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

Vermf li yl ci a to c hn e r October–December 2014 | Volume 59, Number 4

Adaptation Stormy Weather ● Urban Oases ● Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl What’s in a Name: Crissal Thrasher ● What Do Owls Need for Habitat ● Tucson Meet Your Birds Features THE QUARTERLY NEWS MAGAZINE OF TUCSON AUDUBON SOCIETY | TUCSONAUDUBON.ORG 12 What’s in a Name: Crissal Thrasher 13 What Do Owls Need for Habitat? Vermf li yl ci a to c hn e r 14 Stormy Weather October–December 2014 | Volume 59, Number 4 16 Urban Oases: Battleground for the Tucson Audubon Society is dedicated to improving the Birds quality of the environment by providing environmental 18 The Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy- leadership, information, and programs for education, conservation, and recreation. Tucson Audubon is Owl—A Prime Candidate for Climate a non-profit volunteer organization of people with a Adaptation common interest in birding and natural history. Tucson 19 Tucson Meet Your Birds Audubon maintains offices, a library, nature centers, and nature shops, the proceeds of which benefit all of its programs. Departments Tucson Audubon Society 4 Events and Classes 300 E. University Blvd. #120, Tucson, AZ 85705 629-0510 (voice) or 623-3476 (fax) 5 Events Calendar Adaptation All phone numbers are area code 520 unless otherwise stated. 6 Living with Nature Lecture Series Stormy Weather ● Urban Oases ● Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl tucsonaudubon.org What’s in a Name: Crissal Thrasher ● What Do Owls Need for Habitat ● Tucson Meet Your Birds 7 News Roundup Board Officers & Directors President—Cynthia Pruett Secretary—Ruth Russell 20 Conservation and Education News FRONT COVER: Western Screech-Owl by Vice President—Bob Hernbrode Treasurer—Richard Carlson 24 Birding Travel from Our Business Partners Guy Schmickle. Guy is a professional nature Directors at Large Matt Bailey, Ardeth Barnhart, Gavin Bieber, Les Corey, Edward Curley, Jennie Duberstein, Dave Dunford, 25 Field Trips photographer. You can find his work online at www. Debra Finch, Jesus Garcia, Kathy Jacobs, John Kennedy, 25 Birds & Business Alliance explorethelightphotography.com Claire Zucker, Nancy Young Wright Board Committees Conservation Chair Chris McVie, 26 Nature Shops To have your photograph considered for use in the Development Les Corey, Education Jennie Duberstein, 27 Book Reviews Vermilion Flycatcher, please contact Matt Griffiths at Finance Richard Carlson, Outreach Vacant, Nominating & [email protected]. Governance Dave Dunford, Personnel Cynthia Pruett Programs & Activities Field Trips Ken Murphy Library, Membership Meetings 629-0510 Rare Bird Alert Andrew Core | Report Rare Birds 629-0510 Let Birds Bring Out Our Best Staff (unless otherwise stated, dial 629-0510 plus extension) Executive Director Paul Green ext 7001 David J. Ringer heads public relations for the National Audubon Accountant Michelle Bourgeois ext 7003 Society. He has birded in more than 25 countries on six continents Finance ext 7014 and writes about birds, birding, and conservation Membership and Development Diana Rosenblum ext 7002 Events & Volunteer Coordinator Julie Pulliam ext 7011 Environmental Education Coordinator Bété Jones ext 7012 Something about birds brings out the best in us pelicans. We lost the Ivory- IBA Conservation Biologist Jennie MacFarland ext 7004 Urban Program Manager Kendall Kroesen ext 7006 humans. Throughout the ages and in every human billed Woodpecker, but we helped Restoration Ecologist Jonathan Horst 971-6238 society, birds have inspired us to reach beyond snatch the Whooping Crane and the Field Supervisor Rodd Lancaster 256-6909 ourselves toward something greater; to pursue California Condor from oblivion. We rallied to fight Restoration Specialist Andy Bennett 262-1314 Communications and Habitat Restoration wisdom and define moral behavior; to create the terrible effects of uncontrolled environmental Matthew Griffiths 971-7924 art, enduring and ephemeral; to understand the pollution, and we saved the Bald Eagle, the Conservation Advocate Matt Clark 307-0956 Coordinator: Paton Center for Hummingbirds universe and exploit its forces; and to check our Peregrine Falcon, and—once again—the Keith Ashley 488-2981 baser impulses that, when left unchecked, unleash Brown Pelican. Associate Director, Operations Sara Pike ext 7008 disaster for the birds and for ourselves. Today, the birds face another existential threat, Operations and Retail Coordinator Sarah Whelan ext 7007 Tucson Audubon Nature Shops Audubon was founded to stop the mass and so do we. We’ve seen the early warning 300 E University Blvd #120 ext 7015 slaughter of birds at the turn of the 19th century, signs on our Christmas Bird Counts and our Hours: 10 am–4 pm, Mon–Sat too late to save the Passenger Pigeon but in Breeding Bird Surveys. We’ve seen signs in Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E Roger Rd 760-7881 Hours: Thu–Sat 10 am–1:30 pm. Please call to confirm hours. time to save the egrets, the spoonbills, and the the appearance of birds in new places and the The shop opens earlier and closes later during certain months. disappearance of birds from places where we Tucson Audubon Nature Centers once knew them well. And we’ve seen droughts, Mason Center, 3835 W Hardy Rd, Tucson, AZ 85735 Open most weekdays 9 am–5 pm or when chain is down. fires, floods, disappearing glaciers and sea ice, Paton Center for Hummingbirds, 477 Pennsylvania Ave, and out-of-sequence natural events of all kinds Patagonia, AZ 85624 near our homes and all across the world. Our climate is changing far more rapidly than many bird Vermilion Flycatcher is published quarterly. For address species—and maybe even we ourselves—may changes or subscription problems call 629-0510, or write to Membership Coordinator at the address above. Submissions be able to withstand. It’s happening here, it’s are due 1st of the month, one month before issue date. Send happening now, and it’s happening quickly. submissions as Microsoft Word or RTF documents, or plain text files, to Matt Griffiths at [email protected]. For everyone who loves birds, it’s time to rise Coordinator Matt Griffiths 971-7924 up again. Audubon’s new birds and climate change Proofreaders Tucson Audubon staff and volunteers Design / Layout Eng-Li Green report paints a grim future for birds, but it’s a future © 2014 Tucson Audubon Society we still have time to avoid. Let’s act from our love. CCL in photo credits = Creative Commons License creativecommons.org. VF All photos © the photographer. Let’s act now. Let’s act together. BALD EAGLE, JETHRO TAYLOR / CCL TAYLOR BALD EAGLE, JETHRO

2 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher October–December 2014 Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. COMMENTARY PAUL GREEN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Taking Extinction Off Your Plate

Something very interesting happened we may cause the sixth great extinction. Food production systems are especially 13.75 billion years ago (bya).* Our Today, the atmospheric and climate vulnerable. Universe came into existence. Carbon, stability of the past 800,000 years or so The habitat changes, and extinctions on which our life is based, originated is threatened by a warming atmosphere that are likely to ensue, will be a blip on some time later from simpler elements in caused by our release of heat-trapping the longer scale evolution of life on earth. burned-out stars and later became part greenhouse gases. Over the next few millions of years, natural of Earth’s rocky mantle and ultimately Life on earth is made possible by systems will adapt to the new conditions, part of us. Our planet is thought to have greenhouse gases: without them the assuming no catastrophic outcomes that formed around 4.2bya, the first life forms average temperature on earth would be put us on the Venus trajectory. However, appearing at around 3.5bya. zero degrees, instead of the 59 degrees the future of many life forms, including Around 2.4bya some life forms that we see today. A little is a good thing. birds and humanity, is in question. developed the ability to combine Greenhouse gases capture a portion of I think life is very special. To be atmospheric carbon dioxide and water the sun’s energy that has been absorbed a member of a species that at least to capture and store the sun’s energy in into the earth’s surface and then emitted begins to understand the enormity of the carbon-containing sugar molecules, and to the atmosphere, increasing the energy possible changes we are bringing about free oxygen was produced as a result. It in our atmosphere. There’s nothing carries with it moral responsibilities for took nearly two billion years for oxygen to mysterious about global warming; it’s a stewardship—not least for our birds that reach the levels we know today. simple process that we can all understand. carry with them the long genetic history of Some early life forms used this newly More greenhouse gases trap more of all that went before. available oxygen to release energy from the returning energy from the sun. Venus, While predictions for the effects those same sugar molecules they obtained for example, has an atmosphere that is of climate change on birds from the from eating these photosynthesizing flooded with greenhouse gases: now the American Bird Conservancy have been organisms, opening all kinds of biological oceans have boiled dry and lead would with us for many years, two new studies opportunities for the future. melt on its surface. We may not recognize examine the outcomes of modeling future Long periods of relatively stable the importance of our climate stability until climate scenarios on the distribution of a conditions favorable to life on our planet it goes away. variety of bird species. contributed to the birth and subsequent Since the industrial revolution, we have One model predicts that 53 percent evolution of the complex web of life that is emitted an incredible 1400 gigatons (gt) of of North America’s birds will lose more a wonder to behold. carbon dioxide to our atmosphere, about than half of their current climatic range It’s incredible to think that five mass one third of that since the year 2000. over the next 50 years. The other gives extinction events took place between As a direct result in May of this year detailed predictions for some birds of 445mya and 65mya due to climate carbon dioxide levels on earth rose above the southwest. Read about these on disruption. The largest happened 252mya 400 parts per million level, the highest pages 14–15. and resulted in the extinction of 90 percent since measurements began, and probably Meanwhile, George Marshall tells of marine life and 70 percent of land the highest in three million years. us that philosophers, economists and species and brought an end to a period of Since 1901, the average surface psychologists anticipate that we will accumulation of dead plants and animals temperature across the contiguous 48 do nothing to prevent climate change that fossilized to produce coal and oil. The states has risen at an average rate of catastrophe. Doing something requires dead plants and animals took with them 0.14°F per decade. Average temperatures sacrifices now, with immediate perceived huge quantities of carbon into the rocks have risen more quickly since the late losses in comfort, convenience, and below and out of our atmosphere. 1970s (0.31 to 0.48°F per decade). Seven choices, in order to avoid uncertain losses, Life and geology have very different of the top 10 warmest years on record for or achieve uncertain gains, in the future. timescales. In geological time higher the contiguous 48 states have occurred The uncomfortable truth is that we will forms of life (plants and animals) will exist since 1998, 2012 was the warmest need to change the way we live fairly on earth rather briefly, perhaps one billion year on record, and August 2014 was dramatically since it is the way that we live years in total of an estimated 12 billion marginally the warmest August since our lives that is the core of the problem. VF years existence of our planet. records began in 1881. George Marshall. 2014. Don’t Even Think About It: To put modern humanity into We can see that our climate systems Why our brains are wired to ignore climate change. perspective, the development of hominids are already changing, and will likely Bloomsbury Press, New York. change dramatically over the next 100 *Researchers continually change date estimates of all items with symbolic culture, language, and mentioned in this article. The dates serve only to provide a relative specialized lithic technology arose around years, which puts the continued survival overview. 50,000 years ago. While we are but a of the support systems for the projected tiny blip in the timescale, it’s possible that nine billion people in 2050 into question.

Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. October–December 2014 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 3 the sky island habitat. Participants local birds and discover some of TUCSON AUDUBON will sharpen their art of seeing, draw their interesting characteristics and EVENTS AND CLASSES connections between natural beauty charms. Also covered will be some of and values, and articulate these the adaptations birds have developed insights into writing. While seeking a in order to survive in our challenging real depth of experience, contagious environment. Fall into Birding with enthusiasm (a.k.a. fun) is also Instructor: Lynn Hassler Tucson Audubon guaranteed. Trip includes professional Date and Time: Saturdays, January instruction, all meals, and lodging. 31–February 21, 2015 Tucson Audubon cover and shelter. Lynn Hassler, a Instructors: Lynn Hassler, Naturalist, Location: TAS Main Office, Historic Y naturalist, writer and gardener, will Writer, Educator; Keith Ashley, Conference Room, University Bld. and Bird Education will teach you how to create desert- Tucson Audubon’s Paton Center for 5th Ave.; Field trips TBD. Program friendly gardens that support birds and Hummingbirds Coordinator, Educator Cost: $185/ $150 member discount Become a birder or improve your help make up for lost habitat. Date and Time: November 8–9, 2014 Location: Santa Rita Experimental Backyard Birding and Beyond birding skills and knowledge through Instructor: Lynn Hassler Part B a suite of courses offered at Tucson Range and Wildlife Area, Pima Date and Time: October 18; 10:00 am– This course begins where Part A left Audubon. Our courses are designed to County, Arizona 12:00 pm off and explores in greater detail the take you through a natural progression Cost: $360/ $325 member discount Location: TAS Main Office, Historic Y characteristics of select families, that will transform you from a Conference Room, University Bld. and BEGINNER vocalizations, seasonality and beginning to intermediate/advanced 5th Ave. migration, and tips for seeing birds birder and transport you to some of the Cost: $25 year-round. The course includes most beautiful locations throughout our Backyard Birding and Beyond two 2-hour classroom sessions and region. Below, you will find our courses Birds, Beauty, and Biodiversity: Part A two field trips outside the immediate listed by birding level. The regular Nature Journaling Retreat Learn why southeast Arizona is such Tucson area. non-member cost of classes and Deepen your connection with life a great place for birds and why bird Instructor: Lynn Hassler workshops include a year membership in the Santa Rita Mountains at this watching is so darn much fun! The Date and Time: Saturdays, March to Friends of Tucson Audubon. two-day retreat and workshop. course is designed for beginners and Transformational Living activities will address how to separate birds 7–28, 2015 ALL LEVELS will help us experience nature as a out by habitat, seasonal occurrence, Location: TAS Main Office, Historic Y framework for personal, political, and and behavior. Learn about field marks Conference Room, University Bld. and Gardening to Attract Birds spiritual inquiry. From birding and and vocalizations. Get the lowdown 5th Ave.; Field trips TBD. Learn how to provide for birds the botting to story-telling and guided on binoculars and field guides, birding Cost: $185/ $150 member discount natural way by using plants that offer discussion—with nature journals in vocabulary, and etiquette in the field. seed, fruit, and nectar, as well as hand—we will observe and appreciate Participants will learn how to identify MEXICAN JAY, LYNN HASSLER LYNN MEXICAN JAY, TITMOUSE, JOHN HOFFMAN BRIDLED WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, JOHN HOFFMAN WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, ACORN WOODPECKER, JOHN HOFFMAN FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR SUITE OF EDUCATION CLASSES AND TO REGISTER ONLINE, PLEASE VISIT TUCSONAUDUBON.ORG/EDUCATION

4 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher October–December 2014 Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. EVENTS CALENDAR INTERMEDIATE WINTER/SPRING PREVIEW October 10–12. Patagonia Fall Festival Advanced Topics: Flight and All workshops taught by Homer (see p 5) Feathers Hansen unless otherwise specified. October 11. Atturbury Wash Restoration Volunteer Day (see p 11) One of nature’s wonders, the flight Sparrows Specialty Workshop: October 13. Living With Nature lecture of birds is an amazing physiological February 5 & 7, 2015 (Tucson): Birds, Climate Change, and You feat. In this workshop you will take an Raptors Specialty Workshop: with Paul Green in depth look into the how and why of February 13 & 15, 2015 October 15. Birds & Beer at Sky Bar 5–7 pm: bird flight, and how to use observation Advanced Topics: Raptor free slice of pizza, beer at happy hour prices, share your bird photos. of flight patterns as an identification Immersion Weekend with Bill Clark: MARGARETHE BRUMMERMANN October 17–19. SAHBA Home Show at TCC: aid. We will delve into the complexities March 13–15, 2015 come see Tucson Audubon at our Urban Bird of migration, skeletal structure, and Advanced Topics: Birding by Ear: You’re Invited to the Habitat booth. anatomy, as well as flight behaviors. April 16 & 18, 2015 Holiday Potluck and October 18. Gardening to Attract Birds A one day field trip will connect field workshop (see p 4) observations with the topics discussed. Farewell Party! October 30 & November 1. Flight and Monday, December 8, 6 pm, Feathers workshop (see p 4) Instructor: Homer Hansen Register online today! Visit St. Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal November 1. Living With Nature lecture Date and Time: October 30; 5:30 pm– tucsonaudubon.org/education Church, Murphey Gallery East Room (Green Valley): Saving the Great American 8:30 pm & November 1; full day field Contact for all education West: The Story of George Bird Grinnell with trip Each year the holiday potluck Hugh Grinnell activities: Bété Jones at Location: TAS Main Office, Historic Y celebrates you and other members, November 2. Cyclovia at Tucson Audubon Conference Room, University Bld. and [email protected], and all you do for Tucson Audubon. Society (see p 5 & p 11) 5th Ave.; Field Trip Destination TBA. 520-629-0510 x7012 It is a great time to meet new November 8. Atturbury Wash Restoration Volunteer Day (see p 11) Cost: $145/ $110 member discount nature enthusiasts and catch up November 8–9. Birds, Beauty, and Biodiversity with old friends. Birder and botanist retreat and workshop (see p 4) extraordinaire Rich Hoyer (pictured November 10. Living With Nature lecture above) will present Why Botanists (Tucson): Saving the Great American West: Make Better Birders. This year’s The Story of George Bird Grinnell with holiday potluck will be a special Hugh Grinnell celebration for Paul and Eng-Li November 15. Guajalote Flats and Relaxed Lecture on Azure Bluebirds and sub-species at Green, as they conclude their tenure Paton Center (see p 9) at Tucson Audubon. Send them off November 19. Birds & Beer at Sky Bar 5–7 pm: right and bring your warmest wishes. free slice of pizza, beer at happy hour prices, Gift donations will be accepted in share your bird photos. their honor. December 6. Living With Nature lecture Whether this is your first or (Green Valley): Birds of the El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, Sierra de Chiapas, Mexico fifteenth holiday potluck, we hope with David MacKay you will join the fun. Visit www. December 8. Living with Nature lecture tucsonaudubon.org/calendar to (Tucson): Why Botanists Make Better Birders RSVP online today, or call 520-629- with Rich Hoyer and member holiday potluck at FALL COLORS IN PATAGONIA MOUNTAINS, KATE REYNOLDS KATE MOUNTAINS, COLORS IN PATAGONIA FALL 0510 x7002 and Diana will take your St Phillip’s Plaza (see p 5 & p 6) details. When you RSVP, please January 3. Living With Nature lecture (Green See you at the Patagonia Fall Festival! Valley): Urban Bird Habitat: Recipe for October 10, 11, and 12 indicate if you will be bringing a salad, Conservation with Jennie MacFarland main dish (vegan, vegetarian, or January 12. Living With Nature lecture Tucson Audubon Society joins the Known as “the best small town meat), or dessert. We will provide the (Tucson): Urban Bird Habitat: Recipe for 2014 Patagonia Fall Festival! Spread festival in Arizona”, the 26 year-old non-alcoholic beverages. Please bring Conservation with Jennie MacFarland your wings for a day or weekend, Patagonia Fall Festival is an annual your own plates, cutlery, and serving January 31–February 21. Backyard Birding and stop by Tucson Audubon’s booth celebration of music, art, crafts, food utensils from home. and Beyond Part B (see p 4) where our fantastic volunteers will and fun. This free event attracts more February 10. Tucson Audubon Society’s show you how to use binoculars, than 16,000 visitors to the tree-shaded Seventh Annual Gala at the Hilton El Conquistador Resort. Save the date! and where to go and watch birds. park in the center of town over a Cyclovia at Tucson The Tucson Audubon Nature Shop festive 3-day weekend. will be selling some wonderful We hope to see you at the festival Audubon items too! While you’re there, to share your love of birds with the Cyclovia is a community event hosted remember to stop by the Paton local community. For more details by Living Streets Alliance on Sunday Center for Hummingbirds to enjoy about the Patagonia Fall Festival, November 2. For one day the city this jewel nestled in the mountains please visit www.patagoniaaz.com. shuts down 2.5 miles of public streets of Southeast Arizona, while birding For opportunities to volunteer at to be used only for cyclists and those and learning about the exciting, new our booth, please contact Julie at on foot. Join us at our Nature Shop restoration projects taking place on [email protected] or downtown for a day of fun for the the property! 520-629-0510 x7011. whole family. AXEL ELFNER AXEL

Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. October–December 2014 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 5 TUCSON AUDUBON EVENTS & CLASSES Tucson Audubon’s Living with Nature Lecture Series We are back! Our lecture series is a monthly, free of cost, public presentation that seeks to inform, educate, and entertain. We invite speakers who are experts in their fields to present on a variety of GAMBEL’S QUAIL, DORIS EVANS GAMBEL’S HORNED GUAN, DAVID MACKAY HORNED GUAN, DAVID topics related to birds including their

biology and ecology, global, regional, IN GLACIER, PBS.ORG GEORGE GRINNEL and local birding hot spots and conservation issues that affect birds, other wildlife, and their habitats.

TUCSON All lectures will be held at the Pima Community College Downtown Campus, Amethyst Room, 1255 N. Stone Ave. Lectures are Grinnell, the “Father of American and neighborhoods. Do you have the December 6 • Green Valley scheduled for the second Monday Conservation.” Grinnell founded the desire, but need some guidance? Birds of the El Triunfo Biosphere of each month at 7:00 pm, October first Audubon Society, co-founded Jennie will introduce you to “Recipe Reserve, Sierra de Chiapas, through April. the Boone and Crockett Club with Cards” for attracting specific urban Mexico with David MacKay October 13 • Tucson Teddy Roosevelt, and led the effort bird species into our outdoor living Long known to birders, the El Triunfo to establish Glacier National Park. spaces. These cards will provide a Biosphere Reserve has taken on Audiences will travel back in time step by step on the “how to” how to an almost mythical quality due to to the 19th century, listening to create yard habitat for hummingbirds, its remoteness, limited access, rare Grinnell’s own words as taken from Gambel’s Quail, Lesser Goldfinch, birds and intact cloud forest. It is his field journals, memoirs, personal Western Screech-Owl and Curve- the only place in Mexico and one correspondence, and newspaper billed Thrasher. She will give some of the only places anywhere in the editorials. Additionally, audiences background on the origin of this world to see the endangered Horned will enjoy dozens of 19th-century outreach tool within the Tucson Guan and the recently re-discovered photographs, which visually capture Bird Count’s “Bringing Birds Home” Birds, Climate Change, and You Azure-rumped Tanager. Other great Grinnell’s many expeditions and project and will discuss reconciliation with Paul Green birds include the King Vulture, White- discoveries. ecology, the driving force behind this faced Quail-Dove, Fulvous Owl, PYGMY NUTHATCH, KENNETH COLE SCHNEIDER / CCL NUTHATCH, PYGMY Increasing carbon emissions cause initiative started by Mike Rosenzweig a warming planet which results in December 8 • Tucson Resplendent Quetzal, Long-tailed at the U of A. Sharing our urban Manakin, Giant & Nava’s Wrens, changes in climate. Changes in Holiday Potluck: Botanists Make space with wildlife will greatly Pink-headed Warbler, Rosita’s climate bring changes to the lives of Better Birders with Rich Hoyer influence local conservation efforts Bunting and many, more! A visit to birds that we can already see. Some (RSVP required, see p5) in the future. Learn how you can join this beautiful place is an opportunity new models predict species specific Many experienced birders have a in and contribute to this important of a lifetime. Join David MacKay for changes from range expansion to passing interest in plants, but most of movement. a virtual journey and experience the extinction. Paul will briefly examine them can’t tell a cyprus from a cedar, magic of El Triunfo. two recent reports and share what let alone a corymb from an umbel or Save the dates for 2015: they predict for some western bird a palea from a lemma. Who needs February 9 January 3 • Green Valley March 9 species and discuss how each of us to know that if you’re looking at wing Urban Bird Habitat: Recipe April 13 can engage in different ways to help coverts and primary extensions? for Conservation with Jennie our birds. Rich Hoyer will show how your skills MacFarland GREEN VALLEY All lectures November 10 • Tucson in identifying plants and recognizing See description for Tucson, habitat details will help you hone will be held at the Green Valley Saving the Great American West: January 12. your own birding skills with this photo Recreation’s Desert Hills Social The Story of George Bird Grinnell Save the dates for 2015: presentation of plants and birds Center, 2980 S. Camino Del Sol. with Hugh Grinnell February 7 from Arizona. Lectures are scheduled for the first

The great West that George Bird Saturday of the month at 10:00 am March 7 ALAN D. WILSON, WWW.NATURESPICSONLINE.COM HUMMINGBIRD, COSTA’S Grinnell first encountered in 1870 In 2015: from November to April. April 4 VF as a 21-year-old man was shortly November 1 • Green Valley to disappear before his eyes. January 12 • Tucson Nobody was quicker to sense the Urban Bird Habitat: Recipe Saving the Great American West: desecration or was more eloquent in for Conservation with Jennie The Story of George Bird Grinnell crusading against the poachers, the MacFarland with Hugh Grinnell hide-hunters, and the disengaged We all have the power to create See description for Tucson, U.S. Congress than George Bird habitat for urban wildlife in our yards November 10.

6 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher October–December 2014 Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. TUCSON AUDUBON NEWS ROUNDUP

Patagonia Mountains IBA and Our Special Azure Bluebird Arizona Important Bird Areas News Jennie MacFarland, IBA Program Biologist

The Arizona Important Bird Areas of critical importance for (IBA) Program has reached an species associated with exciting phase in its eleventh year and this habitat type. is perfectly situated to spring into its There are many twelfth next year. One recent highlight species of conservation concern was the highly anticipated addition of and high birder interest associated the Patagonia Mountains IBA to this with the extensive oak and meadow network of Arizona sites recognized habitat of the Patagonia Mountains. for their critical role as habitat for These include Arizona Woodpecker, native birds. Tucson Audubon’s Montezuma Quail, Hepatic Tanager amazingly dedicated IBA volunteers and Virginia’s Warbler. One of the helped with survey efforts in this most interesting, however, is a bird CORNELL LAB OF ORNITHOLOGY CORNELL mountain range for many years. Their that not many local birders even Map of Eastern Bluebird distribution. The Eastern Bluebirds we have here in SE Arizona hard hard work was rewarded with this realize is around but can almost are not from the east but from the south. amazing area being recognized as certainly recognize at a glance: an IBA, bringing Arizona’s total up to Eastern Bluebird. There is a distinct these birds as pioneers from the specialty” bird that makes Southeast 45 Important Bird Areas. This newest sub-species of Eastern Bluebird eastern population that have made it Arizona such a great place for birders. IBA stands out among its neighboring that occurs in southeast Arizona out west. But in reality the situation is The Arizona IBA crew will continue sky islands, the Huachuca Mountains known as Azure Bluebird or Mexican more complex and international. The to survey for Azure Bluebirds in IBA and Santa Rita Mountains IBA, Bluebird and they are quite different range of Eastern Bluebirds extends the Patagonia Mountains in the because of its extensive oak habitat from the “regular” Eastern Bluebirds. significantly into Mexico and our Azure face of several threats to this area with intermittent meadows and The Azure Bluebirds that love the Bluebirds are a northern extension of including the Wildcat Silver Mine. The creeks. This habitat zone is restricted meadows and grasslands of southeast the birds that inhabit the Sierra Madre Patagonia Mountains are the most to a “band” of habitat around the Arizona are smaller and paler than mountain chain. This means that the significant habitat for these birds and higher sky islands but makes up their eastern cousins and stay in Azure Bluebird that helped to make we will endeavor to keep this area “for larger portions of this lower elevation this habitat year-round instead of the Patagonia Mountains an Important the birds.” mountain range. This makes this area migrating. It is tempting to think of Bird Area are one more “Mexican COBALT123 / CCL COBALT123 LOIS MANOWITZ There are many species of conservation concern and high birder interest associated with the extensive oak and meadow habitat of the Patagonia Mountains (bottom left) including a bird that not many local birders even realize is around but can almost certainly recognize at a glance, Eastern Bluebird (bottom right).

Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. October–December 2014 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 7 TUCSON AUDUBON NEWS ROUNDUP

So Long, and Thanks for All the Birds . . . Paul Green, Executive Director

Living and working in Tucson has years, beginning with our part in the to try out some ideas for living with as been transformational for me. While eventual defeat of challenges to the close to zero carbon emissions as we I was drawn here by memories of Clean Water Act spearheaded by the can achieve. To that end we will be my first experiences with southeast National Association of Homebuilders relocating at year-end to an off-grid, Arizona birds when I moved to the and their local affiliate, and ending passive solar house on several acres United States in the mid-nineties with what I hope will be a defeat of the of land in northern New Mexico. This to work for the American Birding proposed Rosemont Copper Project. is not retirement but a realignment Association, the lot of an NGO Of increasing importance in my of our lives, and we will continue to executive does not normally lead personal life is my concern over the promote the values of cherishing our to much time in the field. My wife, consumptive and growth-focused natural world which is an important Eng-Li, and I have been very fortunate nature of our society that has led to driving force in our lives. to live in a place where the birds and a range of ills, one of which is the We have been but one small cog wildlife come to us. warming of our planet and climatic in a community of people who have Tucson hosts a unique group of outcomes that will make life difficult inspired and transformed us. We are cooperative and mutually supportive for our species in the coming years. grateful to have had this opportunity, NGOs, has a world-class university, Southeast Arizona, as we are and we thank the many people with and an engaged population. That’s a experiencing, is ground zero for the whom we have worked for teaching us magical mix for environmental thought effects of climate change. new ways of thinking and acting.

and action. And Tucson Audubon Over the last few years Eng-Li and & ENG-LI GREEN PAUL PHOTOS ALL can be proud of many achievements I have been exploring ways of living Right, top to bottom: A small selection of the birds that regularly visit our Tucson abode: and actions over the last eight more sustainably, and have decided Greater Roadrunner, Western Screech-Owl, Harris’s Hawk.

Share a Goodbye Mason Center: Green Energy Exporter and a Thank You Paul Green, Executive Director Cynthia Pruett, Board Chair Mission Accomplished. Those Many of us, board and former were the words used by George board members, volunteers, Villec, leader of GeoInnovation donors, and members, have come (geoinnovation.com), who installed close to Paul and Eng-Li over the the Mason Center’s latest solar array eight years they have been part of pro bono, and who also donated the Tucson Audubon. So we will miss photovoltaic panels. George installed them at the end of the year when the panels on our Education Center they move to New Mexico. They ten years ago, and on our straw bale are leaving with quite a legacy. composting toilet facility. Just a simple thank you does The graph says it all: Tucson not seem to adequately convey Audubon’s Mason Center is a net how much they have meant to us exporter of clean, solar energy to as individuals, to the organization, our community. This is your success: PAUL & ENG-LI GREEN PAUL members and supporters made and the community. Perhaps Mason Center’s newest solar array was donated and installed by GeoInnovation. the Spanish “mil gracias” comes this possible. The story began with the replacement of our single pane closer, but I would recommend 889 Over the last year, use of electricity derived that we all, in unison, shout the 1950s windows and continued with largely from fossil fuel at Tucson Audubon’s Mason Center has dropped from 900 kwh per loudest, biggest Thank You we the installation of roof insulation, 666 an efficient heat pump for heating month to less than zero, as shown in this TEP can manage. You can do that by graph. We now have a credit of 2700 kwh for coming to the Annual Pot Luck on and cooling, and then solar panels 444 the year. December 8 (see p 5 & 6), sharing to generate the power for heating, kwh time with them, and we can make cooling, lighting, cooking, and water 222 the rafters ring. heating and pumping. At this point in the year we have accumulated a credit of 2700 kwh of 2013 0 2014 Read energy. Date 9/17 10/16 11/14 12/17 1/20 2/18 3/19 4/17 5/16 6/17 7/17 8/15 9/16 Avg Temp 87 75 66 56 55 60 64 67 72 85 88 88 84

8 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher October–December 2014 Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. TUCSON AUDUBON NEWS ROUNDUP

Win-Win for Azure The Paton Center for Hummingbirds Bluebirds and Arizona Hard Times Ahead for a Natural Oasis? Vineyards Jonathan Horst Keith Ashley, Coordinator: Tucson Audubon’s Paton Center for Hummingbirds Azure (or Mexican) Bluebirds (Sialia sialis fulva) are a subspecies of the We like to think of the Paton Center Eastern Bluebird limited in range for Hummingbirds in Patagonia as a to northern Mexico and southeast safe space for birds and people alike, Arizona. Here they nest primarily but life is rarely so simple. Both birds in the Patagonia and Huachuca and people depend upon a much Mountains, often visiting the larger context for their survival than grasslands surrounding these Sky what is immediately obvious. Sadly Islands. Due to its strict habitat we’ve learned that exploratory mineral requirements, the Azure Bluebird is drilling—and the disturbance of vital listed by Arizona Game & Fish as a habitat—has now been sanctioned in “Species of Greatest Conservation the heart of the Patagonia Mountains, Need” and “Vulnerable.” without appropriate environmental In partnership with the Sonoita studies. Wine Guild and several other Mines destroy and poison organizations, Tucson Audubon communities of both people and is launching an Azure Bluebird birds. While mines provide necessary conservation project. We will install resources, in the case of recent claims nest boxes on the vineyards of around Patagonia, the gross contrast the Sonoita grasslands and in the between tiny profits for foreign Patagonia Mountains. Though companies and vast destruction of breeding in the grasslands is the local ecology and economy is historically documented for Azures, alarming and extreme. eBird and first-hand accounts Mining operations bring with GE GOODWIN reveal that the breeding range and them noise, roads, air pollution, population numbers have decreased. water pollution, water depletion, Hike, Learn, Eat: Seven Research states lack of adequate potential changes to the bedrock Saturdays in Patagonia nesting cavities to be the population’s itself, and many unknowns. Two One way to build awareness of the primary limiting factor. things to keep in mind about the richness of the Patagonia Mountains Re-opening the grasslands Patagonia Mountains are that their is to participate in the Seven as breeding territory will not only water is already highly mineralized Saturdays in Patagonia program strengthen the population, but also and in relatively short supply. Mining activities. One Saturday each month increase species resilience to climate operations from the late 1800s into from October 2014 to May 2015 change and potential loss of habitat the early 1960s have left a legacy of (excluding December) we will lead a through mining and agriculture. This contamination, adding higher levels hike in the surrounding area, offer a project will also model the innovative of dangerous metals to the water relaxed lecture on a local conservation principle of reconciliation ecology— supply. New mining efforts would topic, and invite people to support the intentionally designing human land most likely raise the level of those local economy by purchasing food use to actively benefit sensitive

contaminants even higher—perhaps THOMPSON RICHARD in town for a picnic. Registration species. In this case, the vineyards quite steeply. They would also drain for the hike and the lecture are hosting nest boxes will benefit by enormous amounts of water for required and are separate. You can Meet PARA! hosting a beautiful, blue-feathered, their operations—water currently participate in one, two, or all three of The Patagonia Area insect-eating army to protect their supporting wildlife. We don’t believe these activities. Find out more on our Resource Alliance grapes. it’s too late to save this treasured website at: www.tucsonaudubon.org/ (PARA) is a grassroots, non-profit We need your help to make this area, but we must act soon. paton. community alliance committed project a reality. Teams of nest box What can you do? Arm yourself Nov. 15: Hike with Bryon Lichtenhan to preserving and protecting builders and monitors will be crucial to with education by studying the PARA in Guajalote Flats (in search of Azure the Patagonia, Arizona area. success. We are also actively seeking website (www.patagoniaalliance.org) Bluebirds). One way to get to know their financial sponsorship for the project. and Tucson Audubon’s Action Alert work is by watching the 18 Contact Keith Ashley (kashley@ web page (www.tucsonaudubon. Nov. 15: Relaxed Lecture with minute documentary film “Mining tucsonaudubon.org) or Jonathan org/act-now/alerts.html). Participate Jennie MacFarland: Why Sub- Patagonia” on their website at Horst ([email protected]) in related activities and support our species Matter (a discussion of www.patagoniaalliance.org/ for more information. conservation work through generous southeast Arizona subspecies and the patagonia-area-videos/ donations. stories they tell us).

Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. October–December 2014 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 9 TUCSON AUDUBON NEWS ROUNDUP

Fourth Annual Tucson Bird & Wildlife Festival Roundup Julie Pulliam, Events & Volunteer Coordinator

Thank you for supporting the fourth continues to grow each year. Please website and birdsnews.com for more annual Tucson Bird & Wildlife Festival! enjoy this short glimpse of the festival photos! We look forward to seeing you You made this event a success and it and check out our facebook page, next year, August 12–16, 2015!

THANK YOU TO

OUR DONORS ALAN D. WILSON/NATURESPICSONLINE.COM BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD, KENDALL KROESEN KENDALL LAURENS HALSEY KENDALL KROESEN KENDALL Gifts in Honor/Memory: In memory of Ed Caldwell from Mary Caldwell In honor of Casa de San Pedro Bed & Breakfast from Carolyn Greene In honor of Les Corey from Diana Freshwater KENDALL KROESEN KENDALL JULIE PULLIAM KROESEN KENDALL In memory of Carol Jones from Top row, L to R: Volunteers (and attendees), Wanda Wynne and Craig Marken smiling after dinner with keynote speaker Robert Mesta and special guest Raul Grijalva; California Gulch field trip group viewing a Five-Striped Sparrow with leader Laurens Halsey; Conservation Barbara & Joseph Brinig Advocate Matt Clark speaks with a visitor at the festival Advocacy Station. Bottom row, L to R: Keynote speaker Steve N.G. Howell visits In memory of Michael Aaron Lyman with friends and guests at the WINGS Birding Tours booth; Arizona Game & Fish Department Environmental Educator Sam Huselton takes a moment to smile for the camera. This was a popular exhibit for visitors at the Nature Expo, with live birds and desert animal from Eric J. Lyman demonstrations; A young birder learns about binoculars with Leica Sport Optics representative Jeff Bouton. In memory of Ronnie Sidner from Jane Ash, Bam & Kevin Dahl, WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Martha Anne Jaffe, Cheryl & David Lazaroff, Carole & Michael Michael Abbott, Dabney Altaffer, Marlene Hilligoss, Sidney Hirsh, Mary & Ed Post, Don Prentice, Rosenzweig, Candance Sidner, Maria Altemus, Sharon & Max Atwell, Jeff Horton, Bruce Housik, Suzanne German Quiroga, Patricia Reardon, and Mindy Sparks Matt & Rebecca Bailey, Thea Baker, Hunter, Bill & Kathy Johnston, C.J. Elizabeth Evans & Steve Reitz, Karen Marchi & Michael Barnes, Karamargin, Lieve Keeney, Andrea Joy Remer, Taralynn Reynolds, In memory of Lucy Tarbox from Mark Barry, John Barthelme, Carol Kennedy, Donna Kidder, Kathy King, Heather & Christopher RoDee, Diana Marlene Hilligoss Baum, Bob Bauman, Karl Becker, Ralph Kitchens, Edwin Kohlhepp, Rosenblum, Cheryl Ross, Gayle In honor of Richard Tipton from Jan Bernardini, Diana & John Bragg, Kathy Kuyper, Linda Langin, Salisbury, Lois & Gonzalo Sanchez, Marjie & Dick Tipton Bill Brown, Laurie & Mark Bryant, Geraldene Larrington, Joshua George Saravia, Rick Saxton, Amy Thank You to Our Martha Burgess, Steven Caldwell, Lazenby, Peggy & Wilson Leggett, Schlossberg, Susan Scott, Dan Frequent Flyers Marc Callis, Matt Clark, Laurel & Dan Lehman, Nancy Lehrkamp, Sheahan, Forrest Shorman, Melinda Sid Clarke, Martha Collier, Helen Ronda Lustman & Paul Winick, Elena & Irwin Simon, Stephen Spare, Carol Ardeth Barnhart, Myrna Beards, Cordier, Barbara Cornelsen, William Martin, Michael Martyna, Barbara & Greg Starr, Judy Staubo, E Ann Melanie Builder, Andrea Cohen, Craig, Laura Diaz, Michael Ehrhardt, McCarter, Judy McCarthy, Nathan Stewart, Mary Jane Stilley, Joan Janet Cohn, Mich Coker, Christine Lois Eisenstein, David Elwood, McDonald, Carol McLain, Brianna Stunz, Bonnie Swarbrick, Chris Tanz, Curtis, Sandy Elers, Peggy Ford, Jane & Richard Evans, John Ferner, McTeague, Judy & Paul Mercer, Sue Taylor, Candace Temple, Patty Marcy Gray, Mike Judd, John Jon Fimbres, Robert Finnan, Craig Lillian Meriwether, Joan Merrill- Tersey & Keith Kamper, William Kennedy, Susan Kozacek, Erin Fletcher, Janice Fletcher, Judith & Brundage & Alan Brundage, Hugh Tyndall, Elda Vail, Susan Valachi, Olmstead, Mary Beth Slivka, Deb Thomas Ford, Syrene Forsman, Metcalfe, Nancy & Walter Miller, Linda & Tim Valder, Sonya Valentin, Vath, Nancy Young Wright, Claire Patricia & Howard Frederick, Beverly Steven Miller, Bonnie Paton Moon & Kaaren Zvonik & Stephanie Velsmid, Zucker Gallagher, Katie Gannon, Camille Richard Moon, Marla Motove, Kelvin Frances Walker, Hugh Ward, Monthly giving through automatic Gannon, Margot & Jose Garcia, Murphy, Brooke Myers, Diana Nash, Elizabeth & Christopher Warren, credit card or bank withdrawals is Kathleen & Robert Goodrich, Mary Will Nelson, Genavieve Hueftle & Sarah Whelan, Marty Wilde, Anne convenient, secure, and simply one Gould, Marlesa Gray, Vera & Gary Bob Nonamaker, Susan Norris, Betty & Ron Williams, Melissa Williams, of the best ways you can support Gregg, Teresa Hager & Lee Milligan, Ohr, Ingrid Orlowski, Christopher Leoma Wittenberg-Love Tucson Audubon’s programs. Nerissa Hall, Virginia Hanes, Linda Overlock, Michael Parker, Janet For more information, visit Hansen, Phyllis & Bob Harris, Janos Parkhurst, Candy Parsons, Kerry Diana Rosenblum, Membership & tucsonaudubon.org/give. VF Hegede, Norma & Tim Helentjaris, & Dave Paul, Barbara Pemp, Development Assistant

10 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher October–December 2014 Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. TUCSON AUDUBON NEWS ROUNDUP VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Volunteer Update Meet Ken Murphy! “Birds brought me to Tucson, and Julie Pulliam, Events & Volunteer Coordinator I love it!” Birding aficionado Ken Murphy began volunteering with Warmest Welcome fundraiser that gives people a chance Tucson Audubon this past May 2014 to the new members of Tucson to enjoy Tucson from a different and has spread his wings into many Audubon’s volunteer team: perspective (outside of the car). Bring roles, serving twice a week as a Linda Elling, Hanna Hard, Kathy a friend and a smile for this exciting Nature Shop attendant, an Important Kuyper, Tyler Loomis (intern), Donya event, and rally cyclists and walkers Bird Area surveyor, and most Meggs, Francine Wetzel (intern). along the route to participate in fun, recently taking on the role of Field birdy activities at the Tucson Audubon A Big Thank-You! Trip Coordinator. Nature Shop! Birding is a passion for Ken—it’s Ken Murphy, at the Smithsonian. Thank you fabulous volunteers for In December, celebrate with one reason he became a field trip your commitment and hard work! members, fellow volunteers and coordinator. “I love talking to people it’s helping a customer find the right Over the past few months you made staff while offering your event about birds—it’s always fun to help a binoculars or surveying out in the great things happen at Tucson assistance skills. The Holiday beginner learn how to identify a bird field. “It’s been fun! My favorite times Audubon. We extend a special thanks Potluck December 8 is a special time along with its behavior and habitat, are when people call or see me to our 62 core volunteers who made to bring everyone together, and wish and I enjoy the camaraderie of the with birding questions—it’s where I the 2014 Tucson Bird & Wildlife Paul and Eng-Li Green a farewell. long-time birders,” says Ken. thrive.” Festival a success. You made us Growing up on a 24-acre ranch Ken continues to grow within shine brightly, and it’s because of For volunteers who like to work in the Sonoma wine country of his roles at Tucson Audubon. He you that this festival can thrive. We behind the scenes, fall is a great time California, Ken was surrounded by plans to round up more field trips. extend our gratitude for your time, to participate in planning for Tucson wildlife and vineyards, and naturally He hopes to expand them further commitment and positive energy. Audubon Society’s signature events, inspired by the birds and animals on afield into areas like New Mexico, What a joy to work together; you including our seventh annual Gala held the land. “I always loved birds as a California and Mexico. brought a smile to my face and to in February 2015 and the fifth annual kid, particularly birds of prey,” says Ken’s favorite bird? There are too many others! Thank you. Tucson Bird & Wildlife Festival next August. These roles are integral in Ken. It wasn’t until he took a college many for him to choose. He credits Your Volunteer Season: creating successful events and offer class about birds that he branched birds of prey as his inspiration, but October–December 2014 variety and flexibility to tailor to your out to birding. now he’s drawn to wood warblers, We have some exciting events strengths and experience levels. Ken graduated from Sonoma in particular, the Painted Redstart. happening in the fall! As always, Lastly, if you enjoy working in an State University with a BS in Biology “It’s a standout bird, with its beautiful please stay tuned for other rewarding environment where you can interact and Geology (influenced by his love colors and gregarious personality— opportunities that may not be with visitors to Tucson Audubon of the land). In the year 2000, he coming right up close to birders,” previewed below. Hope to see you Society, please consider taking a ventured to Flagstaff, Arizona and says Ken. this fall! few hours each week to work at our worked in a chemistry lab while If you are looking for Ken, you Would you like to serve as the Nature Shop. This is a committed leading occasional birding trips for will usually find him outdoors, face of Tucson Audubon Society, role that can be very rewarding while the local Audubon chapter. When whether it’s birding, hiking, travelling while connecting with 16,000 visitors learning and helping others in a he made a career change, he or photographing (his most recent in the Patagonia community? The retail setting. jumped on the opportunity to move interest). When he’s not outdoors, Patagonia Fall Festival, October For more information about to Tucson, where he had always you will find him picking up a good 10–12 is a great opportunity to these opportunities and more, planned to retire. “I just got a 10–15 read, rockhounding (one of his spread your wings and day-trip to please contact Julie at volunteer@ year headstart!” he chuckles. scientific passions) and spending Patagonia. Manage an outreach table tucsonaudubon.org, 520.209.1811, Ken enjoys volunteering at time with his companion bird of 20 with fellow volunteers, while selling tucsonaudubon.org/volunteer. Tucson Audubon, and credits those years, a Blue-headed Parrot named merchandise and educating people moments that inspire him, whether Frank. about the Tucson Audubon’s Paton Center for Hummingbirds. Atturbury Wash Workdays are back with opportunities October 11 and November 8. Wield your outdoor strengths at this urban habitat restoration site with a team of volunteers to plant native plants and create natural channel design KENDALL KROESEN KENDALL structures. JULIE PULLIAM STAFFORD LAURA Ready for a fun event that L to R: Tyler Loomis and Donya Meggs representing Tucson Audubon with fun activities at the 2014 Desert Museum “Conservation is connects with the Tucson Cool” Summer Night; Volunteer Joe Eigner greeting visitors with a smile at the 2014 Tucson Bird & Wildlife Festival, as he does each community? Join us for Cyclovia, a year; Operations and Retail Coordinator Sarah Whelan and volunteer Ken Murphy are all smiles after helping many customers with their purchases at Tucson Audubon’s on-site Nature Shop at the 2014 Tucson Bird & Wildlife Festival.

Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. October–December 2014 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 11 Interesting stories about birds with interesting ­names Crissal Thrasher LARRY LIESE

I used to love leading Tucson Audubon inviolate nature of field trips to Catalina State Park. While the Law of Priority, WHAT’S IN A NAME WHAT’S we arranged carpooling to the park I’d it wasn’t until prime the visiting birders to be ready 1983 that it was for two local species they would want decided to make to see there that were more difficult the correction elsewhere—Rufous-winged Sparrow when the species name and Crissal Thrasher. We’d arrive at dorsale was suppressed the picnic grounds and start walking by the International to the rest rooms near the Equestrian Commission on Trail—conveniently passing the garbage Zoological dumpster behind which a pair of Crissal Nomenclature Thrashers was nearly always present. I’d and things were hear their “tuit-tuit”/”chewy-chewy” calls put right. Or were and call out to the group: “Oh! There’s they? Let’s take a look GEORGE WEST BY ILLUSTRATION one right there!” A little sneaky, but it at the Law of Priority, a made for a great start to a field trip. cornerstone of biological Our bird this issue is Crissal Thrasher, nomenclature, and you can make up back, which is not distinctive a bird of desert washes and riparian your own mind. in our bird). A month later thickets. It favors dense, brushy habitats The Law of Priority is one of the most that page was reissued with which in the desert are infrequent and important contributions to the regulation the correction to T. crissale patchily distributed. It is one of the more of nomenclature. Prior to its formulation (referring to the bird’s bright terrestrial thrashers in our area. Unless species were referred to by a mish-mash rufous crissum), and until perched for singing or calling to attract of local, sometimes overlapping names 1920 the bird was referred to in the mates and proclaim territories, these that caused much confusion in taxonomy. corrected form. But … in 1920 Oberholser birds forage, evade intruders and evict The Law states that each distinct living insisted that the original T. dorsale name trespassers almost entirely from the thing retain inviolate its original and had legal precedence and it resumed ground which can make this bird hard to unique binomial name as long as it is as the official name. This carried on for find and difficult to see well. Interestingly, scientifically valid and, once published, half a century until the 1983 change. published literature indicates that its initial form becomes a technical term Take a look in any early field guide you although nest predation is common by describing that species—regardless of might have (my old Golden Guide has it), corvids, snakes, and perhaps Greater whether mistakes in spelling, grammar, and you will find the former name listed. Roadrunners, no predation of adults have color or place name occurred. Birders joke that it took nearly 150 years been noted. This makes me wonder about In practice, as knowledge grows of to get it straight, but one could still argue birds south of the border where their the taxonomical relationships between against the change! habits and range in Mexico are very poorly species, genera, families etc., it is not An interesting story, right? I thought known. I once heard a talk on Aplomado uncommon for genera to be changed— it a fitting end to this article series. As I Falcons in the State of Chihuahua. In their but unless lumps or splits occur the mentioned in the last issue, this will be the main range there when vegetation was species name will follow the organism final “What’s In A Name” article. In closing dense enough to attract the thrashers, through time. the series, I’d like to add thanks as always they were the falcons’ main prey. I don’t In the story of our thrasher, in 1855 to Dr. George West, whose bird images recall whether individual thrasher species the original specimens were gathered by have brightened the articles and brought were mentioned in that talk, but Sage, T.C. Henry, an army surgeon stationed their professionalism up a number of Curve-billed, and Crissal Thrashers are in New Mexico. He forwarded them via notches. I’d also like to thank Tucson present there. John Cassin to Spencer Baird at the Audubon for allowing me space in each Our bird presently carries the scientific Smithsonian Institution in Washington. Vermilion Flycatcher issue for them, and name Toxostoma crissale. Although this In 1858, Baird’s description of the new especially Matt Griffiths for putting up with was the originally intended species name thrasher was published under Henry’s my abuse of the submission deadlines. from the time of original publication in name. Unfortunately, that publication A relief for both of us, right Matt? It’s 1858, for much of its existence its proper was fraught with errors, including a been a fun run of articles. I hope you’ve scientific name remained T. dorsale, duplication of a junco’s species name all enjoyed reading them and perhaps a printer’s error duplicating a junco’s for the thrasher. Thus, Crissal Thrasher learned a bit along the way. Good luck out name in the same publication. Due to the was named T. dorsale (referring to the there birding! VF

12 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher October–December 2014 Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. How to locate birds based on the plants they use What Do Owls Need for Habitat? RICH HOYER

Getting to know owls and their habitats islands. They will nest in holes made in FOR BETTER BIRDING is tricky—such is the challenge with mesquites, oaks, sycamores, saguaros, nocturnal creatures. There is still a lot or even power poles. They feed almost we don’t know about what owls need entirely on invertebrates that thrive in BOTANY BOTANY to call a place home, but observing that warm desert nights, especially moths, many of our locally breeding species beetles, and others such as scorpions, occur in a huge variety of habitat types but they will also catch small mammals seems to point to something other than a and reptiles if the opportunity arises. dependence on particular plant species. Their prey of choice might be what limits We might start on the assumption that them at higher elevations, but introduced owls need a place to nest above all. Mediterranean geckos and countless Then consider that they need food as moths, beetles, and grasshoppers can be well as a daytime roost where they can found almost anywhere in urban Tucson avoid predators and mobbing passerines. during the warmer months, so maybe the It seems you don’t really need to be a lack of nesting cavities is the answer. In botanist to know how to find owls. nature, their cavities are largely created WESTERN SCREECH-OWL IN NEST BOX, KEITH CARLSON IN NEST WESTERN SCREECH-OWL A large variety of nest sites are used by woodpeckers—Ladder-backed and by owls, depending on their size. All of the Arizona are probably the most common smaller ones use cavities—either natural constructors, though Acorn Woodpecker species has been known to take bats holes in trees or old woodpecker holes, is most certainly responsible for the most leaving roosts as well as many insects. and the size of the hole is important. As familiar holes in Madera Canyon. In So the lack of nesting cavities might also for a place to hide during the day, a dense several places, such as Big Bend National be the limiting factor for this species. tree or bush works for some, while a tree Park, the species has been known to nest What if there were appropriately- cavity might be preferred for the smaller in nest boxes in desert areas completely sized next boxes placed with the correct species. But the more difficult trick seems devoid of trees. height and compass direction in alleys to be understanding what exactly they eat Western Screech-Owl is a bit pickier throughout Tucson? Would we have and what the habitat is of this prey. with its food choice, preferring a higher these wonderful denizens of the night in Then what is it that urban Tucson lacks percentage of small mammals, which it our own back yards, keeping insect and for owls? I live near the U of A Campus catches on the ground in open areas. rodent populations in check as well as Agricultural Center on Roger Road, and They also need larger cavities, which are charming us with their barks and hoots? VF in 16 years have had Great Horned fewer in number in most areas. But there Owl regularly but Elf Owl only twice, might be plenty for them to eat year-round Rich Hoyer is a Senior Leader for WINGS presumably as fall migrants. Once I found in Tucson, if the mouse population in my Birding Tours Worldwide, wingsbirds.com/ a Western Screech-Owl in Christmas neighborhood is any indication; and the leaders/rich-hoyer. Wash near here, but only once. So clearly something is missing in urban Tucson. Great Horned Owl needs a platform to nest on—an old Red-tailed Hawk nest Support the WILD Nest Box Business or some other flat structure such as a Tucson high school students at the Western concrete bridge abutment works, and Institute for Leadership Development (WILD) their prey base of Desert Cottontails and are now working with Tucson Audubon to build rats (and perhaps even un-housed cats) nest boxes according to scientific specs. Screech- seems to have no end here in Tucson. owl and kestrel boxes will be sold on a trial basis They seem to be perfectly at home in our Nature Shop. The school’s MakerSpace roosting in an ornamental pine, tamarisk, program is exploring projects with the “Triple P or Red River gum, and for these reasons Bottomline” of People, Planet, and Profit—part of most everyone has Great Horned Owl in WILD’s “Changemaker” project-based curriculum. their neighborhood. Support their efforts by purchasing a box. If you But what about Elf Owl? Consider don’t have space for a box at home, consider that Elf Owls can be found in the desert sponsoring a box. We are currently developing a suburbs of Tucson and nests in surprising Luis Benitez, freshman, and Daniel Huerta, junior, sponsorship program. Contact Keith to find out densities in any kind of desert, well make sure their pieces for an American Kestrel box more: [email protected]. up into the lower oak zone of our sky will fit together well.

Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. October–December 2014 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 13 Stormy Weather PAUL GREEN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

CLIMATE CHANGE CLIMATE The earth is warming. Modeling Bird Futures: NAS To help us, scientists have built Climate patterns models that describe future bird species are changing. Birds distributions in the light of a changing climate. Some models study tens to will be affected by hundreds of bird species taking into account climate envelopes and scores changes in the annual of climate variables to predict future timing of natural distributions. Other models study fewer species and include non-climatic variables events (phenology), (like vegetation) because animal species respond to more than just climate events. and by changes and Proponents of this approach argue shifts in habitat. Their that projections using little or no prior ecological knowledge in both the design physiological limits and and interpretation may produce odd or THRASHER, LOIS MANOWITZ SAGE misleading results. more than half their current climatic range ability to adapt will National Audubon Society’s (NAS) by 2080), and climate stable (204 species). recently launched climate change report determine their survival. Other species’ ranges may expand. is an example of the former approach. Consider the saguaro. How will climate It combines a climate change prediction Modeling Bird Futures: with bird distribution information from change affect the distribution of our van Riper drought-adapted, cold-intolerant, iconic the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and cactus? Saguaros support cavity nesting the Christmas Bird Count. Using An example of a model that uses species such as Gilded Flicker, Gila information from the current winter and more variables to predict future ranges Woodpecker and the 12 other species summer ranges of 588 species, they of birds in the western US was published that depend on the holes they create, describe a “climate envelope”—defined this year. Charles van Riper and his such as Elf Owl and desert nesting Purple by temperature, precipitation and colleagues at the USGS Southwest Martin. In arid region ecosystems that seasonality—for each species. The model Biological Science Center (van Riper) have not co-evolved with a fire cycle, predicts where that envelope would used a pre-selected set of GCMs that the probability of loss of charismatic enable the species to live in 2050 and are known to be good predictors of megaflora such as saguaro cacti and 2080. For their climate prediction they southwestern climate (five individual Joshua trees will greatly increase. In used three scenarios for greenhouse and one ensemble GCM), for the A1B addition, southward flows of unusually gas emissions: low [SRES B2], medium emission scenario, to characterize future cold air into our region resulting from [A1b], and high [A2]. Each scenario was climatic conditions in three time periods disruption to the polar vortex can kill represented by outputs from multiple (2010–39; 2040–69; and, 2070–99). saguaros with freezing temperatures. general circulation models (GCMs)— They included plant species and, while How will the birds react? averaged across the GCM projections—to the total contribution of plants in each We have known for some time generate a single climate projection distribution model was small, inclusion that species of all kinds will shift their for each time period and scenario. of plant distribution effects led to more distributions—and in some cases are Emission scenarios were derived from negative projections—either less gains already doing so—to adapt to the the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate or greater losses in breeding range— changes wrought by a warming planet. Change (IPCC) 4th Assessment Report. than models with only physical variables A National Audubon Society report from NAS suggests that half the birds of (climatic or landscape). van Riper 2009 revealed that nearly 60 percent of North America are at risk of extinction due also found that the warmer the current the 305 relatively widely distributed bird to projected changes in climate as a result range of a bird species, the greater the species found in North America in winter of global warming. They have divided projected distributional gain or the less are on the move, shifting their ranges the 588 bird species studied into three the projected loss. northward by an average of 35 miles. groups: climate endangered (126 species However, both van Riper and the How do we best plan our conservation projected to lose more than half their NAS teams commented that few general efforts to take these changes into current climatic range by 2050), climate patterns have emerged from their studies. account? threatened (188 species projected to lose Changing climates will not uniformly

14 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher October–December 2014 Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. PYGMY NUTHATCH, LEN BLUMIN NUTHATCH, PYGMY

Conclusions van Riper intends the results of their study to provide a series of projected range maps that will enable scientists, concerned citizens, and land and wildlife

WILLIAMSON’S SAPSUCKER, FRANK LOSPALLUTO managers to identify what the potential The projected range losses for Sage Thrasher, effects of climate change will be on bird Williamson’s Sapsucker and Pygmy Nuthatch are of a van Riper’s Findings and reptile distributions in the Western magnitude that could move these three species close to United States. They anticipate their extinction within the next century. van Riper’s team found that for Virginia’s results may be used in proactive ways Warbler the most important factors in to mitigate some of the potential effects decreasing order were terrain ruggedness, affect all species and some species will of climate change on selected species. the range of Gambel Oak, mean winter gain in suitable areas and thus possibly NAS says that mapping each species’ precipitation, mean summer temperature, mean experience increases in population climatic range and assigning it a threat summer precipitation, and exposure to sunlight. numbers, while other species will level helps to conserve birds by giving The Virginia’s Warbler’s breeding range is experience distribution contractions and conservationists and natural resource projected to decrease slightly, by 1.5–7 percent, likely shrinking populations. managers a general idea about where between 2010 and 2099. In one pattern that did emerge, van to concentrate their efforts. NAS calls Other species included in Van Riper’s Riper found that those bird species its report a ‘call to action’, including study are Black-throated Sparrow (47 percent with the strongest association with a continuing to protect areas important to range increase), Gray Vireo (71 percent range landscape feature during the breeding birds today and that may be important increase), Pinyon Jay (30 percent range season, such as terrain ruggedness and in the future. In any event, the bigger decrease), Pygmy Nuthatch (81 percent range amount of sunlight, exhibited the smallest issue is for us to aggressively reduce decrease), and Sage Thrasher and Williamson’s contractions in projected breeding range greenhouse gas emissions and consume Sapsucker (both 78 percent range decrease). in the future. Landscape effects appeared fewer natural resources, to avoid The projected range losses for Sage to buffer some of the negative effects of reductions in bird habitats. Thrasher, Williamson’s Sapsucker and Pygmy climate change for some species. Critically, NAS’s Chief Scientist Gary Nuthatch are of a magnitude that could move While the NAS report covers more Langham admits that we are working these three species close to extinction within species and a greater geographic area, in the dark, since we don’t know how the next century. van Riper and NAS’s studies it has some limitations. It covers some most species will respond to increasing agree in this respect. Although all three species breeding and wintering birds in Canada temperatures, or how ecologically currently have a relatively limited distribution, and the USA, but not in Mexico or further important factors such as food resources they can be locally common and neither is south, and data from migrating birds have and habitat will change. Both van Riper presently considered a candidate for federal not been captured so the modeling does and NAS note that plants migrate more listing as threatened or endangered. This not help us predict the effects on or of slowly than animals. So even if a bird suggests the need to reconsider how the US migratory stopover sites. Further, some species can shift its range, how long might Fish & Wildlife Service currently assesses species, including nocturnal, riparian, and it take for suitable habitat to catch up? VF candidate species for listing under the low density species are not captured well Projecting Climate Effects on Birds and Reptiles of the by the BBS, making it hard for the model Endangered Species Act. Southwestern United States by Charles van Riper to predict their future ranges. For example, III, James R. Hatten, J. Tom Giermakowski, David see maps for Western Screech-Owl and Mattson, Jennifer A. Holmes, Matthew J. Johnson, Gilded Flicker at climate.audubon.org overlap means the bird’s climatic range Erika M. Nowak, Kirsten Ironside, Michael Peters, Paul Heinrich, K. L. Cole, C. Truettner, and Cecil R. doesn’t shift much. No overlap means the The climate.audubon.org animated Schwalbe. Open-File Report 2014–1050. U.S. http:// maps can be difficult to interpret—more species will potentially leave its current pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1050/ useful are the Venn diagrams that indicate climatic range entirely. Birds then will have http://climate.audubon.org to adapt to the new conditions in situ, or the species’ range size in 2000 and 2080 See also http://data.prbo.org/cadc2/index. where the amount of overlap between move to where favorable conditions exist, php?page=maps#WesternUS the 2000 and 2080 circles indicates how or not move and not be able to adapt, stable the climatic range will be. Lots of possibly leading to extinction.

Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. October–December 2014 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 15 The Urban Oasis: Battleground for the Birds Urban birder? Urban bird nest boxes, keep cats indoors and Landscape actively prevent window strikes. URBAN OASES gardener? Urban habitat Recognition Program Tucson Audubon wll provide classes creator! In our yards and On January 1, 2015 Tucson Audubon and home visits to help you bring your will launch a program to recognize yard into compliance with recognition in our neighborhoods, yards that have made substantial criteria. There will be three levels of we increasingly have the progress toward resource conservation, recognition, each recognizing a higher sustainability and support for birds. level of attainment. power to support thriving This will include properties where There will be an initial fee and a sign and nurturing habitats. native vegetation has been left in place will announce to neighbors that the yard but the focus is on suburban lots that has been recognized by Tucson Audubon. Don’t just stand your employ the principles Tucson Audubon’s Landowners will need to recertify ground. Why not develop it Urban Program has been promoting for periodically. several years. These principles include Kendall Kroesen, to host birds and wildlife? shifting irrigation toward rainwater and Urban Program Manager Research by John Marzluff suggests gray water and away from potable water. that, at least in some regions, bird To be recognized, homeowners will diversity in suburbs is higher than in need to landscape with native plants, urban city centers and rural natural areas. have high diversity of native plants, His new book, Welcome to Subirdia, is create cover, create shade, and employ available now. diverse vegetation structure. See www. In Tucson, in a sense, we have brought tucsonaudubon.org/urban for more on our rural riparian areas into our yards. high-quality urban habitat. The water that used to flow in streams Recognized properties will also need to and rivers now comes out of our faucets. do at least some of the following: reduce Some riparian species like Abert’s or eliminate pesticide use, rely less on Towhee, Lucy’s Warbler and Bell’s Vireo rock for ground cover, reduce raking and regularly show up in our yards. pruning, support native insects, have Don’t get me wrong—bird populations have suffered terribly from the loss of habitat along the Santa Cruz River, Rillito and other western rivers. But we can conserve potable water, someday sending some back to our rivers, and still irrigate our back yards with harvested rain. This “Urban Oasis” concept is the theme of our Gala dinner in February. It is also central to my work as Tucson Audubon’s Urban Program Manager. In addition, yards—properly engineered, planted and tended—can support some of the species that will decline due to climate change (see pages 14–15). Helping birds will require lifestyle changes (water is not the only thing we need to conserve) and a different way of conceptualizing the suburban landscape. As the climate changes, for some species our back yards may be a key to survival. On this page are some of the ways you can make your back yard a true

urban oasis. KROESEN KENDALL BOTH PHOTOS Kendall Kroesen, Top to bottom: Associate Director, Operations Sara Pike noting scores of tiny bees on graythorn in the Nature Shop yard. Urban Program Manager Kendall Kroesen studied other back yard recognition programs, including Portland Audubon’s, in Urban Program Manager designing Tucson Audubon’s program.

16 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher October–December 2014 Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. The Urban Oasis: Battleground for the Birds

from Arizona Game and Fish Department Recipe Cards for to to bring these recipe cards into reality. Urban Bird Habitat Recipe cards for five species are being Protecting and enhancing urban bird created now, with many other species habitat was an overarching goal of the in the works. These cards and the Tucson Bird Count (TBC) when it was corresponding, more detailed information founded in 2001. Mike Rosenzweig, on the TBC website (www.tucsonbirds. one of the founders of the TBC, coined org) will endeavor to appeal to non- birders and birders alike with the ultimate

DAN MOONEY the term “reconciliation ecology” and he A Western Screech-Owl in a nestbox. always envisioned outreach encouraging goal of gaining the interest of residents Tucson residents to create bird habitat who have never thought deeply about in their yards (read Win-Win Ecology by birds or attracting them to their yards. Nest Boxes for Mike, available in our bookstore, to lean These recipe cards will make their debut Urban Birds: a Birder more). One way to do this, he said, was at the upcoming Southern Arizona Home with “recipe cards” with ingredients and Builders Association Home Show on Adaptation directions for attracting a desired species October 17–19 to ensure we reach a wide Too often we feel that the average to your own patch of urban habitat. In audience and encourage as many people citizen can’t do much to support the wild this way we could all make up for the bird as possible that we can all share Tucson creatures we value, but nothing is further habitat lost to urbanization by inviting with native birds. VF from the truth. From planting native birds into the city, reconciling our needs Jennie MacFarland, mesquites to taking government and with the needs of birds. Tucson Audubon IBA Program Biologist industry to task for destructive greed and was recently awarded a Heritage Grant short sightedness, we just need to learn to better exercise the power we hold. Nest boxes are one avenue for hands-on citizen conservation action. Of roughly 50 nest boxes built and installed through our Nest Boxes for Urban Birds pilot project last year, one box fledged a family of Ash-throated Flycatchers and two more are hosting Western Screech-Owls. The project has also put us in touch with successful Lucy’s Warbler nests in local boxes and has inspired us to conduct a series of

experiments to learn more about the JOAN GELLATLY temperatures in nest boxes and the significance of entry hole orientation (see page 23). Of course nest boxes for (sub)-urban birds need to be placed in appropriate habitat with plenty of native vegetation, nearby water sources, and attentive landlords (who discourage invasive House Sparrows and European Starlings from their boxes). We can all participate in creating that habitat through Tucson Audubon’s Landscape Recognition program. More actively supporting our

birds in town might be thought of as a LOIS MANOWITZ JOAN GELLATLY birder adaptation to climate change! Tucson Audubon was recently awarded a Heritage Grant to create “recipe cards” that contain ingredients and directions Keith Ashley, for attracting specific bird species to your urban yard. A draft sample card is shown above. The ultimate goal of this project is to gain the interest of Tucson residents who have never thought deeply about birds or about creating habitat Coordinator: Tucson Audubon’s for them. Target bird species include Cactus Wren (top left), Lesser Goldfinch (bottom left), and Curve-billed Thrasher Paton Center for Hummingbirds (bottom right).

Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. October–December 2014 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 17 The Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-owl— A Prime Candidate for Climate Adaptation MATT CLARK | CONSERVATION ADVOCATE AND CHRIS MCVIE | CONSERVATION CHAIR

CLIMATE ADAPTATION CLIMATE Vast portions of southwestern North America are experiencing pervasive drought, but there AARON FLESCH © BOTH PHOTOS is little known about how these events are affecting wildlife

populations. A recent have declined by an estimated 19–27 study published in the Journal of Climate percent. Moreover, results suggest recent predicts a 30 to 50 percent chance of a drought and high temperatures are driving devastating “megadrought” in southeast declines of pygmy-owl populations in Arizona in the coming century, which Mexico, which has major implications for is among the highest levels of risk recovery of populations in Arizona that offers a promising potential strategy for across Southwestern North America.1 have already declined to endangered mitigating the effects of climate change. Megadroughts can persist for several levels.1 Understanding the extent to which habitat decades and bring extreme temperatures Additional research by Flesch, that will quality can mediate weather effects is that further desiccate already parched be published in the journal PLoS ONE important in the wake of anticipated landscapes. This prediction is particularly later this year, suggests low rainfall drives climate change.” troublesome because drought conditions reductions in owl prey (mainly lizards) and Restoring and enhancing habitat have persisted in southern Arizona for high temperatures drive reductions in prey for pygmy-owls is one approach to much of the last 15 years. Lead author of activity, which have multiplicative effects facilitate climate change adaptation. Best the study Toby Ault of Cornell University on reproductive output and thus affects management practices based on the best also warns, “As we add greenhouse population dynamics. available scientific information should gases into the atmosphere—and we How can managers help prevent guide adaptation strategies to conserve haven’t put the brakes on stopping further declines of pygmy-owl populations populations and reduce extinction risks this—we are weighting the dice for in the face of warming and drying for pygmy-owls and other sensitive megadrought conditions.”2 conditions and thus adapt to climate species as they attempt to acclimate to a Monitoring sensitive wildlife species change? To address these questions, warming world. VF across time is useful for understanding Flesch2 found that “owl abundance the potential impacts of changing rainfall was higher and varied less over time in 1. Ault et al. 2014. See: http://journals.ametsoc. org/doi/abs/10.1175/JCLI-D-12-00282.1. Cornell areas with more nest cavities, greater and temperature on populations and for University, Media Relations Office. Southwest May triggering management responses to structural complexity and amount of Face Megadrought this Century. Online at: http:// observed declines. In the Sonoran Desert, riparian vegetation, and lower land-use mediarelations.cornell.edu/2014/08/27/southwest- ongoing monitoring of imperiled Cactus intensity, which suggests these factors may-face-megadrought-this-century/ Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl populations in are important drivers of habitat quality 2. Flesch, A. 2014. Spatiotemporal trends and drivers northwest Mexico provides us with just and good targets for managers. Thus, of population dynamics in a declining Sonoran Desert predator. Biological Conservation. El Sevier. such a case study. augmenting nest cavities by erecting nest Volume 175, July 2014, Pages 110–118. Online at: Since 2000, Dr. Aaron Flesch of the boxes or translocating saguaros, restoring http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/ University of Arizona has monitored mesquite woodlands in riparian areas S0006320714001724 pygmy-owl populations immediately that have already been lost or degraded south of Arizona in Sonora, Mexico, across much of the Sonoran Desert, We thank Dr. Aaron Flesch for his review and partly supported by Tucson Audubon. and mitigating the effects of land use contributions to this article. More information on Based on the first 12 years of monitoring, on important resources should augment Dr. Flesch’s research can be found online at: Flesch recently reported in the journal habitat quality and recovery prospects www.aaronflesch.com. Biological Conservation that populations for owls . . . Enhancing habitat quality

18 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher October–December 2014 Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. CELEBRATING SOUTHEAST ARIZONA’S BIRDS

TUCSON meet SELMAN VERDIN, LARRY

YOUR BIRDS AMERICAN KESTRL, JOHN KENNEDY; DAN WEISZ JOHN HOFFMAN RHETT HERRING RHETT

Green-tailed Towhee Yellow-headed Blackbird Western Screech-Owl As the weather cools in Tucson listen for the Anyone who has witnessed an enormous cloud Owls are easy to love. With their intense, forward distinctive cat-like “mew” call of a Green-tailed of blackbirds that seems to swoop and swirl and facing eyes they may even remind us humans Towhee that has come to stay through the winter coalesce with its own innate consciousness, only to of ourselves at times—though smaller of course, months. This very attractive bird has a striking suddenly fall out of the sky upon the autumn fields, feathered, beaked, and taloned. Standing just white and black striped face and prominent rufous cannot help but be amazed. These flocks often 8½” tall, Western Screech-Owls are particularly cap, which it will sometimes raise inquisitively. Its include a mixture of species: starlings, Red-winged charismatic, having recently adapted to nest body feathers are a lovely matte gray that blends Blackbirds, cowbirds, and, perhaps our most and roost in city suburbs where their eerie trills into green wings and tail, though the green can striking character—the Yellow-headed Blackbird. and “bouncing ball” calls add an element of wild be hard to see. This is not an uncommon bird The male’s vivid yellow head and breast is a mystique to the night. Step too close and they’ll here in the winter but it is not often seen since it delight for even the casual birder, as they are easy also snap their beaks at you! habitually skulks in the undergrowth. A wash that to find and observe. When these birds reach their No surprise that our Western Screech is is lined with mesquite trees with thick vegetation dense marsh breeding grounds in the heart of the predicted to be struggling in the near future. and dense undergrowth is the perfect place to look continent after their journey from Mexico and the Studies suggest that vast habitat loss drove for this lovely winter visitor. Their loud mewing Southwest, the dominant breeding males set up Eastern Screech-Owls into the suburbs in the first call is the best way to find them but listen also territories in prime reeds and cattails. These males place. A three-year drought period in southwest for rustling in the undergrowth. They search for will mate with up to 8 females, leaving subdominant Arizona lead to a 70 percent decline of Western food on the ground under dead leaves by hoping males to “float” around the breeding population; Screech-Owls there. They have disappeared forward and then scooting backward to turn over the breeding male, however, will only help feed entirely from certain urbanized coastal areas in the foliage. They do this over and over again and nestlings at the first nest that he has established! California. this hunting method is fascinating to watch. If your The Yellow-headed Blackbird often forces less- Local Western Screeches prefer to nest in yard has dense undergrowth or you live near a dominant species that it shares a marsh with—like woodpecker holes in saguaros, especially in wash you could have some Green-tailed Towhees Red-winged Blackbirds and Marsh Wrens—from mesquite riparian areas. However, we now have as your guests this winter and you can enjoy their prime nesting spots. Yellow-heads feed mainly on confirmed cases of four Tucson screech-owls interesting behavior and big personalities. You invertebrates in the summer, and seeds and grains nesting or roosting in human-crafted nest boxes. can make your yard attractive to this species by in fields in the winter. The Yellow-headed Blackbird, That’s good news for owl lovers, as it suggests planting bushes for them to perch in and stand along with many other species, has been identified this may be one highly-adaptable species people under with a top layer of native trees over the as “Climate Endangered” by National Audubon can support through tough times simply by bushes. Having a portion of your yard where you and could lose at least 50 percent of its range by providing the missing habitat element of available leave leaf litter on the ground gives them a place to century’s end due to climate change—that is, if apartments. (See the article on page 17 to learn look for food. nothing is done to curtail emissions. In autumn look more about Tucson Audubon’s Nest Boxes for Jennie MacFarland for those magical and raucous flocks along the Urban Birds pilot project.) VF IBA Program Biologist highways, roads, and farmlands of our region. Keith Ashley Andy Bennett Coordinator: Tucson Audubon’s Restoration Specialist Paton Center for Hummingbirds

Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. October–December 2014 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 19 CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION NEWS CHRIS MCVIE, MATT CLARK, PAUL GREEN, KENDALL KROESEN, JONATHAN HORST, BÉTÉ JONES, AND JENNIE MACFARLAND

Threats to Bird Habitats in Southeast Arizona: Updates PATRICK ALEXANDER PATRICK Patagonia Mountains, low peak near Alum Gulch, southeast of the box canyon, Santa Cruz County.

City–County Cooperation like Painted Hills can continue to be a newspaper article out just before ocelots, Hudbay continues to pursue a Saves Saguaro-studded possible. We also urge members to publication of this issue of the mining permit from the Forest Service attend an important meeting (details Vermilion Flycatcher, the program is (FS) under the 1872 Mining Act. Painted Hills below) to voice your strong support for being dropped because of a financial We expect a decision to be issued Led by Supervisor Richard Elias and the bond package. dispute with the City of Tucson over prior to the end of 2014. Based on Council Member Regina Romero, administrative and upgrade costs for Contact info: the regrettable historic posture of Pima County and the City of Tucson the county-operated Pima Animal Larry Hecker, Chair, and the FWS regarding this project, we recently approved the purchase and Care Center. In a letter to the County, Committee Members do not anticipate that listed species preservation of this scenic, 286-acre City official Joyce Garland explained Pima County Bond Advisory issues will preclude the issuance of desert property for community open the City will not be shouldering the Committee a permit. Due to the archaic nature space, wildlife habitat and recreation! unanticipated bill from the County, 130 W Congress St., 10th Floor of the 1872 Mining Act, it is likely, but For years a subject of controversy amounting to $873,000, because the Tucson, AZ 85701 uncertain, that the FS will issue a regarding the City of Tucson’s water costs in question are not covered by [email protected] mining permit. Fortunately, the health service area policies and urban the intergovernmental agreement and safety of our watershed and sprawl, Painted Hills has been a Important meeting info: between the City and the County. In wildlands does not only rely on the long-standing conservation priority for 8:00 am, November 7th, 2014 her September 23rd letter, Garland actions of the FS or FWS. HudBay’s the Tucson Mountains. The County Arizona Riverpark Inn stated costs incurred by the TNR current mining proposal will require is expected to close in September 350 South Freeway, Tucson program are among those not covered significant mitigation for impacts to with the seller, the Dallas Police and by the intergovernmental agreement Waters of the US under Section 404 Fire Pension System. $3.5 million of Pima County Adopts, and that, “The program should not be of the Clean Water Act, administered the $7.5 million purchase will come then Drops Controversial conducted in the City limits.” Because by the US Army Corps of Engineers from 2004 community open space “Community Cats” Trap, the majority of the program was to be (ACE). At this time it seems unlikely bond funds, and the remaining $4 conducted in ZIP codes within City that HudBay can adequately mitigate million will come from either a future Neuter, Return Program limits, and because the group that for their extensive proposed impacts. bond election or the Starr Pass Tucson Audubon is disappointed provides matching grant funding for the While HudBay has proposed future Environmental Enhancement Fund. in the Pima County Board of program, Best Friends Animal Society, purchases of state lands to, in part, Tucson Audubon commends the Supervisor’s August 5th approval of a declined to shift the program to ZIP comply with mitigation requirements City and County for their commitment trap, neuter and return (TNR) program codes outside of the City, Pima County for impacts to Pima County’s to preserving Painted Hills. We also for feral cats called “Community Administrator Chuck Huckelberry has Conservation Lands System, we trust commend dedicated area residents Cats.” We believe it was the wrong indicated the County will end the TNR the ACE will not accept some future and conservation leaders for staying decision for birds, biodiversity and for program effective immediately. hypothetical scenario as adequate, the course on this long-standing goal. the health and human safety of Pima real, in hand mitigation for the serious Please THANK the Supervisors and County residents. Tucson Audubon Rosemont is now known Council Members who listened to their submitted a science-based letter as HudBay—Update constituents and WRITE to the Pima (go to tucsonaudubon.org/cats for Despite the delay posed by the County Bond Advisory Committee (at download link) to county supervisors reopening of consultation with the US the mailing address or email below) detailing the reasons for our Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) under urging that they support a new, fully opposition to the program. the Endangered Species Act (ESA) funded open space bond package While the County did not heed due to concerns regarding riparian so that conservation success stories our recommendation, according to obligate listed species, jaguars and OCELOT, DAGGET2 / CCL OCELOT,

20 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher October–December 2014 Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. impacts to seeps, springs, and Montezuma Quail, Dusky-capped the greatest diversity of bee species streams, including Outstanding Arizona Flycatcher and Whiskered Screech- on the entire planet. Bees are a key Waters, in the Davidson Canyon and Owl. In addition, Elegant Trogons pollinator for flowering plants and Cienega Creek watersheds. were documented in high numbers in are essential for the propagation of a special 2013 survey and patches many agricultural crops. Neonics can Forest Service Fast of grassy meadows throughout the persist for months or years in water, Tracks Mining Exploration range provide habitat for resident soil, pollen, nectar and other plant in Patagonia Mountains Eastern “Azure” Bluebirds. The tissues—resulting in the harm or death Patagonia Mountains are also to non-target species such as earth The Sierra Vista Ranger District of designated as critical habitat for the worms, freshwater snails, bees, moths, the U.S. Forest Service recently threatened Mexican Spotted Owl butterflies, amphibians and birds. issued a “categorical exclusion” to and the endangered jaguar. Tucson Tucson Audubon is joining forces foreign-owned Regal Resources for Audubon opposes mining proposals in with other conservation organizations, its proposed “Sunnyside” exploratory the Patagonia Mountains and thinks businesses and concerned citizens mineral drilling project in Humboldt that exploratory mining activities in in support of a ban on the use of Canyon of the Patagonia Mountains. this ecologically sensitive mountain neonicotinoids by the City of Tucson.

A categorical exclusion is a policy OLDENETTEL JERRY range have been given the green Call your City Council Representative short-cut that allows mineral, energy, light without adequate environmental today to show your support for Yellow-billed Cuckoo in TNC’s Sonoita or geophysical investigations on public Creek Nature Preserve (that borders analysis and public review. instituting a ban on neonics. lands that meet certain specifications on Tucson Audubon’s Paton Center for Hummingbirds) in Patagonia. to avoid undergoing a detailed Birds, Bees and Critical Habitat Proposed environmental analysis and public process. There are questions as to Butterflies Threatened by for Western Yellow-billed and plans to submit detailed whether the Sunnyside Project indeed Nasty Neonics Cuckoo comments. Our review will look at meets all of the specifications required The Tucson-based Center for While the U.S. Fish and Wildlife lands that are being considered for a categorical exclusion. Biological Diversity, The Xerxes Service proposes critical habitat for for exclusion, as well as lands in Mining and mineral exploration Society and the Center for Food the imperiled Western Yellow-billed southeast Arizona containing important are a clear threat to the health, safety Safety have recently petitioned Cuckoo, questions remain if it will cuckoo habitat that were not included and well-being of the watershed and the federal government to list the be sufficient to prevent the species’ in the draft proposal that should be town of Patagonia and the biological migratory Monarch butterfly as further decline. The service proposes considered for inclusion in the final diversity harbored in the area. The an endangered species, citing a to designate over 500,000 acres designation. Act today! Visit www. Patagonia Mountains provide much population drop of more than 90 as critical habitat for the cuckoo, in tucsonaudubon.org/conservation to of the municipal drinking water for percent over the past two decades. conjunction with the species being learn more and make your voice heard. the community of Patagonia, and The petition notes the rise in the considered for endangered species are a major economic draw for use of neonicotinoids pesticides designation. The American Bird Lawsuit Launched to outdoor recreation and nature-based (“neonics”) as one of a host of threats Conservancy’s press release on Restore Endangered tourism—especially birding! This to Monarchs. Neonics are a class the proposed designation was not Species Protections for is evidenced by the fact that the of insecticides whose use by the very upbeat: ABC’s Senior Policy the Cactus Ferruginous Patagonia Mountains were recently agricultural industry has become Advisory, Steve Holmer said, “The designated as an Important Bird Area increasingly widespread over the last draft rule only proposes to list the Pygmy-Owl by the Arizona Important Bird Areas two decades. It is often used on the species as threatened rather than as According to a joint press release, Program (see also page 7). The seeds of crops, including cotton grown endangered, and doesn’t address the Center for Biological Diversity new IBA designation notes that the in Arizona, which provide breeding the threats or propose more effective and Defenders of Wildlife filed notice oak-juniper vegetation community is sites for monarchs. conservation measures such as of intent to sue the U.S. Fish and extensive and continuous throughout Neonics are also believed to be removing cattle from riparian areas Wildlife Service over the agency’s the range, making it a very important contributing to the very alarming global and restricting the use of pesticides in denial of Endangered Species Act area for species associated with oak decline of bees. Our region boasts adjacent agricultural areas.” protection to the Cactus Ferruginous habitat, such as Arizona Woodpecker, diverse habitat types that support The service’s public advisory notes Pygmy-Owl. Although the Service that “In the proposal, the Service is acknowledges that pygmy owls still considering excluding approximately face many threats in the Sonoran 193,347 acres from the critical habitat Desert and that the region is important designation because of existing to the species as a whole, it denied conservation plans for those areas the a 2007 petition by the groups to that protect the Western Yellow-billed relist the owl under a controversial Cuckoo and its habitat. All proposed new policy that will make it far more critical habitat designations on tribal difficult for imperiled species to gain lands are being considered for federal protection. Once again, the exclusion.” imperiled tiny raptor is the poster child Tucson Audubon is reviewing the for attacks on the integrity of the intent proposed critical habitat designation of the Endangered Species Act. MONARCH BUTTERFLY, GARRY WILMORE / CCL GARRY MONARCH BUTTERFLY,

Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. October–December 2014 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 21 CONSERVATION & EDUCATION NEWS

Arizona CBC Schedule Obituaries 2014–2015 good stewardship. Michael worked The National Audubon Society has tirelessly to preserve the wash and conducted Christmas bird counts SARA PIKE SARA make it a friendly, accessible place (CBCs) since 1900. Volunteers from for walkers, nature lovers and bird across North America and beyond watchers. The work Tucson Audubon take to the field during one calendar has done at the wash would not day in December and January have been possible without Michael to record every bird species and BOB WENRICK and his wife Darlice (“Murph”), who individual bird encountered within a survives him. Many Tucson Audubon designated 15-mile diameter circle. These records now comprise an Ronnie Sidner was a popular instructor at Tucson Audubon’s volunteers met Michael during habitat Institute for Desert Ecology, sharing her vast knowledge of restoration work at Atturbury Wash. extensive ornithological database bats and other wildlife with unflagging enthusiasm. Atturbury Wash at Lincoln Park was that enables monitoring of winter bird populations and the overall park, state park and military recognized by Tucson Mayor and Ronnie Sidner 1951–2014 health of the environment. Help is reserves for government agencies Council and named the Atturbury/ On the evening of August 1, Tucson needed on most of these counts, and nonprofit groups. She lectured Lyman Bird and Animal Sanctuary. He Audubon’s friend, researcher, and so find one that interests you and tirelessly, often with a pet bat in hand, was born on May 3, 1942. teacher Ronnie Sidner was killed in contact the compiler for more and belonged to research and working a car crash on Interstate 10 while information. The counts are now groups on bats. Bob Witzeman 1927–2014 driving back to her Tucson home from FREE. See tucsonaudubon.org/cbc Among her prolific and varied Bob (Robert Allen) Witzeman passed Sierra Vista. She was returning from for the full list of Arizona counts. the Southwest Wings Festival, where research activities, she monitored away on August 30, 2014. Bob was she had taken participants to Ramsey bats’ use of bridges to help state born in Akron, Ohio, in 1927 and Tucson Valley Christmas Canyon south of the city to use night transportation officials and railroad moved to Phoenix in 1958 to work Bird Count vision equipment to watch bats drink companies understand that use as an anesthesiologist for 30 years. All are welcome to sign up for nectar from hummingbird feeders. before they upgraded or replaced Throughout his career and retirement the Tucson Valley Christmas Bird Ronnie was raised in Pennsylvania the structures. She worked for he devoted his life to conservation. Count, scheduled for Sunday, and obtained a bachelor’s degree Westland Resources as Rosemont While serving as President and December 14, 2014. Help keep this in arts and elementary education at Copper’s environmental consultant, Conservation Chair for the Maricopa CBC the in the #1 spot for species Kansas State University. She moved using infrared lights to monitor the Audubon Society, Bob was involved diversity in Arizona—and maybe to Parker where she taught science distribution of agaves, where the in multiple campaigns: to protect the this year we’ll break the record for for seven years before taking a field Long-nosed bats feed, across the desert nesting Bald Eagle, founding the state (last year we tied it with course in mammals at Northern proposed Rosemont Mine site. Arizona’s nest watch program, which 164 species). Compiler Rich Hoyer Arizona University. She attended Survivors include her husband, remains key to recovery, and hiring will be appointing team leaders to a field trip to net bats, and that led Russell Davis, a retired UA the first nest guardian; to defeat cover each of the circle’s 27 areas her to a career of monitoring, writing mammalogist and professor of the proposed Orme and Cliff Dams and assigning all volunteers to make about and advocating on behalf of ecology and evolutionary biology; a on the Fort McDowell Yavapai and up the teams. Experienced birders bats, and becoming one of Arizona’s brother and three sisters. Apache reservations; to protect the are needed to be team leaders, but top bat researchers. She attended endangered Mt Graham Red Squirrel participants in the teams can be of the University of Arizona, where Michael Lyman 1942–2014 and sacred Apache sites nearby; to any level of experience. See the she obtained a master’s degree in Michael Lyman passed away August save Gaan (Devil’s) Canyon and a blog at aztvcbc.blogspot.com/ or mammology in 1982 and a Ph.D. in 26 after a long battle with cancer. sacred Apache site at Oak Flat from the Facebook page facebook.com/ 1997. One of her contributions was the He served as a police officer and the proposed Resolution Copper TucsonValleyChristmasBirdCount, use of low-disturbance bat monitoring. in retirement was very active in the mine; and to protect riparian areas and send an email to Rich at Many members will remember community. Michael volunteered throughout the state, especially from [email protected] to sign up. Ronnie from her 16 years on the with Tucson Police to develop cattle grazing. Bob was an active faculty at Tucson Audubon’s Institute crime prevention programs and to birder up to the day he died. He for Desert Ecology, and her talks increase safety in public parks. His travelled around the world in search of at numerous bat and other wildlife work with the Groves-Lincoln Park birds and wildlife, photographing birds, festivals. She helped the public Neighborhood Association included butterflies, and dragonflies, including several first state records of birds understand the often misunderstood decades of efforts to preserve the MOZZHERIN / CCL DMITRY bats’ value to our ecology and society. natural area around Atturbury Wash at for Arizona. Bob worked closely with Ronnie had a gentle spirit that could Lincoln Regional Park on the east side Tucson Audubon on issues of state turn peoples’ minds around about bats of Tucson. The wash was threatened conservation concern and we will with a single talk. with development and suffered miss his passion. Survivors include Starting in 1980, she conducted from illegal dumping, wood cutting, his wife Janet, also an avid birder; bat research and conservation shooting, off-road vehicles and many three sisters; two children and five The Tucson Valley CBC logged record grandchildren. numbers of Vermilion Flycatchers for two projects on national forest, national other activities not consistent with years running: 190 in 2012 and 267 in 2013.

22 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher October–December 2014 Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. CONSERVATION & EDUCATION NEWS

Public Funds to Destroy Riparian Mesquite Where’s the Best Home? First Experiments Woodlands—Time for Large-Scale Science- Reveal Unexpected Answers Based Conservation Planning

much water at all times as her ranch’s highest water use agricultural crop, alfalfa, but peer-reviewed studies indicate that just the opposite is the case on an annual per-acre basis.

During the bill’s review process, HORST JONATHAN BOTH PHOTOS scientific challenges to the bill’s Experimental nestboxes at Tucson Audubon’s Mason Center, on the south side of the unsubstantiated water conservation classroom ramada (left, circled) and in the partial shade of a mesquite tree (right). rationale were disregarded, as was The best part of doing science is shade type. Here we got some real any consideration of the habitat value learning new things, especially surprises! Most people expected the of riparian mesquite woodlands. unexpected things. How refreshing to results to be, from warmest to coolest: Currently, at least two Natural be able to say more than “this makes full sun, light dappled mesquite shade, Resource Conservation Districts sense, it must be right,” but also “we heavy dappled mesquite shade, full MESQUITE BOSQUE, LJ / CCL (NRCDs) are planning to make did experiments, and the data are shade. However, as you can see, mesquite removal a primary objective. clear, regardless of what we thought full shade was the second warmest. In the spring of 2014, the Arizona NRCDs are government-supported before.” So what did we learn? Apparently being mounted in a Legislature and Governor passed organizations that constitute part of We tried some experiments to mesquite tree, even in an area with Senate Bill 1478, authorizing the use the approval process for distributing investigate the effects of aspect on the only partial shade is cooler, and in a of Arizona Water Protection Fund millions of dollars of federal Farm Bill internal temperatures of nestboxes. dense section of canopy is coolest of (AWPF) monies to remove mesquite funds to agricultural operations. By As expected, nest boxes on the west all. We’re thinking it must be due to trees in all environments. Despite placing a high priority on the removal side of a building were substantially the tree’s natural cooling effect as it the admonitions of conservation of riparian woodlands, these NRCDs hotter than those facing east, north, or breathes and releases water vapor professionals during the bill’s review can position themselves to direct south. On sunny days the west facing and oxygen into the air—a natural process, the final law does not federal funds toward this practice. boxes topped out about 22 percent swamp cooler effect. distinguish between upland scrub We must ensure that this new state hotter, some even hitting 130ºF. The For more information or to mesquite and riparian woodlands and movement to remove mesquite does interesting things were that the east- support these and ongoing nest box does not recognize the habitat value not result in the same progression facing boxes warmed up most quickly experiments to expand our knowledge and climate change adaptability of toward riparian habitat destruction that and maintained a long plateau through and capacity for conservation efforts the native velvet mesquite. Arizona took place along so much of the Santa the day but had top temps almost by safely providing nest boxes in a residents are now in the position of Cruz River. Efforts at the state level to identical to the north- and south-facing desert environment, contact Jonathan providing funds for the destruction protect riparian habitat are obviously boxes. On cloudy days like 25 July, all ([email protected]). of riparian woodland habitat, which failing. It is now imperative that the boxes were equal. Jonathan Horst supports a wide range of birds and U.S. Department of Interior takes So we followed this up by Restoration Ecologist wildlife. an active role in the protection of looking at the effects of shade and The AWPF was designed to riparian habitat, in order to counteract provide financial resources for the misguided policies at the State level. Daily Temperatures by Nestbox Aspect

protection and restoration of this Please write to Sally Jewell, 55 West

state’s rivers, streams and associated Secretary of Interior. Alert her to 50 North

riparian habitats, including dependent Arizona’s destructive new policy 45 East

fish and wildlife. It was intended to regarding the removal of riparian 40 South be a proactive response to possible mesquite woodlands, and emphasize 35 federal intervention in Arizona’s river the urgent need for neutrally- 30 Degrees C; 54C = 129.2F and riparian resource issues. Instead, facilitated, landscape-scale 25 this fund is turning out to be another conservation planning to help 20 22-Jul 23-Jul 24-Jul 25-Jul example of why it is so important protect our last remaining natural Date not to entrust the fate of our last riparian areas in southern Arizona. Daily Temperatures by Shade Type Secretary Jewell 45 Full remaining natural riparian habitats Shade

to state politicians who ignore peer Department of the Interior, 40 Full reviewed science and only respond to 1849 C Street, N.W. Sun 35 a narrow range of interest groups. Washington DC 20240 Heavy This law’s water conservation [email protected] 30 Dappled Peter Else, 25 Light premise is deeply flawed. The new Dappled

AWPF executive director claimed Conservation Activist 20 that mesquite uses almost twice as 15 9-Sep 10-Sep 11-Sep 12-Sep

Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. October–December 2014 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 23 CONSERVATION & EDUCATION NEWS

odoratum means “fragrant.” Leaves Wildlife Garden Plant Profile emit an aromatic odor when crushed. Lynn Hassler, Garden Volunteer Captain Fragrant mist flower may die back to the roots in hard winters. I

This series profiles the plants that Fragrant mist flower is a multi- prune mine to the ground every year / DORIS EVANS BARN OWL grow in the Tucson Audubon Wildlife stemmed, deciduous shrub that grows following bloom. Plants grow rampantly Garden at University Boulevard and 3–6 feet in a season. Showy, flat- during the warm season. Prune 5th Avenue. topped lavender blue flower clusters to shape and keep to desired size provide perfect landing pads for through early September—then leave Fragrant Mist Flower butterflies. In Texas, this plant is often them alone so they can concentrate on Scientific name: Eupatorium found in large masses where butterfly setting bloom. odoratum, syn. Chromolaena odorata watchers make a habit of going out Grow in full sun, part shade, or on to “scoop the Eups.” In Tucson, this Family: Asteraceae (Composite) a north side, but note that flowers are shrub kicks into bloom in late October/ less likely to be visited by sun-loving Native range: Tropical America, north early November when many other butterflies in the latter two orientations. Tucson Audubon’s to the Gulf States, Southeast Texas plants are entering their winter pause. The blossoms of my plants have and Rio Grande Plain eNews Delivered to The genus Eupatorium is a Greek courted the following butterflies: Your Inbox Wildlife value: Flowers attract name for Mithridates Eupator, King of Western Pygmy Blue, Queen, Fatal nectaring butterflies, bees, and Pontus, an ancient Hellenistic kingdom Metalmark, Dainty Sulphur, Painted Did you know that Tucson Audubon other pollinators; seeds eaten by in Asia Minor. The species name Lady, Giant Swallowtail, Southern offers a range of specialized email granivorous birds Dogface, Sleepy Orange, Gulf Fritillary, updates on various topics, such as Monarch, American Lady, White- Volunteer News, Green City News, checkered Skipper, Marine Blue, Texan Conservation Alerts, Paton News, Crescent, Great Purple Hairstreak, IBA News, Nest Boxes for Urban American Snout, Funereal Duskywing, Birds, as well as a regular Weekly Acmon Blue, and West Coast Lady. It Update? doesn’t get any better than this! To subscribe to any of Although Chromolaena may be the these, go to tucsonaudubon. current genus name, I can’t possibly org and click on the “Sign-up for switch because “scoopin’ the Chroms” Newsletters” button on the home just doesn’t have the same ring as page. Or you can call Diana at “scoopin’ the Eups… VF 520-629-0510 x7002 and she will take your details. JIM P. BROCK JIM P. Conservation Corner! Sweeter Water May Bring The new and renovated plants are Please use green household More Birds achieving other improvements and cleaning fluids—there are several Pima County has met new EPA efficiencies as well—less odor, less online guides to these such as http:// requirements for the quality of electricity use and soon an effort will www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners. For effluent (treated wastewater) released begin to clean and sell the biogas more about what not to flush, go to into the Santa Cruz River. The produced onsite. http://webcms.pima.gov/cms/one. Regional Wastewater Reclamation The burden of keeping our effluent aspx?portalId=169&pageId=57426. Department renovated the Ina Road as clean as possible does not only For how to properly dispose of Wastewater Reclamation Facility fall upon the Wastewater Department. medicines, go to http://webcms.pima. (WRF) (now renamed Tres Rios WRF) You can do your part by not putting gov/cms/One.aspx?portalId=169&pa and opened a new plant called Agua things down the drain that shouldn’t geId=135181. For how to dispose of Nueva WRF (replacing the now closed be there. many household hazardous wastes, Roger Road WRF). DO NOT FLUSH THESE ITEMS: see www.tucsonaz.gov/hhw. VF A federally funded study is • Medicines Kendall Kroesen measuring whether key indicators of • Automotive fluids Urban Program Manager river health improve now that the new, • Pesticides higher quality effluent is flowing into • Solvents Pictured right is Santa Cruz River at the the river. For birders, the upgrade may Ina Road Bridge. Water flowing here is • Grease mean more macroinvertebrates and now cleaner and may attract more birds. • Kitchen waste (compost instead) fish in the water, which may mean more birds coming to eat them. • Disposable wipes KENDALL KROESEN KENDALL

24 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher October–December 2014 Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. Tucson Audubon thanks our Birds & Business BIRDING TRAVEL Alliance Members, who have shown their support for bird FROM OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS 2010- 2011 conservation through annual ADVENTURE BIRDING COMPANY­ contributions and in-kind www.adventurebirding.com donations. Please show them you appreciate [email protected] • 520-495-0229 their support for us by supporting them. Visit Southeastern Arizona—Day Trips offered tucsonaudubon.org/alliance for more Year-round: Local birding guides based in information, including links to member websites. Tucson and Portal. We specialize in providing *NEW flexible, personalized bird watching trips year-round GOLD in southeastern Arizona. Whether an individual GeoInnovation LLC • 520-615-3883 or a large group, we can plan a custom trip for • www.geoinnovation.com any number of days. We know where the birds Riverpark Inn • 800-551-1466 are and how to find them! We also enjoy sharing knowledge about all other aspects of natural STERLING history (plants, mammals, reptiles, insects, etc). Adventure Birding Company • 520-495-0229 • www.adventurebirding.com ROCKJUMPER—WORLDWIDE BIRDING Sage Grouse ADVENTURES TING, USFWS STEVEN Rockjumper BirdingTours • [email protected] [email protected] • www.rockjumperbirding.com www.rockjumperbirding.com SOLIPASO TOURS Solipaso Tours • www.solipaso.com (USA & Canada toll-free): 1-888-990-5552 www.solipaso.com SILVER Kenya & Tanzania—Birds & Big Game I Yucatan: January 5–13, 2015. $3200. 2015: Tour Dates: 03–19 April 2015. Tour Leader: David MacKay. The cultural, historical Carl Zeiss Sports Optics • www.sportsoptics.zeiss.com Price (Per Person) USD7,450. Our 17 day Kenya and natural diversity of the Yucatan Peninsula Farmers Investment Co (FICO) • sahuaritafarms.com makes for a great trip. Our itinerary takes us & Tanzania—Birds & Big Game safari is one Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold of the ultimate east African experiences. We to the many different habitat to see most of explore the legendary Ngorongoro Crater and the regional endemics. We also visit some Sundance Press • 800-528-4827 of the magnificent archeological ruins, enjoy discover the vast plains of the Serengeti while Sunglow Ranch • www.sunglowranch.com also basking in the shadows of Mt. Kilimanjaro unique regional cuisine and explore the world Tucson Electric Power • www.tep.com in Amboseli National Park. Join us as we enjoy of the Mayan culture, which is still thriving. Bird over 450 bird species and a plethora of classic highlights include Yucatan Flycatcher, Vireo, Swarovski Optik • www.swarovskioptik.com African mammals on an unforgettable adventure. Woodpecker, Bobwhite, Jay, White-bellied Wren, Orange Oriole, Ruddy Crake, Rose-throated COPPER Malaysia & Borneo—Rainforest Birds Tanager, Mexican Sheartail and Gray-throated A Feathered Nest in Amado • 520-331-8649 & Mammals I 2015: Tour Dates: 17 Mar–04 Chat. Starts in Cancun and ends in Merida. April 2015. Tour Price (Per Person) MYR20, Associated Benefits Specialists, Inc. • 520-219-1950 Colorado Prairie Chicken and Sage 750 * USD6,590. Our Malaysia & Borneo— Arizona Birder Casitas • www.azbirdercasitas.com Rainforest Birds and Mammals tour visits some of Grouse: April 8–16, 2015. Leader: David Bed and Bagels of Tucson • 520-603-1580 the world’s most famous birdwatching sites. From MacKay. Colorado is the best and most beautiful Fraser’s Hill to the Danum Valley we will seek place to see these interesting birds! The Brooklyn Pizza Company • 520-622-6868 geographic position and geologic diversity creates out many species of stunning pittas, hornbills, Carl Zeiss Sports Optics • www.sportsoptics.zeiss.com trogons, broadbills, bee-eaters and kingfishers a great array of varied habitats ranging from while also enjoying memorable experiences prairie grasslands through high plains to subalpine Casitas at Smokey Springs Ranch • 520-870-8778 with Orangutan and Proboscis Monkeys. forests and alpine tundra! Beyond the grouse, Down By the River B&B • 520-720-9441 there are many other birds including Mountain Please note: these rates are subject Plover, Three-toed Woodpecker, Williamson’s *Circle Z Ranch • www.circlez.com to foreign exchange fluctuations. Sapsucker, Rough-legged Hawk, Black, *Celestron • www.celestron.com Brown-capped, and Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Financial Architects • www.financial-architects.com McCown’s, Chestnut-Collared Longspur and many others….along with great scenery and interesting Hughes Federal Credit Union • 520-794-8341 wildlife. Starts and ends in Denver, CO. VF Kimberlyn Drew, Realtor • 520-237-1408 Leica Sport Optics • www.leica-sportoptics.com

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Visit tucsonaudubon.org/fieldtrips for updates and more October–December 2014 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 25 Weekly bird walks are listed at TUCSON AUDUBON FIELD TRIPS tucsonaudubon.org/fieldtrips KEN MURPHY, FIELD TRIP COORDINATOR General Information Tucson Audubon field trips are offered at no charge and are led by expert Tucson Audubon Field Trips Listings Are Now Online Only volunteers. Bring money to cover your share of For a full listing of trips and details, visit tucsonaudubon.org/fieldtrips, call the carpooling and any required entry fees (e.g. the trip hotline at 520-629-0510 x4, or pick up a printout at our Nature Shops. for state parks). For specific information about a trip, contact the leader of that trip. Please dress appropriately for your field trip. Always wear sturdy FEATURED FIELD TRIP shoes, a hat, and sun protection. Bring plenty of snacks and water for yourself. Always bring November 25—Tuesday 5:00 am binoculars and a field guide. For most trips a scope San Rafael Grasslands can be useful. This trip provides an opportunity to see raptors and grassland sparrows. The number of bird Arrival Times Arrive before listed departure species we will see is not large, but we hope times. Trips will leave promptly at the time given. to see some birds not easily seen elsewhere. Carpooling Sites Tucson Audubon strongly We will be mostly birding from cars, but some encourages carpooling and for some trips it may walking through tall grass and over rocky slopes. be required. Check our website for frequently used If you don’t have a high-clearance vehicle, plan carpooling sites. You are expected to reimburse to carpool with someone who does. Bring lunch, the driver for the actual cost of fuel. Drivers and trip scope will be useful. Meet at Houghton Road leaders are not expected to contribute. north of I-10 before 5:00 am. Please email the leader before the trip. You must register online Rare Bird Alert Listen to the latest rare bird alert at tucsonaudubon.org/fieldtrips. Leader: Contact at 520-629-0510 x3. Report rare birds at 520-629- Jim Hays [email protected], with questions Bog Hole in San Rafael Valley 0510 x3 or [email protected]. KATE REYNOLDS KATE

TUCSON AUDUBON’S BIRDS & BUSINESS ALLIANCE Welcome to our New Birds & Business Alliance Member

CIRCLE Z RANCH The Circle Z Ranch is known SMITH CHRISSY for its fantastic horseback riding, breath-taking vistas, and world class birding. Recently protected with a conservation easement, the Circle Z Ranch TUCSON AUDUBON property is a nesting site and migrating route for NATURE SHOPS many rare species. Sonoita Creek, traversing 2 When you support your local Tucson miles of the property, is one of the two year-round Audubon Society you are supporting birds COPPER flowing streams in Southern Arizona. We cater to guests from all over the world looking for a relaxing and bird habitat conservation. Thank you! and authentic experience. SHOP HOURS 1476 Arizona 82 Patagonia, AZ 85624 520-394-2525 | [email protected] | www.circlez.com MAIN SHOP Monday–Saturday 10 am–4 pm, Phone: 520-629-0510 ext 7015 On the southeast corner of University Blvd and 5th Avenue. AGUA CALIENTE PARK SHOP *Thursday–Saturday, 10 am–1:30 pm BIRDER’S HOME FOR SALE: 3 bedrooms, 2 Phone: 520-760-7881 THE TAS-IFIEDS baths, custom built in 1992. Great birding (18 *Please call to confirm hours. The shop opens earlier and closes later during certain months. breeding species), steps from Sabino Canyon. CLASSIFIED ADS From Tanque Verde Rd and Houghton, continue east on Mature native trees on 0.8 acre, conserved 22 Tanque Verde 2 miles. Turn left (north) onto Soldier Trail, Classified and display ads are accepted from years by one owner. Mountain views, private, continue north for 2 miles. Turn right (east) onto Roger Rd, individual members and members of our Birds peaceful, energy efficient. New plumbing and continue ¼ mile to the park entrance on the left (north). & Business Alliance. Visit tucsonaudubon.org/ beautiful bathrooms. Elegant tile and hardwood. When you need a book, think of vfly for rates or contact Matt Griffiths mgriffiths@ Kimberlyn Drew, Long Realty: birdhouses@ Tucson Audubon Nature Shops first! tucsonaudubon.org to book an ad. kimberlyndrew.com, cell/text: 520-237-1408 Support your local book store.

26 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher October–December 2014 Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. BOOK REVIEWS Book-Pigeons, Pigeon Books Avery, M. 2014. Message From Martha. Bloomsbury. 304 pp. $22.00. Fuller, E. 2014. The Passenger Pigeon. Princeton UP. 177 pp. $29.95. Greenberg, J. 2014. A Feathered River Across the Sky: The Passenger Pigeon’s Flight to Extinction. Bloomsbury. 304 pp. $26.00. The end came in the summer of 1910, when George died in the Cincinnati Zoo. He left behind him only Martha, who would shuffle off her own illustrations, and fine paintings; indeed, the great mortal coil four years later, dying on the floor of the strength of this book is its lavish use of handsomely OBITUARIES same cage on September 1, 1914. reproduced graphic material, from Mark Catesby’s And that was that. The Passenger Pigeon, original painting to broadsheet advertisements Ann Zwinger Originally from Indiana and a graduate of whose flocks had darkened the skies and whose of shooting matches and poignant photos of the Wellesley College, Ann Zwinger died on flesh had sustained generations of pothunters, was captive birds in their last days. Julian Pender August 30. Readers of works on the Southwest no more. Maybe we’d grown used to the idea, or Hume’s brief anatomical appendix offers drawings will know at least some of her nearly 20 books maybe we just didn’t care, but the reaction to this of a passenger pigeon and a pink pigeon in flight on Southwest environments and people. She most public of extinctions was strangely muted, less (an exercise that would have been more revealing wrote on subjects ranging from alpine tundra, outrage than nostalgic resignation. had the second bird been a mourning dove). canyonlands and Baja California deserts. Not so a hundred years later. This centennial Like Fuller, Mark Avery is an Englishman, Familiar titles include A Desert Country month of Martha’s death has been marked by the former Conservation Director of the RSPB. Near the Sea, Aspen, Downcanyon and The solemn commemorations and calls to conservation Avery’s Message from Martha rehearses many of Nearsighted Naturalist. Her 1975 book Run, action—and more pixels and ink than have been the same facts as Greenberg and Fuller, but more River, Run: A Naturalist’s Journey Down One devoted to any other bird in history, I think. clearly focuses the modern conservationist’s lens of the Great Rivers of the West won both The most thoroughly researched of the new on those circumstances, “putting the ecology back the John Burroughs Memorial Association crop of pigeon books, Joel Greenberg’s Feathered into history.” Centered around Avery’s US road Gold Medal for a distinguished contribution in River was released some months in advance of trip of 4,000 miles, Message from Martha subjects natural history and the Friends of American the anniversary, and is already the new standard the facts to a number of fascinating thought Writers Award for non-fiction. Her latest book, reference for the species, replacing A.W. Schorger’s experiments and reaches some equally compelling from 2000, was Shaped by Wind and Water: 1955 compendium. conclusions. The Passenger Pigeon’s accelerated Reflections of a Naturalist. She was born on Much here is inevitably familiar, but Greenberg life history, for example, was due to the continuous March 12, 1925. adduces new material, too, including helpful précis depletion of its specialized food supply. A critical of several recent ecological studies of the pigeon, evaluation of the species’ likely demography leads Charles Bowden which reconstruct the birds’ relationship to their Avery to conclude that the species likely nested Charles Bowden died the same day as Ann environment and invite tantalizing speculation about more than once a year. And a carefully imaginative Zwinger. He lived in Tucson and other parts what the North American landscape might look like look at mast production in the American forest of the Southwest over 50 years until finally today had they survived: Less Lyme disease? More primeval convinces him that the pigeon population moving to Las Cruces, New Mexico, five years Bachman’s warblers? We’ll never know. But this is before European settlement may have been as high ago. Early in his career he wrote for the Tucson the book—in spite of its maddeningly poor index— as ten billion. Citizen and contributed to several national to start with to learn more, or simply to learn about, Avery feels “robbed and saddened” that those magazines. He eventually authored many the pigeon and its extinction a hundred years ago. billions are gone—and he goes on to point out books about the Southwest deserts including Where Feathered River aims to be that Britain and western Europe have suffered an Frog Mountain Blues, The Sonoran Desert comprehensive, Errol Fuller’s attractive Passenger equivalent loss across a whole suite of species, and Killing the Hidden Waters. The latter Pigeon is an intentionally eclectic celebration, in including (ironically enough) the Turtle Dove. But revealed in obsessive detail the unsustainable words and pictures, of what that species meant there is hope in the message he decodes from a exploitation of groundwater and the inevitable and what it means. The author of several other long-dead passenger pigeon. Unlike the unwitting decline of Western rivers. His environmental books about extinction and extinct birds, Fuller witnesses of that not-so-long-ago slaughter, works often revealed both beauty in Southwest limns what is known of the pigeon’s biology in an we know the threat to the environment, to our landscapes and dystopian stories of humans in introductory chapter, going on to explore the causes environment. The issue is whether we care enough relationship with nature. Often using nature as of its extinction in the wild and the “grim” career of to do anything about it. VF a touchstone, he went on to report extensively those individuals, including Martha, that survived in Rick Wright about the growing culture of violence in the captivity. Rick Wright is Senior Leader at WINGS Birding border region, particularly in Juarez, Mexico. The chapter “Art and Books” brings Robert Tours and Review Editor at Birding magazine. Bowden was born on August 6, 1945. VF Shufeldt’s 1921 survey of the pictorial record nicely Except when he can get away to Arizona, he lives, Kendall Kroesen up to date, reproducing folk and public art, book writes, and birds in northern New Jersey. Urban Program Manager

Visit tucsonaudubon.org for updates and more. October–December 2014 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 59, Number 4, October–December 2014 © 2014 Tucson Audubon Society The Vermilion Flycatcher is the news magazine 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 tucsonaudubon.org.

Missing!

SAVE THE DATE! We’ve almost lost our owl. Will Pygmy Nuthatch and Williamson’s Sapsucker be next? Tucson Audubon Society’s Seventh Annual Gala February 10, 2015 Hilton El Conquistador Resort

Silent Auction | Culinary Delights | Live Birds Please make a

Featuring Keynote Speaker Brad Lancaster

year-end donation AARON FLESCH © CACTUS FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWL “Oasis Tucson: Transforming Mirage to Reality” Brad Lancaster is one of the nation’s foremost to support Tucson experts on rainwater harvesting and author of the Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond series. Audubon’s work for For more information please contact Julie Pulliam our birds. 520.209.1811, [email protected], or visit www.tucsonaudubon.org/gala. Visit tucsonaudubon.org/donate ARTWORK BY MARTHA PILLE MARTHA BY ARTWORK EVENTS CALENDAR page 5 • LIVING WITH NATURE page 6 • Visit tucsonaudubon.org for event updates

28 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher October–December 2014