[mou] Arizona birdimg guides

[ebharlowe@stkate.edu]

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ze=3D2><DIV><DIV><BR><FONT face=3D"Default Sans Serif, Verdana, Arial, Helv=
etica, sans-serif" size=3D2><FONT face=3D"Default Sans Serif, Verdana, Aria=
l, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3D2><DIV>I grew up in Southern Arizona and r=
eturn home every other year for Chistmas.&nbsp; I bird the area in January =
pretty regularly.</DIV><DIV>&nbsp;</DIV><DIV></DIV><DIV>Tucson Audubon put =
out a new edition of their Birding Guide to SE Arizona in March 2004.&nbsp;=
 It is comprehensive for ALL of southern Arizona and more up to date than t=
he ABA guide.&nbsp; The Tucson Audubon Website also posts updates to the gu=
ide, detailing closures, limits on visiting hours, etc.&nbsp; </DIV><DIV></=
DIV><DIV>Local birders believe that the drought is having a major impact on=
 birds in the Southern Arizona region.&nbsp; Drought in the valleys, combin=
ed with extensive forest fires in the mountains seems to have limited the s=
outhbound migration of birds.&nbsp; Numbers of hawks, sparrows, and other m=
igrants seems to be down.&nbsp; I found canyons (Madera, Ramsey, and Cochis=
e Stronghold) were more empty than previous years, too.</DIV><DIV></DIV><DI=
V>I agree that you don't&nbsp;NEED a guide.&nbsp; On the other hand, I woul=
d check to see if there are any trips in the offing.&nbsp; Sheri Williamson=
 at Southern Arizona Bird Observatory (SABO) in Bisbee offers Hawk and spar=
row stalks through the Sulpher Springs Valley (see below) that are more rea=
sonably priced&nbsp;than a guide.&nbsp;&nbsp; SABO's new HQ just north of B=
isbee is a bit hard to find but worth a visit.&nbsp; An hour at their feede=
r station turned up over a dozen species including violet-crowned hummers a=
nd rufous-winged sparrows.</DIV><DIV></DIV><DIV>Tucson Audubon Society offe=
rs a least a trip a week and you don't have to be a member to go.&nbsp; The=
 members who lead the trips are first rate as are the birders in attendance=
.&nbsp; Last year an ABA board member on holiday happened to join a couple =
of trips.&nbsp; I learned TONS from birding with him.&nbsp; Often times, th=
e TAS trips will divert from the planned itinerary to chase a reported rari=
ty.</DIV><DIV></DIV><DIV>The AZ highlights are a little more thin in Januar=
y, but there are still some possibilities.&nbsp; Trogons are reported on th=
e Madera Canyon Christmas count, but they are pretty far up the mountain.&n=
bsp; I think you would have to hike well beyond the upper parking lot to fi=
nd them...also olive warbler.&nbsp; There are occasionally some good hummer=
s by the Santa Rita Inn in Madera Canyon (I had a male magnifiscent there o=
ne winter) and at Patons, but nothing like in the summer.&nbsp; Madera Cany=
on should have its year round species like Yellow-eyed junco, Acorn Woodpec=
ker, Painted Redstart&nbsp;and Bridled Titmouse.&nbsp; Be sure to bird the =
grasslands leading into the canyon for Eastern Bluebird (some say it may be=
 a distinct species) and sparrows. </DIV><DIV></DIV><DIV>Patagonia Preserve=
 has the year-round riparian species.&nbsp; Be aware that they are only ope=
n Wed. to Sunday.&nbsp; Winter rarities are much more likely to turn up at =
Patagonia Lake State Park.&nbsp; PSP is on the way from Nogales to Patagoni=
a, so if the birding is dead, you can move on quickly.&nbsp; </DIV><DIV></D=
IV><DIV>Depending on what interests you, you might consider going out towar=
ds the Willcox/Sulpher Springs Valley.&nbsp; Of course the Sandhill Cranes =
are there and, sometimes, some other interesting shorebirds at Whitewater D=
raw.&nbsp; The wintering hawks are usually plentiful as are the sparrows.&n=
bsp; Last year, the first&nbsp;Bairds Sparrow&nbsp;was found in the valley.=
&nbsp; To get some mountain species, head to Cochise Stronghold or buzz ove=
r to Ramsey or Carr Canyon or in the Huachuca mountains. </DIV><DIV></DIV><=
DIV>&nbsp;For the partial day of birding, I would recommend two places whic=
h can be covered in a 1/2 day: Sweetwater wetlands and Avra Valley Sewage p=
onds.&nbsp; Both tend to collect rarities and are just pleasant places to b=
ird.&nbsp; The road is now paved all the way to Avra Valley! but be aware t=
hat the plant closes when the security alert moves to Orange.<BR>Sabino Can=
yon is also worth an hour or two for desert species.&nbsp;&nbsp;Most of the=
 more interesting species (Towhees, White-throated Swift, Black-throated sp=
arrow, Gila Woodpecker, Verdin, Roadrunner, etc.) are found close to the vi=
sitors center, either on the main trail or the short trail to the dam.</DIV=
><DIV></DIV><DIV>For winter visitors, I would also recommend the Wings over=
 Willcox festival in mid-January. It is a very small event but extremely en=
joyable.&nbsp; The trip leaders are local birders and conservationists (inc=
luding people like Sherry and Bill Williamson).&nbsp; The guest speakers ar=
e nationally known and they often join a group for a day of birding.&nbsp; =
Last year I spent a day of studying sparrows with Jim Rison.</DIV><DIV></DI=
V><DIV>Hope this helps.&nbsp; Have a great time.</DIV><DIV>Cheers,</DIV><DI=
V>Brooke</DIV><DIV></DIV><DIV>E.&nbsp;Brooke&nbsp;Harlowe<br>Assoc.&nbsp;Pr=
of.&nbsp;and&nbsp;Chair/Pol.&nbsp;Sci.<br>The&nbsp;College&nbsp;of&nbsp;St.=
&nbsp;Catherine<br>St.&nbsp;Paul,&nbsp;MN&nbsp;55105<br>(651)&nbsp;690-6557=
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