March 2007 Gambel's Tales Newsletter Sonoran Audubon Society

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Gambel’s Tales

March, 2007

The Newsletter of the Sonoran Audubon Society

Volume 8 Issue 7

Gambel’s Talesambel’s Tales

At our next meeting….

Wednesday, March 14, 2007 at 7 p.m.

Rich Ockenfels—Pronghorn Antelopes

Richard Ockenfels is the Terrestrial Research Program

Supervisor for the Arizona Game and Fish Depart-ment’s Research Branch. He has worked for the De- partment for over 25 years. His specialty is ungulateresearch and management, having spent most of hiscareer studying white-tailed and mule deer, javelina,and pronghorn antelope. He has studied pronghornintensively since 1989 across northern Arizona. Mostof his research deals with the impacts of humans on pronghorn (fences, water developments, sport harvest,livestock grazing and livestock diseases) and their habitat use patterns and movements.

He has written numerous articles and also a book enti-

tled “Coues White-tailed Deer - An Annotated Bibli-ography.” This is a must have book if you are inter-ested in the Coues Deer.

On the right, Richard Ockenfels receiving the ArizonaWildlife Federation’s McCullough Award in the pro-fessional category in 2001.

What’s Happening in our Chapter?By Your Editor, George Wall

The Sonoran Audubon Society board meeting con-vened at 7 p.m. on January 3, 2007. The attendeeswere board members Bob McCormick, Karen La-France, Anne Durning, Chuck and Loretta Richards,Dick Fogle, Suzanne Cash, George Wall and DanielaYellan. Chuck Kangas, Tice Supplee and RichSchooler were also present.

1. After approving the minutes, the first order of business were the committee reports.

A. Membership: Chuck Kangas reported thatwe currently have 652 members total. He also ex- plained the database received from National. Suz-anne Cash is now calling all new members to makethem feel welcome.

B. Conservation: Tice Supplee noted that we

were not on the list of organizations tied in with“Teaming for Wildlife”. We will join.

C. Field Trips: The next meeting of the com-mittee is at 1 p.m. on April 12, 2007. Trips will bescheduled through the summer.

D. Finance: Loretta Richards reported that$2,047.75 was received from National for dues.

2. Here are a few of the other items discussed at the board meeting that included the Retreat, Tres Rios Nature Festival, AAC Meeting, IBA, and newsletter.

A. On the Retreat, the main topic was commit-

tees.

● Education and Outreach Committee needsto be formed. George Wall will set up the firstmeeting in order to get a chairman to prioritize ideasand projects.

● Karen LaFrance will call a meeting to getthe Publicity and Public Relations Committee going.

(Continued on Page 4)



Gambel's Tales

Bird walks for March start at 8:30 a.m. on Satur-day, March 3, 2007, with Pete Moulton and Cyn-thia Donald; Sunday, March 11, 2007, with CindyMarple and Vera Walters; Saturday, March 17,2007, with Kathe Anderson and Troy Corman,Sunday March 25, 2007, with Marceline Vande-Water.

This is an ideal place to bird with two miles of trails. If you don’t feel like birding, there are plenty of other things to do. They have several programs on birding and digital photography. For driving directions or other details, call 520-689-2811 or visit their internet website athttp://arboretum.ag.arizona.edu/

Birders’ Anonymous

Birders’ Anonymous, a group of birdwatchers, hastheir monthly meeting from 10—11:30 a.m. Theymeet on the third Friday of each month all year

around at the Church of the Palms on the corner of Boswell and 103rd Ave. in Sun City in King Hall.Their next meeting will be on March 16, 2007, andHillary Williams from Southwest Wildlife will present a program on Arizona Wild Predators. For further information contact George Wall [email protected]

Friends of Audubon Arizona

Sometime in the near future, there will be a newchapter of the National Audubon Society and theywill probably call their chapter the Desert RiversAudubon Society. Check out their website atwww.desertriversaudubon.org for some of their planned trips and events.

EVENTS IN AND AROUND THE VALLEY

Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Project

They have bird walks, nature programs and other items of interest. Their location is 2439 S. Central Ave., Phoenix.Check the website at www.phoenix.gov/riosalado.

Frank Insana leads bird walks on Sunday, March 4,(program # 21499) and Sunday, March 11, (program #21500). All walks start at 8:00 a.m. and go to 10. Youmeet at visitors’ plaza on the north bank at Central Ave.You need to make reservations in advance by visitinghttp://phoenix.gov/PARKS and click on “classes and programs”. Enter the program number listed above. Youcan also call 602-262-6863 and leave a voice mail.

Desert Botanical Garden

Each Monday morning from now through April, 2007,there will be bird walks from 8 a.m. to approximately 10a.m. There will be additional walks on the second Satur-day of each month at the same time. They see as many as

40 birds during these walks.

Desert Botanical Garden entrance fees of $10.00 ($9.00seniors) apply unless you’re a DBG member. Member-ship is $55 a year. See their website at www.dbg.com

for further information.

Hassayampa River Preserve

Here are some of the events scheduled at this lush birdinghabitat.

Hassayampa is having two more sessions of bird bandingled by Anne Leight Watzek on Sunday, March 4, and

Saturday, March 24, starting at 7:00 a.m.

On Saturday, March 21, 2007, from 8 a.m. - 11 a.m.,Kathe Anderson will be teaching a basic birding class.

March 29-April 1, 2007, is Hassayampa’s 20th anniver-sary celebration. To see the schedule of all events onthese three days go to http://gosw.about.com/od/ bestsightstosee/a/hassayampa_3.htm

Reservations and fees may be required for some of theabove events.

Entrance fees are $5, TNC members $3 and children 12and under are free. For information or reservations call

928 684-2772 or e-mail: [email protected]

Normal visiting hours are Wednesday—Sunday from8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Boyce Thompson Arboretum is now in their Winter schedule. Their hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day.The price of admission is $7.50 for adults and $3 for chil-dren ages 5-12.

Celebration 2007

Those of you who were able to attend the ArizonaAudubon Council’s and Arizona Audubon’s jointeffort “Celebration 2005” in Sierra Vista can recallwhat a wonderful event this was.

Part of the pizzazz was having a great selection of

Silent Auction and Raffle items. It’s not too earlyto start collecting donations and gifts for thisyear’s Celebration that will take place September 14-16, 2007, at the Fiesta Inn Resort in Tempe.

If you have any items for donating to this fund-raising endeavor, please contact Doreen Lah at theAudubon Arizona office at (602) 468-6470 or [email protected]. There will be a lot more onthis event later. It’s just like going to a birdingfestival.



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SAS Web Site: www.sonoranaudubon.org

Arizona Audubon Web Site: www.az.audubon.org

Friends of Audubon Arizona Web Site:

www.desertriversaudubon.org

Join the National Audubon Society

New adult or family membership: $20.00

Seniors and students: $15.00

Renewal fee for seniors and students: $15.00

These fees cover membership in the National Audubon Soci-ety and a subscription to Audubon magazine. An applicationform for National membership may be obtained from thechapter at the regular meeting or by contacting<[email protected]>.

Each year all National members in the Sonoran Audubonchapter area receive the September Gambel’s Tales that de-scribes major chapter activities for the year. All monthlyissues of Gambel’s Tales may be obtained free from the chap-ter website <www.sonoranaudubon.org> or by mail for $10.00 per year. If you wish to get the newsletter by mail or to be notified when a new issue is placed on the website, please contact [email protected] or by mail to:Sonoran Audubon Society, P O Box 8068, Glendale, AZ85312-8068. For Information or questions call 623-939-6181.

Sonoran Audubon Society Officers, Board Mem-

bers and Committee Contacts:

Officers

President: Robert McCormick [email protected] Vice President: Karen LaFrance [email protected]

Treasurer: Loretta Richards [email protected] Secretary: Anne Durning [email protected]

Board Members— Directors at Large

Suzanne Cash 602-942-0727 [email protected] Dick Fogle 623-584-3922 [email protected] Chuck Richards [email protected] Alvin & Arlene Scheuer [email protected] Andrée Tarby 480-948-1074 [email protected] George Wall 623-875-7057 [email protected] Daniela Yellan [email protected]

Committees

Programs: Daniela Yellan [email protected]

Education:

Field Trips: Donna Smith [email protected]

Finance Treasurer: Loretta Richards 623-594-6554 [email protected]

Hospitality: Dan [email protected] and Charles Kangas623-931-6677 [email protected]

Publicity: Karen LaFrance [email protected]

Membership: Charles Kangas [email protected]

Newsletter: George Wall [email protected]

Conservation: Tom Lazzelle [email protected] & Karen LaFrance 602-788-9646

[email protected]

and

KARL’S BAKERY



Gambel's Tales

(Continued from Page 1)

What’s Happening in our Chapter?

● The membership committee needs to be

expanded.

B. Bob McCormick reported on the Tres Rios

Nature and Earth Festival to be held at the PIR park-ing area March 17-18, 2007. The festival still needsvolunteers. The board agreed to donate $500 to thefestival.

C. The Arizona Audubon Council meeting is onSaturday, February 10, 2007. See the separate report.

D. The monitoring for IBAs was discussed. Pic-tures are needed for a couple of the areas.

E. The monthly SAS Newsletter was discussed.George Wall wants to get the newsletter to the Web-

master by the 22nd of each month; so he needs to re-ceive all input no later than the 19th.

F. There is a Coalition for Mountain Preserveswith the theme Spring in the Mountains which will beheld March 3, 2007, at the North Mountain Park Visi-tors’ Center. SAS can be part of the coalition.

————————————————————— Dick Fogle presided at the regular monthly member-ship meeting held on February 14, 2007. Sean Saville, National Outreach Coordinator in the Audubon D. C.Policy was our guest speaker and gave an informative

program.

Arizona Audubon Council NotesBy George Wall

Here are some of the important points and informa-tion from the Arizona Audubon Council Meetingheld on Saturday, February 10, 2007.

•Sean Saville, the National Outreach Coordinator in the Audubon D.C. Policy Office, gave a nice presentation on some of the things happeningwith issues and some of the “Hot” topics for thisyear.

• Tice Supplee talked about the organization

“Teaming for Wildlife”. The AAC will join.

• Ruth Russell and Janice Miano discussed the

“Celebration 2007” that will be held September 14-16, 2007, at the Fiesta Inn Resort in Tempe,AZ. Lots of good speakers and activities are planned.

• Tice Supplee discussed a cooperative partner-

ship with the AZ Riparian Council and AudubonAZ. AAC signed on.

• Sarah Porter gave a very nice presentation on the

Rio Salado Nature Center.

• Robin Silver gave a presentation on what’s hap-

pening in conservation.

• Audubon Arizona, the Chapters and some com-

mittees gave their reports.

• Next Council meeting sponsored by the Sonoran

Audubon Society will be on June 2, 2007.

The New Logo for Celebration 2007

I Need Articles for the Newsletter

Have you seen some unusual bird in your backyard or on atrip?Have you gone on a birding vacation trip?Do you have a story about nature or birding that othersmight enjoy?

This is your newsletter and we can make it a lot better if some of you would submit some articles and pictures. Just

send them to [email protected]

Global Warming: An excerpt from Feb-

ruary 2007 Audubon Advisory

“Audubon supports a mandatory cap or limit ongreenhouse gas emissions and reductions in carbonemissions by at least 15% to 20% below current levels by 2020, with 80% reductions by 2050. The GlobalWarming Pollution Reduction Act of 2007 (S 309)would add a new title to the Clean Air Act, with mul-

tiple programs designed to curb dangerous interfer-ence with the Earth’s climate. It would have the mostsweeping effect of any piece of global warming legis-lation currently proposed in Congress. We'll be askingfor help with S 309 in the near future—watch for analert.”

This is one of the “hot” topics taken out according tothe top conservationists.



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Tres Rios Nature and Earth Festival

March 17-18, 2007 -- Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. &

Sunday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

New Location for 2007 and its FREE!! -- B&MWildlife Area - located on the Gila River adjacent toPhoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ari-

zona.

Speaker Series: The speaker series is at the core of the Festival experience. This is an opportunity for people of all ages to really learn about our nativewildlife, culture and community.The adult talks cover topics ranging from Bald Ea-gles to Bats and Beavers. A yearly favorite is theHummingbird talk! If you are interested in hot hikingspots, environmentally safe products, archaeologicalsites or the history of the west valley, then there issomething for you as well.The kid talks are just as diverse and (maybe) a little

more fun! With topics like “The Busy Little BashfulBeaver: Tales from the Beaver Pond” and “The Mythof the Big Bad Wolf – Are you Afraid” it will behard to beat! There are storytelling, talks, sing-alongsand so much more – you may not want to leave the“Talks” stage and explore the rest of the Festival!

Booths: Exhibitors, sponsors and organizations willhave booths that will be sure to entice you. Supportthem.

Food and Drinks: Food and drinks will be availablefor purchase at several spots.

Canoe Floats: Canoe floats will be offered on theriver at the Festival.

Hikes: Guided hikes and walks will be offered dur-ing the festival. This year there’s a hike to Monu-ment Hill. Also, a 1.5 mile nature trail will be a hit.Walk the trail or take the hay wagon ride around thesite.

Bird Watching: Bird watching is one of the fastestgrowing forms of outdoor recreation. Come find outwhat it is all about! “Birders” from the local Audu-

bon Chapters will be on site and tours will be offeredthroughout the day. They will provide binoculars for your birding walk. If you have your own binocularsand field guide – bring them along.

The Entertainment : Our headlining group thisyear is the Back Porch Band based in the Phoenixarea. It is a five-piece bluegrass band providing amix of bluegrass, old-time, traditional, folk and

originals. Along with them, a mix of cultural musicand local performers will be sure to please. For ex-ample, we are thrilled to have the West ValleyYouth Orchestra returning for the Saturday per-formance.

Fishing Clinic: Free! First-come on-site registra-tion. It’s an instructional clinic for youth and adults.

Learn about warm water fishing in Central Arizona:which fish are present, how to catch, clean and pre- pare them for the table. Fishing equipment pro-vided, no licenses required. The clinic and river arewithin walking distance from the Festival! So bringyourself and have some fun!

For more information about the Festival visit their website at http://www.tresriosnaturefestival.com/.

Can I Stump You?

What bird is this?

The bird in the February newsletter was a BorneanPeacock Pheasant. No one sent me an answer. Thismonth’s bird should be easier—it’s a U.S. bird.

The Pantanal—Brazil & ArgentinaAre you interested in going on a REAL birding tripwhere you’ll see hundreds of birds that you’ve probably never seen before? Then come with meand a couple of other members of the SonoranAudubon Society and Audubon Arizona to the Pan-tanal of Brazil and Argentina. The trip is limited to14 people. We’ll leave on August 31, 2007 andwe’ll return on September 12, 2007. This trip is being sponsored by Audubon Arizona and managed by Field Guides. For more information, contact meimmediately.—George Wall



Gambel's Tales

Brown-capped Rosy-Finch

Black Rosy-Finch

Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch

Hepburn’s variety of the Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch

Go to http://www.rosyfinch.com/ if you’d

like to read about and see more pictures of theRosy-Finch.

The Rosy-FinchesBy George Wall

When I moved to Arizona in May of 1999, I had cer-tainly never heard of a Rosy-Finch, let alone hundredsof other birds that I’ve come to know and love in the past few years. Then as I began to add to my U.S. Life

List, I noticed them in my birding books. By this time,I had of course seen the House Finch (who hasn’t?)and I’d also seen the elusive Purple Finch and Cas-sin’s Finch; however, no Rosy-Finch.

Like a dumb fool, I went to Albuquerque and SandiaCrest (where I was informed they hang out) in May afew years ago. Of course, there were no Rosy-Finches. I was informed they arrive in the winter. Ok,I’ll go in the winter, I said to myself.

I decided to go up to Sandia Crest in October, 2005, tonot only see the Rosy-Finches but to take in the an-nual Balloon Festival. The weather was cold, the wind

was blowing and most of the balloons made it off theground even if just for a short time. The balloons were pretty, but I wanted to see the Rosy-Finch. On the lastday of our visit to Albuquerque, we went to SandiaCrest where I was informed that they weren’t thereand the best time to see them was when snow was onthe ground. Another bust!

Finally, a trip was scheduled by the Sonoran AudubonSociety to go see the Rosy-Finch in January, 2007, – sign me up!

Nine of us drove to Albuquerque on January 26, 2007,

and the next morning we went to Sandia Crest wheresnow was on the ground. Some of the first birds wesaw were the Rosy-Finches. We spent the next severalhours sitting inside the Sandia Crest Gift Shop & Res-taurant not only enjoying the good food, but observingall the different Rosy-Finches just on the other side of the plate glass window. The birds were no more than5-10 feet away from us. What a treat. We saw theBrown-capped Rosy-Finch, Black-Rosy-Finch and themore prevalent Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch. We alsosaw the Hepburn’s variety of the Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch that someday might be a full fledged species byitself.

Everyone was pleased as punch as we headed downthe mountain on our way to other birding spots. Wehad seen the Rosy-Finch and I added some life birdsto my list.

All of the following photos were taken by Vera Mark-ham while on this trip.



Gambel’s Tales

BIRDING SPOTSBy George Wall

This is the sixth in a series about birding spots in andaround our area. For those of you who go birding,you’ve probably been there; however, there may be afew that haven’t or you may be a new birder. This

month’s spot is:

Phoenix Rio Salado Habitat Restoration ProjectThis is an area that has been in the news a lot lately aswe are hoping this will become an Important Bird Area(IBA) sometime in the future. Currently, teams arecounting the number of birds seen at least once eachmonth and when a new bird is found it is added to the bird list on their website. Just in a stretch running from7th Ave. to 19th Ave. in January, 2007, one team re-corded 25 different species and this area didn’t eveninclude the 6 ponds.

All photos by George Wall

The area currently encompasses a five mile stretch of the Salt River just south of downtown Phoenix. Thisonce deteriorated dumping site is now transformed intoa lush riparian corridor for visitors to enjoy. The trailsystem takes you through various habitats - explore thedemonstration wetland pond inhabited by winteringwaterfowl and other birds.

The goal of the Phoenix Rio Salado Habitat RestorationProject is to restore the native wetland and riparian (i.e.riverbank) habitats that were historically associated

with the Salt River, which once flowed year-roundthrough what is now Phoenix.

Their website at http://phoenix.gov/RIOSALADO/

provides a lot of information on classes, tours, maps aswell as the bird checklist.

Here are some of the species counts, date and best birdseen on just some of the trips I have been on.

33 - March 1, 2003 – Peregrine Falcon23 - June 17, 2006 – Common Yellowthroat43 - October 9, 2006 – Little Blue Heron

However, it must be pointed out that so far 181 differ-ent species have been identified in the area; so, younever know what you might find on any given day ortime. For better viewing, I would suggest you take ascope.

Influx of water to the river and ponds

The Low Flow Channel

There is ample parking at all four of these locations

*2439 S. Central Avenue (North east corner)3212 S. 7th Avenue (South west corner)2875 S. 7th Street (South east corner)3203 South 16th St. (South east corner)

*this is the only trailhead thatcurrently has a restroom untilothers are built.

Enjoy



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shaded in Sycamore, Cottonwood and Ash trees andhas lots of flowing water and ponds that naturallyattracts lots of birds. In this area I’ve seen Blue Gros- beaks, Summer & Western Tanagers, Warblers, Vir-eos, Bullocks Orioles, Western Bluebirds, Swallows,Lesser Goldfinches, Townsend’s Solitaires, Plain &Bridled Titmouse, Flycatchers, Black & Say’sPhoebe, Hairy Woodpecker, and Scrub Jays.

Difficulty: 2 Bring lunch.

Meet at Fry’s Electronics parking lot at the SE corner of 31st Ave and Thunderbird. We will leave at7:00am.

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

Lower Oak Creek Important Bird Area

Leader: Eleanor Campbell [email protected]

Officially designated, Lower Oak Creek Important

Bird Area includes Page Springs Fish Hatchery and a birding trail that traverses through marshland to Oak Creek southwest of Sedona.

This riparian corridor (cottonwood/willow/sycamoreand mesquite/hackberry bosque) supports a broaddiversity of bird species. Exploration of woods, ponds and grassland at this time of year should beornithologically rewarding.

Lucy's Warbler and Bell's Vireo breed here. Mi-grants such as Southwestern Willow Flycatcher,Olive-sided Flycatcher and Virginia's Warbler passthrough. Cavity nesting species seen here in abun-dance are: American Kestrel, Bridled Titmouse,Brown-crested Flycatcher and Violet-green Swal-low. Notable rare species also occur such as Com-mon Black-Hawk and Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

Difficulty: 1 All Day Trip. Bring lunch, snacks anddrinks.

Meet to LEAVE at 5:30 a.m. at Bell Recreation Cen-ter, corner of Hutton Dr. and Boswell Blvd., in SunCity OR at 6:00 a.m. at McDonald's just east of Rte.17 on the north side of Carefree Highway (Exit223).

Please call the leader to register and confirm meeting place.

*Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Hassayampa River Preserve

Leader: Dick Fogle 623-584-3922

[email protected] (Continued on Page 9)

Winter 2007 Field TripsAn * indicates a Birders’ Anonymous planned trip

Saturday, March 3, 2007

Robbins Butte

Leader: Bob McCormick [email protected]

Robbins Butte is a Wildlife Area administered by theAZ Game & Fish Dept. This area hasn’t been visited by our group of birders in a long time; so it’s an un-known area as to what we’ll find. Occasionally thereare Sandhill Cranes and a White-tailed Kite is possible. Expect to see lots of hawks. Phil Smith, theRanger at Robbins Butte will be assisting on this trip.

Difficulty: 1

Carpool will leave from Denny’s 1 block N. of I-10on Litchfield Park Rd at 7 a.m. or meet us at the pond just east of Robbins Butte at 7:30 a.m.. The pond is100 feet east of the locked gate (very easy to find).

*Thursday, March 8, 2007Granite Reef/Coon’s Bluff

Leader: George Wall 623-875-7057

[email protected]

These sites on the Salt River in Tonto National Forestalways provide good habitat for ducks, herons, hawksand Bald Eagles.

The mesquite forest is home to wrens, woodpeckers, phoebes, juncos, and sparrows as well as flycatchers---even in Winter.

Difficulty: 1 Bring lunch.

Meet at Bell Recreation Center Parking Lot on HuttonDrive near corner of Boswell in Sun City to LEAVEat 7:00 a.m.

Saturday-Sunday, March 17-18, 2007

Tres Rios Nature & Earth Festival

See Separate article on this

Thursday, March 29, 2007

The Narrows of Oak Creek Canyon

Leader: Dan Bohlmann [email protected]

This is a little known section of Oak Creek that has atrail called the Huckaby that leaves a parking lot 1.8miles up Schnebly Hill Road. It heads north along theeast side of the creek. This section starts out in Pineand Juniper country above Oak Creek Canyon andthen drops down next to the creek where it is heavily



Gambel’s Tales

(Continued from Page 8)

Winter/Spring 2007 Field TripsAn * indicates a Birders’ Anonymous planned trip

Over 230 species have been recorded nesting or migrat-ing along this riparian area where cottonwoods and wil-lows surround running water and a pond. Trails traversemesquite thickets and cottonwood stands. There areriver overlooks where a variety of species are seen at

The Nature Conservancy’s preserve near Wickenburg.Anna’s Hummingbirds are regulars.

Difficulty: 1 Morning only (A picnic area is availablefor lunching after the trip.)

Meet at the south east corner of the Bell Recreation Cen-ter Parking lot near corner of Boswell on Hutton to leaveat 7:00 a.m..

Also, you can meet at the Hassayampa River Preserve onRoute 60 about 3 miles southeast of Wickenburg, about45 miles west of Glendale at 8:00 a.m. Donation to The Nature Conservancy is $5 per person unless you’re aConservancy member and then it is $3.00.

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Jackie Meck Lake

Leader: Chuck Kangas 623-931-6677

[email protected]

Explore this rich habitat ‘lake’ at the confluence of the

Agua Fria and Gila Rivers, near Estrella Mountain Park.

This is part of the Buckeye Water District Conservation

Area. This is an opportunity to hopefully see many spe-

cies of waterfowl, as well as possible migrants along the

canal. There is a Great Blue Heron rookery and a Great

Horned Owl was spotted on the field trip there in the

fall.

Difficulty: 1 Morning only.

Meet at Sun Bowl parking lot on 107th Ave. just south

of Peoria Ave. in Sun City to LEAVE at 7:00 a.m.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Tres Rios

Leader: George Wall 623-875-7057 [email protected]

The Tres Rios Constructed Wetlands Project located onthe 91st Ave. is a haven for many bird species. The habi-tats include open water ponds, running stream, marsh,desert and woodland which provide a good environmentat any time of year for ducks, shorebirds, and migrating passerines.

Difficulty: 1– Morning only.

Meet at Sun Bowl parking lot on 107th Ave. just southof Peoria Ave. in Sun City to leave at 6:30 a.m. or meetus there at 7:00 a.m.

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Stoneman Lake

Leader: Donna Smith 623-556-9535

[email protected]

Stoneman Lake, situated in the Coconino National For-est, is northeast of Camp Verde off Route 17. StonemanLake is one of several spring-fed mountain lakes on theMogollon Plateau and located 36 miles south of Flagstaff

and 125 miles north of Phoenix. Take Interstate 17 to theStoneman Lake Exit #306, and follow the clearly markedsigns. Here are some of the birds of the Ponderosa Pineforest: Red Crossbill, Pygmy Nuthatch, MountainChickadee and Northern Goshawk are residents. GambelOak woodland, wooded drainage and natural springs offer habitat for Pinyon Jay and Acorn Woodpeckers which arein abundance. The group will look for Lewis’s andThree-toed Woodpecker in a burned-out area and for warblers nesting at this high elevation. Picnic area and toiletsare available.

Difficulty: 2 Bring lunch and water.

Meet at Bell Recreation Center, Boswell and Hutton Dr.,one block south of Bell Rd. in Sun City to leave at 6:30a.m. OR at the McDonalds just off I-17 and CarefreeHighway 7:00 a.m.

*Thursday, May 24, 2007

Yarnell and Area

Leader: Eleanor Campbell 623-977-7639

[email protected]

Exploration of the side streets in tiny Yarnell situated between Phoenix and Prescott in the Weaver Mountains

at 4,700 ft. should reveal a variety of resident and summer nesting birds. There is a community park withwoods and stream where Phainopepla, Summer Tanager,Cooper's Hawk,Black-headed Grosbeak and Juniper Tit-mouse have been seen.

In the environs of the peaceful Shrine of St. Joseph of theMountains and high desert Acorn Woodpecker, SpottedTowhee and Bridled Titmouse are common.

Difficulty: 1 Morning only, but plan to eat lunch in alocal restaurant.

Meet at Bell Recreation Center, corner of Hutton Dr. andBoswell Blvd., in Sun City to LEAVE at 6 a.m. OR atWickenburg Community Center at 7:00 a.m. (Take Rte.60 northwest to Wickenburg. Cross the bridge over theHassayampa River and immediately turn right onto thestreet that takes you to the large white building and park-ing lot.) Please call the leader to register and confirmmeeting place.

March 2007 Gambel's Tales Newsletter Sonoran Audubon Society

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