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Flycatcher 0302.P65 February 2003 Vermilionlycatcher Tucson Audubon Society F www.tucsonaudubon.org Leaders in Conservation & Education since 1949 Volume 47, Number 5 ISSN 1094-9909 Birding in the Colorado River Delta A 3-day and 2-night tour hosted by La Ruta de Sonora Birdwatch while learning the complex and unique issues related to the ecology, conservation, and international water rights policy of the Colorado River, the most controlled river in the world. Once one of the world’s largest desert river deltas, the Colorado River delta remains a rare freshwa- ter ecosystem in the midst of the Sonoran Desert. This authentic adventure shows you this unique area of northern Sonora through the eyes of people who live and work here, and are committed to preserving this special environment to protect wildlife and their livelihoods. The tour also offers the opportunity to appreciate the culture and culinary delights of the Arizona-Sonora border region. See “Travel” on This water-based adventure begins with a boat ride at Imperial Wildlife National Refuge, a page 22 for other natural flyway for thousands of migratory birds. We get an overview of the natural history of the travel opportuni- Colorado River and restoration efforts to protect this important wetland habitat for over 380 ties, including a species of birds and other wildlife. Our next stop is Betty’s Kitchen, a wildlife and interpretive area new trip to known for bird watching, fishing, and nature photography. We cross the border and spend the Palenque and an- night in San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora, Mexico, and drive early next morning on a rugged road other of our to La Ciénega de Santa Clara, the area’s most important wetland. Thickly vegetated with cattail, popular trips to reeds and rushes, this unique wetland of 29,650 acres lies along the eastern shore of the Colorado Copper Canyon! flood plain. La Ciénega supports over 6000 endangered Yuma Clapper Rail and numerous other resident and migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and even Bald Eagles. Residents of the Ejido Johnson DELTA, continued on page 22 Inside Calendar .................. 10 Dastardly Duos ........ 15 Director’s Perch ......... 2 Education News ....... 12 Field Trips .................. 6 Field Trip Reports ...... 8 Mason Audubon Center News ...................... 13 Meeting program ...... 32 Membership Information .............. 20 Nature Shop ............. 16 President’s Mess. ...... 3 RBA Highlights ........ 24 TAS Travel ................ 22 Thanks & Wishes ..... 31 Web Corner .............. 30 Canoeists explore the Colorado River Delta 2 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon Society February 2003 Tucson Audubon Society Officers Directors Perch by Sonja Macys President, Roger Wolf ............................ 882-9633 Vice President, Floyd Gray .................... 670-5582 Secretary, Bill Mannan .......................... 621-7283 Treasurer, Walter Kavanagh ................. 621-1750 My love affair with international for yourself! Tucson Audubon will be Directors at Large travel began when I was twelve years offering continuous trips to this jewel Wendy Burroughs Brian Powell old and visited the island of St. John in of a location (see page 23 for more de- 578-3650 670-5830 the U.S. Virgin Islands. A small group tails). Visiting Alamos only reinforces Don Eagle Susan Randolph 629-0510 629-0510 of equestrians traveled from Virginia to our conviction that habitat protection Kristi Keller Peter Salomon participate in an international horse does not stop at the border. 629-0510 298-9697 Lawrence Liese Linda Stitzer show. My memories of the island in- Although a recent visit to Phoenix 743-3520 297-3173 clude the exotic tropical fruits and tall was less glamorous, it was similarly ex- Chris McVie David Yetman 629-0510 621-2484 trees, new and interesting accents, and citing. Several Tucson Audubon board Robert Merideth my first encounter with real dairy milk and staff attended the quarterly meet- 884-4393 (which would have been much better re- ing of National Audubon Society’s Board Committees ceived today than as a child!). board. The meeting, hosted in large Conservation, Bill Mannan .................... 621-7283 Since then, my motivations for part by the emerging Arizona Audu- Education, Susan Randolph .................. 629-0510 travel have changed, nonetheless, my bon, brought together NAS leadership Development, Robert Merideth ............ 884-4393 Nominating, Susan Randolph .............. 629-0510 love for it remains. This is fortunate, to set priorities in the areas of policy, Community Presence, Linda Stitzer ......... 297-3173 as the issues facing bird and wildlife science, and chapters/states and centers. Programs and Activities conservation these days require a “big And although the geographical priori- Bird Alert ................................................. 798-1005 picture” approach that often brings me ties on which NAS will focus presently Bird Reporting ........................................ 696-4461 Bird Census, Susan Birky ...................... 743-9390 far afield. My most recent adventure have been set, don’t be surprised if the Library, Bill Scott .................................... 887-5813 took me to Alamos, Sonora. Twelve of Sonoran Desert becomes a point of in- Mailing, Gerald Sweeney ..................... 326-3701 us made the journey from Tucson for terest in the future! Field Trips, John Higgins ...................... 578-1830 Program, Tom DeMoss .......................... 296-2963 the Sonoran Joint Venture’s biannual As we enter this New Year, our Membership & Hospitality ....................... (vacant) meeting. Former board member thoughts move towards the future. Cynthia Lindquist drove as my col- What kind of world do we want to Audubon Nature Shop & Offices leagues and I viewed wintering raptors make, for ourselves, for the birds, and 300 E. University Blvd. #120, Tucson, AZ 85705 Nature Shop Hours: Mon.Sat. 104, Mon. & Thu. 105 for the nine hours’ drive. Warning, this for the habitat that supports them? As Shop Manager, Judy Edison has proven to be dangerous to do our Conservation Committee begins to Asst. Shop Manager, Susan Birky (520) 629-0510 Fax: (520) 623-3476 while driving. craft a vision for Tucson Audubon and www.tucsonaudubon.org In Alamos, we were met by Mexi- a strategy for effective conservation, we [email protected] can conservationists from Hermosillo, invite you to participate. We intend to Executive Director, Sonja Macys .......... 622-5622 Guaymas, and Alamos. For two days, keep you posted about challenges and Asst to ED, Jessie Shinn ........................ 628-1730 MAC Outreach Coord., Jamie Brown ..... 744-0004 the group rallied at La Ciudadela, Jen- progress in the areas of policy, science, Education Prog. Man., Carrie Dean ...... 629-0757 nifer and David McKay’s bed and and conservation. And we aim to con- Education Specialist, Dan Wolgast ......... 744-0004 breakfast in the heart of the Colonial tinue to provide rewarding opportuni- Development Director, Holly Foster ...... 628-1730 Restoration Projects, Ann Phillips ........ 206-9900 City. We learned about the progress be- ties for your involvement. We can’t go Cons. Biol./IBA Coord., Scott Wilbor .... 629-0757 ing made in cross-border bird conser- it alone. As Friedrich Nietzsche once Prmclt./Com. Spec., Kendall Kroesen .. 206-9900 vation and the challenges yet to be said “Nothing ever succeeds which exu- Editors, Jane & Warren Tisdale ............ 749-2139 faced. And though the presentations berant spirits have not helped to pro- Mission Statement TAS is dedicated to improving the quality of were interesting and important, the duce.” Your dedication will allow future the environment by providing education, conser- best was yet to come. travelers to experience the diversity and vation, and recreation programs, and environ- J mental leadership and information. We departed Alamos early the next wonder of this region we all love. Tucson Audubon Society is a non-profit vol- morning to visit potential project sites unteer organization of people with a common in- terest in birding and natural history. TAS main- (and to bird). In the two hours prior to tains offices in Tucson, an extensive library, and arriving at our first site, we had already a Nature Shop where nature-related items are sold for the benefit of TAS programs, (520) 629-0510. logged 30 species, all from our car win- The Vermilion Flycatcher is published dows. Visions of Birdathon routes monthly except for combined May-June, July- Aug., and Dec.-Jan. issues. For address changes danced in my head…I won’t tell you or subscription problems call (520) 628-1730, or write to TAS (see info on page 20). Submissions about the lifers that I added to my list, for the March Flycatcher are due by February 7. but rather encourage you to go and see February 2003 Tucson Audubon Society Vermilion Flycatcher 3 Presidents Message by Roger Wolf Water Follies Wash and 90% of the springs on the ing agricultural rights. Generally users What happened to the Santa Cruz Hopi reservation, according to Vernon must pay closer to the true value and River? “The city of Tucson took it.” Masayesva, former tribal chairman. (An costs of water, such as the costs of harms This answer came from an elder of acre-foot of water is the volume re- to streams and habitat, water quality the Tohono O’odham nation, reported quired to cover one acre of land one degradation and subsidence. And fi- in Water Follies: Groundwater Pumping foot deep, or 325,851 gallons.) nally, when water rights
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