Birding Without Barriers

Learn All About eBird!

2012-02-02T18:10:00.001-07:00

You’ve probably been hearing a lot about eBird (http://www.ebird.org/ ), the online birding tool that is changing the face of modern birding. eBird is an internet-based checklist program built for birders by birders, whose goal is to harness the power of both birding and science. It allows you to keep track of your bird records online and share them with the birding community, while making them available for science and conservation efforts. eBird allows birders to post sightings, keep life lists, and manage their personal records. This workshop will teach you what eBird is and why it’s important that you contribute, give you tips on how to make your entries as useful as possible, show you what it can do for you as a birder, and teach you how to get started. Join eBird Project Leader Brian Sullivan for a look at this remarkable tool, and get empowered to make your observations count! Recommended for all levels of eBird users. Limited to 45 participants, so sign up soon!

Date and Time: Saturday, March 24, 2012, 9 am – 1 pm

Location: Pima Community College NW Campus, Tucson, Arizona

Cost of the workshop: $25

Register online at: http://www.tucsonaudubon.org/what-we-do/education/eduadult/223.html

or by contacting Bété Pfister at 520-209-1812 or bpfister@tucsonaudubon.org

Co-hosted by Tucson Audubon Society (TAS) and Arizona Field Ornithologists (AZFO.org).

Wordless Wednesday

2012-02-01T09:50:00.000-07:00

Tempe Marketplace Marsh Aquatic Bird Survey 2012

2012-01-29T11:58:00.000-07:00

Cormorants and Egrets hanging out in the reeds just east of the
east dam at Tempe Town Lake.

One of the perks of doing some of the Urban Aquatic Bird Surveys is gaining temporary access to prime birding areas that are normally off limits. West valley birder and photographer Jeff Ritz had the enviable opportunity to survey the vast Tres Rios Wetlands area that is not open to the public yet. His team had 42 species, and 3,699 individual birds!

Don Witter scouting out the area east of Tempe Town Lake.
(Photo by Jeff Stemshorn.)

The opportunity to survey Tempe Marketplace went to three very experienced birders from Desert Botanical Garden's Monday morning bird walks - Don Witter, Joyce Goodman and Gay Christensen. Their area included the lush riparian area behind Tempe Marketplace and the area between McClintock and the east dam of Tempe Town Lake. They were hoping to see the Eurasian Green-winged Teal that had been spotted there recently, but he was a no-show. They did manage though to see a Sora, a Common Moorhen, and the Belted Kingfisher!

Survey Results:

Green Heron at Tempe Marketplace Marsh.
(Photo by Jeff Stemshorn.)

Canada Goose 5

Gadwall 31

American Wigeon 4

Mallard 14

Northern Shoveler 51

Green-winged Teal 8

Ruddy Duck 62

Pied-billed Grebe 11

Neotropic Cormorant 140

Double-crested Cormorant 129

Great Blue Heron 5

Great Egret 8

Snowy Egret 42
Green Herons 1

Black-crowned Night Heron 1

Sora 1

Common Moorhen 1

American Coot 137

Black-necked Stilt 2

Greater Yellowlegs 1

Spotted Sandpiper 2

Osprey 2

Belted Kingfisher 1

Total Species: 23 Total Ind.: 659

Area Surveyed - Tempe Marketplace Marsh

Other areas included in the Phoenix Area Urban Aquatic Bird Survey are the gazillion golf course ponds across the valley, the many urban park ponds and residential ponds, Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Site, Glendale Recharge Ponds, Tres Rios Hayfield Site, the ponds at the Phoenix Zoo and Papago Park, Gilbert Water Ranch, ASU Research Park, and Fountain Hills Lake. So there are plenty of opportunities for volunteers! If you are interested in joining next year's survey, contact Troy Corman at Arizona Game and Fish Department - tcorman@azgfd.gov .

Tempe Town Lake Aquatic Bird Survey 2012

2012-01-26T14:24:00.000-07:00

Habitat area downstream from the new pedestrian bridge at Tempe Town Lake
Photo by Jeff Stemshorn

Last Saturday I and several great volunteers did the waterbird survey of Tempe Town Lake as part of the Arizona Game and Fish Department's "Phoenix Area Aquatic Bird Survey".

The day started out as bitter-cold, then eased into frigid-cold. When the sun finally did appear, so did the high school percussion band and hundreds of demonstrators, marching the lake's perimeter! It was amazing that any birds stayed around to be counted. But my wonderful volunteers - birders from Desert Botanical Garden's Monday Morning Birdwalks - persisted and covered our entire area over the course of the day. Our area included the habitat just downstream from the new pedestrian bridge, the entire lake, and the small marsh area near Curry and Miller Roads. (A second team of birders from DBG surveyed the marsh at Tempe Marketplace - I will be posting their results soon!)

Volunteers Anita, Ethan, and Logan surveying the habitat downstream of the west
dam at Tempe Town Lake, Jan. 21st, 2012. Photo by Jeff Stemshorn

The exciting bird sightings of the day were the Brown Pelican flying up and down the lake, the lone female Bufflehead at the small marsh north of the lake, and the adult Bald Eagle trying to steal fish from the Osprey!

Bald Eagle at Tempe Town Lake, Jan. 21st, 2012. Photo by Jeff Stemshorn

We had a total of 24 species! (vs.last years 17)

Brown Pelican at Tempe Town Lake, Jan. 21st, 2012.
Photo by Jeff Stemshorn

Canvasbacks 4

Mallards 21

Northern Shovelers 26

Ring-necked Ducks 12

Ruddy Ducks 151

Buffleheads 1

Pied-billed Grebes 9

Eared Grebes 67

Western Grebes 37

Neotropic Cormorants 102

Double-crested Cormorants 55

Great Blue Herons 2

Great Egrets 14

Snowy Egrets 35

Green Herons 2

American Coots 63
Killdeer 7
Black-necked Stilts 6

Greater Yellowlegs 2

Least Sandpipers 7
Wilson's Snipe 1
Osprey 2

Bald Eagle 1

Brown Pelican 1

Total # birds counted : 629

Thank you Ann, Anita, Logan, Ethan, and Jeff for all of your hard work! Next year let's rent a boat!!!

To see a slide show of the area surveyed, click on the image below:

This endeavor is part of the statewide Arizona Coordinated Bird Monitoring effort which is promoted by the Arizona Bird Conservation Initiative (ABCI). ABCI is a cooperative partnership of agencies, organizations, and individuals committed to the conservation of all birds and their habitats in Arizona.

If you are interested in volunteering for next year's count, contact Troy Corman at AZ Game and Fish Dept.

Troy Corman

Avian Monitoring Coordinator

tcorman@azgfd.gov

Nongame Branch

AZ Game and Fish Department

5000 W. Carefree Hwy.

Phoenix, Arizona 85086

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-19T10:20:00.001-07:00

Today's photos were taken by Jeff Stemshorn, the fastest camera-slinger in the west.

Jeff has never met a bird he couldn 't shoot. Hmmm, well you know what I mean.

Love is in the Air... or in the Trees!

2012-01-16T17:39:00.000-07:00

Great Blue Herons mating in the tree tops at

a heron rookery in the southeast valley.

Having a smoke together afterward.

New Blog Page - Bird Art in Arizona

2012-01-13T17:54:00.003-07:00

Bird Art in Arizona currently features three Arizona artists - Allison Shock, Barbara Rudolph, and Jenny Foster.

Allison Shock (Three Star Owl) is currently at the Nature Expo portion of Wings Over Willcox, held in the Willcox Community Center, which is the headquarters for the festival. The Nature Expo will be open from Thursday afternoon until Sunday, admission to the Nature Expo is FREE! Click here for map and directions.

Barbara Rudolph and Jenny Foster will be at The 22nd Annual Celebration of Fine Art 2012. "One of the premiere art events in the West" opens on January 14th. The show runs through March 25th, 2012 in a new location. You will find it on the Southwest corner of Hayden Rd and Loop 101, just off exit 35. For more information visit: http://www.celebrateart.com/ .

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-11T16:07:00.000-07:00

Visit Your Local Pond

2012-01-10T18:15:00.001-07:00

Northern Shoveler splashing it up with a Great-tailed Grackle at Freestone Park in Gilbert, January 6, 2012.

For a quick birding fix try visiting one of the many rural ponds around the valley, you never know what wintering ducks you might see. I recently 'discovered' Freestone Park in Gilbert. At first glance you'd think no duck worth his weight in feathers would be seen here, a park with every annoying kid-oriented feature imaginable - a train going around the entire pond, swings, slides, and even carousel rides, ugh! But the ducks don't seem to care, nor do the egrets, herons and cormorants. The pond at Freestone Park often has Ring-necked Ducks, American Wigeons, Northern Shovelers, and a few Canvasbacks.

Lesser Scaup pair at Kiwanis Park on January 9th, 2012.

All of the urban ponds are wheelchair friendly, but if you are wheelin' it, be sure to bring something to wipe your wheels down with when you leave. Otherwise you'll be leaving lovely duck-poop-green tire tracks wherever you go - not very attractive.

Male Canvasback at Riverview Park in Mesa, January 6th, 2012.

Recent urban pond duck sightings around the valley include a Eurasian Wigeon at the Biltmore Golf Course Ponds, a Mandarin Duck (and several Lesser Scaup) at Kiwanis Park in Tempe, a Eurasian Green-winged (Common) Teal in the marsh at Tempe Marketplace, very friendly Canvasbacks at Riverview Park in Mesa, Common Mergansers and American Wigeons at the McCormick Ranch ponds in Scottsdale, and a Goldeneye Pair with several Hooded Mergansers at Fountain Hills Lake.

See some amazing photos of the Mandarin Duck at Kiwanis Park taken by Laurence Butler on his blog: http://www.butlersbirdsandthings.blogspot.com/ .

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-04T18:19:00.001-07:00

Nest Building Has Already Begun!

2011-12-30T18:46:00.000-07:00

Great Blue Herons start building a new nest in an established
heron rookery in the southeast valley, December 29th, 2011.

Great Blue Heron taking off with nesting material.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-28T13:36:00.001-07:00

Christmas Bonus Bird Walk at BTA

2011-12-16T16:45:00.000-07:00

Christmas - Bonus bird walk this Sunday,
December 18th, 8:30 a.m.

at Boyce Thompson Arboretum with JoAnne Barr.

While you're out this way.... consider attending

the "Fesival of Lights" up at Besh Ba Gowah.

Its a fun event, a beautiful evening of the

Christmas season -- and free!

Check it out HERE.

***** Update *******

Highlights from this walk included a Rufous-backed Robin,

an American Robin, a Rufous-crowned Sparrow, and the Coatimundi!

Joanne Barr will lead another bird walk
at BTA on New Year's Day,
starting at 8:30 am.

Winter Ducks

2011-12-12T16:49:00.000-07:00

Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)

Winter ducks - gotta love em'. These beauties are popping up everywhere, each week it seems someone new appears. I've only captured photos of a few. The excitement this week includes the Common (Eurasian) Teal spotted by Magill Weber at Tempe Marketplace,and a pair of Common Goldeneye and 49 Hooded Mergansers spotted by Troy Corman at Fountain Hills Lake.

Redhead (Aythya americana)

American Wigeon (Anas americana)

Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)

Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)

Gadwalls (Anas strepera)

Birds vs. Birdwatchers

2011-12-08T16:55:00.001-07:00

Some days I'm not sure what is more fascinating - the birds that I see when I'm out birding, or the people that I meet. On a recent trip to Neely Water Ranch in Gilbert, Arizona, it was definitely a person and not a bird that captured my attention. In fact the trip would have been a complete bust had I not had the good fortune to run into Tom Cole right in the parking lot.

It was a bitter cold December day and the site seemed to not be very wheelchair friendly. Then Tom appeared, wanting to know where I got the reindeer antlers and red nose adorning my van. With his binocs, camera, red plaid flannel shirt, slightly graying beard, and mischievous dimpled smile, I felt I had found the closest thing to a birdwatching-Santa!

Tom Cole explaining to us newcomers the
odd layout that now exists at Neely Ranch.

I was amazed to learn that Tom had birded Neely Water Ranch for the last 17 years, taken copious notes, created an extensive data-base, and recently published a book about it - The Intersection - Seventeen Years of Bird Processing on One Street Corner of the World. A great review of the book can be found on the citizen-science website SciStarter .

Neely Water Ranch isn't quite what it once was when Tom first started birding here. Several of the recharge ponds have been permanently drained and filled with rows and rows of solar panels. The whole area is enclosed by cyclone fencing, block walls, gravel berms, and iron bars. Old bird blinds offer sterile views of solar panels. While there are birds to be found, (we saw a Northern Harrier, an American Kestrel, Gadwalls, Northern Pintails, a Vermilion Flycatcher, several Yellow-rumped Warblers, a Black Phoebe, and a Says Phoebe) it is in an odd and unnatural setting. A fire station sits on the west side, and huge electrical towers and Schuff Steel adorn the northern border. So unless you like your nature photography to have a strong industrial edge, Neely Ranch is not the place for you.

But if you are in the neighborhood, its worth stopping at Neely Water Ranch just in the off chance that Tom is there.

Click on image below to view slide-show:

Neely Water Ranch is located at Cooper Rd. and the Western Canal, just north of Elliot. Parking is available in the gravel lot to the rear of the fire station parking lot.

Volunteers Needed For Christmas Bird Counts

2011-12-01T12:00:00.001-07:00

Its that time of year already! Christmas Bird Counts have been going on since 1900. But each year more volunteers are needed to perform the counts. You don't have to be an expert birder to join in on the fun, you will be paired with more experienced birders. There are several areas covered across the state, and the counts are performed one calendar day between December 14 and January 5 . Check out the Arizona Christmas Bird Count Schedule 2011-2012 and contact one of the compilers to volunteer. The counts start early and last all day and are usually concluded with a compilation dinner where results are tallied and experiences are shared. A $5 donation to the Audubon is required by each participant. Christmas Counts near the Phoenix area include Tres Rios, Gila River, Salt and Verde River, Carefree, Hassayampa River and Superior.

Want to learn the ropes? On Saturday, December 10th at 9am to 11am, The Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center is offering a special CBC training session to the community. Come down to learn how you can make a difference while enjoying the beauty of the season.

Make Christmas Bird Counts a part of your holiday tradition!

Mystery Gull at Tempe Town Lake

2011-11-30T14:52:00.001-07:00

Photo by Jeff Stemshorn, Tempe Town Lake
Pedestrian Bridge, Nov. 25th, 2011.

For most of us ALL gulls are a mystery when it comes to I.D.ing them. As someone who spent their childhood near the ocean in southern California, seagulls were our nemeses on the school playground and on the beach - randomly bombing us with guano as they flew off with our lunches, so I tend to avoid them altogether.

But on November 25th while birding the Tempe Town Lake Pedestrian Bridge, I spotted a single bright white bird floating amid a flock of Ruddy Ducks on the lake. When it took to the sky we could see it was a gull, but what kind? Is it a Western Gull, or a Ring-billed Gull in non-breeding plumage, or a California Gull in winter plumage... or something else?

Anyone want to venture a guess as to what type of gull this is?

*** Update as of Dec. 1st ***

Suprisingly, the best ID so far of the Mystery Gull has come from the least experienced birder, my friend Don Price, an avid fisherman:

"Yes. I know this gull! His name is Richard." Don went on to say - "Well, I guess you’d say what can make me feel this way? My gull, my gull, my gull… talkin’ ‘bout my gull."

Pure genious.

Thanksgiving Weekend Fall Festival

2011-11-24T12:34:00.001-07:00

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend by heading out to the Fall Festival at Boyce Thompson Arboretum this Saturday and Sunday. The Pistachio, Sycamore, and Varnish trees are in full fall color, photographers will be holding workshops on how to best photograph fall foliage, and there will be flute music, arts and craft vendors, and hot apple cider!

Sunday morning at 8:30 Kathe Anderson will be leading a bird walk, and if you're lucky you might spot the coatimundi seen on last week's bird walk. Birds of interest seen recently at the Arboretum include Northern Beardless -Tyrannulet, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Western Bluebirds, American Robins and numerous Hermit Thrushes.

The coatimundi stole the show at last Saturday's Bird Walk

at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. This fantastic shot was taken

by photographer Brendon Grice near the Herb Garden.

Click image below to view slide show:

Lessons Learned in the Field

2011-11-19T20:20:00.001-07:00

Hoping to get a photo of the Osprey taking off...

looks like he's thinking about it...

Okay, great, he's leaning forward...

any second now he'll take off...

finally I'll get a shot of an Osprey in flight...

Aaaacckkkk!!! He threw up instead.

This is what landed below the light pole,

indigestible fish parts.

And also on the nice shiny red truck

parked underneath the light pole.

Eeeeewwwww!!!

Lessons Learned:

1. Owls aren't the only bird of prey that regurgitate the indigestible parts of their prey.

2. Be careful where you park when birding at Tempe Marketplace.

Birding the Bridge!!!

2011-11-18T17:29:00.001-07:00

A great new wheelchair accessible birding spot is now open to the public - Tempe Town Lake Pedestrian Bridge. It takes you right on top of the west dam (yes, the same dam that burst last year). There's easy access to the bridge and lots of parking at the Tempe Center for the Arts, on Rio Salado Parkway, east of Priest.

The new pedestrian bridge provides birders with never before seen views down into the habitat below the west dam. At nearly any given time of day you'll see egrets, heron's, cormorants, grebes, coots, and ducks galore.

The side railings along the bridge have plenty of space for photographers in wheelchairs to get unobstructed shots of the lake and the downstream habitat. If you point your camera toward the lake and wait patiently, you'll eventually see a big huge egret, heron or cormorant flying right at eye-level. If you're really lucky, you might even see a Brown Pelican!

As you meander up and down and back and forth along the bridge, ogling at the birds, be careful of cyclists that whiz by at lightning speed, and the occasional skateboarder.

Just minutes from the ASU campus, Mill Avenue, and Tempe Marketplace, this is a convenient spot to get a quick birding fix on your lunch hour. Birds seen include Osprey, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Green Herons, Black-crowned Night Herons (2 juvenile), Neotropic Cormorants, Western Grebes, Pied-billed Grebes, Ruddy Ducks, Mallards, American Coots, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpipers, Black Phoebes, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow-rumped Warblers and Verdin (in the parking lot).

Click on image below to see slide show:

Birds of Prey - Another Sign of Fall

2011-11-13T12:15:00.001-07:00

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)

at Rio Salado, Nov.12, 2011.

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

at Tempe Marketplace, Nov. 12, 2011.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

at Tempe Marketplace, Nov.2, 2011.

Subtle Signs That Fall is Here...

2011-11-02T12:11:00.000-07:00

My Rock Squirrel is busy gathering bedding for his winter den...

White-crowned Sparrows are starting to pop out of the shrubs...

and so are the Gilded Flickers!

(getting the ol' evil-eye from the Curve-billed Thrasher)

Surf Scoter Spotted at Fountain Hills Lake

2011-10-29T14:29:00.002-07:00

Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata), female,
at Fountain Hills Lake, October 28th, 2011.

I really went to Fountain Hills to check on the accessibility of Tommy D.'s recently noted "Fountain Hills Storm Drainage". The area certainly looks like great lush habitat, thick with mesquite, cottonwood, palo verde, and willow trees, but wheelchair access looked a bit iffy. Since I was by myself I opted to head to the lake, where I spotted this oddball among the little Ruddy Ducks. It looks like a female Surf Scoter! I didn't have my viewing scope with me, so I wasn't able to scan the lake and search for the much more striking and easily identifiable male Scoter. He might still be out there, so go check it out!

Big Bugs Invade Desert Botanical Garden!

2011-10-26T18:40:00.002-07:00

Giant Praying Mantis looms over the Garden

This Northern Mockingbird appears unfazed by the Big Bug Invasion.

Giant Ant takes over a nearby hill!

A few Black-throated Gray Warblers made an appearance at
the Monday Morning Bird Walk this week at DBG!

Agua Caliente

2011-10-20T12:15:00.001-07:00

Bell's Vireo chick in baseball-size nest, May 2011.

Agua Caliente - or - "hot water" is what one of the previous owners was certainly in when he tried to cash in and enlarge the existing hot spring and a nearby cold spring by dynamiting them to smithereens - ending up with one big useless hole of tepid water. With the hot springs no longer viable as a tourist attraction, the ranch property ended up changing hands several times. It has served various functions over the years - resort and spa, cattle ranch, orchard, and farm, so there is now an odd assortment of trees and habitats throughout the park - a palm tree mecca, old fruit trees, desert scrub, wetlands, and an old mesquite bosque. The varied habitats attract an assortment of birds making it a great place to go birding in Tucson.

The whole park is fairly wheelchair accessible, including a paved entry drive, parking lot and sand topped paved trails. I was even able to go through most of the beautifully restored historic Ranch House. The Tucson Audubon Society has its gift shop inside the park's Ranch House, and an art gallery featuring different artists each month. When I was there back in May they had a wonderful collection of rustic wire bird nests with gorgeous turquoise ceramic eggs, creations of Tucson artist Phil Lichtenhan . The array of wire nests were a marvel to see.

Phil Lichtenhan's wire nest creations can be found in numerous galleries
in the southwest, see his website to see current gallery / art show list.

Tucson Audubon Gift Shop at Agua Caliente is located
inside the newly restored historic Ranch House.

Thursday morning bird walk at Agua Caliente.

Wake Up with the Birds- Thursday Morning Birdwalks - Desert meets water at this unique crossroads for migratory and resident birds. Spot wetland birds, hummingbirds, songbirds and raptors nestled among the mesquites and palm trees. Binoculars are available for use or bring your own. Every Thursday, 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. in October, (times vary by season, check website for exact time) Pima County Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E. Roger Road, Cost: free, all ages welcome. For more information contact: 520-615-7855 or eeducation@pima.gov . Reservations not required.

Click image below to view slide-show

Related Websites:

Agua Caliente Park

Friends of Agua Caliente

Bird Nest Artist - Phil Lichtenhan

Mogollon Rim

2011-09-30T16:48:00.000-07:00

Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)

Each guest cabin at Whispering Hope
Ranch is named after a bird, perfect!

Back in mid-August I had the good fortune to spend some time away from the valley of death, and bask in the cool pines of the Mogollon Rim (pronounced mō'gə-yōn'). I stayed with some folks from the Arizona Spinal Cord Injury Association at their annual summer retreat held at Whispering Hope Ranch, near Christopher Creek. What an awesome place and an awesome group of people. The Rufous Hummingbird above was one of many spotted on an early morning nature hike along the Rim Lakes Vista Trail. I've never seen so many hummers in one spot before. Mountain wildflowers were in full bloom, and the hummers flitted from blossom to blossom like bees.

The Rim Lakes Vista Trail is likely the best wheelchair accessible trail in the whole state, providing gorgeous panoramic views of the Mogollon Rim. Paved and mostly flat, near Woods Canyon Lake, it meanders for miles right along the rim. For directions and details see Accessing Arizona's review of the trail here.

After enjoying the great views along the trail, we headed over to Woods Canyon Lake, hoping to see the pairs of Osprey fishing the lake. Instead we were wowed by a large, loud, pair of Bald Eagle fledglings squawking away in the large pine tree towering over the lake's general store. The store manager came out and informed us that mama eagle had been trying to teach the kids to fish, but they were resisting. So they sat and cried for mom to come feed them, but she held her ground and sat perched high atop a tall snag on the other side of the lake, calling them to fly over and hopefuly snag a fish for themselves along the way.

Bald Eagle juvenile at Woods Canyon Lake loudly squawking for mama eagle
to bring him breakfast.

Pinal Mountain

2011-08-15T19:27:00.003-07:00

Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)

Who knew you could drive just over an hour southeast of Phoenix and end up at over 7,000 foot elevation? I sure didn't know, until Ann Givey from Desert Rivers Audubon raved about a wonderful birding trip she took to Pinal Mountain just outside of Globe. She even saw a coatimundi!

"This past weekend, I was able to go up to the Noftsger Hill Inn on Saturday and Sunday for Dr. Pearson's weekend of birding. If you go to the Birding on the Net site - you can read Dr. Pearson's report on our weekend. We saw 35 birds on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday, we saw an additional 45 birds - plus many we had seen the day before. The life birds for me were: An Olive warbler, red-faced warbler and Grace's Warbler - plus, I added the Hairy Woodpecker to my list - along with the Gray's Vireo and Cordilleran Flycatcher, Juniper Titmouse and the Rose breasted Nuthatch. So eight life birds made for an exciting weekend for me. The absolute highlight of the weekend, for all of us, was being less than six feet from the cutest male, white nosed Coatimundi, in the whole world. The cute critter spoke to us for about 10 minutes and posed for some great pictures. "

On my trip to Pinal a few weeks after Ann was there I didn't see nearly as many birds, we were too busy enjoying the view, the cool weather, and the ladybugs!

There were shrubs just plum full of ladybugs!

We took Russell Road up to Pinal Mountain and it was a long, steep, winding dirt road to the top. I was pretty tuckered out when I finally made it back home to Mesa. On my next trip I'll be sure to just stay the night at Noftsger Hill Bed & Breakfast in Globe! (Noftsger's is a busy place, a favorite among birders, so you will need to make reservations well in advance.)

I think he's smiling at me.

Click on image below to see slideshow:

Related Web Sites:

AZFO's Birding the Pinal Mountains

Noftsger Hill Inn

Wild Wings Rehab

2011-07-30T16:18:00.000-07:00

We made him comfy in a box with a warm towel.

Normally when it comes to out-of-nest or seemingly lost baby birds, I like to just let nature take its course (unless its as easy as putting the baby bird back in its nest). Most often a parent will eventually show up, problem solved. But this juvenile Gila Woodpecker appeared at my bedroom window around 7 PM, and clung to the screen intermittently pecking and squawking until 7AM. No Gila mom or pop showed up, so we brought him in, made him a safe little "nest" - cardboard box with a warm towel, and called Wild at Heart bird rescue. They referred us to Wild Wings Rehab, who specialize in woodpeckers, hummingbirds, and songbirds.

Paul and Gloria Halesworth run Wild Wings Rehab out of their home in Ahwatukee. For anyone who thinks "oh, wouldn't that be fun to do at my home" - think again. Its a full time job, and then some, requiring up to 16 hours a day of working with the birds. I can't imagine nurturing a multitude of woodpeckers, hummingbirds and sparrows simultaneously, inside one home. They go through so many mealworms that they order them by the barrel!

As we dropped Junior off, Paul did a great job explaining the rehab process. First Junior would go in an indoor cage with 4 other young Gila Woodpeckers and get fattened up a bit. Then he would advance to an outside aviary and strengthen his wings, and then eventually be released back into the wild. Thank you Paul and Gloria for the wonderful work you do!

Junior gazes out the window wondering where mom and pop are.

Bird Rescue Groups:

Arizona Covey - Quail, and small birds

602-996-1934

Fallen Feathers

623-533-2348

Liberty Wildlife - Hawks, Falcons, Eagles, Owls

480-998-5550

Wild at Heart - Owls, Hawks, Falcons, Eagles

480-595-5047

Wild Wings Rehab - Hummingbirds, songbirds, woodpeckers

480-893-6660

Moonlight Hike at McDowell Mountain Park

2011-07-23T12:52:00.003-07:00

Hikers on the trail at sunset hoping to hear or see nighthawks, bats, or maybe even an owl.

Sonoran Desert Toad

Ahhh, a hike at night! No sun beating down on you, no hurrying from one bit of shade to the next, with turkey vultures circling overhead waiting for you to drop from heat stroke. The sun was nearly set as we started out at 7:30 pm, the sky already filling with pink and purple ripples of clouds. The Nursery Tank Trail is short (1/2 mile to the pond), but still a challenge to anyone in a manual wheelchair or using crutches. What's nice is at the end of the trail you are rewarded with a bench to sit on, shade, a rail to lean on, and a view down into the pond / tank.

There's always something interesting either chirping, buzzing, or croaking down by the pond. Ranger Amy Ford didn't even hesitate to go down and muck around in the mud to find us a few frogs and toads to ogle over. Meanwhile there was just enough light to see lesser nighthawks swooping around eating up the bugs swarming over the pond. Fellow hikers broke out their black light flashlights to illuminate a variety of scorpions along the trail, some big enough to scare the living bee-gee-wees out of me. We never did see or hear any owls, but before heading back we enjoyed awesome views of a great orange moonrise. Ranger Amy has promised that there will be another ADA accessible hike in September, so check the McDowell Mountain Park website or my After Dark page for updates.

Night view of the pond / tank at Nursery Tank Trail

Here's a great video clip by Greg Joder of what we might have seen, but didn't - Western Screech Owls...

Click on image below to view video:

Western Screech Owls calling in the Sonoran Dessert. Copyright g. joder 2011

The Phoenix Bat Cave!

2011-07-19T18:40:00.002-07:00

Mexican free-tail bats emerging at sunset from the Phoenix Bat Cave.
Photo c. 2011 Jeff Stemshorn

This is an amazing sight to see! Every evening at sunset thousands of Mexican free-tail bats emerge from the "Phoenix Bat Cave" near the Biltmore to forage on mosquitos. There are so many bats, that its nearly a steady stream lasting for a good 20 minutes. The Phoenix Bat Cave is really a 7 mile long underground tunnel which is part of a Maricopa County Flood Control ditch.

Photo c. 2011 Jeff Stemshorn

Once a month during the summer, Arizona Game and Fish holds a bat workshop at the southwest corner of 24th Street and Biltmore Circle, just south of Lincoln. The next one is Aug. 5th from 7:00pm-9:00pm This one night workshop offers an opportunity to learn more about one of Phoenix’s largest urban bat roosts and the bats that live there. Participants will be able to view and ask questions about a variety of native animals active at night including: owls, herons, rodents, rattlesnakes, small mammals, and bats.

If you go, park at at the commercial building located at 2400 W. Arizona Biltmore Circle. The building is on the NORTHEAST corner of 24th Street and Arizona Biltmore Circle, just south of Lincoln Dr. The viewing area is on the SOUTHWEST corner of that intersection, south of the Squaw Peak Police Precinct. For wheelchair users, take the sidewalk south, then 4-wheel it through the gravel to the asphalt path which leads to the viewing area.

For more information about bats, visit the

Bat Conservation and Management website:

http://www.batcon.com/

My friend Greg Joder, currently working on the SW Willow Flycatcher Project, recently took part in an evening of capturing, studying, then releasing bats with a team of biologists from the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Program (LCR MSCP) bat monitoring project.

Click on the image below to see the video.

Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus). Copyright: g. joder 2011

Mesa's Electric Park Pt. II

2011-07-15T16:31:00.001-07:00

This blue budgie (Melopsittacus undulatus) was hanging
out with the Peach-faced Lovebirds.

Dreamland Villa's Desert Nature Walk (a.k.a. Mesa's Electric Park) is a great little place to go birding in the east valley. The homeowners have done such a wonderful job over the years of creating and maintaining this trail / habitat, that I think it deserves some type of recognition, or symbol of appreciation from birders like me that so enjoy birding here. So, I have applied for it to be recognized as a Bird Habitat by Desert Rivers Audubon. If approved, the HOA will receive a sign to post on the trail, acknowledging their efforts in providing a healthy native habitat for the birds and other wildlife in their Mesa neighborhood.

All of the trees, shrubs, and cacti planted here are native or common to the southwest and are able to survive on their own without any care, there is no irrigation going to the plants. Yet the area is lush with huge palo verde trees, mesquite trees, ironwood trees, thick stands of chainfruit cholla, teddy bear cholla, and prickly pear.

Sadly, in 2008 about a dozen of these big beautiful palo verde trees were completely chopped down and removed by a company that maintains the high power lines along the trail., see Arizona Republic article. The homeowners were understandably devastated.

At first I didn't notice the bare spots, but you can see tree stumps here and there along the trail where there are seemingly oddly placed benches with no shade, and baby palo verde's shooting up, as if to be reclaiming their territory.

Maybe a sign declaring the Dreamland Villa Desert Nature Walk to be an Audubon-approved bird habitat will deter future maintenance companies from chopping down any more trees.

Inca Dove nesting in chain-fruit cholla along the nature trail in late spring 2011.

For more information, directions, and photos, see my first blog entry about Mesa's Electric Park HERE.

Click on image below to see slide-show:

After the Morning Monsoon

2011-07-11T15:10:00.000-07:00

Neotropic Cormorant at Gilbert Water Ranch, July 11, 2011.

Lesser Goldfinches at Gilbert Water Ranch, July 11, 2011.

Coon Bluff Rec. Site on the Salt River

2011-07-08T12:18:00.002-07:00

Kayaker startles a Great Egret on the
Salt River at Coon's Bluff.

I wish that was me on the kayak, it would have been a much smoother ride than the one I took on the "trails" at Coon Bluff. The area is very sandy and uneven, with lots of critter holes, ant hills, and javelina poop. I wouldn't recommend Coon Bluff to anyone in a wheelchair unless they have someone willing to push, shove, pull, drag, and hoist their wheelchair around. Be prepared to be jarred, bounced, torqued, jostled, and possibly catapulted from your wheelchair.

When I finally made it down to the river we did have fun watching 2 Blue Herons and a Great Egret compete for fishing rights, a pair of Green Herons fly up and down the river taunting the Blue Herons, and Black Phoebe's darting down catching flies along the water's edge.

Wild horses came right into the picnic area at Coon Bluff.

Wild horses returning to their herd.

There are plenty of birds to be seen by just sitting among the mesquite trees in the picnic areas and not going down to the water's edge. Birds seen here included Vermilion Flycatchers, Lucy's Warblers, Brown-headed Cowirds, Abert's Towhees, Raven's, and Turkey Vultures. I'm sure there was more to be seen, but it was geeting too warm to stay longer.

Speaking of sitting, tomorrow is the Bird Sit at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Rick Wright and Alison Beringer invite nature lovers to a very different birdwatching experience- a sedentary, peaceful, focused 'bird sit' in the Demonstration Garden from 6:30 to 9:00 am. Maybe we'll see some of the rare birds spotted there this week - Tufted Flycatcher, Yellow-Throated Vireo, Yellow-Billed Cuckoo, Blue Grosbeaks, or Varied Buntings!

Happy Independence Day!

2011-07-04T18:24:00.001-07:00

c. 2011 Denny Green

From the sea otters at Moss Landing, California -Have a great Fourth of July!

c. 2011 Denny Green

Try not to get stuck in traffic on your way home...

c. 2011 Denny Green

... and be sure to say a prayer tonight and thank
God for our freedom.

Feeling a Little Squirrely

2011-07-01T12:11:00.003-07:00

A Sunday morning stroll at Desert Botanical Garden with Arizona wildlife photographer Denny Green...

Photo c. 2011 Denny Green

Sunday morning brunch for Round-tailed Ground Squirrels at DBG.
Photo c. 2011 Denny Green

Photo c. 2011 Denny Green

Click on images to enlarge and see the amazing detail captured by this uber-talented photographer. I can only dream of being able to take photos like these!

New! 'Bird Sit' at Boyce Thompson on July 9th

2011-06-29T11:33:00.001-07:00

'Bird Sit' with Rick Wright & Alison Beringer

July 9th, Saturday, from 6:30 to 9:00 a.m.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Rick Wright and Alison Beringer invite nature lovers to a very different birdwatching experience on July 9th -- a sedentary, peaceful, focused 'bird sit' in the Demonstration Garden at Boyce Thompson Arboretum from 6:30 to 9:00 am. "We'll walk slowly towards the Demonstration Gardens, where we'll install ourselves for what should be a very productive 'puddle watch' as birds arrive and depart for a drink or a bath. We can hope for good numbers of Lucy's and Yellow Warblers, and even such secretive birds as Bell's Vireo and Yellow-breasted Chat often emerge from the thickets near the Arboretum's Woodland Garden for good views at the artificial stream. And there's always the chance of a surprise," said Wright, who saw a rare Indigo Bunting and also a Blue Grosbeak near this spot just a week ago.

This was taken in Scottsdale, but there is an active
Cooper's Hawk nest right now with baby Coop's
at the Arboretum.

Senior Leader at WINGS Birding Tours Worldwide, Wright is one of Arizona's experts in hard-to-identify birds such as sparrows, flycatchers, and warblers. A native of southeast Nebraska, Rick attended the University of Nebraska and Harvard Law School, and holds M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Princeton University. As an undergraduate, he taught laboratory courses in ornithology; in 1985, he was a founder of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union Bird Records Committee. Rick taught at Princeton, Rutgers, Fordham, and the University of Illinois. A frequent lecturer at birding festivals and conventions, Rick enjoys all kinds of birding, from the frantic pace of the World Series to quiet puddle watching. His wife, Alison Beringer, is a professor at Montclair State University, New Jersey, and an equally enthusiastic and equally experienced birder in her own right. This unique outing is included in the regular daily admission of $7.50 for adults ($3 ages 5-12) and there's no pre-registration required; just be in the Arboretum's visitor center lobby at the 6:30 a.m. start time. Read more about Wright's tours and guiding at birdingnewjersey.com or connect with him on Facebook .

Sabino Canyon

2011-06-27T14:48:00.001-07:00

White Tail Deer in lower Sabino Canyon.

Sabino Creek. I feel cooler just looking at it!

Sabino Canyon is just on the north edge of Tucson in the Santa Catalina mountains. It's a great quick escape from town. There is a nearly 4 mile paved trail up into the canyon with nine stops along the way and the shuttles come and go every half hour, but the wheelchair accessible shuttle is only every hour on the hour. I suggest riding the shuttle up to the top and then hiking your way down.

We went in early May, and initially took a narrow trail that went along side of the paved road. It wasn't really wheelchair accessible, I probably made it maybe a quarter of way up the Canyon on the trail, then had to start using the paved road. It is a few degrees cooler than in the city, as the main road ascends from from 2,800 feet to 3,300 feet and crisscrosses Sabino Creek. Fremont Cottonwoods and Arizona Sycamores provide great shade along the roadway but it gets very hot in the sunny sections, even in May, on the black-topped road.

The highlights of our hike were the White Tail Deer we saw just yards away from us on the dirt trail, and the Cooper's Hawk sitting on her nest high in a Cottonwood tree at about mile 2 right next to the paved road. The Cardinals were fun to watch and must be used to people, as they boldly hopped around on the picnic tables and in low branches right over our heads! Other birds the area is known for include Gambel's Quail, Cactus Wren, Phainopepla, Black-throated Sparrow. In spring and summer you may also see or hear Broad-billed Hummingbird, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Bell's Vireo and Scott's Oriole.

Access: This is a Fee Area. A pass can be purchased at the Entrance Station. Day Pass $5, Week Pass $10, Annual Pass $20. Barrier-free accessible sites are available at Cactus picnic area and Bear Canyon overlook. Toilet with barrier-free access is located at the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center.

Male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

This Fall, try seeing Sabino Canyon from a different perspective – at night! It’s a special time when animals emerge from daytime siestas to prowl around the cool desert floor and the moon gently illuminates the silhouettes of stately Saguaro cacti. Sabino Canyon Tours offers Moonlight Rides three nights per month. September 8th, 9th, and 10th at 8:00 PM, October 8th, 9th, and 10th at 7:30 PM and November 6th, 7th, and 8th at 7:00 PM. Must make your reservations ahead of time, call (520) 749-2327.

Click image below for slide show:

Related Websites:

Sabino Canyon Recreation Area

Friends of Sabino Canyon

Sabino Canyon Tours (Shuttle)

Dirt Means Fun!

2011-06-23T18:10:00.001-07:00

No, I didn't go nuts with instant tanning cream, it's DIRT!

It seems I had a little too much fun recently at Granite Reef Rec. Site on the Salt River. Meandering down the trail towards the dam I kept getting stuck in the sand and the more I tried to spin myself on to more solid ground, the farther away from the trail I got. Before I knew it I was on some sort of critter trail, best suited for animals under 2 feet tall (hey, I'm at least 3 1/2 or 4 feet tall sitting down). Then I got hopelessly mired down in spidery ant-filled plant debris. Eventually my friend Tammy realized that the odd chirping sound she kept hearing wasn't some rare bird, but me setting off my car alert signaling for help.

When we finally emerged from all the bushwhacking we ran into Marcus Watson from Desert Rivers Audubon and UrbanBirder.com , who, unlike me, had seen quite a few birds that morning. Notable birds seen included a possible Caspian Tern!, three Greater Roadrunners, Bullock's Orioles, the continuously calling Common Yellowthroat, Gray Flycatcher, Western Kingbirds, Gilded Flicker, Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Gila Woodpeckers, and Lucy's Warblers. Later in the week Marcus saw a Summer Tanager and a possible female Blue Grosbeak!

Gray Flycatcher way up high in mesquite tree.

First year male Bullock's Oriole high in mesquite tree.

Caspian Tern at Granite Reef Rec. site, photo by Marcus Watson, June 14th, 2011

Greater Roadrunner, Granite Reef Rec. site, June 14th, photo by Marcus Watson

The latest member of the Thomas family, Paco. He's hot-on-the-trail
in search of the smelliest stuff he can possibly find to roll in! Go Paco!

Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Project

2011-06-20T14:28:00.043-07:00

Get an inside view of what it's like to be working on this project in the Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge. Birder and naturalist Greg Joder has gone from Bald Eagle nestwatching to searching for Southwestern Willow Flycatchers. You won't be seeing too many pristine photos of the SWFL, they're hard to find much less photograph! But you will see great photos and videos of the wildlife in the refuge. Click HERE to see a video of a typical day searching for the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher at the Bill Williams NWR.

Note from Greg Joder, June 21st, 2011 -

This is a female in what we are calling territory 2. notice, ironically, she is carrying nest material that is tamarisk (you know - the tamarisk leaf beetle release fiasco and its impact on SWFL productivity - if you don't I can send you a brief essay outlining the issue) and also notice she is banded. this female just lost her first nest to predation the other day and we discovered one of the ruined eggs was a cowbird egg. she has since rebuilt another nest and I will be back tomorrow to see if she's started laying eggs again. I will keep you posted... it's great to share this with you and other birders - thank you!

greg

Female Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus)
in Bill Williams River NWR, Copyright Greg Joder, 2011

In the amazing photo below, Greg captured the menacing pose of a Bobcat at the Planet Ranch in the Bill Williams River NWR.

Bobcat seen at Planet Ranch in the Bill Williams River NWR, Copyright Greg Joder, 2011

Links: Greg Joder's SWFL Project Photo Album

Greg Joder's Blog - My Earth

Greg Joder's Videos

Birds 'n Beer Comes to Phoenix!

2011-06-14T01:34:00.000-07:00

The first Birds 'n Beer night was a great success with nearly 60 people in attendance! The night's topic was Bird Sex and was so well received that June's Birds 'n Beer topic will be Bird Sex Part II. So don't miss out on all the fun, Thursday, June 16th, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

RSVP at Audubon's Facebook page : www.facebook.com/audubonaz

or via email: vramos@audubon.org

Audubon Arizona's Nature Film Festival

2011-06-12T15:04:00.000-07:00

Audubon Arizona's Ninth Annual Nature Film Festival

and Silent Auction at Harkins Camelview Theatres,

on Wednesday, June 15th.

This summer, enjoy a slice of nature at Audubon's annual film festival. Tickets are only $25 and include food, drink and popcorn, two feature films, "The Legend of Pale Male" and "Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air," and the opportunity to bid on one-of-a-kind auction items, including exciting travel-themed packages. Contact vramos@audubon.org for your advance tickets!

You won't want to miss it!

Sunflowers

2011-06-10T15:46:00.000-07:00

Click image to enlarge

I planted sunflower seeds this spring anticipating great shots of cute little Lesser Goldfinches nibbling away on big beautiful sunflower blossoms. Instead I have ravenous little monster Goldfinches chomping away and annihilating all the sunflower leaves. Go figure.

Digiscoping Harris Hawk Fledglings

2011-06-08T14:00:00.002-07:00

Are you SURE that's how you take off???

Ranger Amy at McDowell Mountain Park showing
me the digiscope images on my iPhone

On Friday, June 3rd, expert birder and naturalist at McDowell Mountain Park, Ranger Amy, set up scopes so we could see their three fledgling Harris Hawks. Two were out of the nest in a nearby clump of mistletoe, the third was still in the nest, and all three were crying to be fed. Mom was off hunting for food while Dad observed the noisy wing flapping fledglings from afar. The young hawks are already as big or bigger than their parents. We kept our distance and tried getting closeup photos with just my SonyCybershot 12x but it wasn't powerful enough. So we tried using the iPhone with the viewing scope.

Digiscoping isn't quite as easy as you would think, with an iPhone anyway. Amy tried with my iPhone and it was difficult to position the phone's lens at just the right angle and distance, keep it centered, zoom in, and tap the screen to take the picture, whew, all without jiggling the camera! To successfully digiscope using an iPhone, you really need some sort of mount to steady and position the phone. Rich Hoyer of Tucson has some tips on digiscoping with an iPhone posted here. If you'd like to try digiscoping with your point-and-shoot digital camera, check out this video on how to make your own digiscope adapter out of a soda bottle, duct tape, a hose clamp, and some rubber! If any of you can figure out how to make a similar adapter for the iPhone, please contact me at birdbloglady@gmail.com . I'd love to give it a try!

Harris Hawk male adult watching the fledgling's antics from a distance.

Birders - Let Your Voice Be Heard...

2011-06-06T11:45:00.001-07:00

This is a great opportunity for the birding community to voice their concerns and ideas regarding the development of the land around the Rio Salado Audubon Center and its riparian areas. So, don't miss it!

Community Information Session, June 7, 6 p.m., Broadway Heritage Neighborhood Resource Center, 2405 E. Broadway, Phoenix, AZ 85040 (24th street and Broadway)

The following is from the official City of Phoenix website, Home >Environment & Sustainability>LandStewardship>BrownfieldsLandRecyclingProgram> DelRioAreaBrownfieldsPlanningProject

If you live, work or are interested in what’s happening in your community, help shape the future and participate in this important planning project. Attend this meeting and learn how this project will continue to improve the quality of life in the South Mountain area.

In December 2010, Phoenix was awarded a two-year, $175,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Pilot Program to conduct brownfields planning activities. The goal of the project is to create a brownfields area plan that will help guide the redevelopment of brownfield sites within the area, direct the assessment and cleanup of sites, and identify resources available to assist with redevelopment. The project is built on public participation and will need input from citizens who live and/or work within the Del Rio and surrounding areas.

The project area, identified as the Del Rio Area, includes land between 7th Avenue and 16th Street, from the Salt River south to Broadway Road. There are at least three known brownfield sites in this brownfields-impacted area: 1) Former Del Rio Landfill, 2) Northwest corner of Central Avenue/Salt River, sand/gravel/landfill site, and 3) Vacant land east of the Rio Salado Audubon Center. The City expects that these three sites, and others identified will be considered for reuse planning, and for potential assessment, cleanup and redevelopment. The planning activities conducted under this project will consider existing and future development plans underway.

Project Schedule

Attend one of the upcoming Community Information Sessions and learn the basics of brownfields and the community activities that will take place for this planning project. Click here to view the Community Information Session Flyer. Subscribe to the electronic mailing list by clicking on Subscribe to the Del Rio Area Brownfields Planning Project link to receive meeting notices. (Brownfields is a term used to describe real estate that is contaminated or perceived to be contaminated by hazardous substances or petroleum in soil or groundwater. Examples of brownfields are old gas stations, landfills, and abandoned industrial facilities.)

Public participation is NEEDED!

Community Information Session
6 p.m., Tuesday, June 7
Neighborhood Resource Center
2405 E. Broadway, Phoenix, AZ 85040

To RSVP, please call 602-256-5669 or email trudy.merrill@phoenix.gov
It’s not necessary to RSVP to attend; however, we want to be sure there’s plenty of seating.

Brownfields Visioning Workshop
6 p.m., Tuesday, June 28
Rio Salado Audubon Center, 3131 S. Central Ave.

Brownfields Design Workshop
6 p.m. Tuesday, July 19
Rio Salado Audubon Center, 3131 S. Central Ave.

Brownfields Results Workshop
6 p.m., Tuesday, August 16
Rio Salado Audubon Center, 3131 S. Central Ave.

Sweetwater Wetlands

2011-06-05T12:19:00.000-07:00

Female Gila Woodpecker at her nest with a honeybee buzzing about.

Sweetwater Wetlands... "Sweetwater"? Really?! I'm not so sure. I damn near fell over in the parking lot when the first wave of smell hit me. Maybe a more accurate name would be Stinkwater. I know all the birders in Tucson love this place but gee zippity people, nobody bothered to mention the smell! Though it is a good place to look at birds and it is fairly wheelchair accessible, it's not exactly a place where I would stop and have a picnic. And this was on a cool day in May. I can't imagine being here in the summertime.

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoniceus)
at Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, AZ, May 2011

The place was overtaken with Red-winged Blackbirds and their loud calls seemed to drown out all of the calls and songs of any other birds that might have been there.

Mesquite bosque area bordering the parking lot

at Sweetwater was hopping with birds and critters.

As often happens when you're out birding, the best show in town ended up being right by the parking lot. A family of Gila Woodpecker's (top photo) had an active nest in the Saguaro right by the restrooms, and Cactus Wren and Abert's Towhees were hopping around everywhere along with cottontail bunnies. Desert Spiny and Zebra-tailed lizards were crawling over the big boulders that lay underneath the mesquite bosque by the parking lot. The mesquites and creosote bushes were dotted with Verdin, a few Wilson's and Yellow-rumped Warblers, and possibly a few Hammond's Flycatchers (photo on right).

Click image below to view slide-show.

Arizona Wildlife Views - Starts Tonight on PBS

2011-05-31T11:53:00.000-07:00

Arizona Wildlife Views TV is back on the air! An exciting new season of Arizona Wildlife Views television is coming to PBS! This Emmy award-winning program travels the state bringing you stories of Arizona’s wildlife and great outdoors.
The first episode on Tuesday, May 31 at 7:30 p.m. on KAET-TV (Channel 8 in Phoenix). You’ll meet a family of Harris hawks and the unique urban setting where they make their home, and learn how the mission of Arizona Game and Fish works to conserve and enhance all wildlife in Arizona.

See upcoming schedule at Arizona Game and Fish WEBSITE.

Swainson's or Hermit Thrush?

2011-05-29T16:47:00.000-07:00

Look at what all the wind blew in - a surprise visitor to my backyard bird bath!

Is it a Swainson's or Hermit Thrush?

Any ideas? Send them to me at birdbloglady@gmail.com

Tour of Tres Rios Wetlands

2011-05-27T12:26:00.003-07:00

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks at Tres Rios Wetlands, May 20th, 2011

Great Blue Herons share a kiss at
the Heron rookery on 91st Ave.

On Friday, May 20th, I had the privilege of touring the full-scale Tres Rios Wetlands with Ron Elkins, Tres Rios Operations & Maintenance Supervisor. Ron must surely think I have a quite limited vocabulary, because all I kept saying throughout the tour was "Wow! Look at THAT!". Ron sure had plenty to say though, you can tell he's poured his heart and soul into the wetlands project, and knows every inch of the area. Who better to get a private tour with?!

The full scale Tres Rios project encompasses about 500 acres of wetlands. Tres Rios, the confluence of the Salt, Gila and Agua Fria rivers, is green with vegetation and alive with wildlife. The project spans 91st Avenue to the Agua Fria River.

As we toured the first set of ponds Ron explained the complexities of the wetlands project. There are several entities that have been and still are involved in its completion. The list includes the E.P.A., The Army Corps of Engineers, City of Phoenix Parks and Rec. Dept., Phoenix Water Services Dept., the cities of Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, Glendale, Avondale, the Maricopa County Flood Control District and the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Whew! To add to the mix, the City of Phoenix recently commissioned environmental artist Adam Kuby to work with an engineering and landscape architect to design an enhanced trail system with interactive art. So Ron's done quite a juggling act in dealing with all of them and in trying to get part of Tres Rios open to the public.

Killdeer at Tres Rios

The area will hopefully open by next summer and will include viewing platforms, shade structures, pedestrian bridges, bird viewing areas, and trail connections between the wetland’s and the nearby river. If all goes as planned, the new Tres Rios Wetlands facility could become the premiere birding hotspot in all of Maricopa County and likely be the most wheelchair accessible!

For an overview of the work done at the full scale Tres Rios Wetlands Project and to see an interview with my great tour guide Ron Elkins, see this VIDEO by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. For more information and updates, see the Tres Rios Website.

THANK YOU Debbi Radford for commenting on my blog and arranging the tour, and thank you again Ron Elkins for taking the time out of your busy schedule to give me a most informative tour of Tres Rios - soon to be the crown jewel of the Valley!

Part of the water from the wetlands is released into the Salt River.

Note from Debbi Radford, Tres Rios Project Coordinator:

We are in the design phase for the recreation component and anticipate the site being open by the summer of 2012, but that date is dependent on the rate and amount of federal funding received for the project.

Currently, I am providing birders who wish to bird in the overbank wetlands area with a Parking and Ingress Permit, which was developed in conjunction with the Estrella Mountain Police Precinct. This allows birders to park along 91st Avenue and step over the gate to walk inside without worrying about being ticketed for trespassing. Special arrangements can be made for handicapped birders, of course. We are counting on the birders keeping the site as clean as we want it to be. Any birder who is interested just needs to call or email me with their postal mailing address to get a permit.

Debbi Radford
Tres Rios Project Coordinator
200 West Washington St., 9th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85007
602-495-7927
Fax 602-495-5843
debbi.radford@phoenix.gov

Bye-Bye Kitties of GWR

2011-05-25T14:21:00.000-07:00

Maybe the last of the feral cats made their way to the island in "Lost"

Hip-Hip-Hooray! The feral cat count at Gilbert Water Ranch has finally reached ZERO! Here's the latest from Mike Evans, Conservation Director at Desert Rivers Audubon Society:

Late this afternoon I spoke with Scott Cleaves, the Park Ranger, @ GWR . In the last two weeks he has only seen one cat in the Riparian Preserve at Gilbert Water Ranch. He has repeatedly tried to catch it over the last two weeks, and today he was successful. To the best knowledge of GWR and Riparian Preserve staff, there are NO feral cats left at GWR! The most recent survey in mid-March reported only 13 cats left in the preserve. The staff trapped eight of those cats. Coyotes or natural causes are believed to have accounted for the other five. (Coyotes have been photographed this spring with one adult and two kittens in coyote mouths.) Last October's survey had 82 cats and two litters of hidden kittens living in the preserve.

Signs have been installed at the GWR prohibiting the dumping of any type of animal at the facility. An ordinance prohibiting the dumping of animals has been drafted and circulated for comments. It will come before the town council this summer for adoption. Town employees will continue to trap for cats should any more appear at GWR.

If you run into Scott Anderson, Riparian Preserve Executive Director, Education Director Lisa Hermann, Ranger Scott Cleaves, or Naturalist Jennie Rambo during a future visit to GWR, please thank them for their efforts to make the Riparian Preserve at Gilbert Water Ranch at feral cat-free facility. Thanks goes out as well to the members of Save the Cats Arizona for their cooperation in the removal of the cats.
Thank you to all those on the list serve that contacted Gilbert town staff and elected officials regarding this issue. The hard work of the birding community has been rewarded with a cat-free Important Birding Area here in Gilbert, AZ.

Bonus section written by this blogger's dog "Paco"-

Quiz for Cat Owners:

The above sign means:

No swinging cats by the hind legs allowed at GWR.
No "Kitty n' Me" Thai Chi permitted at GWR.
Cat-Juggling is not allowed, please keep your circus animals at home.
No dumping cats at GWR.

Answer: TBD

More Great Birding at Gilbert Water Ranch

2011-05-19T21:06:00.000-07:00

Black-crowned Night Heron

Madera Canyon Bird Walk With Tucson Audubon

2011-05-16T15:49:00.001-07:00

Western Tanager at Madera Kubo

On May 10th I made my first venture into the famous Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson. Tucson Audubon Society had organized a bird walk for handicapped birders and/or those birders who like a more leisurely pace. Nina Hansen led the birdwalk and did a great job establishing the birding etiquette and protocol - soft voices only, describe where the bird you're seeing is, don't point, stay on the trail, and don't go ahead of the leader. This gal doesn't mess around! It was a challenge for most of us not to point.

Fellow birders on accessible trail at Proctor Road.

Our first stop was the wheelchair accessible paved trail in Lower Madera Canyon at Proctor Road. Its a 0.8 mile long loop, partly shady with benches along the way. (There is one other accessible trail just up the road at the Whitehouse Picnic Area, a half mile loop.) Birds seen at Proctor included a Ladder-backed Woodpecker, a Cassin's Kingbird, a Hermit Thrush, Wilson's Warbler, several very vocal Bell's Vireo, Townsend's and Yellow-rumped Warblers, a Western Tanager and some Brown-headed Cowbirds. (We didn't go beyond the crossing.)

We stopped briefly at Santa Rita Lodge, there we could kick back and just watch all the action at the many feeders below us.It seemed as if the Black-headed Grosbeaks and Mexican Jays were everywhere! We also saw several White-throated Swifts flying about, two Lazuli Buntings and some Lesser Goldfinches.

Madera Kubo Gift Shop

Our final stop as a group was at Madera Kubo where I was so agog at all the beautiful birds and the cute lodge that I committed the cardinal sin of parking right where you're not supposed to! Eee-gaaaddds! Somehow the kind lodge owner managed to just look at me and smile, likely hoping I'd realize my mistake. But I was way too busy looking every which-way at all the amazing Tanagers. So it was Nina who broke the news to me - I immediately moved my van across the street where signs clearly pointed out where to park. Duhhhh!

The best viewing area at Madera Kubo is on the porch looking out at the many feeders, but its not wheelchair accessible. Even so, I still saw a lot of great birds here - a Magnificent, several Black-chinned and several Broad-billed Hummingbirds, Summer, Hepatic and Western Tanagers, more Black-headed Grosbeaks and Mexican Jays, Pine Siskins, Bridled Titmice, and White-breasted Nuthatches.

For more information about Madera Canyon see The Friends of Madera Canyon website.

Click on the image below for a slideshow of Madera Canyon.

Arizona Bald Eagle Nestwatch Eaglet Update

2011-05-08T18:30:00.000-07:00

One eaglet looks on as his nest mate falls from the nest!

It was a most un-graceful fledging for this eaglet - she slipped off the edge of the nest, hung on upside down, then lost her hold and tumbled into the water below. But don't fret, the eaglet eventually made it back to the nest! See the video by nest watcher Greg Joder on YouTube. To read the latest eaglet news go to Greg's blog - My Earth - http://gregjoder.wordpress.com/

Also, check out this interesting video showing

the recent banding of an eaglet here in Arizona!

All photos and videos are by naturalist and nest watcher Greg Joder. For more about his adventures as a Bald Eagle Nest Watcher, go to his blog - My Earth, and check out more of his photos at PhotoBucket.

Birding at Mickey-D's

2011-05-06T18:17:00.000-07:00

Okay, now I'm busted. Usually I'm seen munching granola bars, chomping on trail mix, and drinking green tea. But I must admit that every now and again I get a hankering for a Mocha Frappe' from McDonalds. So on my way to bird along Bush Highway, my vehicle may on occasion suddenly veer off and go through the drive-thru at the McDonalds on Power Rd. and McKellips. I guess the Peach-faced Lovebirds like Mickey D's too, because more often than not they're all over the Palo Verde tree right by the drive-thru. You can't help but hear them when you roll down your window to place an order. There seems to be a whole flock of them, I've seen up to 20 in one tree!

There is also a very tall sycamore tree across the street that is loaded with birds. I've seen orioles, lovebirds, warblers, and goldfinches popping in and out of it.

So add McD's at Power and McKellips to your list of birding pit-stops along the Bush Highway. Just don't order the Mocha Frappe' - they're highly addictive!

Palo Verde tree full of Peach-faced Lovebirds at McD's.

Saguaro Lake Ranch

2011-05-04T10:27:00.002-07:00

Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus)

The next time you bird along the Bush Highway, take a pit stop at Saguaro Lake Ranch. The scenery is great and you can relax on the cool grass under the mesquite trees. You'll have a nice view into the mid-canopy of willows and cottonwoods along the Salt River. In winter months there are a variety of ducks on the river. Year round you'll see osprey, heron, egrets and flycatchers. This April and May the Vermilion Flycatchers put on a good show, perching, swooping and diving around right in front of me. Bald Eagles nest along the Salt and at Saguaro Lake, so you might see a flyby.

While you're here, check into the horseback riding and kayaking they offer, and the rental of the little pueblos. It would be nice to be here to bird at sunset and sunrise, and bird by kayak or horseback! The buildings aren't wheelchair accessible, and the rough cobblestone porch of the lodge makes for a bumpy ride. But I still like to stop here to see the horses, and feel the cool breeze coming off the river. The lodge and horseback riding are open October 1st through May 1st, and the kayaking is offered year round. For Reservations: Call (480)984-2194

Saguaro Lake Ranch : http://www.saguarolakeranch.com/
Horseback riding: http://www.saguarolaketrailrides.com/
Kayaking: You will get wet - Kayak from the top of the Salt River--float below thousand foot cliffs and beside majestic saguaros in the Sonoran Desert. The ranch offers kayaking during the fall, winter, and spring (summer kayaking is offered by the kayaking company). There are two options: (1) Kayak on Saguaro Lake. They provide equipment transportation. (2) Kayak on the Salt River between Phon D Sutton and Granite Reef. They provide equipment and transportation back to your car. Launch Times: 8am - 9am - 10am, reservations required, call 480-984-2194. E-mail: SaguaroLakeRanch@gmail.com
Click image below to view slideshow:

Happy Birthday John James Audubon!

2011-04-26T20:55:00.000-07:00

April 26th 2011 Google Doodle logo

The doodle in place of the usual Google logo on Tuesday is inspired by the paintings of the famous French-American ornithologist John James Audubon. The doodle celebrating Audubon's birthday has, like many other Google doodles, a pattern of the Google logo visible. In the latest doodle, the Google logo is made up of the branches of the trees the birds in the painting are perched.

Fledgling Curve-billed Thrasher

2011-04-22T19:03:00.000-07:00

The expression on this Thrasher Mom's face says it all...

Backwards Bumble Bee?

2011-04-19T16:20:00.004-07:00

Someone please tell me what this is? He's the size of a regular honey bee, but the stinger is in the front! Happily, he was rescued from the pool yesterday and set free. Last seen buzzing around our blossom filled Palo Verde tree. Contact me at birdbloglady@gmail.com

UPDATE: April 24th, 2011

Hello Peggy,

The "Backward Bumble Bee" picture may be a picture of a fly. I think it is a fly because it appears to have only two wings and it has very short antennae. The object that you see sticking out of the front is its Proboscis. It is not uncommon to see this "tongue" sticking out.

Here is a link for you to use for further study: http://bugguide.net/node/view/15740
The BugGuide is a service of Iowa State University Entomology.
Here is a book reference: "Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America"
by Eric R. Eaton and Kenn Kaufman

Happy birding,

William Herron

UPDATE: April 30th, 2011

While birding today at Gilbert Water Ranch, I met an entomologist from Cape Cod, Mass., she further identified the fly in the above photo as a "Bee Fly". Thanks Honnah, hope you were able to see a Vermilion Flycatcher along the Salt River!

The Trail at Granite Reef Rec. Site

2011-04-17T15:22:00.002-07:00

An easel awaits its artist with a view of Red Mountain.

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica dominica)

No, I haven't taken up painting. On my last visit to the Granite Reef Rec. Site two artists were there each capturing their own perspective of the tilted strata of Red Mountain. What a great place to sit and paint, under shady mesquite trees with a cool breeze coming off of the Salt River. Well its also a great place to bird especialy now that the weather is heating up. You can see and hear a lot by just sitting in one spot. Eventually birds start zipping by, or darting down out of all the trees, or swooping out and back over the river.

After sitting awhile I saw that a shady trail winds along the shore so I headed downstream through the mesquite bosque to check it out. The trail is not the most accessible, but it wasn't meant to be. If you are in a powered wheelchair or a manual you will need help to get over a few spots, but its not bone-jarring, the majority is smooth. I managed to catch a nice view of a Yellow-rumped Warbler, for once capturing an image revealing its head, chest, belly, tail, and wingbars, instead of the usual blurry image of a yellow-feathered butt flying away!

Tiny toad found on the trail.

Birds seen (April 2nd, 2011) - Bullock's Oriole, Phainopepla, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Ring-necked Ducks, Redheads, Coots, Blue Heron, Great Egret, Turkey Vultures, Northern Cardinal. Heard or seen by other more experienced birders - Lucy's Warbler, Bewick's Wren, Gray Flycatcher, Orange-crowned Warblers. No Vermilion Flycatcher here, but reported at Phon D Sutton.

Its best to come early in the morning, on weekdays, as more people are here on weekends fishing or kayaking and soon kids will start tubing down the Salt River.

Remember - you'll need a Tonto Pass to park here. Click HERE for places to purchase a Tonto Pass.

Eurasian Collared-Dove

2011-04-13T14:57:00.000-07:00

Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopeleia decaocto)

Just who are these interlopers in my yard, and how did they get here? Did they take a wrong turn like the Eurasian Teal we had this winter at the Tempe Marsh? Actually I kinda like em'. They look like they're ready for a formal event with their black collars, they are not bullies at the feeders, and they arrive in ones or twos - unlike their unruly white-winged cousins.

Mesa's Electric Park

2011-04-09T17:56:00.002-07:00

Dreamland Villa Desert Nature Walk (a.k.a. Electric Park) is a nice little hidden gem in Mesa, running along the tall electrical towers between Higley and 64th st., north of University Drive. The well maintained smooth trail winds through a 2 mile stretch of desert lush with old-growth saguaros, ocotillo, prickly pear, palo verde, creosote and mesquite. Its quite wheelchair friendly and there are shady spots along the path with rustic benches to rest on, and a few cute home-made bird feeding stations here and there.

The entire park is smack-dab in the middle of the Dreamland Villa subdivision of 1960s patio homes. The homes directly next to the park have their back yards open to the desert park, so if you decide to bird here, please be respectful of the homeowners and enjoy the park quietly, staying on the trail. Parking is available in a small lot by the community pool, on E.Colby st. east of 56th st..

Over the years the surrounding homeowners introduced additional plants to this sonoran desert habitat, as there are a few cacti here that I haven't even seen at Desert Botanical Garden. There are patches here and there lush with huge aloe plants, or dotted with wildflowers, or filled with agave. Huge stands of prickly pear are now loaded with hundreds of buds ready to bloom any time now. Everything seems to grow here.
(After checking the HOA rules I found that - All trees, shrubs, cacti, etc., planted on the Nature Walk must be native or common to the southwest and must be able to survive on their own without any care - drought resistant).

A feral flock of Peach-faced Lovebirds has made this place their home and can be heard chattering away up in the palo verdes. They've also taken over old Gila Woodpecker nests in the huge old saguaros that have been here long before the path, electric towers, or surrounding homes appeared.

This is a great place for an early morning walk or to just sit and observe the wildlife. You could probably identify quite a few birds by simply sitting in one spot waiting quietly and listening. There's quite a bit of nestbuilding going on and a number of nests to be seen from the trail, and critter holes, old and new.

Birds seen included Anna's and Black-chinned Hummingbirds, Verdin, Aberts Towhee, Cactus Wren, White-crowned Sparrow, Inca Dove, Peach-faced Lovebird, Gambel's Quail, Curve-billed Thrasher, and Gila Woodpecker. I wouldn't be surprised to see an occasional Phainopepla, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Cardinal or even a Bullock's Oriole. Other critters seen were Cottontail Rabbits, Rock Squirrels, Desert Spiny Lizard, and signs of pack-rats, and maybe a coyote.

For a map and more info see the Dreamland Villa website.

To view a slideshow of the trail at Mesa's Electric Park, click on the image below.

Monday Highlights

2011-04-04T16:14:00.001-07:00

A night bloomer stayed open for the Monday morning bird walkers!

Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)

Common King Snake on the Wildflower Trail.

Where's my mommy?!

Updated SPRING EVENTS Page

2011-03-31T12:30:00.000-07:00

Zebra butterfly at Desert Botanical Garden's
Butterfly Pavilion, March 30th 2011

We are only 1 week into spring and tomorrow's forecast is 97 degrees! Ahh, don't you just love Arizona?! Last month our plants froze, and next month we'll be frying eggs on the sidewalk. So get out and enjoy the weather before your tires melt into the asphalt - see my blog's SPRING EVENTS page. There's alot going on - wildflower walks, butterfly walks, learn your lizards hikes, and more. Check it out!

Click on image below to see a slideshow of recent wildflower photos, taken mainly at Desert Botanical Garden and Gilbert Water Ranch. Yes, I know thats 'cheating' but we didn't get much rain this year, what's a gal to do?!!

Verdins Gone Wild!

2011-03-29T14:41:00.002-07:00

At first it looked like a quaint little spring scenario at Desert Botanical Garden's Monday morning bird walk - two cute little Verdin sharing space with an adorable Round-tailed Ground Squirrel...

But the Verdin weren't in any mood for sharing.

Our lovely little pair turned into kamikazes, repeatedly dive-bombing the squirrel.

Verdin coming in for a head-butt!

Our poor squirrel got biffed, ouch!

For the latest list of birds seen at DBG, go to DBG Birdwalks Website.

To see the latest photos by DBG Volunteer Photographer

Jeff Stemshorn go to the DBG Facebook page.

Globe Mallow in Bloom

2011-03-24T15:45:00.001-07:00

The flowers stood still for me today...

The birds did not...

The Big Sit at Gilbert Water Ranch

2011-03-22T18:42:00.001-07:00

Northern Shoveler unimpressed by Avocets in their breeding plumage.

Sunday morning was The Big Sit fundraiser for the Riparian Institute at GWR. Led by Kathe Anderson, our goal was to see as many species as possible while staying in one spot. Kathe doesn't mess around when it comes to the rules of "Sitting", she actually marked out the area we were confined to, and we only included sightings from within that boundary.

Kathe Anderson marks out the boundaries of our Big Sit.

We had a great group of birders and an even greater group of birds! A male Anna's perched nearby the whole time keeping an eye on the odd group of humans huddled together in the cold. Lots of Northern rough-winged Swallows swooped overhead. Most, but not all, American Avocets were showing off their breeding plumage. Aerial highlights included an Osprey, a Cooper's Hawk, and an obviously molting Peregrine Falcon (sporting matching bare patches on the trailing edge of both wings). Ann Givey, a great birder and DBG docent / volunteer, spotted the bird of the day - a beautiful Blue-gray Gnatcatcher! My photo really doesn't do this bird justice. His blue tones, black tail, and white eye-ring stood out dramatically on this cold gray morning. I need to learn how to use a camera!

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila carulea) look at that white eye-ring!

All of us birders benefit greatly from just the mere existence of the Gilbert Riparian Preserve (a.k.a. Gilbert Water Ranch) so we really should do whatever we can to help support it. The Institute is always in need of funds and volunteers, to make a donation or to check out volunteer opportunities go to http://www.riparianinstitute.org/member.cfm - or - come on out to the Feathered Friends Festival this Saturday, March 26th from 9 am - 2 pm.

The Feathered Friends Festival - Over 40 booths will host wildlife exhibitors and educational activities including games and crafts about insects, plants, water, reptiles, birds, and more. There will be food, music, birding experiences, and tours of the preserve as well. All ages are welcome. Donations are requested - $2 per person or $8 for families of 4 or more. See pics of the 2010 Festival HERE.

Biggest Bird This Year

2011-03-18T17:10:00.000-07:00

Harris Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)

Just as I headed out the driveway on Wednesday for parts unknown, right before me was a huge bird perched high in an old tree. He stood his ground for quite a bit as my resident Northern Mockingbird (a.k.a. Bossy) repeatedly dive-bombed him.

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

Apparently Bossy thinks he is as big and bad as a Harris Hawk. Maybe I should change his name to Bad-Ass.

Allison Shock - Three Star Owl

2011-03-15T13:57:00.001-07:00

Three Star Owl - Functional and sculptural clay work with a natural history.

I don’t consider myself a wildlife artist, but an observer

who takes notes in clay. - Allison Shock

http://threestarowl.com/

I just can't get enough of Allison Shock's blog and her beautiful creations in clay. And I'm not sure which I like more - the Blog or the Creations. I love them both. Here are some of my favorite categories at the Three Star Owl Blog:

Spot the Bird - http://threestarowl.com/category/spot-the-bird

Allison's Field Trips - http://threestarowl.com/category/field-trips/page/2 I can feel like a world traveler without ever leaving the house!

Cool Bugs - http://threestarowl.com/category/cool-bug
Mostly cool, but also grosses me out, yet I keep going back for more... what's wrong with me?

Its time for me to stop oggling and to start buying - so I'm trying to catch up with Allison. Her next 2 gigs include -

Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival - Cottonwood Arizona, 28 Apr – 1 May 2011, in Dead Horse Ranch State Park. AKA “Birdy Verde” — come have fun under the Big Top!

Southwest Wings Birding and Nature Festival, Sierra Vista AZ, 3 – 7 Aug 2011

New DBG - Birdwalks Website!

2011-03-14T16:47:00.000-07:00

Things are really hoppin now at DBG, as warblers and other migrants start to appear. This Monday morning's bird walk, led by birder extraordinaire Diana Herron, was filled with surprises. I saw my first Lincoln's Sparrow in the wildflower garden, and Phainopepla were popping up here and there. We caught glimpses of a Brown Thrasher near the closed Herb Garden, then suffered Warbler's-neck craning our heads upward to see the various Warblers high in the cottonwood trees, had a Green Heron pose nicely for us in a tree over the pond, saw flashes of bright yellow and black as a Bullock's Oriole whizzed by, then a Pyrrhuloxia showed up on the Terrace as we compiled our bird lists!

To keep up on what is being seen this spring at Desert Botanical Garden - see the new DBG - Birdwalks website by William and Diana Herron. You'll find complete lists of birds seen on the DBG Saturday and Monday Morning Birdwalks. There's a lot of other great info there too - on bird books, binoculars, and even some advice on how to make it onto the list of best-dressed-birders. Be sure to read the Birding Etiquette page. As the excitement of spring-time birding builds, we could all use a few reminders on birdwalk protocol. The URL for DBG Birdwalks Website : https://sites.google.com/site/dbgbirdwalks/home

For some great bird photos see Jeff Stemshorn's work at Birds in the Garden 2011 on Facebook!

Birding the Verde

2011-03-10T11:06:00.002-07:00

I wonder if this chair doubles as a flotation device...

I've been wanting to check out more birding sites listed in Michael Rupp's Bird's Eye Guide to 101 Birding Sites: Phoenix, so on March 2nd I headed up to the Verde River Box Bar Recreation Site. Any place where I can actually get my wheelchair down to the waters edge is a place worth visiting in my book. And I did make it down to the water at Box Bar Rec. site. But overall the area isn't all that wheelchair friendly, you will get stuck at some point, whether your in a powered chair or manual, you'll need some help. The site does have a lot of shade though, so it might be a nice place to go in the early morning hours on days when its too hot to go birding in the desert. Among the cottonwood/willow/desert scrub habitat I had a nice long stare-down with a Coopers Hawk. Birds seen at Box Bar included Gila Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Phainopepla, Cooper's Hawk, Black Phoebe, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Common Raven, Anna's Hummingbird, Verdin, Abert's Towhee, and Belted Kingfisher. For more details see Jack Holloway's excellent "Avian Sites" website. You will need to buy a Tonto Day Pass, check for a vendor here .

We also checked out the Rio Verde Ranch, which turned out to be much more wheelchair friendly. It was great to roll out onto all the cool shady grass, with Phainopepla everywhere among the mesquite and palo verde trees. A rustic fence lines the property with views of the Verde River below, and a mid-canopy view into the cottonwood/willow habitat. Great for seeing birds that populate the mid and upper canopy - warblers, sparrows, flycatchers. Double click on image below to see an enlarged view of the slide-show.

Bajada Nature Trail in Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve

2011-03-04T20:04:00.002-07:00

A packrat nest at the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

The Bajada Trail is a half-mile loop interpretive trail, uber ADA accessible, in the beautiful McDowell Sonoran Preserve. The Preserve has the lush Sonoran desert flora and fauna that I love - saguaros, prickly pear, teddy bear cholla (not as cuddly as it sounds), ocotillo, barrel cactus, and creosote shrubs that give the desert that wonderful sweet smell after a monsoon storm. Cactus Wren, Hummingbirds, and Gila Woodpeckers can be heard everywhere. But on this morning the area is abuzz with people on their morning power-walks. Unless I count chicks-with-cellphones as a new avian species, my bird count is quite low. Here's a list of what you might see in the Sonoran Preserve, at less busy times: Turkey Vulture, Red-Tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Mourning Dove, White-Winged Dove, Greater Roadrunner, Western Screech Owl, Common Poorwill,Gila Woodpecker,Ladder-Backed Woodpecker, Verdin, Bewick's Wren, Rock Wren, Loggerhead Shrike, Bendire's Thrasher, Curve-Billed Thrasher, Phainopepla, Northern Cardinal, Bell's Vireo, Lucy's Warbler, Abert's Towhee, Ground Dove, Annas Hummingbird, Broadbilled Hummingbird, Great-Tailed Grackle, Harris' Hawk, Gambel's Quail, Great-Homed Owl, Elf Owl, Burrowing Owl, and Lesser Nighthawk.

The Arizona Spinal Cord Injury Assoc. will be hosting a nature walk on the Bajada Trail on Saturday, March 26th, from 9 to 11 am, and a landscape photography seminar will be lead by Loren Worthington - photographer/editor for http://www.accessingarizona.org/. Bring your camera and explore amateur photography! To register for this free event, please call the AzSCIA at 602-507-4209. See http://www.azspinal.org/

The Bajada Nature Trail is in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, near the Gateway Trailhead, east of Thompson Peak Parkway between Bell Road and Union Hills Drive. For more trail info go to http://www.mcdowellsonoran.org/ and be sure to see Accessing Arizona's review of the Bajada Trail.

Scottsdale Celebration of Fine Art

2011-02-28T11:48:00.001-07:00

Located in Scottsdale, Arizona on Southeast corner of Scottsdale Rd. and Mayo Blvd, just south of the Loop 101 off Exit 34, in the big white tents. Hours: Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Parking: Is free and on-site. Tickets: $8.00

http://www.celebrateart.com/

http://www.barbararudolphfineart.com/

Bald Eagle Nest Viewing Etiquette

2011-02-25T14:34:00.000-07:00

Its nesting season for Bald Eagles in Arizona. If you are lucky enough to encounter an active Bald Eagle's nest, please take some precautions. Enjoy bald eagles from a distance, as they are very sensitive to human activity, so use binoculars or spotting scopes to get a closer look. A disturbance can cause nest abandonment, egg failure, a decrease in the ability to capture food, and early unsuccessful fledging. Disturbing bald eagles is against federal and state laws. If you encounter a nest on a reservation be advised that the tribal police patrol the area during the nesting season to keep folks from stopping. Stoppng along the roadside near the nest is an illegal activity and could be subject to tribal fines. Unless there is an emergancy, stopping along the roadway is not permitted. Bald Eagle Nest closures that are in place on Tonto National Forest have a minimum of 1000 ft. buffer around the nest tree for land access and 300 ft. for boat access. Read more HERE

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

2011-02-23T18:42:00.001-07:00

Red-naped Sapsucker

On Saturday, Feb.19th, I went on one of the bird walks at Boyce Thompson, led by Cynthia Donald and Pete Moulton. The birds were somewhat scarce, hunkered down keeping out of the cold breeze, but Cynthia and Pete still made it interesting and fun, there's always alot to learn from those two. I saw my first Hermit Thrush, and was surprised to get a long close-up view of the Red-naped Sapsucker. He was not at all camera shy as he happily fed for hours on low branches just a few feet from a main trail.

Hermit Thrush

Boyce Thompson is one of my favorite places to escape to - lots of plants, birds, butterflies, lizards, and shade. If you use a wheelchair to get around, there's just one place along the bird walk that is impassable - the trail above Ayer Lake becomes too narrow. Read a review of accessibility at Accessing Arizona.

Male Northern Cardinal

Birds seen - Cooper's Hawk, American Coot, Broad-billed Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird, Gila Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Red-naped Sapsucker, Black Phoebe, Plumbeous Vireo, Hutton's Vireo, Cassin's Vireo, Common Raven, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Verdin, House Wren, Bewick's Wren, Cactus Wren, Rock Wren, Canyon Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Northern Mockingbird, Curve-billed Thrasher, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's); Abert's Towhee, Spotted Towhee, Lark Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco Northern Cardinal, House Finch and Lesser Goldfinch.

During March the Arboretum's visitor center art gallery exhibits breathtaking and feather-crisp bird photographs by Scottsdale author Jim Burns. You can see his work daily from 8 am to 5 pm this month. Join the author for a guided bird walk March 5 from 8:30 am - 10 am then ,meet him in the gallery for a coffee hour reception at 11 am.

How a Hawk Sees the World

2011-02-21T15:59:00.002-07:00

Let this camera-equipped Peregrine Falcon take you on a wild ride,

courtesy of the BBC.

View at http://wimp.com/hawkssee

Important Bird Area Survey Training

2011-02-18T18:14:00.002-07:00

Bob McCormick oversees an IBA Survey trainee entering field data.

On Feb. 5th I attended the Volunteer IBA Survey Workshop at the Rio Salado Audubon Center to see what it takes to become a survey team member. I knew I was in way over my head when I saw Andre Tarby (expert birder and DBG birdwalk leader) there for "training". Its a tall order to become an IBA Surveyor, but also an exciting challenge. You need to be able to "bird by ear" and include birds "heard but not seen" in your count, and at times distinguish between a bird's "song" and a bird's "call". Wow! You also need to be able to estimate distances, recognize juvenals and sub-adults, note the behavior (foraging, nest building, defending territory, etc.), the habitat (mesquite bosque, grassland, fallow field, etc.) and other notable flora, and fauna. So, its no easy walk in the park, but it makes you want to become a better birder!

If you are an intermediate to experienced birder looking for a challenge, then become a trained IBA volunteer surveyor! Contact Tice Supplee, Director of Bird Conservation, tsupplee@audubon.org (602) 468-6470, or Scott Wilbor at Tucson Audubon Society, (520) 209-1804, or Jennie MacFarland at (520) 209-1805. In 2011, volunteers will assist in surveying the Salt/Gila IBA, Agua Fria National Monument IBA, and the Lower San Pedro River IBA. To learn more about Arizona Important Bird Areas, go to http://www.aziba.org/ .

And if your like me and realize you still have alot to learn, try some of these resources for improving your bird ID skills:

Ask A Biologist ASU Birds and Their Songs Aviary

Audubon Online Bird Guide

Bird Jam

iBird for iPhone and Android

Arizona Bald Eagle Nestwatch Program

2011-02-16T13:24:00.002-07:00

Follow birder/naturalist/photographer Greg Joder as he spends the next 4 months camped out in a remote area in southeastern Arizona working as a Nest Watcher for the Arizona Bald Eagle Nestwatch Program. The program's goals are to protect the Bald Eagle nests, collect data, and educate the public.

Greg's blog really gives you a great insight into what its like to be part of such a project. Be sure to watch his video clips of the nestwatch site, you'll feel like you're right out their in the desert with him. Stay tuned, the young are due to hatch late next week!

Visit Greg Joder's blog "My Earth" at http://gregjoder.wordpress.com/

View Greg Joder's Photos HERE

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

2011-02-14T11:29:00.006-07:00

Lizard Love

She's No Punxsutawney Phil...

2011-02-08T17:45:00.001-07:00

Roxy the Rock Squirrel steps out to give her own prediction.

My Rock Squirrel, Roxy, got a head start on old Phil and stepped out early to give her forecast on Jan. 25th. What the hell does an east coast groundhog know about the weather out west anyway. She predicts 6 more weeks of winter and is acting accordingly - stashing away a #%$-load of peanuts.

Wreath peanut feeders are available at Wild Birds Unlimited.

Mismanagement by Phoenix Parks Dept. Causing Destruction of Habitat at Rio Salado

2011-02-04T14:39:00.000-07:00

Letter to the Phoenix Parks Dept. -

I frequently visit the Rio Salado habitat at Central avenue, to enjoy the wheelchair accessible trails and abundant wildlife. But recently I've seen that maintenance workers are destroying valuable bird habitat areas - they are clearing away underbrush! Rio Salado isn't a city park that needs to be mowed and trimmed, its a wildlife habitat. Someone needs to instruct the workers to leave the underbrush alone. Their time would be better spent tearing out the invasive plants - like the bufflegrass. I saw a number of places along the trails where workers had cleared away the native plants and left the invasive plants!!! Who is in charge of maintaining the plants at Rio Salado? Aren't there any set guidelines about preserving habitat areas? I also saw some previously full and lush trees that have now been PRUNED! This has got to stop. Please forward this to the necessary division of the Phoenix Parks Dept..

Thank you,

Peggy Thomas

------------------------------------

Ms. Thomas,

Thank you for your email regarding the pruning of bushes and trees at the Rio Salado Habitat. I wanted to let you know that our staff attend regular training on habitat maintenance in reference to the particular types of species that live and migrate through Rio Salado. We also have put together a Master Calendar to help remind staff of these different species, their needs, and the maintenance limitations that accompany them. We do however, have to balance the needs of many different species as well as safety issues for our patrons and city code requirements. Sometimes there are conflicts, and we have to make difficult decisions. That said, it is certainly also possible that staff may make mistakes in their dedication to their positions, so please know that I will follow up on your concerns, review the areas that you have mentioned, and then follow up with staff as needed.

I want to again thank you for sharing your concerns with us. It is always helpful to have people who care enough about our mission to take the time to let us know when there are potential issues, and who share in our commitment to the success of the project. Below is my information, and please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if you have any additional questions.

Sincerely,

Chris Parks, MC
Special Operations Supervisor
Phoenix Parks & Recreation Department
Office: 602-534-8222
chris.parks@phoenix.gov

Cold Weather Birding

2011-02-03T19:15:00.000-07:00

Red-tailed Hawk eating its kill in a recently plowed ag field.

This is the coldest weather I have ever experienced in the Valley - morning temps in Mesa were 24 degrees. My bird bath was frozen solid! So today and yesterday I birded from within the comfy confines of my home and my car. I've discovered that cold birds are hungry birds, so I went out looking for raptors. Right off the bat, I saw my first ever adult Bald Eagle soaring by while on the 202 freeway. We cruised around through the ag fields southeast of Scottsdale Community College and within minutes spotted a Red-tailed Hawk tearing apart its prey in a recently plowed field. An American Kestrel swooped down and whizzed by our heads, possibly ticked off that we were annoying his hunting partner. Later we came upon a large (approx. 24" tall) mostly grey and white hawk perched mid-level in a cottonwood tree. Someone help me out here - I'm guessing a female Northern Harrier or a Ferruginous Hawk? I'm probably way off, so feel free to correct me. Unfortunately I didn't get a good view of the tail or rump patch.

Birds at the Phoenix Zoo

2011-01-31T10:17:00.001-07:00

I think its the birds that really run this place...

Click on images to ENLARGE

The peacocks seem to roam freely and are just gorgeous!

Happy wading in his "pea soup" pond.

Gotta love that face!

White Pelican, one of 6 at the zoo that were rescued from the Gulf oil spill.

Lined up and waiting to make their escape.

ASU Research Park

2011-01-24T18:48:00.002-07:00

A great group of gals showed up for this Desert Rivers Audubon field trip with Kathe Anderson. We met at the south end of ASU Research Park (Warner Rd. and S. River Parkway, just west of the 101 freeway). It was a c-c-c-cold morning and my b-b-b-batteries were near dead, but I managed to get a shot of the Cooper's Hawk we encountered at the start of our walk, still holding her recent kill. Later we had beautiful views of an Osprey flying low right over us. We didn't see much in the way of ducks - a few Mallards/domestic, Ring-necked Ducks, and Lesser Scaup. One Pied-billed Grebe was mixed in with alot of Coots. A lone Green Heron crouched by the chilly shoreline. My favorite were the Belted Kingfishers swooping down and around and then diving into the water. We followed the sidewalks that surround all three ponds at ASU Research Park. Some parts are steep, so anyone using a manual wheelchair will need a good set of muscles and an even better set of brakes!

Fine Dining With the Green Heron

2011-01-21T19:27:00.002-07:00

The menu was somewhat limited...

but very fresh...

and quite filling...

overall it was...

a hair-raising experience!

Photo series taken at Gilbert Water Ranch.