January-February 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon Society
Transcript of January-February 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon Society
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VERMILIONF L Y C A T C H E R
JanuaryFebruary 2009 | Volume 54, Number 1
Tucson Audubon Society | tucsonaudubon.org
Whats in a Name: Flammulated Owl 11
Tumamoc Hill: People and Habitats 12
Urban Landscaping for Bells Vireo 13
Sabino in Winter 16
TucsonAudubon
60th AnniversaryA Strong PastA Bright Future 2
A Vermilion Route 3
The Executive DirectorsSpeak 14
T U C S O N A U D U B O N S N E W L O O K B I - M O N T H L Y N E W S L E T T E R
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Along with other changes marking Tucson
Audubons 60th year, we introduce a new
Tucson Audubon logo! Our redesigned
Vermilion Flycatcher logo (see upper left and
above right) captures, in a visual image, all that
Tucson Audubon has represented in our past 60
years, and all we hope to achieve in the future.
Our new visual image conveys TucsonAudubons continued commitment to supporting
birds and bird habitat. Its distinctive design
clearly sets us apart from other organizations
and provides a fresh perspective on Tucson
Audubons mission. Its brightness brings our
passion to the public, and it speaks to all ages
by bringing the Vermilion Flycatcher up close
and personal. The open mouth asks us to care
and challenges us to become active in our
conservation efforts.
The rectangular frame serves as a stamp of
authenticity and reflects the stability of an
organization with a long, rich history. It projects
our intention to continue well into the future.
The yellow background reflects the Sonoran
Desert sun. The blue represents our stunning
Sonoran Desert blue skies and all creatures
inhabiting the earth. The red of the Flycatchersplumage represents the positive energy of
Tucson Audubon.
Tucson Audubon would like to thank
Christine Scheer, the logo artist, for her creative
talent.
Our new visual image will leave a lasting,
positive impression on all who see it. This image
is memorable and should help ensure that
Tucson Audubon will be recognized and
respected by all. VF
2 Tucson Audubon Vermilion FlycatcherJANUARYFEBRUARY 2009
Vermilion Flycatcheris published bi-monthly. For addresschanges or subscription problems call 622-5622, or writeto Membership Coordinator, Tucson Audubon, 300 E.University Blvd, #120, Tucson, AZ 85705. Submissionsare due the 1st of the month, two months before the dateof the issue. Please send submissions as Microsoft Wordor RTF documents, or plain text files, to Matt Griffiths [email protected].
CoordinatorMatt Griffiths 206-9900Proofreaders Jane & Warren Tisdale 749-2139and Tucson Audubon staffLayout Eng-Li Green
Tucson Audubon Society is dedicated to improvingthe quality of the environment by providing education,conservation, and recreation programs,environmental leadership, and information. Tucson
Audubon is a non-profit volunteer organization ofpeople with a common interest in birding and naturalhistory. Tucson Audubon maintains offices, a library,and nature shops in Tucson, the proceeds of whichbenefit all of its programs.
Tucson Audubon Society300 E. University Blvd. #120, Tucson, AZ 85705
629-0510 (voice) or 623-3476 (fax)All phone numbers are area code 520 unless otherwise stated
www.tucsonaudubon.org
Board Officers & CommitteesMessages 622-5622
President Herb Trossman
Vice President Mich Coker
Secretary Robert Merideth
Treasurer Tom Rehm
Conservation Chris McVie, DevelopmentSandy Elers,Education Cynthia Pruett, Finance Tom Rehm,NominatingRobert Merideth
Additional Directors at Large Clark Blake, MaryKay Eiermann,Sandy Elers, Julie Gordon, Linda Greene, Craig Marken,Robert Mesta, Liz Payne, Susan Randolph, Bill Roe, JessieShinn, Linda Stitzer, Bob Wenrick
Programs & ActivitiesField Trips Darlene Smyth 297-2315Library David West 629-0510Membership Meetings Chris Harrison 629-0757Rare Bird Alert John Yerger 798-1005Report Rare Birds 798-1005
StaffExecutive DirectorPaul Green 777-9525
Operations ManagerMichael Monyak 629-0757
Education Program ManagerCarrie Dean 622-2230
Outreach Specialist Matt Brooks 629-0751
Membership Development Chris Harrison 629-0757
Membership CoordinatorJean Barchman 622-5622
IBA Conservation Biologist Scott Wilbor 628-1730
IBA Program Assistant Ruth Wilderman 628-1730
Restoration Program ManagerKendall Kroesen 206-9900
Field SupervisorRodd Lancaster 256-6909
Restoration Specialist Matthew Griffiths 206-9900
Mason Outreach CoordinatorLia Sansom 971-6238
University Shop ManagerSara Pike 622-2230
Agua Caliente Shop ManagerBecky Aparicio 760-7881
Nature ShopsTucson Audubon Nature Shop300 E University Blvd #120 629-0510
Hours: MondaySaturday, 10 AM4 PM(10AM5 PM Monday & Thursday); closed Sunday
623-3476 fax / 622-2230 Shop Manager
Tucson Audubon at Agua CalienteRoy P. Drachman Agua Caliente Park12325 E Roger Rd 760-7881
Hours: Tuesday, Friday, Saturday 9AM3:30 PM
Departments
3 News Roundup8 Events and Classes
17 Conservation & Education News
19 Field Trips
22 Birds & Business AllianceMembers Listings
24 TAS-ifieds
26 Nature Shops
FRONT COVER: Vermilion Flycatcher byTom Ryan. This small stunning flycatcher
has been Tucson Audubons logo bird for
60 years. Tom Ryan is an amateur wildlife
photographer whose favorite subjects are
birds. See more of his images at
http://regulus2.azstarnet.com/gallery/
tag/tomryan.
Do you have photos of birds that you
would like to see featured on the frontcover of the Vermilion Flycatcher? If so,
please contact Matt Griffiths at 206-9900
or [email protected]. Or
check out our Contributors Guidelines
posted at tucsonaudubon.org for full
specifications.
A Strong Past, A Bright FutureSara Pike, Main Nature Shop Manager
Features
11 Whats in a Name:Flammulated Owl
12 What is Tumamoc Hill up to?
13 Restoring Urban Habitat forTarget Species: Bells Vireos
14 The Executive Directors Speak
16 Sabino in Winter
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JANUARYFEBRUARY 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 3
I love maps. Growing up in England, I loved
those detailed Ordnance Survey maps that
revealed the history of my environment, from
prehistoric earthworks to Roman roads, and
villages that migrated as the landscape
changed. On those same maps, modern lines, in
bright vermilion, form a network across the
represented landscape, indicating the main
trunk roads, providing clear ways to move from
where you are to where you want to be.
This article is a kind of road map for our
new, reborn Vermilion Flycatcher. What you
hold now replaces the red, black, and white
newsletter that you have been receiving. Having
completed six decades of working with the
community of southern Arizona to appreciate
and conserve our natural environment, this is anopportune time to update how we interact with
you, our supporters and partners, as well as the
rest of the world. The starting point in this
process was a new logo with a more
contemporary look. Sara Pike explains
the thinking behind the new logo on the
opposite page.
Of greater importance was the question of
how we could improve communications and
access to information for all stakeholders,
including members, staff, board, volunteers, and
partners. How can we better organize and
provide information to make it easier for all of usto find what we need? How can we highlight the
interactions among our different areas of work
and activities? Our sloganconservation,
education, recreationmight leave an
impression of distinct classes of activities. In
practice, each is intimately linked to the others.
For example, education is one of the most
effective ways to bring about conservation, and
who can go out birding without learning
something new each time? Our goals include
breaking down the silo perception of those
activities.
We have designed the new-look Vermilion
Flycatcher(which you will also be able read on
our website) with the above objectives in mind.
In time, we shall also be expanding the range of
electronic methods through which we
communicate, using forums, blogs, and other
techniques.
From now on, you will receive a new
Flycatcherevery two months on the odd-
numbered month. While it looks different, the
biggest change is with the organization of
material, and you will find a listing of what is
where on the page opposite.First, we have grouped short items into
distinct departments placed near the front and
back of the magazine. To lead off, we have
combined the news from various programs into
a new Tucson Audubon News Roundup section:
you can learn about interesting developments,
achievements, and how you can become
involved. The News Roundup section is followed
by a Tucson Audubon Events section that
includes a summary calendar.
Towards the back, you will find detailed
listings of our free bird walks led by expert
volunteer leaders, details of other bird travelopportunities, services provided by our Birds &
Business Alliance members, and book and
product reviews. There is also a news section to
keep you informed about news of regional
importance in our sphere of interest: birds and
birding, environmental education, and
conservation issues.
In the middle pages of the magazine you will
find the substantive articles. For this first re-
designed issue, we include a new series written
by Larry Liese called Whats in a Name,
illustrated by George West, with Flammulated
Owl as the first piece. We would like to make
more use of color images to illustrate the articles
and would welcome contributions to help build
our digital image library. The new magazine
layout will continue to evolve and we hope to
include sketches, postcards, and comments
from you, our supporters.
Remember also that we have a page foradvertising, whether you are an individual or a
Birds & Business Alliance member (see
page 24).
Finally, we are printing our newsletter on
paper that is 50% recycled, 25% post-consumer
waste, and the virgin pulp is from sustainable
managed forests. The inks used are water-
based soy inks, and our Tucson printer,
Sundance Press, implements a wide range of
green practices.
Ultimately, the Vermilion Flycatcheris an
important tool to help us achieve the goal of
establishing a sustainable community insoutheastern Arizona in which there continues to
be a place for wildlife because of how effective
we are as stewards of our natural resources.
We hope these changes to our newsletter
help you feel that you are a better steward of our
natural environment through your support of
Tucson Audubon. VF
A Vermilion Route
COMMENTARYPAUL GREEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Vermilion Flycatcherhasbeen through a few iterations
over the years, going fromtypewritten, photocopied,and stapled sheets to themore recent two-colorprinted newsletter, and nowa full-color magazine. At farleft is a particularly historicissue from December 1963that begins with the tragicnews of President Kennedysassasination.
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The Staff and Board honored the shop
and office volunteers Thursday,
December 4 with a reception in the
library room. The volunteers help is
essential to the success of Tucson
Audubon nature shops and in
assisting the office as a mailing crew.
We thank the local businesses for
providing gift certificates to be used as
door prizes: Chilis Restaurant, Frys
Food Stores, Jack Furriers Western
Tire, Outback Steakhouse, Romanos
Macaroni Grill, The Melting Pot,
Dennys Restaurant on Oracle, Desert
Bloom Nursery and Landscaping, and
Mane Street Hair Salon. Hors
doeuvres were provided by Trader
Joes on Oracle. There was a cookie
exchange afterwards.
Of the volunteers attending, a total
of 138 years of service was tallied.
Awesome!
4 Tucson Audubon Vermilion FlycatcherJANUARYFEBRUARY 2009
There are countless other titles
that would fit this update (A
Large Load Finally Delivered to
Masons Doorstep, etc.) but
they may not be entirely
appropriate for this new,
cleaned-up newsletter.
However we want to say it, the
news is that after eight years of
planning and permitting, the
commercial-grade composting
toilets for the Mason Center are
finally here and ready to go inthe ground!
These toilets are a major
component of the upgrades
that have long been planned
for the Mason Center so that
we may expand our interaction
with, and availability to, the
public. They will be a part of
an ADA-compliant public
restroom built with strawbale
and we expect construction to
commence in early 2009.
This and other future
upgrades reinforce Tucson
Audubons vision of the Mason
Center to serve as a
demonstration site for
sustainable design and
technology. If you would like to
receive regular updates on the
progress of this project orparticipate in the Bathroom
Raising (like a barn raising,
just a little different), then
contact Lia Sansom at
or 971-6238.
If you are looking for an
opportunity to make use of
these new, compelling,
composting toilets and tofigure out just how they work,
then mark you calendar for
Saturday, April 25 for the
Ironwood Music Festival,
starting around 5 PM. We will
celebrate the 10th anniversary
of the dedication of the Tucson
Audubon Mason Center with
live music,
dancing, foodand drink. Look
for more details
in the next issue
of the Vermilion
Flycatcher.
TUCSON AUDUBONNEWS ROUNDUP
The toilets have arrived!Lia Sansom, Mason Audubon CenterOutreach Coordinator
Lia Sansom with one of the new Clivus Multrum commercial composting toilets.
Kudos and cookiesJean Barchman, Membership Coordinator
Above left to right: Cookie exchange table; long-serving volunteers Jean Rios (15 years) and Kathy Olmstead (29 years).
TUCSONAUDUBON VOLUNTEERS
YEARS OF SERVICE
ALLPHOTOS:KENDALLKROESEN
Liz Anderson
Buffalo Exchange
Economy Birding Services, Inc.,Clifford Cathers
Sarah Craighead
Margaret Ellsworth
Richard Filley
Mitchell & Charlotte Griffith
William Harrison &EliseSchepeler
Kathryn Hines
Janice Johnson
Karen Jones
Jane Klipp Lt. Col. Bruce Larsen
Milton Mallory
Kenny & Melissa Miller
Clayton Niles
Pam Phillips
David Popham
Carol Pry
Richard Stevens
Ann Marie Wood
Jean Barchman,Membership Coordinator
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
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JANUARYFEBRUARY 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 5
Farewell to VivianMacKinnon
Paul Green, Executive
Director
We bid farewell to Vivian MacKinnon
from our Membership Department.
Vivian brought to Tucson Audubon a
knowledge of birds and birding and awide range of skills from a diverse
background that included catering,
managing recreational facilities, retail,
and public outreach. She had an easy
way with members and volunteers. I
was always impressed at how she
could turn a call from someone with a
concern into a warm and friendly chat
that resolved any issue the caller may
have had.
Our Membership Department will
continue to provide high quality
services to Tucson Audubon membersas we transition to a new Membership
and Development Manager.
Please join with me in wishing
Vivian all the best in her future
endeavors.
In mid-January, our IBA teams
will begin their 2009 bird
surveys at sites across Arizona.
Seven more surveys will follow
throughout the year at
Important Bird Areas that weare monitoring. Visit our
growing Arizona IBA Bird
Survey Database to see past
results, www.aziba.org.
Our trained IBA volunteers
will be asked to help in a group
effort within the Lower San
Pedro River IBA in April to
assess bird migration use of
the river corridor.We have made the
conservation and protection of
the Lower San Pedro River, the
greater Sabino Creek/Tanque
Verde watershed, and
Patagonia/Santa Rita Mountain
area the top priorities for 2009.
As youll see on pages 19
21, many popular field trip
destinations areImportant Bird
Areas. Look for
the IBA logo.
Monitoring migrating birds in Lower San Pedro IBAScott Wilbor, Important Bird Areas Program Conservation Biologist
Tucson Audubons habitat
restoration program is working
through the winter to conserve
and restore bird habitat at sites
along the Santa Cruz River.
Conserving habitat
preventing lossesis hard
enough work. Restoring
damaged habitat is an even
bigger job. We need your help!
We have public volunteer
days scheduled for February
14 and March 14 at
Esperanza Ranch. Work days
last from 8 AM to noon. The
group meets in Tucson at 7 AM
to carpool down to the site.
We will be planting trees,
shrubs and grasses during
these work days, as well as
picking up trash and doing
other restoration tasks.
It can be an absolute joy to
spend a winter Saturday
morning outdoors at this
conservation easement north
of Tubac. Most days are sunny
and cool this time of year.
Northern Harriers swoop past
us and the winter sparrows are
twittering. Red-tails soar
overhead.
There will be other
opportunities to volunteer as
well, such as removing invasive
giant reed from Sabino
Canyon. See the Vermilion
Flycatchercalendar of events
(page 8) for these and other
upcoming conservation
volunteer opportunities.
Winter is a beautiful time to restore habitatsKendall Kroesen, Restoration Program Manager
Tucson Audubon initiated the Arizona Important Bird Areas Program in 2001. San Pedro River in winter (above) is thelocation for IBA bird surveys in April. To donate to this program, please contact Scott Wilbor [email protected].
Vivian in the Tucson Audubon NatureShop on University Blvd.
JESSIES
HINN
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If the urge to get back to nature is
calling and after reading about
Flammulated Owls (page 11) you are
inspired to learn more about our
unique Sonoran Desert home, then
we have the class for you!
Tucson Audubons Institute of
Desert Ecology, run since 1971,
brings the enthusiastic teaching of our
local experts to participants from
around the world. Over two thousand
individuals have graduated to date,
learning and sharing experiences that
connect them with the varied habitats
of the Sonoran Desert.
Focusing on Sonoran Desert
ecosystems, emphasis is on the
dynamic relationships between plants,
animals and the physical elements of
the desert. The Institute is held at
Catalina State Park, located in the
foothills of the spectacular Santa
Catalina Mountains near Tucson.
The fee of $425 per person ($395
for Tucson Audubon members)
includes park entrance fee and
camping from 4/15 to 4/19, expert
instruction and all meals beginning
with Thursday breakfast and
continuing through Sunday lunch. The
Institute ends Sunday, April 19 at 2 PM.
The $80, non-refundable deposit must
accompany the registration form.
Register early to reserve a space. The
balance ($345/non-members and
$315/members) is due by March 6,
2009. No refunds given for
cancellations after April 3.
For more information or
to register, please visit our website
www.tucsonaudubon.org/
education/ide.htm or call 622-2230.
6 Tucson Audubon Vermilion FlycatcherJANUARYFEBRUARY 2009
TUCSON AUDUBONNEWS ROUNDUP
Learn how the desert works this AprilCarrie Dean, Education Program Manager
VOLUNTEER OFTHE MONTH
6
Doris Evans is a VolunteerNaturalist and helps with theEducation Program. She wasborn in Milwaukee, Wisconsinand moved to Tucson in 1962.
In 1970 she joined TucsonAudubon Society (TAS) until1978, then rejoined in 1988 tothe present. A retired teacher,Doris lives with her husband,Doug. Besides helping TAS, shealso volunteers for Pima CountyNatural Resources, Parks andRecreation.
SIX QUESTIONS
First time you went birding: Inthe 5th grade when we had a
bird unit and my dad and I tookhis binoculars and birded in theMilwaukee County parks. I stillhave those binoculars (dontuse themjust have them as akeepsake).
Your level of birding:
Intermediate
Favorite place to go birding:
Sweetwater Wetlands in Tucson(winterits Whitewater Draw).
Unusual event that happened
while birding: Seeing a KingVulture flying within a flock ofTurkey Vultures while on aTucson Audubon Birdathon inthe Yucatan.
Favorite bird and where did
you see it: I have had so manyfavorite bird sightings I cantbegin to answer this one.
Other hobbies: Travel,photography, reading, hiking.
Right: Expert herpetologist CecilSchwalbe (on the right) has beenbitten numerous times but hisenthusiasm for sharing his boundlessknowledge remains infectious. Below:Geologist Bob Scarborough oncedangled from helicopters but today hedemystifies time with a magicgeologic time stick in the perfectoutdoor classroom setting of CatalinaState Park.
SARAPIKE
SARAPIKE
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JANUARYFEBRUARY 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 7
Will you commit to doing a
days birding (a big day) for
Tucson Audubon this spring?
And to asking at least a couple
of your friends and colleagues
to sponsor your day of birding?Its a natural way to connect the
fun of birding with saving
habitats. By saying yes, you will
become part of our Tucson
Audubon Societys annual
spring fundraiser, Birdathon.
This year teams will be out and
about from April 10 through
May 10.
If you have not taken part in
a Birdathon before, we hope
that this is the year you decide
to take the plunge. Since the
event is not until April, all you
need to do now is to pencil in a
date on your calendar when
you will go birding. Once you
have done that, the rest is easy.The next step is to find a
friend or two with whom to go
birding. If those people include
first time birders and younger
people, so much the better.
Then, think of who you can get
to sponsor you at either a per-
species-seen amount or a flat
rate. We will provide more
information in the next issue.
Meanwhile, you can visit
www.tucsonaudubon.org/
chapter/birdathon.htm to read
interesting and fun accounts by
past birdathon teams. Last year
a number of teams opted for
zero- or low-carbon birdathons.
Fun and fundraisingPaul Green, Executive Director
Your year-end gifts
We extend a big THANK YOU to
everyone who has sent us their year-
end gifts. If you have not sent us your
tax-deductible donation, its not too
late. We have some very specific
needs in education, conservation,
advocacy, and development. Each of
these programs has an immediate
need of $25,000. In Education, Carrie
Dean is seeking to launch a new
youth birding program. In
Conservation, Scott Wilbor is seeking
to develop our new program of
community conservation along
Tanque Verde and Sabino Creeks. In
Development we are seeking funds to
hire a development professional on
contract to help us in our fundraisingefforts. Finally, we need financial
support for our work in advocating for
changes in legislation to support our
natural environment. To discuss ways
you can help, please contact Paul
Green at 520-777-9525 or
Sign up foremail news
We augment the Vermilion Flycatcher
with regular email messages that
contain news about upcoming events
and activities and important
conservation updates, including calls
to action. Around one half of our
members currently receive these
emails. If you would like us to add you
to the list, please email
[email protected] with
your full name and your email
address. VF
November 1321, 2009Tucson Audubon is restarting
its international birding tour
program in partnership with
Tucson-based international bird
tour company WINGS. We kick
off our program with Panama
as our destination, one of those
fortunate places where twogreat avifaunas meet. The
Central American birds of
western Panama gradually
drop out as the isthmus
narrows to join South America,
and such classic Neotropical
groups as hummingbirds,
antbirds, woodcreepers, tyrant
flycatchers, and tanagers
become increasingly diverse
and increasingly dominant.
Our November tour will
coincide with this exciting
regions drier season, when
resident species are joined by
migrants from North America,
creating a rich constellation of
tropical and boreal birds. Well
be based in the acclaimed
Canopy Tower and the newly
built Canopy Lodge, from
which well explore suchremarkable birding sites as
Pipeline Roadarguably the
best birding in Central America
and the Talamancan
Foothills.
Highlights from Gavin
Biebers most recent tour here
include a Tiny Hawk on a nest,
a stunning male Blue Cotinga,
19 species of hummingbird
including White-tipped
Sicklebill and Veranguan
Mango, six species of trogon,
and gaudy Rufous-winged,
Bay-headed, Emerald, Silver-
throated, Golden-hooded,
Crimson-backed, and Flame-
rumped Tanagers. We can look
forward to similarly exciting
birds against a background of
wonderfully varied landscapes,
superlative fresh food, and
great camaraderie!
The trip will be led by Gavin
Bieber. A native of Canada,
Gavin is a well-known and
popular field trip leader for
Tucson Audubon and a Senior
Leader at WINGS. Gavin has
birded and led tours in western
Europe, North and West Africa,
Bolivia, Peru, Panama, Mexico,the US, and Canada. A familiar
fixture on southeast Arizonas
birding scene, Gavin also
serves as the director and lead
guide for St. Paul Island Tours
and has enjoyed working in the
Pribilofs since 2002. But it is
the American tropics that have
increasingly captured his
fascination in recent years, and
in addition to his Panama tours,
Gavin is currently constructing
new itineraries to Guyana and
the Caribbean. The Tucson
Audubon representative on this
trip to Panama this will be our
Restoration Manager,
Kendall Kroesen.
Prices are in the region of
$4100 plus single supplement.
Contact Chris Harrison
for more details.
Birding in Panama with Tucson Audubon
2007 Birdathon team, SparrowsWenches (left to right): Sara Pike, LiaSansom, Mich Coker, Jessie Shinn,Carrie Dean.Matt Griffiths (left) and Matt Brooks
were members ofMountLemmonheads, one of two bicycleteams in the 2008 Birdathon.
Green Honeycreeper
PAUL&ENG-LIGREEN
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Sabino Habitat RestorationVolunteer DayJanuary 4, Sunday January 17,Saturday February 1, Sunday February 21, Saturday, 8 AMnoonSabino Canyon Recreation AreaTucson Audubon continues to partner with
several organizations to remove invasive
giant reed (Arundo donax) at Sabino
Canyon Recreation Area. Volunteers are
needed on the first Sunday morning of
each month (contact Jim Washburn,
[email protected], 626-4107) and
on the third Saturday morning of each
month (contact Jean Hengesbaugh,
[email protected] or Kendall,
971-2385). Wear sturdy shoes or boots, a
long-sleeve shirt and long pants toprotect the skin on your arms and legs, a
hat and sunglasses or safety glasses.
Tools and work gloves will be provided.
Urban Wildlife LandscapingCourseJanuary 1031, Saturdays 911 AM,Wednesdays 79 PMWednesday meetings will be held atthe Tucson Audubon offices. Saturday
meetings will be held at other locationswhere natural and landscaped
reference sites are available.
This course is designed for landscape
designers and installers, and other
interested parties. It consists of seven
meetings on consecutive Saturday
mornings (911 AM) and Wednesday
evenings (79 PM). Wednesday meetings
will be held at the Tucson Audubon
Society offices. Saturday meetings will be
held at other locations where natural andlandscaped reference sites are available.
A plant list, an optional reading list, and
other useful materials will be provided as
part of the cost of the course. Cost: $250
To sign up, please send a deposit of $50
(not refundable after December 15). Send
a check to Tucson Audubon, Attn. Jean
Barchman, 300 E University Blvd, #120,
Tucson, AZ 85705, or call Jean at 622-
5622 with credit card information. For
more information about the course,
contact Kendall Kroesen at 206-9900,
[email protected] cell or
971-2385.
Living With NatureLecture Series
TUCSONSecond Monday of the month,September through April, 7 PMDuVal Auditorium, University Medical
Center (UMC)
January 12, MondayBEYOND JUST BIRDSPUTTING IT
ALL TOGETHER with Rich Hoyer
Rich Hoyer has been an avid birder since
the age of 14. Well before then he was
fascinated with all facets of natural
history. As a pre-teen he began keying ou
plants, rearing butterflies in his bedroom,
and identifying protozoans under the
microscope, and he has held a lifelong
fascination for reptiles and amphibians.
But after the discovery of birding, all of
these interests took a back seat, and he
became known as a skilled ear-birder,
8 Tucson Audubon Vermilion FlycatcherJANUARYFEBRUARY 2009
TUCSON AUDUBONEVENTS AND CLASSES
Tucson Audubons Urban Habitat Program is part of a larger urban-oriented initiative designed to reconcilethe needs of people and wildlife through the enlightened design of urban and exurban spaces. The UrbanWildlife Landscaping Course will train landscape designers to create landscapes that not only meettraditional landscaping goals, but also provide food, shelter, and nesting opportunities for birds, and habitatother small urban wildlife.
KENDALLKROESEN
Sabino Canyon:
The Life of A Southwestern Oasis
by David Wentworth Lazeroff
Find out much more about the
natural history of Sabino
Canyon in this beautiful book
by longtime Tucson Audubon
member, David Lazaroff.
Packed with information
and stunning pictures, this
makes a fine reference as
well as a great coffee table book. Available in
our nature shops. $17.95
Do you want to make your yard into an
inviting habitat for wildlife,
but dont know where to
start? In our shops we
have a wide selection of
books on landscaping with
native habitat and wildlife
in mind. Available in our
nature shops. $24.95
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finding rarities in his home state of
Oregon, working on various bird studies
as far away as Russia, and working as a
naturalist guide for two summers on Saint
Paul Island in Alaskas Pribilof Islands. He
then moved to Tucson in 1997 when he
began his dream job of leading birding
tours for one of the preeminent
companies in the field, WINGS.While leading birding tours to such
fantastic places as Jamaica, Mexico,
Costa Rica, Bolivia, Brazil, and the
Galapagos, it was impossible for him to
ignore the amazing diversity of natural
history; his post-tour lists always included
all the reptiles, mammals, and butterflies
they saw, and he has become known for
his breadth of knowledge for all things
living. Beginning with a Butterflies & Birds
tour with Jim Brock in southeastern
Arizona in 1999, Rich created similar tours
with Jim to the Gmez Faras area ofnortheastern Mexico, Costa Rica, and
Cristalino Jungle Lodge in Brazil. In 2006
he co-led the first Birds & Shakespeare
tour to Ashlands famous Oregon
Shakespeare Festival with Bryan Bland,
and in 2007 he co-led a Birds & Plants
tour to Bolivia with Greg Corman.
This presentation will offer pictorial
highlights to show the varied natural
history and mix of interests that Rich
brings to all his tours.
February 9, MondayPOLE TO POLE with Peg Abbott
Comparisons between the Arctic and
Antarctica are natural. Peg will take a
close look at these similar and contrasting
polar regions. She will share images and
adventures from trips to Svalbard
(Norway), Greenland, Arctic Canada,
South Georgia, Falkland Islands, and the
Antarctic Peninsula. In addition to images
from whales to penguins and Ivory Gulls,she'll share the magical beauty of ice in
low-angled polar light.
Peg Abbott is owner and guide of
Naturalist Journeys (a Birds & Business
Alliance member of Tucson Audubon), a
small travel company that puts people,
places, and remarkable experiences
together. She has worked in remote and
differing places around the world, from
seabird islands to wildlife refuges and
western ranches, from Alaska to
Argentina. She has a bachelor's degree in
biology and a master's degree in forestryand wildlife to give structure to her field-
gained knowledge. I've worked in wild
places, and every mile I've tread has
offered its lessons. I value the years of
experience as I take groups into new and
exciting places.
GREEN VALLEYThird Saturday of the month, Octoberthrough March, 10 AMGreen Valley Public Library
January 17, SaturdayRAPTORS OF CAVE CREEK CANYONwith Helen Snyder
Cave Creek Canyons nesting raptor
densities are the highest known in the US
and among the highest measured
anywhere in the world, due in large part
to the number of small insectivorous owls
that inhabit this canyon in the Chiricahua
Mountains. It is home to a large
population of Whiskered Screech-Owls.
The surprising concentration, only
recently confirmed, is five times that of
JANUARYFEBRUARY 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 9
Jan 4, Sunday 8 AM. Sabino Habitat
Restoration Volunteer Day(details p 8).
Jan 1031. Tucson Audubon Urban Wildlife
Landscaping Course (details p 8).
Jan 12, Monday 7 PM. Living With Nature
Lecture, Tucson: Beyond Just Birds with Rich
Hoyer (details p 8).Jan 17, Saturday 8 AM. Sabino Habitat
Restoration Volunteer Day(details p 8).
Jan 17, Saturday 10 AM. Living With Nature
Lecture, Green Valley: Raptors of Cave
Creekwith Helen Snyder (details left).
Jan 23, Friday. IBA Tanque Verde Wash Owl
Survey. (details p 10).
Feb 1, Sunday 8 AM. Sabino Habitat
Restoration Volunteer Day(details p 8).
Feb 4, Wednesday. Tucson Audubon
Societys 60th Anniversary Gala with Dr.Michael Rosenzweig at the Arizona Inn.
Feb 9, Monday 7 PM. Living With Nature
Lecture, Tucson: Pole to Pole with Peg Abbott
(details left).
Feb 12, Saturday 10 AM. Living With Nature
Lecture, Green Valley: Arizonas Amazing
Animals with Amanda Moors (details p 10).
Feb 14, Saturday 8 AM. Esperanza Habitat
Restoration Volunteer Day(details p 10).
Feb 18 through Apr 1.Artist Ruth Canada
presents Birds With Attitude watercolors in
the Ranch House Gallery at Agua CalientePark. Ruth will donate 20 per cent of all sales
to Tucson Audubon. Call 760-7881 for details.
Feb 21, Saturday 8 AM. Sabino Habitat
Restoration Volunteer Day(details p 8).
Feb 28, Saturday. Arizona Audubon
Conservation Summitat the Arizona Sonoran
Desert Museum. Contact Paul Green at 622
5622 or [email protected] for
more information.
Mar 14, Saturday 8 AM. Esperanza Habitat
Restoration Volunteer Day(details p 10).
Mar 28 & 29. Riparian Family Institute. A
weekend event for the entire family focused
on the rich plant and animal life found
streamside along the San Pedro River. For
more information contact Carrie Dean 622-
2230 or cdean@tucson audubon.org.
Apr 1619. Institute of Desert Ecology. See
page 6 for more information or contact Carrie
Dean cdean@tucson audubon.org or 622-
2230.
Rich Hoyer
LYNNFERYUS
EVENTS CALENDAR
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the world-famous Snake River Birds of
Prey National Conservation Area
managed by the BLM in Idaho. Cave
Creek Canyon is already the American
Birding Association members favorite
birding destination and a major
ecotourism destination, as well as the site
of many long-term research projects, dueto the presence of the American
Museums Southwestern Research
Station. Cave Creek Canyon is an urgent
candidate for a US Forest Service Special
Area designation as a Research
Zoological Area to be managed for
birding and ecotourism, and as a world-
class area for long-term scientific
research.
Helen A. Snyder is a retired wildlife
biologist living in Portal, Arizona. She and
her husband Noel spent their career
years helping save a variety ofendangered species such as the Puerto
Rican Parrot, the Snail (Everglade) Kite,
the California Condor and the Thick-billed
Parrot. In addition to research, Helen
writes, leads tours and occasionally
guides folks to see Cave Creek Canyons
spectacular raptor concentrations.
February 12, SaturdayARIZONAS AMAZING ANIMALS
with Amanda Moors
Did you know that hummingbirds can
beat their wings up to 90 times persecond and have a heartbeat ranging
from 500-1200 beats each minute? Even
the biggest badger will tip the scale at
only about 30 pounds, but he can move
more dirt that a human wielding a shovel.
And its true that X really does mark the
spotif the spot you're talking about is
the footprint of a roadrunner!
Learn more about Arizona's Amazing
Animals from Wildlife Biologist Amanda
Moors, a resident of Globe, Arizona, who
has studied everything from black bears
in New Hampshire to Spotted Owls, elk,
mountain lions, bighorn sheep, and
western box turtles all around the Grand
Canyon State.
IBA Owl SurveyJanuary 23, FridayTanque Verde Wash
Starts one hour after sunset and extends
a couple of hours. Open to all birders with
the ability to identify owls by call.
Fun/spooky. Limited openings. Call Scott
or Ruth at Tucson Audubon IBA office at
628-1730 to sign up.
Esperanza HabitatRestoration Volunteer DayFebruary 14 & March 14, Saturday8 AMnoonEsperanza Ranch conservationeasement north of Tubac
Volunteers help plant native vegetation,
control weeds and pick up trash at the
Esperanza Ranch conservation easement
north of Tubac. Tucson Audubon is
conserving and restoring habitat on this
300-acre conservation easement along
the Santa Cruz River. To sign up contact
Kendall Kroesen at 206-9900, 971-2385
cell, or [email protected] project is supported by Together
Green, an Audubon program with funding
from Toyota. VF
10 Tucson Audubon Vermilion FlycatcherJANUARYFEBRUARY 2009
Planting trees during a volunteer day at Esperanza Ranch, January 2008.
KENDALLKROESEN
VIREO
TUCSON AUDUBONEVENTS AND CLASSES
For more information contact: 6157855 or
Tucson Mountain Park Birding Walk
Join birding expert John Higgins for a guided
bird walk in Tucson Mountain Park. Spot
thrashers, wrens, quail, hawks and other birds
of the desert Southwest among the saguaros
and palo verdes. Bring binoculars and water.
Free, all ages welcome. Reservations not
required. Saturday, Jan 10, 89:30AM. Pima
County Tucson Mountain Park Ironwood Picnic
Area, 1548 S. Kinney Road (on Kinney 1.5
miles south of Gates Pass Road or 3.8 miles
north of Ajo Way).
Feliz Paseos Park Birding Walk
Join naturalist Doris Evans on a stroll through
Feliz Paseos Park, where youre likely to see
thrashers, Cactus Wrens, Gambels Quail andother birds of the desert Southwest. Beginners
are welcome. Bring binoculars and water.
Free, all ages welcome. Reservations not
required. Saturday, Jan 24, 89AM. Pima
County Feliz Paseos Park, 1600 N. Camino de
Oeste (On Camino de Oeste, mile north of
Speedway/Gates Pass Road)
Sonoran Desert Kids Club:
The Life of Birds
We will take a peek at the life of birds as the
residents and migrants share habitat. Free,
kids ages 512 and their families. Reserva-tions not required. Saturday, Jan 31, 910:30
AM. Pima County Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E.
Roger Road.
Wake Up with the Birds
Desert meets water at this unique oasis park,
providing a unique crossroads for migratory
and resident birds, some of which are unique
to southeastern Arizona. Spot cardinals,
thrashers, hummingbirds, songbirds and rap-
tors among the mesquites and palms.
Binoculars available for use during the walk or
bring your own. Free, all ages welcome.
Reservations not required. Every Tuesday in
January. 8:3010:30 AM. Pima County Agua
Caliente Park, 12325 E. Roger Road.
PIMA COUNTY NATURAL RESOURCES,
PARKS AND RECREATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION EVENTS
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So whats so flammulated about a
Flammulated Owl, anyway? Ive
wondered this for years. This is the first in
a new series of articles in which Ill
feature bird species with interesting
names, explain how they acquired them,
add lots of interesting tidbits from their
natural history, plus add hints on how to
find and ID one in our area. I welcome
back all my old Dastardly Duos readers,
and I heartily welcome back the efforts of
Dr. George West, whose illustrations will
also adorn this column.
Now back to that owl. Flammulated
Owls (Otus flammeolus) are named fortheir reddish color, from the Latin
flammeus flame-colored. This species
does not have distinct gray and red
phases, but instead has a clinal color
distribution with a core of gray birds with
coarse dark streaks centered in the Great
Basin and Rockies, slightly redder and
more finely-streaked birds to the
northwest, and much redder and
somewhat finely streaked birds to the
southeast (ours).
Though grouped with our screech-
owls, this species is of quite a differentcharacter. They depend almost entirely on
moths and beetles for food, plus other
arthropods. It is thought that they cannot
process adult vertebrate bonesone pair
kept in captivity and fed bird carcasses
died within two days! They had been
described as taking vertebrate prey for
over a century before it was realized that
no hard evidence substantiated this.
Flammulated Owls are one of the most
migratory of North American owls. They
breed north to central British Columbia,
yet their winter range has a northern limit
in central Durango in Mexico. Availability
of prey is thought to be a large factor
affecting this. Of note, Elf Owls are also
mainly insectivorous and migrate south in
winter.
Their habitat choice in our area is
strongly tied to ponderosa pine forest.
They prefer open, semi-arid forest withsome shrubby understory. They hunt for
food by gleaning from foliage, picking
food items from tree trunks and also from
the ground. They both nest and roost in
natural cavities and old woodpecker
holesnotably, abandoned flicker holes
in our area. Individual territories have
been known to be occupied for more than
twelve years running, though not by the
original individual. Life span in the wild
has been measured at up to eight years,
but much longer is possible.
An interesting fact is that this specieswas long considered rare until birders and
researchers started imitating its
vocalizations and getting responses
around the 1940s and 1950s.
Flammulated Owls are now considered to
be the most common raptor of the
montane pine forest of the western U.S.
and Mexico. So, if they are so common,
you might be asking why youve never
seen one. Good question! It was one of
the reasons I picked this bird to write
about.
Flammulated Owls have one of the
lowest-frequency songs of any small owl.
Their hoots are often described as
sounding like a larger owl much further
away. Unpaired Flammulated Owl males
will sing for hours on end early in the
breeding season. In quiet forests these
hoots can carry for half a mile. When
approached they lower the volume
substantially, which explains why birding
lore tells that if you hear one its probably
right next to you. To try to f ind one at
night, get to the right habitat and listen fo
soft, single hoots, repeated about every
two seconds. An even softer, lower-
pitched hoot is often added just before the
next one comes along. I liken the sound
to two metronomes of different pitch
synchronized with each other. Listen to a
recording to help recognize it in the field.
Nighttime visual identification might be
toughhopefully the bird will be calling.
For those lucky daytime views notice thedistinctive dark eyes. No other small owl
here has them. Also note the small ear
tufts, short tail and relatively pointed
wings.
I must fess up that Ive only had two
visual encounters with this owl. One was
a pair sitting next to their nesting cavity at
night near the end of the South Fork of
Cave Creek road in the Chiricahuas, and
one during the day far up a hiking trail
poking its head out of a hole. What a cute
little beastie!
So, if youre out there in the woods in
spring (perhaps doing a Tucson Audubon
Birdathon on Mount Lemmon or Madera
Canyon?), remember to listen for this
remarkable little owl. You might be glad
you did. Good luck! VF
JANUARYFEBRUARY 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 11
WHATS IN A NAME
Flammulated OwlLARRY LIESE
Flammulated Owls are oneof the most migratory ofNorth American owls.
So, if they are so common,you might be asking whyyouve never seen one.
GEO
RGEWEST
100 Birds and How They
Got Their Names.
By Diana Wells
Interested in why other birds
have the names they do?
This fun little book is full of
myths, legends and true
stories about how birds got their
names. Great trivia for those drives between
birding hotspots. Available in our nature shops.
$18.95
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As part of our Urban Program, Tucson
Audubon is promoting urban landscaping
that harvests rainwater, supports urban
birds and other wildlife, and addresses
the urban heat island effect. And while
urban landscaping will likely help many
bird species, we plan to focus on a select
few, namely those that appear on the
Audubon WatchList for Arizona
(http://az.audubon.org/BirdSci_
AZWatchList.html) and other morecommon species that are declining
(http://stateofthebirds.audubon.org/
cbid/index.php).
Bells Vireo, which nests in parts of the
Midwest, Great Plains, Texas, the
Southwest and northern Mexico, and
winters along the west coast of Mexico
and Central America to Honduras, is one
species that is in urgent need of help.
Bells Vireo has red status on the
WatchList. In the Southwest, it has
declined precipitously probably as the
result of a combination of habitat loss andparasitism from Brown-headed Cowbirds.
Members of this species are in southeast
Arizona from early March through mid-
October, with most reproductive activity
happening April through July.
According to the Tucson Bird Count,
Bells Vireo is absent from much of
Tucson, but is found along washes and
other dense vegetation in the foothills, the
east side (especially Tanque Verde
Creek), the Oro Valley area, and in the
foothills of the Tucson Mountains. You are
more likely to attract them if you live near
a wash or other areas where dense
vegetation already exists.
Bells Vireo is among the most difficult
Tucson-area species to attract to your
yard because of their specific habitat
needs. They require dense, shrubby
vegetation, which can be early
succession vegetation along streams, or
mature, dense vegetation along washes
or in mesquite thickets. The critical
element is dense understory and midstoryvegetation.
This species eats almost exclusively
small insects (caterpillars, bees, beetles,
wasps, grasshoppers, moths) and spiders
that it gleans from vegetation, so your
seed feeders will not attract Bells Vireos.
They forage widely through vegetation
levels, so a wide range of trees, shrubs,
and understory is helpful. This species
nests lowmost often from 1.5 to 5 feet
off the ground, building its well-hidden
nests in dense shrubs and small trees.
Heres how you can help support thesevireos. First, if you already have dense,
native vegetation on your land, especially
along a wash, do not clear or trim it!
Landowners are often tempted to clear
out dense vegetation in order to afford
access, create sight-lines, or simply to
make it look cleaner. These activities
reduce or eliminate the value of the
vegetation for Bells Vireo.
Second, if you have areas that you can
revegetate, plant the kind ofnative
vegetation they like! We suggest a variety
of small and large shrubs, and smalltrees. Good diversity of plant species
makes it more likely that the insects and
spiders they like to eat will be present. We
think that some of the most useful around
Tucson would be shrubs like burro weed
(Isocoma tenuisecta), graythorn (Ziziphus
obtusifolia), condalia (Condalia warnockii
var. kearneyana), desert hackberry (Celtis
pallida), wolfberry (Lycium spp.), and
trees like netleaf hackberry (Celtis
reticulata), whitethorn acacia (Acacia
constricta), blue paloverde (Parkinsonia
florida), foothills paloverde (Parkinsonia
microphylla), and velvet mesquite
(Prosopis velutina). Screwbean (Prosopis
pubescens) may be helpful if you are in
bottomlands where additional moisture is
present in the soil. In upland areas
ironwood (Olneya tesota) is helpful. In
moist areas use seepwillow (Baccharissalicifolia). Do notuse the introduced
South American mesquites or other exotic
species. There are a variety of other plan
species that may be useful. Explore your
area and look at what dense native plants
are growing along washes.
Plant these trees and shrubs close
together so that as they mature, they will
grow into each other and create
continuous, intergrading vegetation. It wil
take some time for them to mature and
create the kind of habitat Bells Vireo is
looking for. If you do not succeed inattracting Bells Vireo, you will have
created habitat for a number of other
speciesespecially species that use
similar dense vegetation. These might
include Curve-billed Thrasher, Verdin,
Lucys Warbler, Pyrrhuloxia, Northern
Cardinal, and others.
Whatever birds you attract, make sure
to spend plenty of time outdoors enjoying
them, learning their vocalizations, and
becoming friends!
Bibliography
Brown, Bryan T. 1993. Bells Vireo (Vireo bellii),
The Birds of North America Online (A.
Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab ofOrnithology; Birds of North America Online:
http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/03
Tucson Audubon Society. 2007. Finding Birds
in Southeast Arizona, Seventh Edition.
Tucson Audubon Society: Tucson.
Tucson Bird Count. 2008. Tucson Bird Count.www.tucsonbirds.org.
VF
Restoring Urban Habitatfor Target SpeciesBELLS VIREO
KENDALL KROESEN | RESTORATION PROGRAM MANAGER
SCOTT WILBOR | IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS PROGRAM CONSERVATIONBIOLOGIST
V I R E
O
JANUARYFEBRUARY 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 13
Dense small mesquites and acacias on Dr. JohnMaddens property within the Sabino and LowerBear Creek IBA.
KENDALLKROESEN
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David Yetman19921995
In late 1991, having
spent twelve years on the
Pima County Board of
Supervisors, I had taken
nearly a year off to write a
couple of still-unpublished novels and other
books. The prospect that I would soon have to
seek real employment lay heavily over me. I was
thus delighted to receive a phone call from a
friend who had attended a general meeting of theTucson Audubon Society. The board president
had announced that Tucson Audubon had
decided to hire an executive director. Judy
Edison, then shop manager, confirmed that
news, and she gave me the name of Doug
Forester, president of the board.
By early spring of 1992, I had become Tucson
Audubons first Executive Director. I went to work
as a two-thirds time employee and, in the first
months, I managed to secure funding to hire
Lucia Hoerr (Sayre) as full-time education
director. Dr. Virginia Furrow was generous
enough to cover one-half of the cost, and the
Tucson Audubon had sufficient cash flow to
cover the rest: 1.67 employees.
Other projects came on fast. Mrs. Orpha
Mason still lived in her house on Thornydale
Road, but she planned to leave the property to
Tucson Audubon. I remember phoning her on
her 100th birthday. We began to integrate the
Mason property into Tucson Audubons
education program, and it remains a treasure.
I established workshops for adults that would
take advantage of Tucson Audubons rich
educational resources, and we expanded ouradult institutes into Mexico and arranged a
variety of workshops led by some of our member
experts.
It was a challenging and stimulating job for
me. After three years, I moved to the University
of Arizonas Southwest Center where I remain
and continue to be proud of my association with
Tucson Audubon.
Kevin Dahl19972001
A Decade of Desert Protection. As we passed
the bag of bagels around the Tucson Audubon
conference table, no one thought we might be
biting off more than we could chew. Assembledwere Tucson conservation leaders from two
dozen groups who were meeting monthly to
exchange news and ideas, and hear from
various speakers. That particular day in 1997,
County Supervisor Sharon Bronson told us that
maybe a multi-species habitat conservation plan
would help to save the Cactus Ferruginous
Pygmy-Owl. And so it began....
More than 10 years later, after hundreds of
meetings, the coalition born that morningthe
Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection
(www.sonorandesert.org)now has a
professional staff supported by 30-plus groupsand 2,000 individual members. Tucson Audubon
can be proud of our initial sponsorship and
strong support of the effort. Because of the
coalition, Pima County has an award-winning
conservation plan protecting the habitat of 55
endangered and threatened species.
Among the coalitions accomplishments, two
stand out. In June 2000, President Clinton
established the Ironwood Forest National
Monument, protecting 129,000 acres of federal
land northwest of Tucson (only one month after
14 Tucson Audubon Vermilion FlycatcherJANUARYFEBRUARY 2009
60TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL FEATURE
The Executive Directors SpeakDAVID YETMAN, KEVIN DAHL, SONJA MACYS, AND PAUL GREEN
As we complete our 60th year, four of Tucson Audubons Executive Directors
recount their tenure.
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Kevin Dahl (left), in halloween costume, with Paul Green.
CARRIEDEAN
Ive learned that all you need is a good idea,
the right group of people, and perhaps a little
cream cheese.KEVIN DAHL
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Tucson Audubons first Ironwood Festival at the
Mason Audubon Center). In 2004, Pima County
voters approved (by 67 %!) $174 million for
conservation land acquisitions. Looking back, I
have learned that all you need is a good idea,
the right group of people, and perhaps a little
cream cheese.
After working for Pima County, Native Seeds/SEARCH andCenter for Biological Diversity, Kevin has returned to the
Historic Y as state representative for National ParksConservation Association.
Sonja Macys2001 2006
The fall to winter transition in Tucson is
wonderful. The heat breaks and the habitat
restoration team gears up for an intensive
season of field work, engaging volunteers and
the public in meaningful outdoor pursuits like
removal of non-native plants, building water
harvesting features, and planting native seeds.
Between 2001 and 2006, the restoration team
grew to become a regional leader in the field of
habitat restoration, largely because of the
dedicated professionals working on it and the
abundance of lands in need of help.
Like many other programs that flourished
during my time, my predecessor Kevin Dahl
planted the seed for the restoration program.
Kevins enthusiasm for land-based conservation
helped Tucson Audubon initiate the Important
Bird Areas program, habitat restoration, and
conservation lands as legacy gifts.
Looking back, my greatest contribution was to
help build the land-based conservation programthrough the acquisition of the Esperanza Ranch
conservation easement and the Madden
Property. These properties provide habitat for
birds and other wildlife andthey connect people
to place in a way that fosters a stronger
connection to conservation. I am honored to
have helped Tucson Audubon acquire these
lands and to have had the opportunity to get to
know Dr. John Madden and help cement his
legacy gift.
Sonja lives in Steamboat Springs, Colorado where she isExecutive Director of Yampatika. She was recently married
to Chuck Willard.
Paul Green2006present
Since 1989, I have been exploring ways to
engage birdwatchers in meaningful conservation
My work with the British Trust for Ornithology, th
American Birding Association, and most recently
National Audubon, was satisfying to a degree.However, the model presented by Tucson
Audubon is, to me, the most gratifying and
effective.
Perhaps it is because our work is regional
rather than national in scope, so we can see rea
outcomes on the ground. Perhaps it is because
Tucson Audubon successfully integrates
conservation with education and recreation,
providing ways for people to easily graduate from
learning about birds during a free field trip to
citizen science bird surveys.
A contributory factor is the multi-faceted
nature of the community in southeast Arizonathat allows academia, government, business,
and the nonprofit community to work
synergistically. This community provides the
people who make our work possible.
While information is critical to conservation
success in our community, we also need people
who understand the significance of that
information and can explain it to others. We need
people who understand what needs to be done
and can do it. Those people may be on our
boards, within our membership, and working
anywhere within our community.
Two recent examples illustrate this: oursuccessful fight to ensure Clean Water Act
protection of our rivers, and rebuffing the assault
on Santa Cruz Countys comprehensive plan by
development interests.
It is a great privilege to be working within such
rich and diverse non-profits here, many based in
the Historic Y, who can meet and discuss issues
efficiently. Our diverse and supportive
membershipyou!giving time, expertise, and
funding completes the circle of conservation
success. VF
JANUARYFEBRUARY 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 15
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8/9/2019 January-February 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon Society
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Changes are everywhere with the
advent of our striking new publication,
and I welcome you to a fresh format for
Audubon Afield. Well focus on the birds
of our region, recent and upcoming. Youll
also find info on the diverse habitats in
our area and notes on regional birding
hotspots.
Recent sightings included some
interesting wings at Sweetwater
Wetlands: American White Pelican,
Barn and Northern Rough-winged
swallows, Plumbeous and Cassins
Vireos, American Robin, Summer
Tanagerand Tennessee Warbler. ATennessee Warblerwas also spotted in
the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve.
Catalina State Park saw Scarlet Tanager
and Wood Thrush. Short-tailed Hawk
and Osprey were spotted in Tucson,
while Red-breasted Mergansers showed
in Amado and Willcox. Rose-breasted
Grosbeaks and a Black-throated Green
Warblerwere spotted at Madera Canyon.
A Magnolia Warblerwas glimpsed in the
Huachucas, and aYellow-throated
Warblerwas found in Arizona City. A
male Elegant Trogon at Rio Rico and aGray Catbird in the Tucson Mountains
round out a great list. Check the recorded
or online Rare Bird Alert for more, or join
the Arizona-New Mexico birding listserv
(BIRDWG05).
Where to begin? Everywhere really
we are so fortunate! Sulphur Springs
valley in January cant be beat. Wintering
cranes flourish, and there are plenty of
raptors, sparrows and longspurs to go
around. Ditto for the Santa Cruz flats, lush
Patagonia, Mount Lemmon or Arivaca
Cienega. Heck, this is the desert
Southwest and its almost impossible to
have a bad day anywhere in January.
Sometimes though, a spur of the moment
birding break is just the ticket, and with so
many fine birding spots here in Tucson,
why not stay local? Theres plenty
happening right here, and small signs
already tease us of an approaching
spring. Have you noticed? Curve-billed
Thrashers and Northern Mockingbirds
begin to sing, Cactus Wrens begin tobreed and Great Horned Owls are calling.
If I want to decompress from holiday
drama, my favorite eastside hotspot is a
Southwestern oasisSabino Canyon
Recreation Area. I learned common
birds here, and I first heard a roadrunner
sing along the trail just past the Visitors
Center. Its a cool, quick getaway; a
perfect spot to withdraw from the city and
give stress the slip.
To me, Sabino Canyon has it all. Its
safe, never crowded when ones out early,
sports lots of choices and, mostimportantly, has cool, clear, w-a-t-e-r.
Because Sabino Creek supplies this
essential ingredient, the canyon boasts
varied desert habitats in short order. The
creek divides the riparian ribbon of
Fremont cottonwoods and Arizona
sycamores (deer and bobcats are seen
with regularity here), while not even a
quarter mile away, the Sonoran Desert
uplands, peppered by cholla, barrel
cactus, ocotillo and mesquites stretch we
into the distance. Up the Phoneline Trail,
palo verdes and giant saguaros interrupt
the rocky canyon slopes.
Close, beautiful, biologically diverse,
geologically significant, and birdy!
Phainopepla, Cactus Wren, Curved-billed
Thrasher, Gambels Quail, Black-throatedSparrow, Northern Cardinal and
Pyrrhuloxia are confiding, permanent
residents in the Catalinas uplands. Gilas
and hummers are never far away. The
broad-leafed trees in the delicate riparian
stretches bear Yellow-rumped and
Orange-crowned warblers and sometimes
wayward passerines. Spring and summer
add more species, Scotts Oriole, Bells
Vireo, Broad-billed Hummingbird, Brown-
crested Flycatcher, White-throated Swifts
and of course, more visiting warblers. In
fact, a Chestnut-sided Warblerwassighted just last week near the dam along
Sabino Creek, proving this a splendid
place year round.
As is typical in late winter and early
spring, its been warm, cool and cold
lately. Well likely see some freezing
temps and rain, but as we look toward
February, early migrants begin to appear.
Tree Swallows are evident, Western
Grebes and Cinnamon Teal can be seen.
Wintering ducks are showing brighter
plumage. Raptors and sparrows remain
abundant. Annas and Costas
Hummingbirds and thrashers will begin
nesting. Resident passerines burst into
song. Vermilion Flycatcher numbers build
and before you know it itll be HOT again.
Treat yourself to a close encounter with
the Sonoran Desert. Hike Sabino Lake
Trail, or head up Esperero and see what a
few hours of Sabino Canyon can do for
you! See you afield! VF
16 Tucson Audubon Vermilion FlycatcherJANUARYFEBRUARY 2009
WHERE TO GO, BIRDS TO SEE
Sabino in WinterLIZ PAYNE | FIELD TRIP LEADER
Sabino Canyon is one of Arizonas most scenic Important Bird Areas. To find out more about IBAs and todownload a Sabino Creek Habitat Guide for Landowners, visit tucsonaudubon.org/azibaprogram.
LIZPAYNE
Thimble Peak and Sabino Creek in Sabino Canyona great place to bird year round
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JANUARYFEBRUARY 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 17
One of the main issues related to
Clean Water Act (CWA) protection
(see above) is how to protect
headwaters and ephemeral streams
(nth tributaries). If they are not
protected, serious consequences
occur downstream.
For the Santa Cruz watershed, our
particular and immediate concern
relates to a plan by California-Portland
Cement for two proposed limestone
quarries along Davidson Canyon.
Tucson Audubon believes that the
quarries should not be permitted and
developed for reasons that include but
are not limited to:
Davidson Canyon is a Pima County
designated IRA (Important Riparian
Area) within a state designated
regionally critical wildlife corridor
underneath Interstate 10
connecting the Empire, Santa Rita,
and Rincon mountain ranges.
(See talking points at http://
www.tucsonaudubon.org/
conservation/davidson_canyon.htm
and also see Pima Countys
Mapguide at http://www.dot.
pima.gov/gis/maps/mapguide/ and
at Arizona Wildlife Linkages
http://www.azdot.gov/
Highways/OES/AZ_Wildlife_
Linkages/index.asp)
The quarries and access road lie in
an area of high biological
significance containing habitat for
vulnerable species as outlined in
the countys Sonoran Desert
Conservation Plan. Local and
national conservation groups, the
Pima County Board of Supervisors,
and the Santa Cruz County Board
of Supervisors have all stated that
mining should not occur in this area.
Davidson Canyon supports two
perennial springs and several
species of concern such as the Gila
topminnow, Gila chub, Mexican
gartersnake, lowland leopard frog,
lesser long-nosed bat, and many
migratory birds.
Davidson Canyon has recently
received state recognition as an
Outstanding Arizona Water from
the Arizona Department of
Environmental Quality, approved by
the Governors Regulatory Review
Council, over the objections of
some business interests. This
designation means that no activity
that would cause permanent
degradation of water quality would
be permitted in the waterway.
Pima County has granted
California-Portland Cement a flood
plain use permit that would allow a
haul road across one crossing of
Davidson Creek (they will need four).
Supervisor Ray Carroll, who
represents the area, has said the
county should revoke the permit now
that the state has decided to give
higher protection to the area.
However, this only buys us a little
more time.
California-Portland Cement has
said it hopes to start work on pre-
mining activities in 30 to 60 days. The
county has spent millions of taxpayer
dollars over the last twenty or so years
to protect our water supply and quality
in the area, including purchasing the
Empire and the Bar V Ranches, and
contributing to the acquisition and
development of the Las Cienegas
National Conservation Area.
Cal-Portland needs to comply fully
with the CWA, and we want to insure
that they request review and
permission from the Army Corps of
Engineers for work affecting their four
proposed wash crossings. At the
moment, Cal-Portland maintains that
they can use a non-notifying
nationwide 404 permit. We believe the
project should require an individual
404 permit with greater official scrutiny
and an opportunity for the public to
comment. The Corps can exercise its
discretionary authority and insist on an
individual permitif they receive
overwhelming public support.
Tucson Audubon encourages
members to write to the Army Corps o
Engineers advocating for an individua
404 permit with a public review and
comment period for Cal-Portlands
proposal. Please write the Corps c/o
Ms. Marjorie Blaine, SPL, Senior
Project Manager/Biologist, USACOE,
5205 E Comanche Street, Tucson,
85707 or email Marjorie.E.Blaine@
usace.army.mil . You may also fax the
Corps at (520)5841690. Time is of
the essence!
More information at
http://www.azstarnet.com/
allheadlines/270669.php.
CONSERVATION & EDUCATION NEWSCHRIS MCVIE, PAUL GREEN, KENDALL KROESEN, SCOTT WILBOR, CARRIE DEAN
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on December 3,
2008, reinstated Traditional Navigable Water status for two
portions of the Santa Cruz Riverone stretching from Tubac to
Continental Road and the other from the Roger Road sewage-
treatment plant north to the county line. This designation brings
back the highest level of protection under the Clean Water Act .
The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers are evaluating the
remainder of the river.
This is good news for the Santa Cruz River, but there is no
guarantee that similar waterways and tributaries will receive the
same protection. Passing the Clean Water Restoration Act is the
only way to achieve this. For more information, see the link at
http://tucsonaudubon.org/conservation/scr_navigablewater.htm.
Santa Cruz Riverprotection reaffirmed
Davidson Canyon needs your help now
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18 Tucson Audubon Vermilion FlycatcherJANUARYFEBRUARY 2009
CONSERVATION & EDUCATIONNEWS
National Audubons Annual
Members Meeting and
National Board Meeting 2009
Friday, January 30, and Sunday,
February 1, 2009; Fiesta Resort and
Conference Center, Tempe, Arizona.
The meetings are open to all
Audubon members. For information
or to attend, contact Lynn Tennefoss
at [email protected] or 800-
542-2748. VF
If you are interested in becoming an
effective Audubon conservationist in
Arizona, come and join others whoshare that interest during a day-long
workshop at the Arizona-Sonora
Desert Museum in Tucson on
Saturday February 28, 2009.
Among the goals of our Audubon
Conservation Workshop are to
determine what we consider to be the
most important wildlife conservation
threats in our state in 2009 and to
determine the scope of their
importance. Which threats span our
local region, the state, and the nation?
How do we in Audubon effectivelyaddress these threats, and how do we
ensure that we work most effectively
within the context of other
conservation groups in the state, and
in the context of other chapters, our
state office, and National Audubon?
Inevitably, many of the issues upon
which we work will fall within broader
priorities for Audubon at the national
level, for example, questioning details
of land use and planning decisions
may be part of broader concerns
related to climate change and water.
Our day will be a mix ofpresentations, discussions, and
smaller workgroups, and will include
representatives from other
organizations, our state office, each
chapter in our state (and perhaps from
other states also), and from National
Audubon. We anticipate setting up
workgroups to work on issues
following our summit, and there will be
homework to do in advance.
Please let us know today if you
want to be involved. Please send your
contact details to [email protected] or call Jean at
622-5622.
Youll be able to access
homework materials online at
www.tucsonaudubon/ conservation.
In addition, we shall endeavor to find
local Audubon members who will
provide accommodations for those
traveling from outside the Tucson
area.
A few months ago the western
series of ponds at Sweetwater
Wetlands in Tucson were closed for
some modifications. Starting in
January the east ponds will be
closed. Due to logistical needs and
safety, the regular entrance, parking
lot and restrooms will be closed.
Signs will direct birders to temporary
parking across the street a little
farther west from the current
entrance. A gate across the street
from the new parking lot will allow
pedestrian access. Portions of the
wetlands not affected by
construction will remain open.
The eastern ponds will be
drained and burned (a controlled
burn happens annually, so this is
not new), and liners will be placed in
parts of the ponds as was done on
the west side. The stream south of
the parking lot and north of the
ponds also will be cleared and
receive a liner, since dense cattails
and bulrushes have impeded flow
there. However, this will not affect
Hidden Pondonly the stream to
the east and west of Hidden Pond.
Construction is expected to
begin in January, and the burn will
happen some time in March. The
liners are expected to be down
some time in April and this part of
the wetlands may be open toward
the end of April. However, this time-
table is tentative.
For progress reports or
information on access contact Bruce
Prior 349-5492. Terry Miley is a
secondary information source, at
490-6873.
Fun family birding in February
The Great Backyard Bird Count is back for its twelfth year over the
weekend of February 1316, 2009. Tucson once again led the
state in the 2008 count with 118 checklists containing 116
species, and many photos submitted, and we are looking for
increased participation across southern Arizona this year. The
event is excellent for engaging people new to birding. Read our
extended coverage in last years Vermilion Flycatcher
http://www.tucsonaudubon.org/verfly/VFFeb08.pdf or visit
birdcount.org.
Pima County Board of
Supervisors finalized an
agreement between the
County, Arizona Land and
Water Trust, and the landowner
of the historic Sopori Ranch to
permanently protect more than
4,000 acres of the Ranch. The
acquisition, a two-year project
of the Arizona Land and Water
Trust, includes part of the
Sopori Creek and associated
pastures with grandfathered
irrigation rights. The rest of the
13,000-acre ranch, which lies
in Santa Cruz County, currently
remains in private hands.
Due to its rich species
diversity, riparian areas, and its
cultural and historical value,
Sopori Ranch has long been a
high conservation priority for
the Arizona Land and Water
Trust, said Jeff Hampton,
President of the trusts board.
Stretching across the valley
between the Cerro Colorado
and Tumacacori Mountains, the
ranch connects an earlier
conservation acquisition
Rancho Seco and Santa Lucia
Ranch.
The ranch will be protected
using voter-approved 2004
Conservation Bond funds, a
key addition to Pima Countys
conservation portfolio.
Part of Sopori Ranch purchased byPima County
East Ponds at Sweetwater Wetlands closed
Get involved! Be part of Audubons ArizonaConservation Workshop
Aberts Towhee
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January 3Saturday 7:30AM
Sweetwater Wetlands for New
Birders or Visitors to Tucson
As we stroll along paved/dirt paths, we
will chat about binoculars, field guides,
primary habitats, behaviors and
identification of common birds of this
reclaimed water site. Well likely share our
walk with warblers, hawks, woodpeckers,
flycatchers, sparrows, grebes, ducks,
rails, shorebirds, and others amidst the
cattail marsh, open-water ponds, shallow
basins, cottonwoods and willows, and
desert scrub along the adjacent Santa
Cruz River bed. Meet at Sweetwater
Wetlands parking lot. Done by 10:30AM
(Local). Leader: Cynthia [email protected]
January 7Wednesday 7AM
Whitewater Draw &
Sulphur Springs Valley
Cranes, Winterhawks, owls and sparrows.
Meet at I-10 and Houghton at 7AM. Heavy
rain cancels; bring lunch; be prepared for
hiking. 250 miles roundtrip.
Leader: Richard [email protected] 520-760-4935
January 10Saturday 6AM
Chino Canyon
Meet at the Frys parking lot Irvington & I-
19, at 6AM. Dress for the weather, sturdy
hiking boots recommended for 5 mileround trip hike on old forest service road.
Bring water, snacks and lunch. We will
look for sparrows, raptors and desert
birds. Return by 2 PM. About 80 miles
roundtrip. Leader: Michael [email protected] 577-8778
January 13Tuesday 6:30AM
San Rafael Valley
Enjoy a trip through Harshaw Canyon and
the San Rafael Valley. This lush canyon
and vast grasslands habitat is home for a
special variety of wintering species. This
will mos