of fun! Gavin Bieber Kingbird77@hotmail. comcast.net Arizona [email protected]

August 25—Saturday 8:00 am September 7–9—Friday/Saturday/Sunday 10:00 am Madera Canyon “Monsoon” Q Ranch/Mogollon Rim Nature & Birding Friday drive to Q Ranch (Leader present at ranch Come join Friends of Madera Canyon naturalist only). About 150 bird species have been identified, Doug Moore in exploring the canyon’s “monsoon” including Pygmy and Red-breasted Nuthatches MURIEL NEDDERMEYER MURIEL flora and fauna. We’ll look for the many canyon and nesting Mountain Bluebirds. Expect lots of plants, flowers, invertebrates and herps that other wildlife. Dark clear night skies mean plenty emerge with the rains, as well as keeping an eye of stars. Combine birding with brief hikes to nearby out for birds like Varied Bunting that frequent the scenic locations. Tour the 1000-year-old Q Ranch canyon in summer. Meet at the trailhead at the Pueblo. Depart Sunday after brunch. Ranch is cell Proctor Parking Area (1st recreation area as you phone dead zone, but Verizon service available enter the canyon); we’ll walk through several within a few miles. All meals included. $135/ plant communities on the Proctor Nature Loop person/night for shared room. $175/person/night and possibly move up canyon as time and energy for single. Down payment due August 10. For permit. Plan on being out until 11:30–12:00. Bring reservations (due August 3) and more info see water, sunscreen, sun hat, trail snack and binocs. www.qranch.com or contact leader, Ken Furtado Grace’s Warbler Bug repellent recommended (possible chiggers). [email protected]

22 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher July–September 2012 Visit tucsonaudubon.org/fieldtrips for updates and more FIELD TRIPS

A Fun Follow-up to the Tucson Bird & Wildlife Festival with Solipaso! MICHAEL SKINNER MICHAEL POST-FESTIVAL EXTENSION TOUR: THE THICK-BILLED PARROTS OF MADERA

August 20–23, 2012. $900 per person near Madera, these birds can be found in (based on double occupancy)/$190 single high numbers during the breeding months of Anza Trail supplement. This is a special price for August and September. Tucson Bird & Wildlife Festival and a Although our main targets on this trip are September 8—Saturday 8:00 am percentage of the trip price will go to benefit the parrots, there is a lot more to be seen. Madera Canyon The forests around Madera hold many other Let’s go check out the flowers and Tucson Audubon. interesting birds, including Eared Quetzal, plants in Madera Canyon. The post-monsoon A short but very special trip into the Pine Flycatcher, Spotted Wren, and Aztec, bloom in this canyon is often spectacular. Meet at Mexican states of Sonora and Chihuahua McDonald’s (right-most portion of the parking lot as to see the endemic Thick-billed Parrot and Slate-throated Redstart, Rufous-capped one faces the restaurant) in Green Valley at 8 am. Eared Quetzal (among some other sought- Brush-finch, Black-headed Siskin, Mountain Use Continental Rd. exit off of I-19 and turn right after specialties that won’t count in the Trogon, Russet Nightingale-thrush, Flame- to McDonald’s. Sign up in advance with leader. ABA area). colored Tanager, Striped Sparrow, Spotted Leader: Anthony Mendoza. Email if you have any The old growth forests of Wren, Brown-backed Solitaire, questions [email protected]. the northern Sierra Madre Gray-silky Flycatcher and September 15—Saturday 5:30 am Mountains of Chihuahua Montezuma Quail. St. David and Willcox are the nesting grounds For more information or Mid-September usually offers plenty of for the Thick-billed to reserve your space on birds and occasional pleasant surprises. We will Parrot. This wonderful this exciting trip, contact begin with the riparian habitat at the St. David bird is often difficult to Jennifer MacKay at jennifer@ Monastery in the relative cool of the morning, find throughout most of its solipaso.com or by calling walking a mile or two over mostly level ground. range; however, in the area 1.888.383.0062

Then we are off to the Willcox ponds to see what DOMINIC SHERONY REDSTART, SLATE-THROATED shorebirds are migrating through. We may stop at the Benson ponds on our return to Tucson (by mid- September 29—Saturday 6 am afternoon).Bring plenty of water, snacks and lunch. Nugget Canyon Meet at Houghton Road, just north of I-10 (about Among the sycamores, oaks, ash, and junipers, 180 miles round trip). Leader Dave Dunford 520- this is a great location for fall migrants, two miles 909-1809 [email protected] past Peppersauce Canyon off the Mt. Lemmon Rd. We’ll be looking for tanagers, flycatchers, warblers, September 18—Tuesday 6:00 am vireos, etc. Golden Eagles have sometimes been Clark Crossing Road / seen soaring above the canyon. The trail is very Anza Trail rugged with lots of rocks so not advisable for folks Plan to spend 3–4 hours along this productive and with walking difficulties. Wear sturdy shoes and under-birded stretch of the Anza Trail along the bring water and a snack. We will finish around Santa Cruz River at the height of fall migration. noon. Meet the leader at Bashas’ parking lot Targets include Gray Hawk, Varied & Painted in Catalina, on the northeast corner of Oracle buntings, migrant warblers. Who knows what Rd. and Golder Ranch Rd. Trip limited to first else? Sun protection and water are a must, and 12 who contact leader beginning September 1. chiggers and muddy trails are likely. Meet at the Leader: Doug Jenness [email protected] Fry’s Grocery Store at Irvington and I-19 on the 520-909-1529 VF north side of Irvington just east of I-19. Limit of 12 participants. Sign up with leader. Leader: Dave Stejskal [email protected] September 22— Saturday Time TBD ADDITIONAL BIRD Parent/Offspring Trip Let’s try something new with a first day of fall trip to WALKS IN TUCSON AND Pena Blanca Lake near Nogales. Bring along your SOUTHEAST ARIZONA

kid for a morning outing with other birding parents For information on weekly regional bird LAWLER TOM and their offspring. Registration is limited to 10 walks from Agua Caliente Park to Ramsey In May, while leading a Tucson Audubon field trip at adults, each with one or two young birders. Contact Canyon Preserve, please see our website, Sweetwater, staff members Sara Pike and Matt Brooks found this gorgeous male Prothonotary Warbler working Cliff and Austin Cathers (my 10-year old son) at www.tucsonaudubon.org/what-we-do/ [email protected] or 520-982-3272 to register and the trees on the west side of the facility. It was a lifer for birding/128.html. many!

for information on when and where to meet. DORIS EVANS

Visit tucsonaudubon.org/fieldtrips for updates and more July–September 2012 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 23 BIRDING TRAVEL Post-Festival Extension Tour: FROM OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS Thick-billed Parrots of Madera August 20–23, 2012 A short but very ADVENTURE BIRDING COMPANY­ SOLIPASO TOURS www.adventurebirding.com www.solipaso.com special trip into the Mexican states [email protected] • 520-495-0229 Northwest Mexico: August 25–September of Sonora and Chihuahua to see the Big Bend Nat’l Park, Texas: Colima Warbler 1, 2012. $1900. Summertime in the Sierra Madre endemic Thick-billed Parrot and Eared short tour May 1–5, 2013, $1095. Leader: John of Chihuahua and Sonora is a beautiful sight Yerger. Big Bend is one of the most remote birding to see! Green meadows, blue sky vistas, lakes Quetzal (among some other sought- hotspots in the U.S., and home to some of its and waterfalls everywhere! In Madera, we see after specialties). See p 23 for details most spectacular scenery! It’s the only place in the the endangered Thick-billed Parrot and Eared country to find Colima Warbler, the focus of one Quetzal. We visit the ruins of Cuarenta Casas long day hike. A surprising number of habitats and and the magnificent Basaseachic waterfall, the AVAILABLE IN OUR NATURE SHOPS­ oases are found within Park boundaries. Ideal for highest in Mexico. In Yecora, we pick up more anyone desiring lots of birding and sightseeing on montane species including Mountain Trogon, limited vacation time. Lucifer Hummingbird, Painted Montezuma Quail, Rufous-capped Brush-finch Bunting and Golden-fronted Woodpecker are just a and Aztec Thrush. Starts and ends in Tucson. few others we’ll seek on this fun-filled adventure! Copper Canyon: September 11–25, 2012. South Texas: Rarities and Specialties $2350. Leader: David MacKay. The world short tour Feb 27–Mar 3, 2013, $1195. Leader: famous Copper Canyon is a great destination John Yerger. Limited vacation time? This “short for birding in the summertime! In Los Mochis, tour” will target some of the rarest birds in the (start and end point) we explore the botanical ABA region! Our main focus: find mega-rarities garden and take a trip into coastal islands of in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. In recent years, the Sea of Cortez. We board the train in El species included Crimson-collared Grosbeak, Fuerte traveling through the tropical deciduous Golden-crowned Warbler and Black-vented forest into the pine-oak. We stop along the way Oriole. In addition, we’ll seek rare residents in Cerocahui, Cusarare and Creel. Target birds like Brown Jay and Red-billed Pigeon. And of are Eared Quetzal, White-striped Woodcreeper, course, spectacular South Texas specialties Mountain Trogon, Rufous-capped Warbler, Striped like Green Jay, Altamira Oriole and Buff-bellied Sparrows and more. We’ll see some of the Hummingbird will round out the trip! See website Tarahumara villages and purchase their crafts. for details and extended alternative to this tour. SOUTHWESTERN RESEARCH STATION— ROCKJUMPER—WORLDWIDE BIRDING BIRDING AND NATURE TOURS ADVENTURES research.amnh.org/swrs • [email protected] [email protected] Chiricahua Mountains, Portal, Az. tours Worldwide Birding Adventures www.rockjumperbirding.com 2012: 9–15 Sept. Our experienced guide, (USA & Canada toll-free): 1-888-990-5552 P.D. Hulce, is a local of the area and will take Guyana—Birds & Wildlife 30 September you on daily field trips, optional owl walks at to 11 October 2012 (12 days). Price: night, and provide talks on the natural history US$5,230 * £3,340 * €4,010 * ZAR41,800 of the region. Our rates are $1250 per person, (Single supplement US$400, approx cost of double occupancy; $100 single supplement, flights US$400). Please note: these prices are when space allows: Single participants may subject to foreign exchange fluctuations. Guyana be assigned a same-gender roommate WINWIN is fast becoming recognized as one of South to qualify for double occupancy rate. to learn more about the products and services offered by our Bird & Business Alliance partners America’s top birding and wildlife destinations. Birding Tour: The Chiricahua Mountains Our comprehensive birdwatching adventure of S.E. Arizona afford some of the best birding includes some of the last relatively unexplored in the United States. Each tour is limited to 10 wildernesses on Earth. Those wishing to visit persons or 5 couples. Tours include: Roundtrip Kaieteur Falls and view it from the air will have the transportation from Tucson airport, double- opportunity to do so before starting the main tour, occupancy in our newly remodeled rooms with while a post tour extension to remote Lethem will kitchenettes, professional guide, and three full allow us to see the endangered Sun Parakeet. meals daily. We offer a newly added day trip to Japan—Dancing Cranes & Winter Birding historic town of Bisbee. For itinerary see above 2 to 19 December 2012 (18 days). Price to be contact information or call 520-558-2396. announced. Our Japan—Dancing Cranes and Winter Birding tour explores the main islands TROPICAL BIRDING­ of Honshu, Hokkaido and Kyushu where some www.tropicalbirding.com of the world’s most spectacular and sought- [email protected] • 1-800-348-­5941 after birds can be found, whilst simultaneously Stay tuned for highlights from the just-concluded enjoying the wonderfully diverse scenery and Tropical Birding / Tucson Audubon Ecuador tour excellent local cuisine in “The Land of the Rising led by Scott Olmstead. We’ll share photos on tucsonaudubon.org/alliance Sun”. We will also spend time with endearing Facebook and at Birds & Beer in July. VF families of Japanese Macaques, better known

Visit Visit as Snow Monkeys, at their hotspring hangouts.

24 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher July–September 2012 WINVisit tucsonaudubon.orgWIN for updates and more. Tucson Audubon thanks our Birds & Business TUCSON AUDUBON’S Alliance Members, who have shown their support for bird BIRDS & BUSINESS ALLIANCE 2010- 2011 conservation through annual contributions and in-kind WELCOME TO OUR NEW BIRDS & BUSINESS ALLIANCE MEMBERS donations. Please show them you appreciate their support for us by supporting them. Visit COUNTRY INN & SUITES by Carlson Tucson City MERRILL LYNCH Merrill Lynch advisors take a tucsonaudubon.org/alliance for more Center is centrally located in Tucson just west of dynamic and individualized approach to helping I-10 and Speedway Blvd Exit 257. Our location clients address their financial needs. One that information, including links to member websites. provides an easy access to many of many of combines knowledge, experience, and a deep GOLD Southern Arizona’s birding and nature-walk sites understanding not just of a client’s goals and Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc like Tohono Chul Park, Sweetwater Wetlands, objectives, but of their lives, family, interests and NEW

Riverpark Inn • 800-551-1466 * Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Saguaro NP, passions. It’s an approach based on “know-how”

COPPER Catalina SP, and Sabino Canyon. Country Inn & and “know-you”, reflecting the Merrill Lynch STERLING Suites Tucson City Center features upgraded guest philosophy of working closely with clients to help Adventure Birding Company room amenities, complimentary hot breakfast buffet them live the lives they want and plan for the future. • 520-495-0229 • www.adventurebirding.com or Grab & Go Breakfast along with ice cold bottled Financial Advisor Lori PascarelIa focuses on Rockjumper BirdingTours • [email protected] water, business & fitness center, new LCD screen helping a select group of individuals and retirees • www.rockjumperbirding.com TVs, outdoor heated swimming pool and spa, to manage all aspects of their financial lives, Southwestern Research Station complimentary wired/wireless internet throughout from implementing tax-efficient strategies for • 520-558-2396 • research.amnh.org/swrs the hotel. www.countryinns.com/tucsonaz_ concentrated stock positions to retirement and Solipaso Tours • www.solipaso.com citycenter. Special TBWF rates available this educational planning. Tropical Birding • 800-348-5941 summer! • www.tropicalbirding.com SILVER Cox Communications Fiore Tile Works • 520-971-0677 Loews Ventana Canyon • 520-299-2020 • www.loewshotels.com THE TAS-IFIEDS Pima Federal Credit Union • 520-887-5010 CLASSIFIED ADS RAMSEY COPPER Bed and Bagels of Tucson • 520-603-1580 Classified and display ads are accepted from Brooklyn Pizza Company • 520-622-6868 individual members and members of our Birds & Business Alliance. Visit tucsonaudubon.org/ Casa de San Pedro B&B • www.bedandbirds.com vfly for rates or contact Matt Griffiths mgriffiths@ Cat Mountain Lodge • 520-578-6068 tucsonaudubon.org to book an ad. *Country Inn & Suites • www.countryinns.com/ tucsonaz_citycenter Down By the River B&B • 520-720-9441 BIRDS & BEER Third Thursdays at Sky Bar: ROOST Farhang & Medcoff, PLLC • 520-790-5433 5–7 pm. Get a free slice of pizza (from Brooklyn Farmers Investment Co (FICO) • sahuaritafarms.ocm Pizza) and beer at happy hour prices. Bring your Financial Architects • www.financial-architects.com bird photos on a USB stick or disk to share. Vacation Home Hughes Federal Credit Union • 520-794-8341 COOLERS FOR TUCSON BIRD & WILDLIFE Inn at San Ignacio Condo Hotel • 1-888-450-5444 FESTIVAL. Donate or lend a cooler in good Sierra Vista, Az. Kimberlyn Drew, Realtor • 520-237-1408 condition, ~ 22” L x 18” H x 14” W, with handles CLEAN. COMFORTABLE. AFFORDABLE. Leica Sport Optics and drain spout, no wheels. Contact Kara at This sprawling 1970’s home is set on 2 acres [email protected] or 520-629-1811. The Living Fence • 520-795-5300 with great birding at 5,000 ft on the Huachu- *Merrill Lynch • www.fa.ml.com/Lori JOIN THE FALL TRAINING CLASS FOR ca Mountains and famous Ramsey Canyon. A Metropolitan Tucson Convention & SABINO CANYON VOLUNTEER NATURALISTS comfortable retreat for couples, families and Visitors Bureau • VisitTucson.org Share the delights of Sabino Canyon’s world with small groups. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. Right Naturalist Journeys • 866-900-1146 children and adults. See “Join Us” on our website: on the edge of the National Forest—birds Quailway Cottage • 520-558-0019 www.scvntucson.org or call Jeanne Granger 520 and wildlife in the yard. Walk out the door Radisson Suites Tucson • 520-721-7100 to great hiking and cycling in Brown and 760 0127 Ravens-Way Wild Journeys • 520-425-6425 Ramsey Canyons. Night Skies Community. PERFECT FOR BIRDERS—PEACEFUL KINO Sierra Vista Ranch • Sasabe, AZ BAY BEACHFRONT VILLA overlooking Sea of phone 1-877-417-9224 Spirit Tree Inn B&B • 520-394-0121 Cortez and Isla Alcatraz. Beaches, estuaries and www.VRBO.com search 406192 Sundance Press • 800-528-4827 islands provide great birding opportunities. Local Swaim Assoc. Ltd Architects AIA • www.swaimaia.com boat guide available. 3br, 3 private bathrooms. Tucson Electric Power • www.tep.com Sleeps 8. Spacious, fully-equipped kitchen. BIRDS & BUSINESS ALLIANCE Join today and Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson • 520-795-9955 VF Lots of books and games. $320/night. www. connect with the Tucson Audubon community. kinobaybeachhouse.com. Tucson owner. (520) Contact Erin Olmstead at eolmstead@ 360-6742; (520) 975-1055. tucsonaudubon.org or 520.629.1809

Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. July–September 2012 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 25 Support Tucson Audubon... TUCSON AUDUBON Become a Friend Today! NATURE SHOPS ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION ‰‰$35 Individual­ Contributor $100 q Tucson Audubon’s Nature Shops provide for your needs in natural history books and ‰‰$50 Family Supporter $250­ q guides, birding optics and accessories, and gifts right here in Tucson. We offer a great ‰‰$30­ Senior Supporter* Guardian $500 q selection, the best prices, and member discounts. Remember to shop locally. ‰‰$25 Student*­ Steward $1000 q Leadership Circle $2500 q *Individual Festival Books Upcoming speakers at our Tucson Bird and Wildlife Festival, August 15–19. Be sure to pick up a Name copy of each at our Nature Shop booth and get them signed by the authors. Richard Crossley Homer Hansen Address The Crossley ID Guide— G.I.S.S. series—Flycatchers, Raptors, and Eastern Birds. $35.00 Sparrows. $6.95 each City / State / ­Zip “Turning Birding Upside Homer has two Friday (August 17th) workshops Down”. This renowned at the festival this year; Raptors and Sparrows. Email author and speaker brings Pick up his unique, tear- and water-proof quick his unique in-habitat reference guides to Arizona’s representatives of Phone approach to birdwatching to Tucson. If you haven’t these families. seen his new book yet, it’s worth checking out for ‰‰ New ­membership q Renewing ­membership yourself. He will be headlining our festival this ‰‰ Please email me about Tucson Audubon events and­ conservation issues.­ year, so be sure to get tickets for his ‰‰ Please do not share my contact ­information. keynote presentation on August 18th. ‰‰ Please do not mail me Vermilion Flycatcher. Rick Taylor I’ll read it online. Birds of Southeastern Arizona. $19.95 DONATION Rick’s newest book has been a hot seller ‰‰I would like to support Tucson Audubon since it was published last year, bringing Society with ­an additional contribution of a pocket sized field guide to our local birds q $25 q $50 q $100 q $250.­ into the hands of birders. Rick will be kicking off Lynn Hassler ‰‰ Tucson Audubon Frequent ­Flyer Monthly the festival with a Friday night (August 17th) talk, Birds of the American Southwest. 14.95 Donor ­Program: I authorize the charge of bringing his wit and wisdom to the table. Lynn’s bibliography is long and varied. Her $____ per month for ____ months to my wonderful style is accessible to all levels of credit card ($10/month minimum). Sheri L. Williamson Tucson Audubon Society will ­use the full amount of your ­tax-­deductible birding ability, as her book, Birds of the American gift for its environmental, educational and recreational programs.­ Peterson Field Guide to Hummingbirds of Southwest, shows. Be sure to North America. $22.00 METHOD OF ­PAYMENT catch her beginning Sheri brings her extensive knowledge of ‰‰ Check (payable to Tucson Audubon Society) birding workshop on our “winged wonders”, hummingbirds, ‰‰ MasterCard q Visa q AMEX August 16th. together in this Peterson series guide. Be sure to get a copy and sign up for Credit Card No. her workshop on Saturday, August 18th.

Expiration Date Amount $

Signature Please send your application with payment ­to Tucson Audubon Society,­ 2012–2013 Federal Duck Stamp 300 E. University Blvd, #120, Tucson, AZ 85705­ New 2012–2013 Federal Duck Stamp now on (Attn: Jean Barchman, sale! When you buy the new Migratory Bird and Membership Coordinator) Conservation (aka Duck) Stamp, all of your $15 OR join, renew or ­donate online at goes toward the purchase of new wetlands that www.tucsonaudubon.org benefits all wetland species. Hang it on your binoculars with pride using our special binocular keychain! This year’s stamp features a handsome male Wood Duck. Pick up yours today. $15.00

26 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher July–September 2012 Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. What’s in an eGuide? Full Field Guide Birding Apps

With the proliferation of the use of smart phones and tablets these days, it’s only natural that an explosion of applications are constantly being improved based on user (or “Apps”) has followed interface and the ability to “localize” feedback. Taxonomy changes can take place with this trend. Sorting through all of the guide by choosing a state are the click of the update button. these to see which might be the most nice features. A “compare” feature lets you In my opinion, these Apps aren’t replacements useful to the average birder takes time and the view two species at the same time. Being able to for physical field guides (at least not yet). They recommendations of others who have them. In this quickly page through species is useful in the field. are useful in the field and much lighter to carry, article, I’m only going to focus on five Apps that are • iBird Explorer Pro 5 (Reg. $29.99)—This was but after being out in the field I often find myself considered “full” field guides, rather than on Apps the original digital field guide, and has a strong following up with unanswered questions in a book. that have a more focused birding purpose, such as following because of its early entry into the App Still, this is the wave of the future, and interactive bird song, bird-finding, or listing (for an overview of market. It was the only one available when I first Apps are brilliant additions to the tools for birding. a great new listing App that posts directly to eBird. purchased it. As it has evolved, it has become Any one of these Apps (or all!) would be most org, read Jennie MacFarland’s article on page 10). more user-friendly and intuitive. In my opinion, welcome in the field. All Apps are only available through each device’s the drawings are cartoony and not at all useful Matt Brooks online “store”, so unfortunately you can’t pop on for keying out ID features, but the good species down to your favorite Tucson Audubon Nature information and photographs make up for it. Shop and pick them up. • Audubon Birds: A Field Guide to North All of these Apps follow a basic format; American Birds (Reg. $14.99)— Unlike the NOTICE OF SHOP CLOSURE illustrations or photos (or both), species other Apps mentioned here, Audubon’s bird App The Main Nature shop will be closed information, searchable listings by name or ID relies solely on photographs of birds rather than August 1st–11th for annual inventory points, range maps, and recordings of songs illustrations. A classy layout and an assortment and update of our inventory software. and calls. of photos makes this App easy to use. A slick • National Geographic Guide to Birds (Reg. new feature is the “Find with eBird” option, which The shop will be closed on August 17th $14.99)—This App uses the images from its (when connected to Wi-Fi or a cell signal) can and 18th at the University Location, but famous field guide, and features arrowed text search the eBird database for recent sightings of OPEN at the FESTIVAL! (See pullout). any birds in the App. pointing out key ID points. Pretty simple and We’re also closed on July 4th and • Peterson Field Guide to the Birds of North straightforward to use. One disadvantage (that September 3rd (Labor Day) I’m assuming will be fixed in an update) is that, America (Reg. $14.95)—This is a newer entry unlike the other apps, the sound recordings aren’t into the birding App market, and the designers divided out into calls and various songs for each have learned some things from earlier Apps. In TUCSON AUDUBON general, the App layout is intuitive, and has some species. NATURE SHOPS • Sibley eGuide to Birds of North America (Reg. nice features such as being able to rearrange When you support your local Tucson $29.99)—The obvious advantage of this App is family icons to get to frequently seen species Audubon Society you are supporting birds its use of Sibley’s famous drawings. An intuitive easily. Personally, I’ve never been a big fan of Peterson’s art, but that doesn’t change the and bird habitat conservation. Thank you! usefulness of this App. A good entry level choice. SHOP HOURS Note: Several of these Apps have free or TIP! Watch for sales. These apps can be MAIN SHOP expensive, but occasionally they will go on cheaper versions of their products, which are Monday–Saturday 10 am–4 pm, sale, and if you time it right, you can get a good way to test the waters before making a Phone: 629-0510 ext 7015 an App that retails for $15–$40 for $1–$2. purchase of a full guide. On the southeast corner of University Blvd and 5th Avenue. Each of these Apps are “self-contained”, AGUA CALIENTE PARK SHOP meaning they will work without a cellular or June–September: TIP! For those interested in these Apps wireless (Wi-Fi) signal. This is obviously incredibly Thursdays only but leery of the high phone bill and data useful in the field. Some, like iBird, have easy 9 am–1:30 pm plan of an iPhone or other smartphone, access to additional information and photos if you Phone: 760-7881 consider getting an iPod Touch. The iPod do happen to have a signal. From Tanque Verde Rd and Houghton, continue east on Touch is basically an iPhone without the Perhaps one of the most useful aspects of Tanque Verde 2 miles. Turn left (north) onto Soldier Trail, continue north for 2 miles. Turn right (east) onto Roger Rd, phone part, so there’s no monthly fee Apps (vs. books) is that they are dynamic. You can continue ¼ mile to the park entrance on the left (north). associated with its use. You can download actively search and narrow down likely species When you need a book, think of the Apps over a Wi-Fi connection and you with key ID features. Bird song is right there for Tucson Audubon Nature Shops first! are good to go! you to learn by. Most importantly, however, is that Support your local book store. the Apps have the ability to be updated, so they

Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. July–September 2012 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 27 NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID TUCSON, AZ 300 E University Blvd, #120 PERMIT #1345 Tucson, AZ 85705

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Vermilion Flycatcher Volume 57, Number 3, July–September 2012 © 2012 Tucson Audubon Society The Vermilion Flycatcher is the newsletter of the Tucson Audubon Society, a chapter of the National Audubon Society. National Audubon Society members and members of other chapters may receive the Flycatcher by becoming a Friend of Tucson Audubon. See membership at www.tucsonaudubon.org.

Let’s give birds what they need.

teach our com bon mun du ity. Au n so c u T p l e H DORIS EVANS

Make a donation today. Call Jean 520-209-1802 or go to tucsonaudubon.org/summer-appeal. EVENTS CALENDAR page 5 • LIVING WITH NATURE page 5 • Visit tucsonaudubon.org for event updates

28 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher July–September 2012