VERMILION

Tucson Audubon Society | tucsonaudubon.org

F LY C A T C H E R
March–April 2009 | Volume 54, Number 2

¡Bienvenido,
Spring!
Wintering Birds Stay North 12
Migrate into a Birdathon 14
Birds to See, Where to Go 16

Blue Mockingbird 3
What’s in a Name:
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet 11

T U C S O N A U D U B O N ’ S B I - M O N T H LY N E W S L E T T E R
 Features
11 What’s in a Name: Northern
Beardless-Tyrannulet
12 Bird Movements Reveal Climate
Change Threat
Tucson Audubon Society is dedicated to improving
the quality of the environment by providing education, 12 Beyond 60, Beyond Growth
conservation, and recreation programs,
environmental leadership, and information. Tucson 14 Win-Win Birding
Audubon is a non-profit volunteer organization of
people with a common interest in birding and natural 15 Ad-Hawk Birdathons Happen
history. Tucson Audubon maintains offices, a library,
and nature shops in Tucson, the proceeds of which
16 “¡Bienvenido, Spring!”
benefit all of its programs.
Tucson Audubon Society
300 E. University Blvd. #120, Tucson, AZ 85705 Departments
629-0510 (voice) or 623-3476 (fax)
All phone numbers are area code 520 unless otherwise stated. 4 News Roundup
www.tucsonaudubon.org
Board Officers & Directors
8 Events and Classes
Messages 622-5622
9 Events Calendar FRONT COVER: Cliff Swallow
President Herb Trossman
Vice President Mich Coker 17 Conservation & Education News Petrochelidon pyrrhonota. The race
Secretary Robert Merideth
commonly found in Southeast Arizona,
Treasurer Tom Rehm 19 Field Trips
Board Committees Conservation Chris McVie, Development P. p. melanogaster, lacks the pale
Sandy Elers, Education Cynthia Pruett, Finance Tom Rehm, 22 Birding from our Business forehead patch shown by this individual
Nominating Robert Merideth
Directors at Large Clark Blake, Mary Kay Eiermann, Sandy
Partners photographed in California by Mike
Elers, Julie Gordon, Linda Greene, Craig Marken, Robert
24 Birds & Business Alliance Danzenbaker. Mike is a Birds & Business
Mesta, Liz Payne, Bill Roe, Jessie Shinn, Linda Stitzer,
Bob Wenrick Members Listings Alliance member. You can see more of
Programs & Activities his photos at www.avesphoto.com.
Field Trips Darlene Smyth 297-2315 25 TAS-ifieds
Library David West 629-0510 To have your photo featured on the front
Membership Meetings Chris Harrison 629-0757 26 Nature Shops
Rare Bird Alert John Yerger | Report Rare Birds 798-1005 cover of the Vermilion Flycatcher, please
Staff 27 Bookends contact Matt Griffiths at 206-9900 or
Executive Director Paul Green 777-9525
Operations Manager Michael Monyak 629-0757
mgriffiths@tucsonaudubon.org.
Accountant Jean Boris 629-0757
Education Program Manager Carrie Dean 622-2230
Outreach Specialist Matt Brooks 629-2230
Membership Development Chris Harrison
Membership Coordinator Jean Barchman
629-0757
622-5622
Ask Not What Tucson Audubon
IBA Conservation Biologist Scott Wilbor
IBA Program Assistant Ruth Wilderman
628-1730
628-1730
Can Do For You 
Restoration Program Manager Kendall Kroesen 206-9900 Chris Harrison, Membership & Development Manager
Field Supervisor Rodd Lancaster 256-6909
Restoration Specialist Matthew Griffiths 206-9900
Mason Outreach Coordinator Lia Sansom 971-6238 With the inauguration of the new
University Shop Manager Sara Pike 622-2230 administration comes the renewal of the
Agua Caliente Shop Manager Becky Aparicio 760-7881
idea of individual responsibility,
Nature Shops
Tucson Audubon Nature Shop reminding us of the role each of us, as
300 E University Blvd #120 629-0510 individuals, can and should play in the
623-3476 fax / 622-2230 Shop Manager
Hours: Monday–Saturday, 10 AM–4 PM
success of our country. President Barack
(10 AM–5 PM Monday & Thursday); closed Sunday Obama speaks often of a new era of
KENDALL KROESEN

Tucson Audubon at Agua Caliente service to our communities.

Roy P. Drachman Agua Caliente Park
12325 E Roger Rd 760-7881
Hours: Tuesday, Friday, Saturday 9 AM–3:30 PM
Vermilion Flycatcher is published bi-monthly. For address
changes or subscription problems call 622-5622, or write
to Membership Coordinator, Tucson Audubon, 300 E.
University Blvd, #120, Tucson, AZ 85705. Submissions
are due the 1st of the month, two months before the date
of the issue. Please send submissions as Microsoft Word
or RTF documents, or plain text files, to Matt Griffiths at
mgriffiths@tucsonaudubon.org.
Coordinator Matt Griffiths 206-9900
Proofreaders Jane & Warren Tisdale 749-2139
and Tucson Audubon staff
Layout Eng-Li Green
In a recent speech he said, “As
President I ask for your service and your
active citizenship ... This will not be a
cause issued in one speech or program;
it will be a cause of my presidency.” Volunteers Seth Remer (left) and Craig Marken
(right) helping with habitat restoration.
Tucson Audubon Society thanks all
members whose support shows what we
can achieve with this attitude. Looking For opportunities to provide your
services to help Tucson Audubon make a
forward, we are excited about a new
administration and hope that this attitude difference in our community, please
of generosity and selflessness goes on contact Chris Harrison at 629-0757 or
well beyond four or eight years. charrison@tucsonaudubon.org. VF

2 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher MARCH–APRIL 2009

 COMMENTARY
HERB TROSSMAN | PRESIDENT

What the Change in the Federal and State

Governments Means for Tucson Audubon:

The Good News and the Bad News
As I write this piece, it is just a few
weeks since Barak Obama became the
44th President of the United States. In
that short period of time a great feeling of
relief and joy has swept over the nation
and the environmental community in
particular. The Bush administration had
waged a relentless war against
environmental regulations for the past
eight years and the new administration
appears to be moving rapidly to reverse
some of the last-minute anti-
environmental regulations imposed by
that administration.
While there is no universal agreement
that President Obama’s choices for the
cabinet and governmental agency
positions that affect the environment were
wise, they generally reflect sensitivity
towards the environment that the former
administration lacked. From the viewpoint
of Arizonans, we might have preferred
Raúl Grijalva to Ken Salazar, but the
appointment of Carol Browner (President
Clinton’s head of the EPA) as the
White House’s chief of energy and
environmental issues appears to be an
enlightened choice. Another encouraging
That was the good news. Now for the
bad news. While the federal government
seems to be heading for a new period of
enlightenment on environmental issues,
the reverse may be happening to Arizona.
Although we are all happy that Janet
Napolitano has moved on to the national
stage as head of Homeland Security, it
has left Arizona with a legislature and new
governor that may be a carbon copy of
the former federal administration. While
the majority of the country is moving in a
new direction, it seems that Arizona may
be going in the opposite direction.
Both the federal and state governments
are facing a financial crisis and massive
deficits, but their approach to solving the
problems appears to be drastically
different. While the federal government
has pledged to revive the agencies that
protect the environment and restore
science to its rightful place in deciding
policy, our state government will probably
head in the other direction. Budget cutting
seems to be the mantra of the new
governor and legislature and we can all
guess where those cuts will come. The
agencies that may be cut, of most
PAT TROSSMAN
concern to Tucson Audubon, are Game &
Fish, State Parks, and the Department of
Environmental Quality. We obtain most of
our funding for the Important Bird Areas
program from Arizona Game and Fish,
and any significant cut to its budget may
jeopardize our ability to sustain the
program.
What can we, as members of Tucson
Audubon, do to help us through difficult
times? First, remain true to our ideals and
continue to support our conservation
efforts to protect our precious
environment. Another, and very important,
is to continue YOUR financial support of
Tucson Audubon and, if possible,
increase your support. We are all feeling
the effect of the current financial crisis
and many of us will have to adjust our
lifestyle accordingly, but most of the
things we eliminate from our standard of
living can easily be replaced when times
improve. What cannot be easily replaced
is a diminished environment. We must
maintain what we have, and Tucson
Audubon is working to do this; so your
continued support is essential. VF

appointment (which has its negative side,

as we will point out later) was our former
Governor Janet Napolitano as Secretary
of Homeland Security. As head of the
agency that has jurisdiction over border
issues, we can hope for a more
enlightened approach to securing the
border than building a fence. It is still too
early to make a complete assessment of © CHARLES W. MELTON / WWW.NEARFAMOUS.COM
all these appointments, of course, and it
will largely depend on those who are
appointed for the staff positions.
With the words “restore science to its
rightful place” in his inaugural address,
President Obama brought new hope that,
after eight years of ignoring and often
suppressing good science, the
government will restore its scientific
agencies to their rightful roles in
protecting the environment. The news The Blue Mockingbird above was photographed at Slaughter Ranch, 15 miles east of Douglas, on
media report that staff members of these February 11, 2009, by Charles W. Melton. Found by Richard Webster, it is only the fifth recorded in the
agencies seem to feel their long winter USA. And what a fantastic bird! Spiky, electric blue, with ruby red eyes, it seemed more like a jay than a
may be over. mockingbird (or, as I later decided, more like a roller or even a motmot). —Richard Fray VF

MARCH–APRIL 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 3

 TUCSON AUDUBON
NEWS ROUNDUP
Gala soars with
Harris’s Hawk
Sandy Elers, Development
Committee Chair
Tucson Audubon held its first
PHIL PRITCHARD
Gala, Making a Place for
Wildlife, on the evening of
Wednesday, February 4, at the
glorious Arizona Inn in Tucson.
Bright winter sunlight dimmed
as guests arrived for an hour
of cocktails and a silent
auction in the Flandrau House.
Visitors representing a wide
spectrum of Tucson’s
population mingled while
bidding on everything from
binoculars to artwork and
birding trips. They also strolled
outside to hear Sr. Francisco
Gonzalez serenade the
assembly with Mexican songs
played on a Peruvian harp.
Around 140 were served
dinner in the elegant Tucson
Room, decorated with native
grasses, origami cranes, and
flowers. A spectacular slide
show, generously provided by
local photographers, played
through the evening; a visual
reminder of the birds and
habitats that Tucson Audubon
seeks to protect. Tucson
Audubon Vice President, Mich
Coker, as emcee for the
evening, presented lifetime
memberships to all past
presidents and executive
ALL PHOTOS KENDALL KROESEN
Left to right: Dr. John Schaefer, past President of Tucson Audubon, and Ellen Skotheim; Tucson Audubon Conservation Chair Chris McVie, Arizona Game and Fish
Commissioner Bob Hernbrod, and Joan Cauthorn; Keynote speaker Dr. Michael Rosenzweig, Director of Tumamoc: People and Habitats, and Carole Rosenzweig.
4 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher MARCH–APRIL 2009
directors on behalf of the
Board of Directors of Tucson
Audubon. Paul Green,
Executive Director, welcomed
the group and spoke about
current and future projects.
Jim Dawson of the Arizona-
Sonora Desert Museum
began the program with a
Harris’s Hawk free flight. It
glided over the heads of
guests, delighting one and all.
Dr. John Schaefer,
President Emeritus of The
University of Arizona and past
President of Tucson Audubon,
presented anecdotes from
earlier days of our society.
Keynote speaker Dr. Michael
Rosenzweig, an evolutionary
ecologist at The University of
Arizona, spoke about
reconciling the needs of
people and wildlife through
urban habitat programs, and
ways that Tucson Audubon and
The University of Arizona could
work together to benefit birds,
wildlife, and people.
Three hours after we began,
excited guests continued to
talk in small groups, some
collecting their silent auction
On April 25, 1999, Tucson Audubon Society formally dedicated
the property of William and Orpha Mason as the Mason Center
for Ironwood Preservation and Environmental Education. On
April 25, 2009, Tucson Audubon will celebrate this 10-year
anniversary with a fundraiser called the
IRONWOOD JAM!
with WAY OUT WEST bluebhikku.com/WayOutWest.htm
and THE WAYBACK MACHINE waybackmachine.com
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Starting around 6 PM and going ‘til the music and dancing stop!
$12/adult in advance at Tucson Audubon Nature Shops;
$15 at the gate
Food and drink for sale and bring a chair
All proceeds benefit Tucson Audubon’s Mason Center
and its programs!
For more information, contact Lia Sansom at
971-6238 and check our website for updates.
winnings. To our delight, many
reported that this was an
extraordinary and fun event,
and were already planning to
join us again next year for our
2010 Gala. We hope to see
you there also. Watch this “. . . 60 years later the Audubon
space for the date. Society’s noble mission is even
more crucial to the future of
Arizona, the second fastest growing
state in the nation. Your vision,
Right: Part of Congresswoman
dedication and hard work have
Gabrielle Giffords’s letter of
congratulations on Tucson Audubon’s been instrumental in saving from
development many priceless
60th Anniversary. For full text, go to
habitats throughout Southeastern
www.tucsonaudubon.org/
giffords_60yrletter.pdf Arizona.”
 IBA surveys focus on Lower San Pedro River and
Greater Sabino/Tanque Verde watershed this spring
Scott Wilbor, Important Bird Areas Program Conservation Biologist
LEFT SCOTT WILBOR, CENTER LIZ BURKE

JAMES PRUDENTE
Left and center: Within the Lower San Pedro River IBA, the extensive BHP Billiton riparian lands near San Manuel, Arizona will be further investigated this spring and
summer for their importance to all birds, but especially species of conservation concern, their habitat associations, and key vegetative components of nest areas.
Audubon, and many partners, are interested in the future conservation of this special riparian corridor. Right: Gray Hawk
survey along Tanque Verde Wash on
Jan. 23, 2009 found 7 Great Horned
Owls in 1.2 miles! Another IBA Owl
Survey, March 11, 2009, along
Tanque Verde Wash is open for
participant sign-up (limit 8
participants); call early to reserve your
spot (628–1730). You do not need to
be an IBA volunteer.
Lastly, we will host an IBA
Riparian Species ID Workshop, for
past or current IBA Workshop
attendees that will also be held along
the San Pedro River in March or
early April. Our goal is to sharpen
SCOTT WILBOR

current team skills for our survey

Tanque Verde Wash is a conservation focus for the Important Bird Areas Program (part of the greater Sabino IBA region),
and the site of continuing owl surveys this spring. Off-road vehicles, habitat fragmentation, non-native vegetation, are key
threats impacting this ecosystem
The Arizona Important Bird Areas
(IBA) program at Tucson Audubon has
received a modest grant to expand
our investigations of bird species
occurrence, abundance, and habitat
use within the BHP Billiton mining
company’s-held riparian lands along
the Lower San Pedro River near
San Manuel, Arizona. Our surveys
will cover the spring migration and
breeding season and be particularly
focused on raptors (notably Gray
Hawk), kingbirds, and the Yellow-billed
Cuckoo, but will document all birds
detected in our study area (a 14 km
linear riparian corridor). Initial field
work begins in March with our first
survey in mid/late April. All past or
current IBA workshop attendees are
encouraged to contact the TAS-IBA
office to sign up to participate
(mileage and hotel costs will be
covered). Last year’s report is
available on-line a www.aziba.org.
We are conducting expanded bird
surveys and new habitat condition
documentation in new areas of the
Greater Sabino/Tanque Verde
watershed. Based on our findings we
may propose an expansion of the
existing Sabino/Bear Creeks IBA to
encompass more of watershed. We
will also be working to have new
conservation measures enacted for
these drainages by private
landowners and Pima County. An owl
Mason Center bathroom update
Lia Sansom, Tucson Audubon’s Mason Center
Outreach Coordinator
Unfortunately, I have no new pictures
of me sitting on a toilet but we are still
moving in a positive direction towards
having this bathroom built! Check the
Tucson Audubon website for updates
on construction, opportunities to see
efforts in 2009, particularly for those
folks who can assist our efforts at
BHP in San Manuel and the
Patagonia Mountains, and to assist
our partnership with Arizona Game &
Fish Department and bird monitoring
at riparian plots near our IBAs. Check
our website at www.aziba.org for
final details or call Scott (628-1730).
the construction in progress, and
volunteer possibilities. Ground-
breaking is planned for some time in
March, and we hope it will be
completed in time for the
Ironwood Jam (see p 4).

MARCH–APRIL 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 5


TUCSON AUDUBON
NEWS ROUNDUP
Learning to create homes for
birds in our backyards
Next course planned for September
Kendall Kroesen, Restoration Program Manager
By reducing outdoor use of potable
water and creating more shade,
landscape designers can help reduce
energy consumption and greenhouse
gas emissions. Tucson Audubon aims
to help the Tucson landscaping
community do an even better job of
creating landscapes that support
wildlife, conserve water, and reduce
the urban heat island effect.
Towards this end, Tucson Audubon
recently created and taught its first
course on creating bird-friendly,
sustainable landscapes. The course
attracted twenty-two people including
many from the landscape design
community.
We collaborated with many experts
in our community. Greg Corman
helped design and teach the course;
his company, Gardening Insights, a
Birds & Business Alliance member,
does horticultural consulting and
landscape design with emphasis on
KENDALL KROESEN
6 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher MARCH–APRIL 2009
native plants and wildlife-friendly
landscapes. Other experts included
Ann Audrey, Carolyn Campbell, Doris
Evans, Brad Lancaster, Carl Olson,
Jim Verrier, and Scott Wilbor.
Executive Director Paul Green and I
wove these expert contributions into a
cohesive course fabric.
Desert Survivors Nursery hosted a
session, providing an opportunity to
learn about the hundreds of species
of native plants for sale there.
Some key landscape innovations
taught in the course included native
plant guilds that work for birds,
maintaining healthy insect diversity,
rainwater harvesting, and habitat
designs for lizards.
Important course concepts
included integrated design,
biodiversity, design simplicity, and
switching from a scarcity mindset to
an abundance mindset, the latter
graphically illustrated by Brad
Lancaster. We also discussed the
habitat needs of Tucson birds and the
importance of landscape linkages.
We are using detailed feedback
from the participants to help us
improve the course for its next
inception. We are beefing up details
about landscape components for
wildlife, and Saturday sessions will
include field trips to model Tucson
landscapes. Due to significant interest
in the course, we will teach it again in
September 2009.
There is a large potential audience
including master gardeners,
neighborhood associations, municipal
planners, bird enthusiasts, backyard
do-it-yourselfers, and many others
To reserve you place for the
September 2009 classes, please
contact Kendall at 206–9900 or
kkroesen@ tucsonaudubon.org.
KENDALL KROESEN
DORIS EVANS
Top: The course met at Tucson
Audubon and several other locations.
Participants saw a variety of
presentations on wildlife and
landscaping, and visited some
important field sites.
Middle: Course participants were
exposed to results of the Tucson Bird
Count, including that a neighborhood
only needs to have 10 percent of its
ground surface covered by Sonoran
Desert vegetation in order to support
Gambel’s Quail. Vegetative cover
needs are higher for other species,
but are still reachable.
Bottom: One of the class field trips
was to Milagro Cohousing, a
development on Tucson’s west side
that employs extensive rainwater
harvesting and graywater use.
 VOLUNTEER OF
Cycling for species THE MONTH
Birding by bicycle in Tucson on Friday April 10, 2009
Kendall Kroesen, Restoration Program Manager

Birders think of southeast

Arizona as Mecca, with 500
species seen and 400
occurring regularly. The Tucson
Bird Count now has
documented over 230 species
of birds in the greater Tucson
metro area alone!
KENDALL KROESEN

KENDALL KROESEN
But did you know cyclists
think of Tucson as a Mecca,
too? Just hang out on the Mt.
Lemmon Highway some
Saturday morning and watch
Tucson Audubon staff members Lia Sansom and Matt Griffiths enjoyed some Liz Payne was born in
the bikers doing training runs
bicycle birding recently. Redwood City, California, and is
up to Summerhaven! There are
many local biking clubs and the park and then head west now a Tucson resident working
events, like Tour de Tucson. along the south side of the 2009 nominees for as a tour coordinator and

4
Many people are using Rillito. The stretch of the Rillito graphic artist. Liz has been very
bicycles as transportation to
Board of Directors
linear park from Craycroft to active in Tucson Audubon
lower their costs and reduce Alvernon is often quite good The following names will be submitted Society since joining in 2004.
their carbon footprint. birding. The bicycle/pedestrian for election to the Board of Directors Currently on the Board, she
Two glorious activities: trail along the Rillito is very at the March 9, 2009, meeting of the serves on many committees.
biking and birding! Why not wide and easy to ride. Society (Lecture Series) by the Her involvement includes the
put them together?! That’s just Beginning birders and bikers Nominating Committee: Institute of Desert Ecology,
what we’re doing. On Friday are welcome! Herb Trossman, President (2nd term)
April 10 Tucson Audubon and
Birdathon participant, field trip
We will spend the morning Mich Coker, Vice President (2nd term)
the City of Tucson’s leader and the 60th Anniversary
riding at a leisurely pace and
Department of Transportation Richard Fray, Director at Large Gala Committee.
stopping to watch birds.
(DOT) will sponsor an event Leaders will ride back to Ft. Neil Markowitz, Director at Large
that promotes both cycling and Cynthia Pruett, Director at Large
FOUR QUESTIONS
Lowell Park with any bikers
birding in Tucson. It’s part of First time you went birding:
who are returning there. Adrian Quijada-Mascareñas, Director
DOT’s Bike Fest 2009. For more information contact at Large
Officially in 1979
The event will start at Fort Kendall Kroesen at 206-9900 Your level of birding:
Lowell Park at 7 AM. We’ll bird or 971-2385. Intermediate
Favorite place to go birding:
Any place! Riparian areas for
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
warblers, grasslands for raptors
Sergio Avila, Kevin Balser, Alison Banks, Susan Blattner, Ken and Linda FROM A NEW MEMBER Other hobbies: Dog agility;
Briggs, Joseph Brinig, Joan Butler, Maria Call, Jerry Daniel, Daniel and music; knitting; sharing a
“I visited Tucson recently and
Virginia Danieu, Cynthia Dean, Judith DePasquale, Carol desCognets, Larry kitchen with friends to create a
found a brochure in the rack at the
Ducey, Douglas Everett, John Farmer, Conor Flynn, Karen Ford, Joan great meal; traveling; and
EconoLodge. That led me to phone
Gellatly, Mary Grgich, Laurens Halsey, S. JoAnn Hanson, Elise Harrison, tropical beaches
John Higgins (Tucson Audubon
Larry and Julie Hecker, Susan Hill, Patricia Hopwood, Joan Huber, William
field trip leader) and was invited to
Johnson, Bob King, Curtis Keim, William Klein, John Lamey, Gordon Lane,
join in an outing to Avra Valley.
Becky Laughlin, Matt and Nikole Lewis, James and Jane Lombardo, Laura GIFTS RECEIVED
John was a great guide and told us
López-Hoffman, Barbara MacDougall, Fran McCarty, Jeff and Debbie Myers,
about the area as well. On that one • Membership in honor of John
Vicki Noell, Carol Osborne, Maggie Pearson, William Pessel, Adrian Quijada-
3-hour trip, I was able to add five Farmer from Matt Slakey
Mascareñas, Judith Ramsey, D. Jeanine Rennier, John Reuland and Diane
new species to my life list, • Membership in honor of Matt and
Hodiak, Marisa Rice, John and Dinah Rogers, Jim Rowley, Rob Sabata,
including a Prairie Falcon.” Nikole Lewis from Nikki Peters
Diane Salisbury, Paula Schlusberg, David Schwartz, Jerry Shapins, Jacky
Sollo, Eileen Sykora, Dean and Sandra Taylor, Cosette Thompson, Cinoy Rob Sabata, Bella Vista, AR • Gift in memory of her mother,
Traylor, Elizabeth Urban, Shiloh Walkosak, Robert and Ruth Zollinger Evelyn Steevens from Donald and
Jean Barchman, Membership Coordinator Sheila Hamann VF

MARCH–APRIL 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 7

 TUCSON AUDUBON
EVENTS AND CLASSES
Living With Nature
Lecture Series
TUCSON
Second Monday of the month,
September through April, 7 PM
DuVal Auditorium, University Medical
Center (UMC)
March 9, Monday 7 PM
PANAMANIA with Rick Wright
Panama may be small, covering only
30,000 square miles at the narrow waist of
Central America; but this slender isthmus
links two continents—and their birds. With
more than 1,000 species occupying an
area slightly smaller than the state of
Indiana, Panama makes air-castle dreams
come true for visiting naturalists. The
birder’s destination of choice for well over
a hundred years, Panama was thoroughly
explored in the nineteenth centuries as
part of the decades-long search for land
and sea routes joining the oceans, and the
results of those efforts—political, social,
and technological—continue to influence
ecotourism in the New World tropics today.
Join Rick Wright, Managing Director of
WINGS Birding Tours, for an illustrated
exploration of the intersections of north
and south, ocean and forest, past and
present in Panama, the tropical
destination for Tucson Audubon’s
November 2009 member tour.
Come early! Snacks and refreshments
begin at 6:45! Panama birding books will
be available for purchase. We will have
information on Tucson Audubon’s
upcoming Panama Trip!
GAVIN BIEBER
Collared Aracari
8 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher MARCH–APRIL 2009
April 13, Monday 7 PM
BIRDING THE TOP END MANGROVES
with Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow
The Top End of Australia is a unique
place, both remote and wild. Unlike much
of Australia, the Top End is a more
tropical region, boasting beautiful
waterfalls, spectacular wetlands, and
mangrove forests. The area has been
continuously inhabited for 60,000 years
and the Aborigines who live here
represent one of the
oldest currently
practicing cultures in
the world. Wildlife is
abundant in the Top
End. More than 330
bird species can be
found in the area.
No person is
better qualified to
speak about
birding the Top End than Denise
Lawungkurr Goodfellow, author of the
definitive book on the birds of this area,
Birds of Australia’s Top End.
Denise is a birding guide, biological
consultant, author, and now a PhD
student from the Top End. Her interest in
all things natural was sparked when, as a
child, an Aboriginal woman introduced
her to the Australian bush. She is a strong
voice for conservation and also for the
rights of the indigenous peoples.
Denise will be talking with us about the
Top End’s birds, of course, but also the
many potential dangers when birding in
Australia, including encountering
crocodiles and snakes. She promises “a
presentation that includes accurate
information, good pictures, humor,
anecdotes and perhaps some pathos.”
Denise will be conducting a focus
group for her graduate research on
American birding couples and would like
volunteers to participate. If you are
interested in helping with her research
please contact Chris Harrison at 629-
0757 or charrison@tucsonaudubon.org
for details.
We invite you to stay after this lecture
for cake and refreshments to celebrate
Tucson Audubon Society’s 60th
Anniversary.
Liberty Wildlife Volunteer, Anne Peyton, with Great
Horned Owl, Hedwig
GREEN VALLEY
Third Saturday of the month, October
through March, 10 AM
Green Valley Public Library
March 21, Saturday 10 AM
WILDLIFE REHABILITATION with
Liberty Wildlife
Get up close and personal with some
southwestern raptors. Liberty Wildlife
Rehabilitation Foundation of Scottsdale, a
non-profit wildlife hospital, will be in
Green Valley to teach us about the
eagles, hawks, falcons and owls of the
Sonoran Desert first-hand.
Anne Peyton, one of Liberty’s
knowledgeable volunteers, will talk about
the adaptations that raptors have made in
order to survive in this difficult climate.
Several live birds will be on display for
everyone’s education and enjoyment.
These may include hawks, falcons, owls
and maybe even an eagle. This is a
presentation not to be missed!
Anne will also tell us about the work
that Liberty is doing to save injured birds
and other animals. Liberty Wildlife was
founded in 1981 and each year takes in
approximately 4,000 injured, ill or
orphaned native animals, treating them
and hopefully releasing them back into
the wild.
Liberty has helped rescue and
rehabilitate countless animals, while
educating thousands of people about the
importance and value of our native
wildlife.
Available in the Nature Shop
for $49.95. Includes color
plates, species description,
highlights of similar species,
status and distrubution,
main habitat description,
and range description.

Together Green Volunteer
Restoration Work Day
March 14, Saturday 8 AM
Esperanza Ranch
Help with the habitat restoration efforts at
Esperanza Ranch (between Amado and
Tubac) by digging rainwater harvesting
basins, planting trees and shrubs,
removing invasive plants and picking up
trash. Sign up by contacting Kendall
Kroesen at 971-2385 or
kkroesen@tucsonaudubon.org.
Cut Your Hair, Save the Birds!
March 22, Sunday
Coyote Wore Sideburns Hair Salon
Come and have your hair cut by the
professionals at the Coyote Wore
Sideburns hair salon on Sunday, March
22, during the Fourth Avenue Spring
Street Fair. The cut will cost you $25, and
the salon will pass on all receipts that day
to Tucson Audubon for our work in
conservation, education, and recreation.
The salon is at 630 N 4th Avenue, and the
cut-a-thon will take place between 11 AM
and 5 PM. Haircuts will be on a walk-in
basis. Just look for the Tucson Audubon
booth on the street outside. The Coyote
Wore Sideburns is a member of Tucson
Audubon’s Birds & Business Alliance.
Both Paul Green and Kendall Kroesen
sport haircuts from this remarkable salon,
established in 1988 by Carmen
Guagliardo and Signe Razzi. The Salon
has a fun, casual atmosphere, and the
music is always good. The readers of the
Tucson Weekly have voted The Coyote
Wore Sideburns as one of Best of Tucson
Salons for five consecutive years. They
tell us they have Aveda color, and they
are open 7 days each week.
All day “cut-a-thon”, Sunday, March 22,
to raise funds for Tucson Audubon.
The cut will cost you $25 which we
pass on to Tucson Audubon!
Volunteers at a TogetherGreen volunteer day in
October 2008
Mason Center Herp Day
April 25, Saturday 9 AM–12 NOON
Tucson Audubon’s Mason Center
Lead by Tucson Audubon Naturalists,
there will be a variety of activities and
presentations, live critters (including a
Gila Monster!) and a trail walk. Contact
Lia Sansom at 971-6238 or
lsansom@tucsonaudubon.org for more
information.
International Migratory Bird
Day at Madera Canyon
May 2, Saturday 9 AM–3P M
Madera Canyon
On Saturday May 2, Tucson Audubon will
partner with Friends of Madera Canyon,
National Forest Service, and other
conservation organizations to celebrate
International Migratory bird Day at the
Whitehouse Picnic area in Madera
Canyon. The day’s events will include
bird walks (may begin before 9 AM), and
activities for all ages. For more
information go to www.tucsonaudubon.org
or www.friendsofmaderacanyon.org or
contact Chris Harrison at (520) 629-0757
or charrison@tucsonaudubon.org.
JAMES PRUDENTE
Flame-colored Tanager
MARCH–APRIL 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon
EVENTS CALENDAR
Through Apr 1. Artist Ruth Canada presents
Birds With Attitude watercolors in the Ranch
House Gallery at Agua Caliente Park. Ruth will
donate 20 per cent of all sales to Tucson
Audubon. For more information call 760-7881.
Mar 9, Monday 8 AM. Living With Nature
Lecture, Tucson: Panamania with Rick Wright
(details p 8).
Mar 11. IBA Tanque Verde Wash Owl Survey
(details p 5)
Mar 14, Saturday 8 AM. Together Green
Volunteer Restoration Work Day at Esperanza
Ranch (details left).
Mar 14, Saturday 6:15 PM. Celebrating the
Photography of Tom Vezo. A Benefit to
preserve and protect Madera Canyon.
Sponsored by the Friends of Madera Canyon.
Special Guest: David Yetman, Host of “The
Desert Speaks”. See www.tucsonaudubon.org/
Vezo_event.pdf for more info.
Mar 22, Sunday. Coyote Wore Sideburns–
Tucson Audubon Cut-a-thon (details left).
Mar 23, Monday 7 PM. Presentation: A Tale of
Two Cities by Paul Green. Observations on
the effects o f planning by comparing Tucson,
Arizona, with Cambridge, England. Desert
Hills Social Center Auditorium, 2980 S Camino
Del Sol in Green Valley. No charge.
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 Matt Brooks 622-
2230 or mbrooks@tucson audubon.org.
Apr 10, Friday 7 AM. Bike Fest 2009—Ft.
Lowell Park field trip. Bird the park and the
Rillito River by bike! (details p 7)
Apr 10–May 10. Tucson Audubon’s Birdathon.
Put the “fun” back in fundraising! No
experience necessary! (details p 14)
Apr 15–May 15. Tucson Bird Count.
(details p 10).
Apr 16–19. Institute of Desert Ecology. For
more information contact Matt Brooks at 622-
2230 (details p 10).
Apr 25, Saturday 9 AM. Mason Center Herp
Day (details above left).
Apr 25, Saturday 6 PM. Ironwood Jam.
(details p 4).
May 2, Saturday 9 AM–3 PM. International
Migratory Bird Day at Madera Canyon.
(details above left).
9
 TUCSON AUDUBON
EVENTS AND CLASSES
Institute of Desert Ecology
Thursday–Saturday, April 16–19
Catalina State Park
With spring around the bend, the urge to
get out and enjoy our beautiful Sonoran
Desert becomes strong. Throw in some
migrating birds, good friends, great
teachers, and tasty food, and you have
yourself the makings of a memorable
event. Thoroughly satisfying each of
these requirements for a good time, the
39th Annual Institute of Desert Ecology
will be held April 16–19 at Catalina State
Park. This program brings the
enthusiastic teaching of local experts to
participants from Arizona and beyond.
The program focuses on Sonoran
Desert ecosystems, using the dynamic
relationships between plants, animals,
and the physical elements of the desert
to forge a deeper understanding of
desert landscapes.
The fee of $395 ($425 for non-Tucson
Audubon members) includes park
entrance fees, all meals, expert
instruction, and camping from 4/15 to
4/19. The $80 non-refundable deposit
must accompany the registration form.
The balance is due by March 6. No
refunds will be given for cancellations
after April 3.
For more information or to register,
please visit www.tucsonaudubon.org/
education/ide.htm or call Matt! Brooks at
622-2230. VF
CECIL SCHWALBE
At the 2008 Institute wrap-up session, Dr. Carl Tomoff delivers an eloquent homily that threads together all
that the participants learned during a packed four days.
10 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher MARCH–APRIL 2009
Volunteer for the 2009
Tucson Bird Count!
April 15–May 15
The Tucson Bird Count (TBC) is an
ongoing volunteer-based project that
collects data on the abundances and
distributions of birds in and around the
Tucson area. Since its start in 2001,
TBC volunteers have surveyed birds at
thousands of sites, gathering high
quality data on birds in urban areas.
The TBC consists of two programs:
the annual Route Program (April 15–
May 15) with survey sites located
throughout the Tucson area; and the
quarterly Park Monitoring Program with
survey sites concentrated in areas of
special interest. We need volunteers
for both programs!
Uses of TBC data include
monitoring the status of the Tucson-
area bird community over time, finding
the areas of town and the land use
practices that are succeeding at
sustaining native birds, and
investigating the ecology of birds in
human-inhabited landscapes. Through
informed land use, Tucson can sustain
BOTH PHOTOS SARA PIKE
a diverse bird community, aiding in
conservation of bird species.
Who can participate?
The TBC is performed by volunteer
birders from the Tucson community.
Top: A hedgehog cactus blooms in Santa Catalina There are survey sites available all
State Park. Bottom: Past IDE participant, Jonathan over the city and surrounding areas,
Shapiro, and Matt Brooks examine a skunk skull. ranging from urban neighborhoods to
national parks. To find out more about
TBC, register to participate, or view
the results so far—visit
www.tucsonbirds.org, or contact
Rachel McCaffrey (rachmcc@
email.arizona.edu or 730–3218).
RICHARD FRAY
Pima County Natural Resources,
Parks and Recreation
Environmental Education Events
For more information about the following walks,
contact 615-7855 or eeducation@pima.gov:
Feliz Paseos Park Birding Walk (Mar 7 & Apr 4,
8–9 AM); Tucson Mountain Park Birding Walk
Mar 14 & Apr 11, 8–9:30 AM); Birds of Cienaga
Creek (Apr 29, 6:45–10 AM); Agua Caliente Bird
Walk (Every Tuesday inMar & Apr. 8–9:30 AM).
WHAT’S IN A NAME

Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet
LARRY LIESE

Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet—the
little bird with the big name! I think I saw
my first one of these at Cienega Creek
near its nest over the water. The cute little
crested head, bi-colored bill, and buffy
wing-bars made quite an impression, but
the crowning memory was this bird’s
song. The clear, whistled, peer, peer,
peer, peer notes were different from those
of any other bird I’d heard before.
The Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet
(Camptostoma imberbe) is the most
northern member of a large tropical
subfamily of flycatchers (Elaeniinae).
These birds don’t perch conspicuously
It turns out there is! Very similar but with
brighter wing-bars, their ranges overlap
slightly in Costa Rica. So, we’ve got the
Northern part figured out, and Tyrannulet
refers to it being a small tyrant flycatcher,
so what’s the scoop about being
beardless?
. . . many beginning birders
wonder—is there a
Southern Beardless
Tyrannulet?”
Most flycatchers have what are called
rictal bristles. These are spiky feathers

and sally out in a “flycatching” manner,
but sit quietly and glean insects from bark
and foliage. You’ll notice that they have
shorter, stubbier bills than other tyrant
flycatchers such as kingbirds. The latter
have broad, flattened bills more adapted
to catching insects on the wing.
These birds are fairly common in our
riparian woodlands in summer, but only
range into the U.S. in southeast Arizona,
the nearby corner of New Mexico plus the
southern tip of Texas. Also present in
lowlands in low numbers in winter, look
for one to be in Agua Caliente Park in
eastern Tucson then. Good summer
places to look are along watered sections
of the Santa Cruz and San Pedro Rivers
and Sonoita and Cienega Creeks.
After getting acquainted with their
name, many beginning birders wonder—
is there a Southern Beardless Tyrannulet?
Available in our Nature
Shops. Flycatchers of
Arizona by Homer Hansen.
This mini-guide contains
structural illustrations and a
table with identification and
sound characteristics for
26 species of flycatchers,
kingbirds, phoebes, and
pewees found in Arizona. Extremely intuitive and
user-friendly, it’s a great field reference for
anyone birding in AZ as you will undoubtedly run
into many confusing flycatchers. Waterproof and
around the bill that were once thought to
aid directing insects into the bird’s mouth,
or possibly to aid in triggering a bill-
snapping response when the bird
attempts to grab a prey item. More recent
ideas are that these bristles protect the
eyes from high-speed collisions with
insects, or that movement of the bristles
somehow informs the bird about the
position or movement of prey held in the
bill. So called perch-gleaners, tyrannulets
seem to have nearly lost their ‘beards’
along the evolutionary trail, and this
species ended up named “beardless” as
a result. (I guess it sounds better than
rictal-less!)
It’s fun to keep an eye out for
tyrannulet nests. The female constructs
an elaborate, domed, globular nest about
the size of a baseball, with an entrance
high up on one side. Ones I’ve seen up
close were not flat-bottomed, but had
straggling nest-parts hanging downwards.
The nest can be from chest height to high
in a tree but is usually between ten and
thirty feet off the ground. Often hidden in
old tent-caterpillar nests or snuggled into
a mistletoe clump, you might be surprised
to see a decrepit-looking nest suddenly
bustling with activity as an adult brings
groceries to a batch of nestlings!
Males do most if not all of the singing.
Though the male gives a more-varied
dawn song, the most often heard
vocalization is that series of peer notes,
given much of the day as a territory-
GEORGE WEST
Once one is familiar with the
tyrannulet, identification isn’t usually a
problem, but initially one should watch out
for immature Verdins, which can look
similar. Look for the Verdin’s short, conical
bill and more-rounded head shape.
Empidonax flycatchers have a different
look. Head-shape, wider and flattened
bills, and vocalizations help tell them
apart. The Tyrannulet’s bill is described as
narrow and stubby, reminiscent of a tiny
vireo’s bill.
“. . . tyrannulets seem to
have nearly lost their
‘beards’ along the
evolutionary trail.”
So when April arrives and you’re out in
some good riparian habitat, listen for
those wonderful peer notes coming from
high up in short trees such as mesquites.
Only four and a half inches long, you’ll
have to look closely for those field
marks—that bushy crest, buffy wing-bars,
short narrow tail and two-toned bill (dark
on top, flesh-colored at base on the lower
half). Also look for an indistinct whitish
eyebrow. Hopefully you’ll soon be
enjoying one of our special avian treats!
Good luck! VF

tear resistant. $6.95 marker.

MARCH–APRIL 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 11

SPECIAL FEATURE | BIRDS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Bird Movements Reveal
Climate Change Threat
PAUL GREEN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
SCOTT WILBOR | IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS PROGRAM CONSERVATION BIOLOGIST
Wintering birds are remaining further
north than in past years. Some residents
are moving north and show declining
numbers in Arizona.
These findings come from a new
analysis of information from the Christmas
Bird Count (CBC). The science team at
National Audubon has looked at the data
for the last forty years and discovered that
58 percent of 305 widely spread species
that spend their winter on the North
American continent have shifted their
range north, some by hundreds of miles.
The analysis revealed movement
among species of every type, including
more than 70 percent of highly adaptable
forest and feeder birds. Only 38 percent
of grassland species mirrored the trend.
Audubon’s scientists think that this
reflects the constraints of this severely-
depleted habitat. Grassland bird species
Beyond 60, Beyond Growth
PAUL GREEN
It was in 1949 that a bunch of
birdwatchers from the Tucson Natural
History Society formed Tucson Audubon
Society. (Our roots are not in the earlier
Arizona Audubon Society that was born in
1908 and then disappeared.) It did not take
us long to get hooked into conservation.
In 1959, when development threatened
the valuable Sonoita-Patagonia Creek,
Tucson Audubon’s birders mobilized to
collect funds to purchase the site. In a
true partnership, we passed the funds on
to the Nature Conservancy who were
better able to manage the purchase and
the site. To this day, one of the most
important sites for birds in our state
remains protected.
12 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher MARCH–APRIL 2009
now face a double threat of habitat loss
and climate adaptation.
At least five resident “forest birds” of
Arizona are shifting their range northward,
and hence their total populations in
Arizona (40-year state cumulative
population change) have decreased from
between 49% to 88%. These include most
notably Clark’s Nutcracker, American
Dipper (rare already), Spotted Towhee,
Pygmy Nuthatch, and Northern Pygmy-
Owl. Northern Flicker (part resident and
part over-wintering migrant) is also
decreasing in Arizona.
We see this pattern repeated in New
Mexico where six resident forest species
are decreasing: Pygmy Nuthatch, Mountain
Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch,
Townsend’s Solitaire, Clark’s Nutcracker,
and Steller’s Jay. So we see a pattern of
resident forest birds of the Southwest
That first act symbolizes the
conservation threats that have faced
Tucson Audubon during our first 60 years.
Staggering population growth—in Pima
County rising from 139,000 to more than
a million—has put pressure on all our
natural resources. This includes the land,
habitats, water, air quality and more, upon
which we and birds depend.
Our conservation focus gained clarity
as we played a central role, in 1998, in
the formation of the Coalition for Sonoran
Desert Protection whose aim has been to
direct development to lands of less
biological significance through the
conservation lands system of the Sonoran
Desert Conservation Plan. Coupled with
Birds now
wintering
farther north
show the need
for a policy
change
mountains shifting north, and hence
decreasing in the Southwest overall.
Population shifts among individual
species are common; they fluctuate and
have many causes. However, Audubon
scientists say the ongoing trend of
movement by some 177 species—closely
correlated to increases in long-term winter
temperatures—reveals an undeniable link
to our changing climate.
The findings signal the need for
dramatic policy changes to combat
pervasive ecological disruption.
Visit www.audubonaction.org/campaign/
birdsandclimate for more information
including the full national report.
Habitats already under siege from
development, energy production,
agricultural expansion and other human
uses will require enhanced protection and
restoration to
DO
RI
S
EV
AN
S
management for
endangered species, natural
resource protection has entered
the mainstream of land use planning in
the Tucson region.
Having said that, when we come down
Mt Lemmon into Tucson—or drive down
to Nogales—and see the sprawl before
us, houses nudging up against public
lands, we get a sense of the issues facing
us as more people want their piece of the
open landscape, degrading or destroying
it in the process.
While issues of land use planning and
natural resource protection will remain
conservation priorities for Tucson
Audubon, we also need to recognize the
 sustain bird populations and provide
ecological benefits essential to human
health, economic prosperity and quality of
life. Habitats are also under threat from
invasive, non-native, plants and animals,
many of which have thrived in a warming
climate in the Southwest (e.g. bark beetle,
giant reed).
We hope that these results will help
attract attention and spark action among
birders, including tens of thousands who 40-year northward Abundance 40-year Arizona
Species
movement (miles) center population change
contributed to the Christmas Bird Count
data, on which these results are based. Purple Finch 433.0 N -95%
The 109-year-old CBC provides a unique Fox Sparrow 286.8 N -74%
insight into North America’s bird
Pygmy Nuthatch 265.5 N -49%
populations. Just as Citizen Science is
allowing us to better recognize the Spotted Towhee 215.0 N -68%
impacts of climate change, so citizen Northern Flicker 192.5 N -68%
stewardship can help us reduce them. VF

Rough-legged Hawk 178.7 N -90%

Change in center of abundance among Northern Pygmy-Owl 163.6 N -62%
305 widespread bird species in North America
Clark’s Nutcracker 123.6 N -88%
45

40 Eastern Bluebird 114.5 N -73%

35
Latitudinal distance moved (miles)

Common Yellowthroat 109.3 S significant increase

30

25
Brown Creeper 103.8 N -44%
20 Golden-crowned Kinglet 87.3 N -44%
15

10
Black Vulture 51.9 S significant increase
5 Cactus Wren 49.9 S 68%
0
American Dipper 37.2 N -72%
-5
0 4 8 2 6 0 4 8 2 6
9/7 3/7 7/7 1/8 5/8 9/9 3/9 7/9 1/0 5/0
196 197 197 198 198 198 199 199 200 200
Above, left to right: Northern Flicker (Phil Pritchard), Common Yellowthroat (Paul & Eng-Li Green),
Source: National Audubon Society Northern Pygmy-Owl (S. Isoe), Black Vulture (Alan D. Wilson/naturepicsonline.com)

additional threat to bird habitats followed by exponential growth thereafter. future will be to use natural resources no
presented by our changing climate. There is a clear correlation between faster than our planet can replenish them,
Climate models for our region all predict economic growth and the degradation of and not to deposit wastes (such as
rising winter temperatures and more our natural environment. carbon dioxide) any faster than our planet
intense winter storm events, while no one Economists see no limits to growth, can absorb them. Scientists will need to
is quite sure what will happen to the ever. Yet, if you have any biological set the goals, and economists will need to
summer monsoon system. Higher training, you understand that populations work out how we achieve them. We will all
temperatures increase per capita water are limited by those natural resources that need to encourage innovation to ensure
demand and decrease supply, so we will sustain them (such as clean water, air, sustainable extraction and use of our
need to make a great many more food). Our planet’s natural processes natural resources.
compromises for birds and other wildlife if simply cannot sustain continued growth. It Global-level solutions will require
valued habitats are to survive. has taken us from the beginning of time international cooperation. Meanwhile, we
Climate change is a symptom of high until now to reach our current levels of can all introduce the principles of
levels of consumption, an issue our economic activity, side effects, and sustainable use of resources, and of not
society has to face. If we plot levels of environmental degradation: they could overburdening our planet with our wastes,
human economic activity (such as GDP), double in the next 20 years. in our daily lives. Tucson Audubon will be
levels of the side effects of those activities If we are to sustain our quality of life highlighting ideas at our Mason Education
(such as carbon dioxide production), and and maintain biodiversity, our ultimate Center. We can teach each other, and we
measures of environmental degradation goal must be to get beyond limitless can advocate for change in governments
(such as extinction rates), the lines on the economic growth to a steady state of at all levels. The future of birds and a
graph share a pattern: a slow rate of human betterment that our planet can whole lot more, depends on that. VF

increase between the 1750s and 1950s, sustain. Our biggest challenge in the

MARCH–APRIL 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 13

SPECIAL FEATURE | BIRDATHON

Fun for You, Funds for the Bir

CHRIS HARRISON | MEMBERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Have you noticed that Tucson

mornings have become a little

ELAINE R. WILSON / NATUREPICSONLINE.COM

louder with bird song? That your
hummingbird feeders empty a
little more quickly than last
month? Have you seen the birds
that you have not seen for three
L TO R: SARA PIKE,

or four months?
Yes, it’s the beginning of spring and,
more importantly, the beginning of the
spring bird migration! This is a time of Left: Birdathoners The Unflappables. Right: During a Birdathon, a House Sparrow is as sought after as an
transition, a time when we can see Elegant Trogon.
wintering ducks alongside transient
shorebirds. When wintering sparrows sing
in the same fields as kingbirds which will friends, family, and local businesses to
stay on to breed. show their support by making a financial
Bird·a·thon (burd’ ɐ thän’) n. 1. Tucson
Spring is a great time for birding in pledge based on the number of bird
Audubon’s largest and most fun annual fundraising
southeastern Arizona. Birds are species seen by that team. It is similar to
event. 2. An annual, month-long birding activity
everywhere and the number and diversity a charity “walkathon” where walkers earn
starting April 10, 2009 through May 10, 2009 when
of species is high. donations for the number of miles walked
birders form teams and challenge others to see
All this, plus the fact that it is not yet (or the “cut-a-thon” featured on page 9)
who can see or hear the most bird species in a
100 degrees everyday, makes it the All of the money raised in this year’s
single 24-hour period, or who can raise the most
perfect time for Birdathon. Birdathon is a Birdathon will help Tucson Audubon
money for a great cause. 3. An opportunity for
uniquely Audubon rite of spring that continue its Education and Conservation
birders of all ages and skill levels to participate in a
involves having fun, counting birds, and programs in the face of decreased
fun and rewarding day of birding. 4. A chance for
enjoying our local environment. It’s resources.
each of us to help raise money for the Tucson
challenging, exhilarating, and addictive! Last year we raised more than $20,000
Audubon Programs that we all value so much.
How does it work? Birders flock through the Tucson Audubon Birdathon.
together in teams of two or more and set We are looking to raise significantly more
out to spot as many bird species as than that this year with your help. How Here's how you and your friends can
possible in a given period, up to 24 great then that Birdathon is also fun and participate: Get your team together and
consecutive hours. Each team asks educational. It gives families the chance to think of a clever name, ask friends, family,
introduce young people to the experience and neighbors to support your efforts with
and discovery of birds and nature. a pledge, pick your day, get out your
Friendly competition helps our teams binoculars and go birding. You will enjoy
Equip yourself and your
achieve more. Part of the fun of Birdathon the experience. In addition, if you can't get
team with essentials for a
is striving to be the team with the most out yourself, make a pledge to support a
successful Bird-a-thon!
species or the team that raised the most team and help the Tucson Audubon
These items plus much
money. Thanks to our supporters, we’ll be Society. If you don’t like asking friends and
more are available in our
able to offer some great prizes at our family for money don’t worry. We’ll do it for
Nature Shops.
“Thank You Brunch”, most of which we’ll you. So the only stress is not seeing that
Birds of Arizona Field Guide
raffle. To enter the raffle, you only need to bird you had hoped to see.
This small book fits easily into
have taken part in the Birdathon. For more information visit our website,
a pocket, has color photos
We are looking to our members to form tucsonaudubon.org. For specific
and helpful information for any beginning birder
teams of all kinds. Low-carbon teams. questions and help with fundraising ideas,
looking to learn more. $14.95
Teams of grandparents, parents and contact Chris Harrison at (520) 629-0757
The DeLorme Arizona Atlas and Gazetteer is the children. School teams. Company teams. or charrison@tucsonaudubon.org. Each
most detailed road map of the region and can Gung-ho birder teams. All have two things registered team will receive a packet
help with planning those short cuts needed to in common: the desire to see birds, and containing helpful materials for planning
get around while counting birds! $19.95 the ability to raise funds. routes and recruiting sponsor. VF

14 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher MARCH–APRIL 2009

rds! IDE-Hawk Eyes
(from left to right):
Craig Marken,
Jerry Ogden, Liz Payne,
and Matt! Brooks
Birdathon 2008
Number of teams: 23
Number of low or no carbon teams: 6
Total money raised: $24,951
Average money raised per team: $1,084.80
Most money raised by any one team:
$2,625.40
Most species seen by any one team: 194
Ad-Hawk Birdathons Happen
CRAIG MARKEN | VOLUNTEER AND BOARD MEMBER
For some reason I got myself too busy
between mid-April and mid-May of last
year to organize a Birdathon that I would
consider worthy. As it happens when
I am too busy, I unwittingly became
involved with two Birdathon teams, both
in a rather ad-hoc (or is it ad-hawk?) way.
It seemed that I had committed myself to
volunteer for five days at the Institute of
Desert Ecology (IDE) at Catalina State
Park (see page 10) and was a team
leader for an Important Bird Area (IBA)
survey (see page 4) on Tucson Audubon’s
conservation easement at Esperanza
Ranch, both occurring in the Birdathon
time frame.
The first team had decided that a
Birdathon would coincide nicely with our
IBA survey along the upper Santa Cruz
River of the Esperanza easement. You
could say we bagged two birds (actually
more) with one stone. As this easement is
not open to general birding we had hoped
that we could have an advantage of some
kind. But that was not to be. This survey
yielded only the usual suspects, including
Gray Hawk, Swainson’s Hawk, Greater
Roadrunner, Ladder-backed Woodpecker
and Vermilion Flycatcher. As the day was
young when we finished the survey and
we were in the vicinity, our little group of
four intrepid birders stopped at Madera
Canyon. We added to our day list some of
the best that the canyon has to offer.
During our sojourn we added Magnificent
Hummingbird, Elegant Trogon, Dusky-
capped Flycatcher, Hepatic Tanager and
the Flame-colored Tanager. After both
stops, and consuming about eight hours of
our twenty-four hour allotment, we had 74
species. Although we did not have time for
more, our effort resulted in some very
good observations, lots of fun, and some
good contributions to Tucson Audubon.
The second of the teams was the IDE-
Hawk Eyes, now becoming almost as
much an institution as the IDE itself. The
team was headed up by Liz Payne, also
an IDE volunteer, and quickly jelled into
an eager albeit rag-tag group as soon as
a twenty-four hour period was
established. As this group’s members all
had commitments to help IDE run
smoothly, some of the team dropped in
and out in their own ad-hoc way during
the twenty-four-hour period. With all of the
birds being within walking distance of the
Group Campsite at Catalina State Park, it
automatically qualified for the new
classification of a low carbon footprint
Birdathon team.
If you don’t tell the Birdathon
Committee, I must admit that we may
have had to embellish the rules just a little
by not having a fixed team membership.
The IDE-Hawk Eyes did have a central
core, but we graciously accepted any
observations from IDE participants. But
MARCH–APRIL 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon
SARA PIKE
as the point is to have fun while raising
contributions for Tucson Audubon, we did
not think this little bending of the rules
would matter, particularly as we weren’t
competitive with the other bloodthirsty low
carbon teams. I think the only one
seriously affected was yours truly as I had
pledged a dollar a bird—and it was worth
every penny!
The IDE-ad-hawk-eyes did quite well
with the observation of, yet again, 74
species. Along with many of Catalina
Park’s usual suspects, the list included
Northern Goshawk, Zone-tailed Hawk,
Peregrine Falcon, Western Screech-Owl,
Elf Owl, Common Poorwill, and a number
of migrating warblers. Having said all that,
the bird for the day was probably a Gila
Monster.
My experiences during last year’s
Birdathon show that success can be had
even when time is limited. One can enjoy
a Birdathon at any level. So go out there
and establish a team whether it is ad-hoc
or more organized and competitive—or
somewhere in between. You can even sit
in your easy chair in your own backyard.
That would surely qualify you as a low
carbon team. Just remember that the
objective is to have fun and raise funds so
that Tucson Audubon can carry out its
mission which includes conservation,
education, and recreation. VF
15
 WHERE TO GO, BIRDS TO SEE
“¡Bienvenido, Spring!”
JOHN YERGER | ADVENTURE BIRDING COMPANY
I chose this title to signify the return of
winged migrants from Mexico, Central
and South America. (I suppose we could
say “Welcome, Primavera!” but that
sounds more like a pasta dish than
terrible Spanglish.) Many of these avian
athletes pass through on their way to
breeding grounds in the Rocky Mountains
and elsewhere, while some just barely
make it across the border into the United
States (Gray Hawk, Broad-billed
Hummingbird, Elegant Trogon, and Buff-
breasted Flycatcher to name a few.)
Sightings from late winter have
included a very rare visitor from Mexico,
Short-tailed Hawk, in a Tucson
neighborhood near Grant and Wilmot.
McCormick Park hosted a Williamson’s
Sapsucker, while Ft Lowell Park held a
Northern Parula. A big surprise at
Evergreen Cemetery was a Pine
Warbler. On the Santa Cruz River a
Blackburnian Warbler put on a show,
and an Orchard Oriole continued at
Sweetwater Wetlands. Above the dam in
Sabino Canyon a Chestnut-sided
Warbler stayed on.
In the Santa Rita Mountains south of
the city, several Rufous-capped
Warblers seem to have made a home in
Florida Canyon.
JOHN HOFFMAN
Santa Cruz River south of Tumacacori
16 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher MARCH–APRIL 2009
In Patagonia a Sinaloa Wren, a first
U.S. record, remained along Sonoita
Creek west of the Patons’ place at press
time. A wintering Elegant Trogon,
Eastern Phoebe, and Louisiana
Waterthrush were sighted at the east
end of Patagonia Lake State Park; a
Rufous-backed Robin was reported
downstream from the lake in the Sonoita
Creek State Natural Area.
Check the recorded or online Rare Bird
Alert for more, or join the Arizona-New
Mexico birding listserv (BIRDWG05).
For southeast Arizona, as in many
parts of the country, the months of March
and April see sweeping changes in both
our weather and our birdlife. Winter rains
have tapered off and temperatures are on
the rise. Curve-billed, Crissal, and
Bendire’s thrashers are all singing long
before March arrives and many already
have fledglings. So too will other desert
denizens like Verdins and Cactus Wrens.
The surest sign of spring for me is when I
begin to hear Lucy’s Warblers and Bell’s
Vireos singing, seemingly everywhere.
It is exciting to think about all of these
returning favorites, but it also begs the all-
important question: where to go birding?
If you live in Tucson, you may picture
the Santa Cruz River as a concrete-lined
channel holding little more than treated
sewage effluent. But just a short drive
south of the city, this very same river is
lined with cottonwoods and willows—and
most importantly, filled with birds!
The portion of the Juan Bautista de
Anza National Historic Trail between
Tubac and Tumacacori is superb in
March. I often arrive early in the morning
at the Bridge Road trailhead in Tubac and
simply explore the trail north and south of
the bridge. Lingering winter residents
mingle with early spring migrants. The
striking Lark Sparrow is abundant; Ash-
throated Flycatchers and Western
Kingbirds arrive; five species of swallows
gather above. A ground fire has removed
much undergrowth north of the bridge, but
mixed flocks containing Bridled Titmouse
and other passerines are still found. By
late March, you may be lucky enough to
KENDALL KROESEN
Butterfly Trail, Santa Catalina Mountains
glimpse a migrating Common Black-Hawk
overhead.
By mid-April you can basically pull out
a map, close your eyes, and point. Open
your eyes. That is probably a good place
to go! But seriously, I want to take a
moment to highlight an area that is so
close to home, yet is overlooked by many
Tucsonans: the mighty Santa Catalina
Mountains.
These mountains represent the second
largest “Sky Island” range north of the
U.S./Mexico border, behind only the
Chiricahuas in area. Of the Arizona
“specialties,” only Elegant Trogon and
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher are absent.
Specifically, the Catalina Highway always
beckons to me. Traversing its 27-mile
length allows you to move through every
“life zone” from Sonoran desert to spruce-
fir forest, and birds abound along the way.
Good stops include Molino Basin, middle
Bear Canyon, and Marshall Gulch. Bear
Wallow is especially good for Red-faced
Warbler. It is quite an experience to move
from Gila Woodpeckers to Yellow-eyed
Juncos in one trip!
I hope you’ll get out and about to catch
some of the action, and appreciate all of
those fine northbound migrants. And
since I plan to take my own advice, I’ll see
you out there! VF
Available from our
Nature Shops.
Tucson Audubon’s Finding
Birds in Southeast
Arizona (2007) is a great
planning tool and a great
way to help you get to
the birding hotspots in
the area. $24.95
 CONSERVATION & EDUCATION NEWS
CHRIS MCVIE, PAUL GREEN, KENDALL KROESEN, SCOTT WILBOR, CARRIE DEAN

Pima County releases final draft of

Multi-Species Conservation Plan BOB
MILE
Carolyn Campbell, Executive Director, Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection S/U
SFW
S

In 1998, dozens of conservation and neighborhood groups,
including Tucson Audubon Society, formed the Coalition for
Sonoran Desert Protection (Coalition), with the purpose of
developing and implementing the Sonoran Desert Conservation
Plan (SDCP).
A major component of the SDCP, and the focus of the
Coalition’s work, is the “Pima County Multi-Species
Conservation Plan” (PCMSCP). The PCMSCP seeks to formalize
how Pima County will comply with the Endangered Species Act
in the unincorporated area of the County through a variety of
conservation measures targeting both endangered and
threatened species and their habitat.
There have been a number of conservation plans adopted
throughout the nation; unfortunately most of these plans have
not resulted in the conservation of endangered and threatened
species. With few exceptions, species have continued to decline
under these approved plans, while the regulated communities
have long-term protection from liability for the impacts to
species’ habitats.
Today, in Pima County, we have a chance to achieve
measurable conservation, by protecting vulnerable species and
important habitat, and restoring connectivity between core
habitat areas. With the SDCP and PCMSCP, we have an
opportunity to not only protect the Sonoran Desert ecosystem
but create a new threshold for Endangered Species Act
compliance that will benefit communities throughout the country
as they struggle with these same issues.
Pima County recently released the Final Draft of the plan; it is
currently scheduled for approval by the Board of Supervisors,
and subsequent submittal to the US Fish and Wildlife Service
this spring for review. The review will include a formal public
comment period pursuant to the National Environmental Policy
Act, including review of an Environmental Impact Statement.
The Coalition is currently drafting comments on the Final Draft
to submit to Pima County by the March deadline. The Coalition
intends to have a draft to share with our members by the time
this article goes to print and we encourage Tucson Audubon
Society members to review and support our comments!
To review the Coalition’s comments and find out how to
publicly support them, please visit www.sonorandesert.org. The
full text of the Final Draft MSCP can be found at
www.pima.gov/cmo/sdcp/MSCP/MSCP.html.

Sweetwater Wetlands work on target
Modifications to the eastern half of the
Sweetwater Wetlands and the stream
feature are on schedule. The target
date for opening the eastern wetlands
ponds and the main parking lot
remains May 1, 2009. The stream
feature has been modified by
removing thick cattail, which impeded
water flow and created mosquito
habitat. In the future, visitors will be
able to see water flowing in the rock-
lined channel as it runs beneath the
bridge. Some saltbush was cleared
along the stream banks to provide
access for heavy equipment. Staff
believes that, within a few years,
those areas will re-seed and become
as thick as ever with saltbush. We
have retained the “Hidden Pond” in its
natural state.
Tucson Water has scheduled a
controlled burn for Thursday, March 5,
and so we will close the entire
Wetlands for that day. We apologize
for the inconvenience. The western
half will reopen on Friday in time for
the weekend. Vegetation clearing and
liner installation in the eastern ponds
will commence soon thereafter. When
complete, the eastern ponds will have
the same open appearance seen by
visitors at the western ponds, which
remain open to the public this winter.
Tucson Water appreciates the
patience of winter birders who have
used the temporary parking area and
entrance gate located 600 feet farther
west from the closed parking lot on
Sweetwater Drive.
Bruce Prior, Tucson Water

MARCH–APRIL 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 17

 CONSERVATION & EDUCATION
NEWS
A bird’s worst nightmare . . .
crash! splash! no grub!
Light pollution has a deadly effect on
birds and other wildlife.
Let’s take the first one. Millions of
birds are needlessly killed each year
due to fatal crashes. Artificial lights at
night can create real hazards. The
mixing of glass and light is a deadly
combination for birds. The Fatal Light
Awareness Program (flap.org) in
Toronto has identified over 140
different species of birds that have
collided with buildings in their city
alone. Their estimates are as high as
100 million birds killed every year in
North America due to collisions.
Now, on to the second nightmare.
Migrating birds rely on natural light
and objects like the moon and stars
for navigation. Artificial sources which
light up the sky, washing out their road
map, can be fatal. Birds may get
disoriented and find themselves miles
out over the ocean and become
exhausted with nowhere to land.
Splash is not something they can deal
with. Outdoor lights should always be
turned off when not absolutely
needed. This will help mitigate bird
deaths and many other light-induced
wildlife problems, not to mention
saving energy and reducing pollution.
WARREN TANG / WWW.PBASE.COM/WTANG
Hundreds of birds have been seen “trapped” in the light beams of New York
City’s annual September 11 memorial, Tribute in Light.
18 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher MARCH–APRIL 2009
The third nightmare has to do with
birds’ food sources. Some recent
studies at Michigan State University
have concluded that artificial outdoor
lights can cause some insects and
other creatures to lay eggs on
surfaces that they think are water, but
are not. Populations of insects may be
significantly reduced due to their
offspring dying on these artificial
surfaces. Artificial light reflected from
dark surfaces such as glass, plastic
sheets, cars, solar collectors, and
road surfaces can create “ecological
traps,” jeopardizing animal
populations and our fragile
ecosystem. Also, outdoor lights act
like a magnet and a drug to many
insects which would otherwise be
making productive contributions and
prospering. We have much to learn
about reducing the human impact on
native species. Everyone can help by
reviewing their own outdoor lights.
They should be shielded, pointed
downward, and on only when needed.
Joe Frannea, Southern Arizona
Section of the International Dark-Sky
Association; sa-ida.org
PAUL & ENG-LI GREEN
Our cars and our birds: they’re
all connected
Christina McVie, Conservation Committee Chair
We began our year on an upswing with the Obama
administration taking immediate and direct steps to improve
our environment. He directed his administration to move
forward on tougher fuel-efficiency guidelines for the auto
industry in time to cover 2011 model-year cars. President
Obama also directed the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) to reconsider a Bush-era decision that stopped
California and over a dozen other states from setting their
own, stricter limits on auto emissions. Fourteen states,
representing about 40 percent of the population according to
auto industry estimates, have already adopted California's
standards, and they have been under consideration
elsewhere, too.
Passenger vehicles account for 40 percent of Arizona’s
greenhouse gas emissions, about the same percentage as
power station pollution in Arizona (see
www.azclimatechange.gov). The Bush administration issued a
near-term proposal last year that would have required new
cars and trucks to meet a fleet average of 31.6 mpg by 2015.
California, meanwhile, has battled with auto companies to
impose even stiffer regulations that would force carmakers to
achieve a fleet-wide 35.7 mpg by 2016 and 42.5 mpg in 2020.
If the states are allowed to enforce the standards originally
drafted by California, they will reduce greenhouse gas
pollution by more than 450 million metric tons by 2020,
according to Arizona Public Interest Research Group
(www.arizonapirg.org). As our report on page 12–13 reveals,
our changing climate (much of which is due to human activity)
is affecting the distribution patterns of our wintering birds.
Will Arizona’s new governor, Jan Brewer, and our state
legislature support the work done by Arizona’s Department of
Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and former governor Janet
Napolitano, to ensure our state’s clean air as we continue to
grow? After Arizona joined California’s lawsuit against the EPA
last year, both branches of the state legislature voted to
overturn the standards, which Napolitano vetoed. As we go to
press, Brewer proposes cuts to ADEQ funding of at least $4
million and takes another $18 million in fund transfers to
balance the state budget, while another $4.9 million is slated
to be diverted from the Arizona State Parks Heritage Fund,
adversely impacting wildlife and recreation. VF
 TUCSON AUDUBON FIELD TRIPS
DARLENE SMYTH | FIELD TRIP COORDINATOR
MATT BROOKS
Birders at Cienega Creek
MARCH
March 3—Tuesday 6 AM
Patagonia Lake State Park
We’ll look for waterbirds,
flycatchers, gnatcatchers and whatever
else we can find. We’ll walk a couple of
miles on mostly level but not always
clearly delineated trails. Expect mud, so
wear appropriate footgear. Bring lunch
and park fee or pass. We may visit other
sites in Patagonia and/or Nogales as well.
Meet at the Fry’s at Irvington and I-19 at
6 AM, or at the Green Valley McDonald’s
(Continental Rd Exit) before 6:30 AM. 140
miles roundtrip. Leader: Dave Dunford
571-0535 ddunford@dakotacom.net
March 7–9—Saturday-Monday
Sandia Crest Rosy Finches
Join us for a last run of the season for all
three species of Rosy Finches at Sandia
Crest near Albuquerque NM. We’ll
carpool/caravan, departing Tucson
Saturday morning, arriving in
Albuquerque for dinner. Hotel info
available from the leaders. Sunday
morning we’ll work Sandia Crest until we
have our looks at the Rosy Finches (even
if that means coming back the next day).
Plan on a reasonably priced lunch at the
Crest House (or pack a lunch to eat in the
car). Time permitting, we’ll enjoy some of
the area’s other birding hotspots. Monday,
we’re back to Tucson via a couple of
hours at Bosque del Apache. Limited to
12 birders. Contact either leader for more
details. Contact Vivian after February 1 to
sign up. Leaders: Vivian MacKinnon 323-
6452, v_mackinnon@yahoo.com, or
Lainie Epstein 720-8976,
lainie95us@yahoo.com
DON’T FORGET TO STOP IN OUR NATURE SHOP FOR YOUR FIELD AND ID GUIDES.
March 10—Tuesday 6 AM
Cienega Creek
Cienega Creek is a riparian jewel on the
outskirts of Tucson that is little explored
by locals. We’ll search this fine area for
early spring migrants and resident
species. The walk will be 2–3 miles
roundtrip. Bring water, a snack, sturdy
shoes, and (of course) your binoculars.
Back by 1 PM. Meet on the west side of
Houghton Rd, just north of I-10 at 6 AM.
Limited to 12 participants. Call or email to
reserve spot. Local. Leader: Matt! Brooks
623-2230 mbrooks@tucsonaudubon.org
March 14—Saturday 7:30 AM
Willow Springs Road
Underbirded upland desert area
northwest of Oracle Junction in Pinal
County. We’ll travel roads, look at washes
and cattle tanks to observe different
species of sparrows and possible
wintering flycatchers, bluebirds, raptors,
etc. We’ll go into the flanks of Black
Mountain. Occasional Chihuahuan
Ravens. No rough walking. Plan to end
between noon and 1 PM. Meeting place is
north side of Bashas’ parking lot in
Catalina at northeast corner of
intersection of Oracle Rd and Golder
Ranch Rd. About 40 miles roundtrip.
Leader: Doug Jenness 909-1529
d_jenness@hotmail.com
March 17—Tuesday 6:30 AM
Anza Trail at Tubac &
Tumacocari
We’ll start by walking the Anza Trail south
from Tubac bridge, and then drive to
Tumacacori looking for wintering
sparrows, early migrants, and hoping for
a repeat of last spring’s spectacular raptor
passage. After a picnic lunch, we’ll bird
some local wetlands. Meet at Fry’s
parking lot at I-19 & Irvington at 6:30 AM
(leader not present) or at the McDonald’s
in Green Valley (Continental exit from I-
19) at 7 AM. 90 miles round trip. Leader:
Michael Marsden 269-6240
birdanza@cox.net
MARCH–APRIL 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon
For the latest or expanded
field trip information
visit www.tucsonaudubon.org
or call us at 629-0757
General Information
Tucson Audubon field trips are free. For
general information call field trip
coordinator Darlene Smyth 297-2315.
For specific information about a trip,
contact the leader of that trip.
Please dress appropriately for your
field trip. Always wear sturdy shoes, a
hat, and use sun protection. Bring
plenty of snacks and water for yourself.
Always bring your binoculars, field
guide, and for most trips a scope can
be useful. Bring money to cover your
share of the carpooling and any
required entry fees (eg for state parks).
Arrival Times
Please arrive before listed departure
times. Trips will leave promptly at the
time given.
Carpooling Sites
 NW Tucson: Ina and Via Ponte—
commuter parking lot one block
west of Oracle and Ina, south side
of Ina.
 Central Tucson: First Baptist Church
parking lot on west side of 5th Ave,
1½ blocks south of University Blvd.
Weekdays only.
 SW Tucson: I-19 and Irvington—
Fry’s parking lot.
 Green Valley: I-19 and Continental
Rd exit 63—McDonald’s parking lot.
 NE Tucson: Tanque Verde Rd/
Catalina Hwy—McDonald’s
parking lot.
Tucson Audubon strongly encourages
carpooling and for some trips it may be
required. Check the trip listings for
meeting/carpooling sites. You are
expected to reimburse the driver for the
actual cost of fuel. Drivers and trip
leaders are not expected to contribute.
Rare Bird Alert
Listen to the latest rare bird alert at
798-1005. Report rare birds to the RBA
compiler at 798-1005 or
rarebirdalert@tucsonaudubon.org
After Your Field Trip
Don’t forget to stop in the Tucson
Audubon Nature Shop to check out
new books, see wonderful nature
items, and chat with volunteers.
19
 TUCSON AUDUBON
FIELD TRIPS
MATT GRIFFITHS
KENDALL KROESEN
Sabino Creek
March 21—Saturday 8 AM
Sabino Canyon
We’ll walk paved roads and trails
to look for typical desert birds as well as
migrants. Expect to walk up to 3 miles
and be finished before lunch time. USFS
fee area. Meet inside the parking lot close
to the entrance booth. Leader: Darlene
Smyth dsmyth3@comcast.net 297-2315
March 24—Tuesday 5 AM
Lazy J2 Ranch
This is an exploratory trip to an active
cattle ranch that is not ordinarily open to
the public. The ranch is located in the
heart of the San Rafael grasslands and
can be expected to have most of the
raptors and grassland birds found
elsewhere in the San Rafael. We will also
spend some time in other areas of the
grasslands as time permits. There will be
an opportunity to purchase some of the
products of the ranch—grass-fed beef
and scenic photographs. This trip is
limited to 12 participants in three high-
clearance vehicles. Contact the leader to
reserve a place on or after 5 March. Bring
lunch. 150 miles round trip. Leader: Jim
Hays jhays@iname.com (preferred) or
203-3489.
March 28—Saturday 6 AM
Cochise Stronghold and Amerind
Foundation
Combine birding, walking, history and
spectacular scenery on our morning visit
to Cochise Stronghold. We’ll bird the
5000’ elevation campground (day use
fee), then walk part of the Divide Trail at a
birding pace. Oaks, junipers, sycamores,
and cottonwoods host woodpeckers, jays,
warblers, and orioles, while the rocky
spires provide habitat for eagles, falcons,
20 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher MARCH–APRIL 2009
Cochise Stronghold
swifts, and wrens. After lunch at the
campground, we’ll visit The Amerind
Foundation (archaeology museum) in
Dragoon. We’ll bird the grounds, and
those who wish can visit the museum
itself (fee). Meet on the west side of
Houghton Rd, just north of I-10 at
6 AM. 140 miles round trip.
Leader Barbara Bickel
bicke12b@msn.com 322-5857.
March 31—Tuesday 6 AM
New Location: Brown Canyon
(north of Ramsey Canyon)
We begin at an old ranch site with a large
pond edged by big trees, which is
attractive to spring migrants. Next, we
check a different pond in mesquite
grassland which is attractive to breeding
resident species. Then we move up the
creek into Brown Canyon proper in typical
oak woodland, on a trail that makes a big
loop, with a stop overlooking a spring,
before returning to the ranch in time for a
late lunch. Limit: 12 people. Contact
leader starting March 1. Meet at
Houghton Rd/I-10 at 6 AM (leader not
present); group to meet leader in Sierra
Vista (details upon reservation). 180 miles
roundtrip. Leader: Erika Wilson
terika88@cox.net 225-0393 (Tucson) or
234-4359 (Sierra Vista)
APRIL
April 4—Saturday 7 AM
Children’s Trip at Sabino
Creek
Come out and have fun learning about
nature with your child. Children between
the ages of 5 and 12 are welcome with an
adult (parent or friend). We will hike to
Sabino Creek and do some wading and
splashing, then look for insects, lizards,
and other fun animals and plants. You can
expect about 2 miles of walking, so bring
good walking shoes. Extra wet shoes
would be useful for creek wading.
Magnifying glasses and binoculars are
helpful also. Bring drinking water. The trip
is limited to the first eight children to sign
up. At least one responsible adult from
each family has to attend. Leader:
Anthony Mendoza 219-0366
April 7—Tuesday 7 to 9 PM
Star Party
Come for any or all of it! End of
Campbell, about a mile north of Campbell
and Skyline. Park on the west side. We
will see the last of the bright stars of
winter under a nearly full moon. Saturn’s
rings are edge-on this year, something
that won’t occur again until 2024! A
telescope will be available to view this
splendid sight! Leader: Mike Smith
mssq@comcast.net
April 10—Friday 7 AM
Fort Lowell Park and Rillito by
Bicycle
Meet at Fort Lowell Park (lot off of
Craycroft) and bird the park and the Rillito
by bicycle! Get exercise and help
introduce Tucson cyclists to birding. We’ll
ride at a leisurely pace and stop for birds.
Finished by noon or earlier. Tucson’s
Department of Transportation is
cosponsor. Call to sign up. Leader:
Kendall Kroesen, 971-2385 or
kkroesen@tucsonaudubon.org.
April 11—Saturday 5:30 AM
Esperanza Ranch
Visit 300 acres along the upper
Santa Cruz River (between Tubac and
Amado) being conserved and restored by
Tucson Audubon. Look for Gray Hawks,
Rufous-winged Sparrows and spring
migrants. Requires 2–3 miles walking on
uneven ground. Limit of 14 birders—call
leader to sign up starting March 15. Meet
for 5:30 AM departure at the Fry’s on
Irvington just east of I-19, or at 6 AM at the
McDonald’s on Continental Road in
Green Valley just west of I-19. 90 miles
roundtrip. Leader: Kendall Kroesen 971-
2385 kkroesen@tucsonaudubon.org
April 13—Monday 2 PM
Pyle: Higher and Deeper
The exemplary detail and clarity of the
best field guides have raised the bar of
birderly sophistication. Those who have
incorporated the wealth of information in
Big Sibley and National Geographic are
 moving to the “next generation,” Peter
Pyle’s Identification Guide to North
American Birds, a treasure trove for those
who take the time to learn how to use it.
An introduction to this gold-standard of
identification resources will be followed by
practice in identifying, aging, and sexing
museum specimens, emphasizing
characters usable in the field. Registration
required. Leader: Rick Wright
birding@birdaz.com
April 14—Tuesday evening
Mt. Lemmon Owl Prowl
There are six regular owl species on Mt.
Lemmon: Western Screech; Whiskered
Screech; Elf; Northern Pygmy;
Flamulated; and Great Horned. We will try
to locate them all. Bring a good light and
suitable clothing for warmth. Meet for
carpooling at the McDonald’s at Tanque
Verde and Catalina Highway. You must
sign up with the leader starting April 5 to
learn further details. Trip is limited to 12
people and should last from 3 to 5 hours.
Leader: Richard Messenger 773-818-
6248 vagabondbirder@yahoo.com
April 18—Saturday 6 AM
Willcox and Chiricahua
Mountains
For birders with an open check box next
to their lifer Mexican Chickadee, Tucson
Audubon offers a field trip to the west side
of the Chiricahua Mountains to earn your
first look! We’ll stop at Willcox to check on
waterbirds, both coming and going. Meet
at the Houghton and I-10 carpool spot at
6 am. Carpooling in high clearance
vehicles recommended. Remember
water, food and sunscreen. We’ll try to be
KENDALL KROESEN
Fort Lowell Park
back by 2 PM. About 240 miles roundtrip.
Leader: Clifford A. Cathers
AZCliffy@q.com 762-3201
April 21—Tuesday 7:30 AM
Honeybee Canyon
Take a leisurely walk with some fellow
birders into Honeybee Canyon in Oro
Valley. Hopefully, we will see the resident
nesting owl and its young before they
fledge, along with many of the common
desert birds. If time permits, we may walk
the power line trail nearby for the
possibility of some Harris’s Hawks
and other raptors. Local. Leader: Dick
Sauer sweetsauers@yahoo.com
April 25—Saturday 6 AM
Sonoita Creek State Natural
Area, Rio Rico
In the morning we’ll hike the Sonoita
Creek trail from Rio Rico to just beyond
the main campsite (a favorite Green
Kingfisher haunt on their rare visits)—
almost 7 miles in total—looking for
migrants and regional specialties. After a
picnic lunch at Rio Rico, we’ll bird some
roadside stops along the Santa Cruz
corridor on the drive back. Limited to 11
participants because of permit
restrictions. Contact Michael to sign up.
120 miles round trip from Tucson. Leader:
Michael Marsden 269-6240
birdanza@cox.net
April 28—Tuesday 5:30 AM
Kitt Peak Area
This ‘Sky Island’ trip will focus on finding
Crested Caracara, Bendire’s Thrasher,
Ash-throated Flycatcher, and Rufous-
winged Sparrows as well as expected
MARCH–APRIL 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon
species at higher elevations such as
Band-tailed Pigeon, etc. Some late-
blooming desert flowers may still be found
(a bonus!). We’ll walk along roads and
trails. Bring a scope if you have one. Meet
at 5:30 AM at the Fry’s parking lot at I-19
and Irvington to carpool. Round trip
distance is ~90 miles with a mid-afternoon
return. Leader: Clait Braun 529-4614
sg-wtp@juno.com VF
TUCSON AREA BIRDING
Buenos Aires NWR. Tucson Audubon bird walk
at Arivaca Cienega every Saturday at 8 AM,
November through April, whatever the weather.
Meet at the trailhead for a mostly level walk of
approximately 2 miles. You can expect to see 30
to 50 species depending on the season. To
carpool from Continental Shopping Center in
Green Valley to Arivaca Cienega and for more
information, call Bob Rolfson at 399-2873.
Wake up with the Birds at Roy P. Drachman
Agua Caliente Park. Every Tuesday. Pima
County guided bird walks for beginners and
families. Binoculars available. Meet at the
Ranch House. For information and times, call
615-7855 or contact eeducation@pima.gov.
Catalina State Park. Bird walks led by Denis
Wright on Fridays, 7:30–10 AM at the first picnic
area. Time will change in 30-minute increments
as weather/light conditions require. Open daily
5 AM–10 PM. Fee. Call 628-5798 for information.
Sabino Canyon. Birding and nature hikes.
Parking fee. Call 749-8700.
Saguaro National Park. Call 733-5153 (East)
or 733-5158 (West) for scheduled bird walks.
Tohono Chul Park. Birding walks at 8:30 AM.
Monday, Wednesday & Saturday. Open 8 AM–
5 PM daily. Entrance fee. Call 742-6455.
Tucson Botanical Gardens. Open 8:30 AM.–
4:30 PM. Entrance fee. Call 326-9686.
OTHER AREAS
Arizona State Parks. Birding and other walks;
www.pr.state.az.us. Fee. Call 602-542-4174.
Buenos Aires NWR. The refuge is open 24
hours a day, and visitor center open 7:30 AM–
4 PM seven days a week. Call 823-4251.
Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Open 8 AM–
5 PM. daily (last admissions 1 hour before
closing). Call 689-2811. Visit ag.arizona.edu/
BTA/ events/ birdwalks.html for bird sightings.
Ramsey Canyon. Open every day 8 AM–5 PM.
Fee. Call 378-2785.
Southern Arizona Bird Observatory. Tours of
birding sites available. Fee. Call 432-1388 or
visit www.sabo.org.
21

BIRDING TRAVEL
FROM OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS
ADVENTURE BIRDING COMPANY
www.adventurebirding.com
info@adventurebirding.com; 495-0229
San Blas: Mangrove Estuaries, Coffee Fincas,
Palm Forests and More. Dec 12–20, 2009, $1990.
Leader: Keith Kamper. The coastal fishing village of
San Blas is one of the premier birding destinations
in Mexico. We’ll visit mangrove estuaries, coffee
fincas, beaches and coastal lagoons. 25 Mexican
endemics possible including San Blas Jays,
Rufousnecked Wood-rail, Cinnamon Hummingbird
and Golden Vireo. Jungle boat tour with oddities like
Boat-billed Heron and Northern Potoo, even
iguanas and crocodiles! We will be based at one
motel throughout; so we can unpack, unwind and
enjoy the region’s natural and cultural history, fresh
mariscos and green flash sunsets.
Southeast Arizona in Winter: Raptors, Cranes,
Sparrows, and Thrashers. January 17–24, 2010,
$1590. Leaders: Keith Kamper, co-leader TBA.
Southeast Arizona is popular during peak
migration, but winter birding is our best-kept secret!
Arizona is blessed with many habitats: deserts and
grasslands, lush riparian corridors and “Sky
Islands.” Birders can expect exceptional avian
diversity, and hope for vagrants from Mexico.
Sandhill Cranes, raptors, sparrows and other
winter visitors abound. Many residents like Crissal
and Bendire’s Thrashers burst into full song,
marking the transition to early spring. Pleasant
weather and impressive birding makes southeast
Arizona in winter a “must” for discerning birders.
ANDEAN ADVENTURES
Sally Johnsen; 399-4050; empidonax@netzero.net
Moez Ali; 820-3499; moezali15@hotmail.com
Ecuador’s Andes—The Northwest and
Northeast Slopes. Mar 23-Apr 4, Jun 1–13, Oct
12–24 and Dec 27-Jan 8, 2009. $1595 from Quito.
Active birding adventure filled with mixed flocks of
colorful tanagers, hummingbirds, toucans,
antpittas, manakins and barbets amid superb
montane scenery. Over 450 species in the
northwest cloud forest of the endemic-rich Choco
bio-region, including a spectacular Cock-of-the-
Rock lek, White-faced Nunbird and Toucan Barbet.
The paramo, over 14,000 feet, yields Andean
Condor, Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe and Giant
Conebill; and prime temperate and subtropical
forest on the northeast slope hold scores of
dazzling hummers like Sword-billed Hummingbird
and the very famous Mystery Owl—an as-of-yet
undetermined species.
Amazon Extension—Rainforests and Rivers. 5
days, $800 from Quito, after Andes tour
BORDERLAND TOURS
www.borderland-tours.com
rtaylor@borderland-tours.com; 882–7650 from
Tucson or toll-free at 800–525–7753
22 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher MARCH–APRIL 2009
Costa Rica & Deep Costa Rica. July 1–13, $3595
and July 13–25, $3795. Leaders: Carlos Gomez &
Chris Sharpe. Explore Costa Rica’s scenic network
of parks and preserves from lowland rain forest to
paramo. Both tours visit Costa Rica’s most reliable
location for Resplendent Quetzal. The first tour also
visits La Selva, Carara, and Monteverde Parks. The
second tour swings south toward the Panama
border and also visits Tortuguero, where we have
good chances to witness huge Green Sea Turtles
hauling up on the beach to lay eggs. King Vulture,
Scarlet Macaw, Blue Cotinga, Three-wattled
Bellbird, a rainbow of hummingbirds, and a dazzling
array of tanagers await. 300–350 species of birds,
plus a good variety of reptiles and mammals.
Brazil: Of Harpy Eagles & Jaguars and Iguazu
Extension. September 1–15 and September 15–
18, $6595 & $2095 or $8590 for both. Brazil offers
more endemic species of birds than any other
country, as well as the best chance for the New
World’s most impressive raptor, Harpy Eagle, and
its greatest feline, Jaguar. In western Brazil, we’ll
visit a ranch where Harpy Eagles have held a
territory since 1998. In the world’s largest
freshwater wetland, the Pantanal, we are almost
guaranteed to see the largest member of the parrot
clan, Hyacinth Macaw. And Jaguars—boating the
waterways here frequently permits the closest
approach to these big cats. The tour extension
combines great birding with the raw spectacle of
Iguazu Falls, with three nights at a hotel overlooking
the broken mile-long crescent of water plummeting
230 feet over the falls. Just two spaces left!
NATURALIST JOURNEYS
www.naturalistjourneys.com
Toll-free: (866) 900–1146 or 558-1146;
info@naturalistjourneys.com
Birding the Blue Ridge Mountains. June 8–14.
Join us to explore quintessential Appalachia:
ancient mountains and thick forests threaded with
streams, rivers and waterfalls. The Blue Ridge
Parkway provides important habitat for a diverse
array of plants and animals. With elevations
ranging from 875 to over 6,000 feet, the parkway
encompasses habitats for species typically seen in
the South or lowlands in the East, as well as
species common in the mid-Atlantic area and New
England. Enjoy lovely mountain lodges and great
dining as we sample local cuisine. We’re likely to
see colorful species such as Eastern Bluebirds,
Pileated Woodpeckers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks,
Orchard Orioles, Wood Ducks and Indigo Buntings.
With luck and some persistence we should find the
elusive Cerulean Warbler. Wezil Walraven will
guide this year’s journey. 3 nights Pisgah Inn, 2
nights Mill Creek Inn, Black Mtn., NC, 1 night
Holiday Inn Express, Ashville. $2150 from Ashville,
NC. Single Supplement $445.
Extraordinary Alaska. August 17–29. In a world
where the treasures of wildlife and wild places are
dwindling, Alaska remains a wilderness jewel. The
grandeur of the scenery alone is worth the trip; we
also focus on history and finding wildlife. August
offers a display of late-blooming wildflowers, ripe
abundant berry crops and brilliant color that starts
to decorate the tundra. It’s the best time to see
Grizzly Bears and Caribou in Denali. Our journey
includes three nights at North Face Lodge in
Denali, a highlight of the trip for many. In addition,
we visit Seward for a boat trip into the Gulf of
Alaska in search of whales and puffins. In Nome
we explore a wild and beautiful landscape close to
the Arctic Circle, accessed only by air or sea. We
can stuff ourselves on ripe blueberries and search
for migrant waterfowl such as five species of loons!
1 night Copper Whale, Anchorage, 2 nights Rivers
Edge, Fairbanks, 2 nights Holiday Inn, Seward, 3
nights North Face Lodge, Denali National Park, 4
nights Aurora Inn, Nome. $4990 to Anchorage,
from Nome. Single Supplement $575.
ROCKJUMPER BIRDING TOURS
www.rockjumper.co.za
info@rockjumper.co.za or
rockjumperbirding@yahoo.com
Peru—Classic Peru and Northern Peru with
Marañon Endemics. Classic Oct 1–19 (19 days),
and Northern Oct 19-Nov 1 (14 days). Do these
tours as a combination or on their own. On the
Classic Peru you will enjoy birding a land of stark
contrast and beauty, from the snow-capped Andes
and the mysterious ruins of Machu Picchu to the
mighty Amazon basin. On this tour you will be privy
to a showy selection of South American species
like Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Razor-billed
Curassow and Agami Heron. On the Northern tour
we search for highly sought-after endemics, and
take in spectacular scenery and a vibrant local
culture. We explore dry deciduous forest, coastal
desert, cloud forest and the unique Marañon
searching for White-winged Guan, beautiful
Marañon Crescent-chest, and the incredible
Marvelous Spatuletail. Peru is a country like no
other! Cost: Classic Peru—US$4,995 pp, US$900
ss; Northern—US$3,700 pp, US$400 ss
Brazil—Birds of the Amazon and Pantanal: Sept
1–13 (13 days) and Atlantic Forest Extension: Sept
13–19 (7 days). Brazil is one of the most bio-
diverse countries of the world, a dream destination
for any naturalist—and especially so for birders.
During this tour we explore the celebrated Pantanal
and the verdant Amazon rainforest, replete with a
diversity of avifauna rivaled nowhere else on our
planet, plus an extension to the endemic-rich
Atlantic forests of Intervales State Park. Potential
highlights on this tour include Hyacinth Macaw,
Helmeted Manakin, the fabulous Jaguar (no-where
else easier to observe than here!), gaudy Spangled
Cotinga and ever-lethargic Sloths. For those
wishing to maximize their time, the extension to
Intervales offers amazing highlights like Swallow-
tailed Cotinga and Long-trained Nightjar among
many others! Join us for an unbeatable tour to one
of the world’s most incredible wildlife destinations!
Cost: Main tour—US$4,500 pp, US$320 ss and
Extension—US$1,995 pp, US$170 ss
TROPICAL BIRDING
www.tropicalbirding.com
Toll free: (800)348–5941 • info@tropicalbirding.com
Beidaihe, China: The Asian Migrant Hotspot.
May 8—17, 2009. $2400 per person. Beidaihe is
the Asian equivalent of High Island, and the birding
during spring migration is just out-of-this-world.
We’ll hit all the known migrant traps, and also visit
the Great Wall, which we like to think of as one of
the oldest canopy platforms in the world. This short
trip, on its own, is an easy introduction to the birds
of the Far East, and it can also be combined with
our tour to Sichuan in central China. We also offer
a one-day cultural extension to see some of the
key sites of Beijing.
Galapagos Endemics Cruise July 23-August 1 &
November 19–28, 2009 $4500 per person. We
have specially chartered a comfortable 16-
passenger yacht to visit all the key islands for birds
and the other unique wildlife; and we have a
chance to see every endemic species of the
archipelago. This is a great tour for both birders
and naturalists alike, and offers outstanding
opportunities for photography. You can easily
combine this trip with some birding on mainland
Ecuador—ask us for more details.
TYRANNO TOURS—
KING OF SOUTHWEST ADVENTURES
www.tyrannotours.com
577-6546; tyrannotours@comcast.net
Birds—Looking and Learning in the Cooler
White Mountains. Based at rustic Tal-Wi-Wi Lodge
in Alpine, AZ, May 21–25 (Memorial Day weekend),
$795/person double; $995 single. Popular bird
guide and educator Kathe Anderson of Scottsdale
will lead us to some local birding hot spots, and in
some of her noted bird educational classes.
The Canyon—North Rim Grandeur. Jun 17–21,
$895/person double; $995 single. We’ll base in
charming western cabins at majestic Grand
Canyon Lodge. Scenic sunrises and sunsets, rim-
Go Birding in Panama!
With Tucson Audubon and WINGS
November 13–21, 2009 • Stay in Canopy Tower
Leader Gavin Bieber, with Kendall Kroesen
Contact Chris Harrison at 629-0757 or charrison@tucsonaudubon.org
top mule ride, ranger talks, Grand Canyon cookout,
Pipe Spring NM, Lee’s Ferry, Navajo Bridge,
Cameron Trading Post. Maybe Toroweep.
VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC.
www.ventbird.com
(800) 328-8368 • victor@ventbird.com
WINGS
wingsbirds.com • wingsbirds.com/blog
wings@wingsbirds.com; 320-9868
Oregon, May 16–27, 2009; about $3,210. Leader:
Rich Hoyer. Oregon, west of the Cascades, is a
land of ancient forests and picturesque coastlines
teeming with waterbirds. The habitats change
radically to the south and east, where the
mountains’ “rain shadow” creates dry forests,
desert-like shrub-steppe, and stark canyons. This
dramatic meeting of climates and landforms gives
Oregon astonishing avian diversity, especially in
woodpeckers and owls. We’ll explore the coast, the
Willamette Valley, and the eastern deserts in our
search for such specialties as Mountain Quail,
Tufted Puffin, and White-headed Woodpecker.
Complete itineraries and bird lists at
wingsbirds.com.
Tanzania, May 28-June 13, 2009; about $7,520.
Leader: Brian Finch. Tanzania features a fine
variety of habitats, including almost the entirety of
the Eastern Arc Mountains, Africa’s most important
biodiversity hotspot! Among the tremendous
diversity of Tanzania’s birds, we’ll pay special
attention to those found nowhere else in the world
but the Eastern Arc region; past tours have tallied
two dozen or more endemics, plus an impressive
number of range-restricted mammals, lizards,
frogs, and butterflies. The abundance of readily
observed wildlife and the friendliness of the
Tanzanian people make this a spectacular
introduction to the wonders of East Africa.
Complete itineraries and bird lists at
wingsbirds.com. VF
MARCH–APRIL 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon
Tucson Audubon thanks our
Birds & Business Alliance
Members, who have shown
their support for bird
conservation through annual
contributions and in-kind
donations. Please show them
you appreciate their support for
us by supporting them. Please
choose these progressive companies
when you need a service.
STERLING
Adventure Birding Company • 520-495-0229
• www.adventurebirding.com
Borderland Tours • 1-800-525-7753
• www.borderland-tours.com
Naturalist Journeys • 1-866-900-1146
• www.naturalistjourneys.com
RockJumper Birding Tours
• www.rockjumper.co.za
Tropical Birding • 1-800-348-5941
• www.tropicalbirding.com
TyrannoTours • 520-577-6546
• www.tyrannotours.com
Victor Emanuel Nature Tours
• 1-800-328-VENT • www.ventbirds.com
WINGS • 1-888-293-6443 • www.wingsbirds.com
SILVER
The Oasis at Way Out West • 520-825-4590
• www.wowarizona.com
Snell & Wilmer • www.swlaw.com
Tucson Electric Power • www.tep.com
COPPER
Bed & Bagels of Tucson • 520-760-5595
Buffalo Exchange • 520-795-0508
*Casa Adobe B&B in Rodeo, NM
• 1-877-577-2275
The Coyote Wore Sideburns • 520-623-7341
Down By the River B&B • 520-720-9441
Kimberlyn Drew, Realtor • 520-237-1408
Economy Birding Service • 520-762-3201
*Fiore Tile Works • 520-971-0677
Galaria La Sirena • 520-319-1262
*Greenfire Ecological Landscaping • 520-429-7306
Heartstone Mountain Ranch • 1-877-562-2955
Hughes Federal Credit Union • 520-794-8341
Daniel McQuestion, Artist
P2 Preparedness • 520-971-5971
Lori Pascarella, Financial Consultant • 520-747-6167
Rancho De La Osa • 1-800-872-6240
*Riverpark Inn • 1-800-551-1466
Spirit Tree Inn B&B • 520-394-0121
*VIP Taxi • 520-798-1111
Wild Birds Unlimited • 520-878-9585
For more information about our Birds & Business
Alliance members, including links to their websites,
visit www.tucsonaudubon.org
*New member
23
 Please welcome our newest Birds & Business Alliance Members
TUCSON ELECTRIC POWER
S I LV E R
COMMITTED TO CONSERVATION
PARTNERSHIPS
TEP collaborates with community organizations
to balance the demands of a growing population
with conserving the Sonoran Desert. Our
portfolio of environmental partnerships and
commitment to conservation has diversified and
strengthened with time.
The Raptor Protection Program, an
innovative partnership with the University of
Arizona, the Arizona Game and Fish Department
(AZGFD) and others is now a nationally
recognized model, seeking to protect raptors
from fatal encounters with electrical equipment.
TEP sends its customers quarterly
environmental billing inserts focused on the
dangers of feeding wildlife, and of buffelgrass,
and the importance of protecting desert tortoises
and reporting raptor nest sites.
Our H. Wilson Sundt Generating Station has
been home to 60 pairs of burrowing owls since
2005 following a call for help from AZGFD; our
volunteers built nest sites for owls displaced by
development in Maricopa County. The station
also partners with Civano Nursery, producing
about 500 cubic yards of organic compost each
week for eight months each year. TEP provides
the nursery with land, electricity, run-off water
from the power plant, and 420 tons of green
waste from power line corridors. The compost
yard also serves as a temporary home for trees
salvaged from construction sites. This is one
example of how TEP is committed to reducing
waste through innovative recycling efforts.
Our support for Trees for Tucson has led to
the planting of more than 53,500 trees. The
program enables residents in TEP’s service area
to purchase up to two drought-resistant, five-
gallon trees for $6 each. By providing shade,
these trees help reduce energy consumption in
homes and businesses, and make Tucson a
more beautiful place. They also absorb carbon
dioxide, provide habitat for wildlife and reduce
soil erosion from storm water runoff and wind. In
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CASA ADOBE BED & BREAKFAST
Casa Adobe is a new birder-friendly B&B in
Rodeo, New Mexico. Nestled between the
Chiricahua and Peloncillo Mountains ~50 miles
north of Douglas, AZ, Rodeo is on the New
Mexico Birding Trails system and is nine miles
from Portal, AZ and the Cave Creek Canyon
birding areas. Casa Adobe is a one
bedroom/bath private hacienda with kitchen,
living room, lanudry and three patios. A curving
perimeter wall surrounds the grounds defining a
quiet restful space for birding or relaxing and
24 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher MARCH–APRIL 2009
TEP at the Ironwood Festival in
Tucson Audubon’s Mason Center
October 2007 TEP managed a community-wide
Make a Difference Day project to plant 1,015
trees in neighborhoods, schools and parks. This
nationally recognized day of service publicized
the importance of planting native trees,
galvanized nearly 900 volunteers and raised
more than $50,000 in contributions for Habitat
for Humanity neighborhoods and parks.
TEP recycles metals from its equipment and
oil removed from its generation and distribution
equipment whenever possible. Our parent
company, UniSource Energy Corporation, has
sponsored the Nature Conservancy’s statewide
eco-planning for more than a decade.
Our contributions to environmental
organizations and educational programs have
totaled nearly one million dollars in the last five
years. In the last few months we have expanded
our incentives for adopting renewable
technology, including the solar panels that can
be seen at the Reid Park Zoo’s new
Environmental Learning Center, which carries
platinum-level Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
TEP offers a variety of Bright Solutions to
address the opportunities and challenges and
we face in our community including green
energy, charitable organization support, energy
efficiency, and economic development. Please
visit www.tep.com to learn more about our
programs. Together, we make a powerful
difference in our communities’ well-being.
Sharon Foltz
TEP Community Relations Director
soaking in the views. A number of feeders and
water baths decorate the property to attract a
diversity of birds.Rates include breakfast in your
hacienda or at one of several nearby cafes
within easy walking or driving distance. Outdoor
activities are moments from Casa Adobe,
including day hiking, extended trekking,
horseback riding, mountain biking, jogging,
landscape/wildlife photography, and more.
Because Rodeo is far from population centers
night skies are exceptionally dark facilitating
serious astronomical observations. When you
CJ VINCENT / WAY OUT WEST / WOWAZ.COM
Lincoln’s Sparrow
THE OASIS AT WAY OUT WEST
At Way Out West, you're immersed in nature.
Offering lodging since 1998 in a bed & breakfast
fashion, we’re twenty miles north of Tucson, on
a three-acre private nature preserve. Warm
hospitality, spectacular views, and abundant
wildlife welcome you to our home. Winding
through the gardens, stroll our 'home trails' and
habitat restoration areas, or you can hike into
the Santa Catalinas. Our bird population is rich
and varied, with the ‘House Life List’ at 135.
“…imposing mountains form a superlative
backdrop for one of Tucson's finest
hummingbird and butterfly gardens….
Rufous-winged Sparrows regularly visit bird
feeders.” Dr. Dale A. Zimmerman
“You are fountains of information about the
natural world!” Nancy Zierenberg, Arizona
Native Plant Society
“…this place is amazing, one of the best
butterfly gardens in Tucson.” Jim Brock,
‘Butterfly Man’
Facilitating your natural experience is our
goal; however, we do offer free Wi-Fi, hot tubs,
billiards and Home-Theatre for ‘apres’ birding
pleasure! Visit our site at wowarizona.com for
on-site photos, reviews, and rate information.
The Oasis at Way Out West is located at:
5494 East Edwin Road, Tucson, AZ 85739
825-4590 • www.wowarizona.com
plan your next outdoor adventure, consider
staying at Casa Adobe B&B in Rodeo. You’ll find
your stay at Casa Adobe pleasant and filled with
possibilities. For reservations call toll-free 1-877-
557-2275 or visit www.CasaAdobe.net.
FIORE TILE WORKS
Fiore Tile Works has been depicting the Sonoran
Desert in its large format display pieces since
moving to Tucson from San Diego in 2005.
Working in high-fired ceramic, artist David
McMahon’s bas relief sculptures capture
COPPER
Sonoran flora and fauna in brilliant color. “I grew
up in Tucson, Sharing my love of the desert
THE TAS-IFIEDS Support
Support Tucson
TucsonAudubon...
Audubon...
through my art is my mission. I am constantly CLASSIFIED ADS Become
Become aa Friend
Friend Today!
Today!
trying to deepen my relationship with the desert.”
In May, Fiore Tile Works will be releasing a You need to be a Friend of Tucson Audubon MEMBERSHIP
MEMBERSHIP
new line of Artisan Tiles centered around or a member of the Birds & Business Alliance $30/year—
$30/year—Individual
Individual
Sonoran Desert birds. David is also sculpting a to advertise in this section. Please contact $20/year—
$20/year—Student
Student
roadrunner to be cast in a limited edition bronze Chris Harrison in Membership Services for fee $45/year—
$45/year—Family
Family
(also scheduled for early May release). Please information or to place an ad.
$20
$20/year—
/year—Senior
Senior (62+)
(62+)
visit www.fioretileworks.com for details on
upcoming releases and to view a gallery of BIRDS—Looking and Learning in the
installations. Fiore Tile Works is located at 1301 Cooler White Mountains. Based at Rustic Name
Name
South 6th Avenue, #105 and welcomes visitors. Tal-Wi-Wi Lodge in Alpine. Thu May 21–Mon
May 25 (Memorial Day Weekend). Bird Address
Address
GREENFIRE ECOLOGICAL LANDSCAPING guide/educator Kathe Anderson of Scottsdale
Greenfire Ecological Landscaping specializes in will lead in birding and classroom bird
designing, building, and maintaining sustainable learning—e.g., binoculars and books,
residential landscapes that bring basic ecological seasons and locations, spotting and
function back into your yard. Our goal is to create identifying, bird behaviors and songs. City
City//State
State//Zip
Zip
beautiful landscapes that attract birds, butterflies $795/person double; $995 single. 577-6546 or
and other wonderful desert wildlife. Using native e-mail to tyrannotours@comcast.net. Email
Email
plants, water harvesting techniques and our
knowledge of the inter-relationships between THE CANYON—North Rim Grandeur. We’ll
living things, non-living things and the base in charming western cabins at majestic Phone
Phone
environment, Greenfire creates landscapes that Grand Canyon Lodge. Scenic sunrises and
sunsets, rim-top mule ride, ranger talks, New
New membership
membership
conserve natural resources, preserve
Grand Canyon cookout, Pipe Spring NM, Renewing
Renewing membership
membership
biodiversity, and protect the environment.
We have an understanding of natural Lee’s Ferry, Navajo Bridge, Cameron Trading Please
Please email
email me me about
about Tucson
TucsonAudubon
Audubon
systems—geology, climate, soils, plants, and Post, maybe Toroweep. Jun 17–21. events
events and
and conservation
conservation issues. issues.
ecology. We incorporate this knowledge with $895/person double, $995 single. 577-6546 or Please
Please do
do not
not share
share my my contact
contact
landscape design, construction, and e-mail to tyrannotours@comcast.net. information.
information.
maintenance to make ecologically-sound Please
Please do
do not
not mailmail me
me Vermilion
Vermilion
THE OASIS at Way Out West B&B/Private
decisions for your property. We differ from Flycatcher.
Flycatcher. I’ll
I’ll read
read itit online.
online.
Nature Preserve. A secluded trail side
conventional landscapers through our approach, location offers close-up wildlife observation DONATION
DONATION
techniques, and products used while managing and colorful mountain sunsets. Bird our trails II would
would like
like toto support
support Tucson
TucsonAudubon
Audubon
the soil, plant life, and landscape. We strive to (135+ House List) or the Catalinas. 20+ Society
Society with
with an an additional
additional contribution
contribution ofof
create gardens in an environmentally feeding stations, Naturalist/Photographer on- $25
$25 $50
$50 $100
$100 $$250.
250.
responsible way and to improve and enhance site, Wi-Fi, Hydrotherapy spas, Bike rentals, Tucson
TucsonAudubon
Audubon Frequent
Frequent Flyer
Flyer Monthly
Monthly
conditions for both humans and wildlife alike. Eco-Excursions. WOWArizona.com. Donor
Donor Program:
Program: II authorize
authorize the
the charge
charge ofof
For more information please visit 520.825.4590. $____
$____ per
per month
month for for ____
____ months
months toto my
my
www.greenfireaz.com or call Dennis at 429-7306 credit
credit card
card ($10/month
($10/month minimum).
minimum).
IT’S ALL at the Main Nature Shop! Are Tucson
TucsonAudubon
AudubonSociety
Societywill
willuse
usethe
thefull
fullamount
amountofofyour
yourtax-
tax-deductible
deductible
RIVERPARK INN planning a birding trip with our Birds & gift
giftfor
foritsitsenvironmental,
environmental,educational
educationaland
andrecreational
recreationalprograms.
programs.

The Riverpark Inn is a full service, AAA, 3- Business Alliance partners or forming a team METHOD
METHOD OF OF PAYMENT
PAYMENT
diamond hotel in a resort-like setting located for Tucson Audubon’s Birdathon? We can
Check
Check (payable
(payabletotoTucson
TucsonAudubon
AudubonSociety)
Society)
within walking distance of the Tucson help you plan and get more out of your birding
trip or birdathon. See p14 and p 26, or drop MasterCard
MasterCard Visa
Visa AMEX
AMEX
Convention Center. The hotel is just minutes
from some of the best birding in urban Tucson, by the Nature Shop! VF

and Madera Canyon or Patagonia are easy Credit

CreditCard
CardNo.
No.
daytrips. The 8-acre property, with 174 rooms
(including five suites) on two floors, has Expiration
ExpirationDate
Date Amount
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everything you need to make your stay in Advertise in the
Tucson a luxurious birding experience! Some of
our best amenities include: the brand-new Vermilion Flycatcher Signature
Signature
Terrace Café and Bar, complimentary full Individual members and members of our
Birds & Business Alliance can advertise in Please
Pleasesend
sendyour
yourapplication
applicationwith
withpayment
paymenttoto
American breakfast each morning of your stay,
complimentary Manager’s Reception (Mon– the Vermilion Flycatcher. Classified and Tucson
TucsonAudubon
AudubonSociety,
Society,
display ads accepted. For a rate sheet, 300
300E.E.University
UniversityBlvd,
Blvd,#120,
#120,
Thurs.), free internet, Direct TV, microwave/
contact Chris Harrison at 629-0757 or Tucson,
Tucson,AZAZ85705
85705
fridge in each room, outdoor heated pool and
(Attn:
(Attn:Jean
JeanBarchman,
Barchman,
Jacuzzi, and much more! Pets are also welcome! charrison@tucsonaudubon.org or go to our
Membership
MembershipCoordinator)
Coordinator)
The Riverpark Inn is located at: website /www.tucsonaudubon.org/
OR
OR join,
join,renew
reneworordonate
donateonline
onlineatat
350 South Freeway, Tucson, AZ 85745-2707 verfly/index.htm www.tucsonaudubon.org
www.tucsonaudubon.org
239-2300 • www.theriverparkinn.com VF

MARCH–APRIL 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon 25

 Other Ways to Give!
Tucson Audubon Society is a registered
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. 100% of your
financial and in-kind donations and membership
dues are tax deductible.
THE VERMILION SOCIETY
Create a legacy that will benefit others for
generations by including Tucson Audubon
Society in your estate planning. Your gift will
express, in a lasting way, your commitment to
preserving the diversity of southern Arizona’s rich
avifauna and the habitats they call home. If you
have already included Tucson Audubon in your
estate plans we hope that you will share this
information with us. We would like to express our
gratitude and welcome you to the Vermilion
Society. As always, your wishes for anonymity
will be respected. If you would like to know more
about how to designate Tucson Audubon as a
recipient in your will, please contact Executive
Director Paul Green at 622-5622 or
pgreen@tucsonaudubon.org.
DONOR WALL
Whenever you visit our offices and Nature Shop
on University Blvd you’ll notice our donor wall
honoring significant giving with brightly colored
bird and plant tiles. For information on making a
memorial gift or honoring a loved one with a tile
on our donor wall please contact Jean Barchman
at jbarchman@tucsonaudubon.org or 629-0757.
WORKPLACE GIVING
Donations can be made to Tucson Audubon
through payroll deduction for employees who
work for the City of Tucson and Pima County
through the Employees Combined Appeal
Program (ECAP). Designate our number, #1434,
as your recipient and your gifts will go to Tucson
Audubon; it’s just that easy!
Many other companies offer an employee
matching gift program where they match (some
even triple!) employee charitable contributions.
Many will do so even if you are retired. Check
with your employer for more information.
BASHAS’ “SHOP & GIVE”
Next time you’re in Bashas’ simply link your
Bashas’ “Thank You” card to Tucson Audubon
Society’s ID number, 27286, and from
September 1, 2008, through March 31, 2009,
one percent of what you spend will be donated
by Bashas’ to Tucson Audubon.
THE IRA CHARITABLE ROLLOVER
Legislation has been extended retroactive to
2008 and 2009. During 2008 and 2009, holders
of traditional IRAs who are at least 70½ years
old can transfer up to $100,000 per year directly
to charity — bypassing income tax. The
extension comes as part of the Emergency
Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, and enables
Americans to give to the causes they care about.
26 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher MARCH–APRIL 2009
TUCSON AUDUBON
NATURE SHOPS
Planning a birding trip further afield?
We can help!
Birds of Mexico and Central America A Birder’s Guide to the Rio
2006. By Ber Van Perlo. Princeton Grande Valley, 2008
University Press. 336 pages. Includes By Mark Lockwood, William
color plates, maps and short species McKinney, et. al. ABA/Lane
descriptions. $29.95 Birdfinding Guide, American
Birding Association. 328
A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and
pages. Includes detailed
Northern Central America directions to birding hot
2007. By Steve Howell and Sophie Webb. spots and an annotated checklist. $25.95
Oxford Press. 850 pages. Includes color
plates, maps and detailed species The Birds of Costa Rica: A Field Guide
descriptions. $49.95 By Richard Garrigues and Robert Dean.
Cornell University Press. 387 pages.
Birding Oregon Includes color plates, maps and detailed
(Falcon Guide) species descriptions. $29.95
By John Rakestraw.
Globe Pequot Press. The Mammals of Costa Rica: A Natural
209 pages. Covers 44 History and Field Guide
prime birding areas in By Mark Wainwright. Cornell University
Oregon; includes Press. 454 Pages. Includes color plates,
descriptions of more maps, detailed species descriptions and
than 200 sites. $15.95 natural history. $29.95
Help promote Tucson Audubon Society. Visit one of our
Nature Shops to pick up your new logo items!
You can show off your support in a variety of ways:
T-shirt
Organic cotton T-shirts are the way to go.
Who says you can’t bird-watch in comfort
and style? These T-shirts come in two
different colors: stone/khaki or heather
green. $20 – $22
Cap
The shops offer two styles of organic
cotton caps. Keep the sun out of your
eyes while looking at the birds, and show
your support for Tucson Audubon at the
same time. Choose from two colors,
stone/khaki or olive. $15 – $17
Car magnet
A simple car
magnet is an Water bottle
easy way to show your support for Don’t forget the water! Show
Tucson Audubon. It will fit on most car you care about conserving
doors and you won’t have to worry about habitat for birds with this
any sticky residue. It’s easy to apply, and reusable, stainless steel water
looks so great you’ll never want to bottle. 24 oz. You can choose
remove it. What a great and inexpensive your color in either stainless or
gift for a friend, too! Size: 4” x 13”. $8.95 white. $21.95 VF

Tropical Plants of Costa Rica: A Guide
to Native and Exotic Flora
By Willow Zuchowski. Cornell University
Press. 529 pages. Includes color photos,
detailed descriptions of plants and plant
uses. $35.00
TUCSON AUDUBON
NATURE SHOPS
SHOP HOURS
Main Shop
Monday–Saturday 10 AM–4 PM, except
Monday & Thursday until 5 PM
Located on the southeast corner of
University Blvd. and 5th Avenue.
Agua Caliente
Park Shop
Tuesday, Friday, Saturday 9 AM–3:30 PM
Sunday: 10 AM–3 PM
Phone: 760-7881
Directions: From Tanque Verde Rd. and
Houghton, continue east on Tanque
Verde 2 miles. Turn left (north) onto
Soldier Trail, continue north for 2 miles.
Turn right (east) onto Roger Rd.,
continue ¼ mile to the park entrance
on the left (north) side of the road.
TUESDAY BIRD WALK
Agua Caliente Park
Tuesday 8:00 AM
Loaner binoculars available, meet in
front of the ranch house. For more
information, call Pima County Parks &
Recreation at 877-6111.
For permit requests and general
information about park rules and
regulations, call 749-3718
VOLUNTEER
Interested in helping out at our shops?
Contact Becky Aparicio 760-7881
(Agua Caliente Shop) or
Sara Pike 622-2230 (Main Shop)
BOOKENDS
Birding for Everyone: encouraging people of
color to become birdwatchers
John C. Robinson.
Foreword by Kenn Kaufman. 2008.
Wings-on-Disk, Fairfield, CA.
ISBN 978-0-9679338-3-2
144 pages. $18.95
Birding for Everyone addresses the issue of
participation in all outdoor activity in general and
birding in particular. Robinson, an African
American, studies the real nuts and bolts of how to
engage people of all ages and all ethnicities. This
is important when one considers the growing
numbers of Hispanics, African Americans, Asians
and all other non-whites. Largely the lack of
participation for minorities stems from few family
experiences in outdoor activity as youngsters, and
it is up to us birders to become advocates to those
whose socio-economic backgrounds preclude
participation in a pastime that has such great
rewards. Birders, Robinson says, “overwhelmingly
welcome anyone who wants to join them in the
study and celebration of the world of birds.”
A 2003 survey by US Fish and Wildlife Service
found that 94% of birders identified themselves as
“white.” The focus of research using this data was
to define outreach and recruitment programs that
would enable people of diverse backgrounds to
“find their way to nature through birds.” I
recommend Robinson’s book to all teachers and
naturalists who seek to engage a broadening
ethnicity to their love of nature. For those who
identify themselves as “birders,” I especially
enjoyed his ten secrets to becoming a better birder,
a meaty section in the book that gave me some
sage tips. Available in our nature shops.
Review by Becky Aparicio,
Shop Manager, Agua Caliente
MARCH–APRIL 2009 Vermilion Flycatcher Tucson Audubon
Birdwatcher: The Life of Roger Tory Peterson
Elizabeth J. Rosenthal. 2008.
The Lyons Press, Guilford, CT. 1st edition.
ISBN-13: 978-1599212944.
Hardcover, 464 pages. $29.95.
Birds are the most eloquent expression of reality.
[p. 76]
Rosenthal has produced an extremely readable
and fascinating book about the life of a giant in the
field of ornithology. Roger Tory Peterson is
perhaps one of the most influential and most
important figures in the world of birds. His name is
as recognizable as other giants, like Seton, Nuttall,
Audubon, or Darwin. Rosenthal's book is divided
into five parts spanning 19 chapters: Fledgling,
Intercontinental Migration, Paradoxical Homo
Sapiens, Conservation Stories, and Inspiring
Flights. Near the center of the book is a collection
of photo plates (color and B&W) focusing on
Peterson and his close friends. The book is written
such that Peterson becomes a living, breathing
soul through the voices and comments of more
than 100 interviewees who knew and loved
Peterson. The diligent research conducted by
Rosenthal illustrates a highly accurate and
personal journey into the life of the "Great Man."
Rosenthal eloquently communicates just how
important and influential Peterson was.
Perhaps the biggest theme in the book is
Peterson's constant interest in conservation.
Nearly everything he wrote came from a
conservation standpoint. Birds cannot survive
without an intact ecosystem and are indicators of
an unhealthy environment.
Rosenthal also delved into Peterson's personal
life and his relationships with various people. His
wives and children all had their unique influence on
him and how he interacted with the world.
Although Peterson may have been a difficult man
to live with, he drew people to him for conversation
and companionship; he was a good friend.
Rosenthal's book is excellent. For anyone
interested in nature, birding, or natural history,
"Birdwatcher" is a must-read. Never before has
the life of Roger Tory Peterson been so well
documented, and as you read the book, you will
undoubtedly come to realize that you knew Roger
all along, at least in spirit, since everything is
connected:
"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we
find it hitched to everything else in the Universe"
(Muir 1911).
—Muir, J. 1911. My First Summer in the Sierra
Review by Howard Clark,
Wildlife Ecologist, Fresno, CA
VF
27
 DON’T MISS THESE EVENTS!
Birdathon April 10–May 10
When was the last time you were excited about seeing a
House Sparrow? How about a European Starling or a Rock
Pigeon? Make every species exciting again by taking part in
Tucson Audubon’s Birdathon. Put the fun in fundraising!
Join in the fun. Get some friends together and go birding for a

LIA SANSOM
day. For more information see page 14, or contact Chris
Harrison at charrison@tucsonaudubon.org or 520-629-0757.
“The question for next year is ‘How do you see the most bird

ALAN D. WILSON / NATUREPICSONLINE.COM

species with no carbon footprint, without walking funny for
several days after?’ ... it was a blast!” Bearded Tyrannulets, a
2008 Birdathon bicycle team

Institute of Desert Ecology  April 16–19

Come join us for four days of learning about birds, herps,
mammals, bugs and rocks, and how they interact, from the
state’s top experts in magnificent Catalina State Park. For full
details, see page 10. Matt Brooks will help and answer your
questions at 520-622-2230 or mbrooks@tucsonaudubon.org
“Thanks for the experience. I loved the spirit, content, people,
peace, time, and opportunity.” 2008 IDE participant

PAUL & ENG-LI GREEN

STOP PRESS: Rick Wright to lead fundraising trip in Madera
Canyon for 12 people, May 13. Check our website for details.

NON-PROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE PAID
TUCSON, AZ
300 E University Blvd, #120 PERMIT #1345
Tucson, AZ 85705

Change Service Requested

Vermilion Flycatcher
Volume 54, Number 2 March–April 2009
The Vermilion Flycatcher is the newsletter of the
Tucson Audubon Society, a chapter of the National
Audubon Society. National Audubon Society members
and members of other chapters may receive the
Flycatcher by joining the Friends of Tucson Audubon.
See membership at www.tucsonaudubon.org.

28 Tucson Audubon Vermilion Flycatcher MARCH–APRIL 2009