Arizona Bird Call: Recent Episodes
Mike Ameigh
Information for Arizona birders including summaries of research and analysis related to bird conservation and protection. Introductions to common Arizona birds, Arizona birding hotspots, governmental and non-profit agencies charged with bird conservation. A weekly calendar of birding events and activities throughout Arizona.
Please note: Due to post surgery recovery from an elbow fracture to my dominant arm I am unable to continue production of the podcast at this time. Full recovery is expected by early 2026, but whether I can continue given other health issues is a question.
This has been a solo act from the begining in 2021. This episode was produced before the injury, includes the conclusion of a series on the extraordinary recovery of the Lesser Snow Goose in western North America, increasingly a common resident of Arizona. A report on efforts underway to have Bendire's Thrasher elevated to threatened status following surveys that show dramatic declines in recent years. Bird of the episode: Barn Owl. Birding hotspot: Dankworth Pond State Park south of Safford. Friend of wildlife: Arizona Sustainability Alliance.
I have arranged with the podcast distribution platform to keep all episodes available until further notice. Thank you all for your interest and loyalty, some of you from the very first episode.
I started the podcast as what I thought might be a brief interlude during the Covid pandemic. Nearly 10,000 downloads later to more than 70 countries, more than 700 cities/principalities on every continent except Antarctica I am overwhelmed with gratitude. I hope you have found the podcast interesting and, from time to time, perhaps entertaining.
Wishing happy birding to all wherever you are.
- Mike Ameigh
Lesser Snow Geese, once a rarity in Arizona and western North America more broadly have rebounded from the brink of extinction as a result of adaptation to modern agricultural practices. In this podcast part 1 of an article from Audubon Magazine that describes major damage to wetland ecology resulting from this rebound. Bird of the episode: the Arizona Bald Eagle. Birding hotspot: Big Horn Mountains Wilderness, Buckeye. Friend of Wildlife: Arizona Sonoran desert Museum.
A brief explanation of how birds are 'smaht.' Kettles of hawks, vultures and other large birds of prey are passing through Arizona headed for South America in migration. What is a 'kettle' and how does it form? Pinto Creek in Gila County is drying up from water extraction by mining operations destroying riparian ecology in the area. A tribute to Richard Glinski, long-time Arizona biologist and nature educator who passed away earlier this year.
A report by the Arizona Field Ornithologists on gaps in data regarding resident bird species in Arizona. These bird information 'gaps' are being addressed by volunteers and professional wildlife personnel statewide with updates posted to the AZFO website. A rare-bird-alert update for the last week in September for Maricopa County. Bird of the episode: Belted Kingfisher. Birding hotspot: Coon Bluff. Friend of wildlife: Arizona Trail Association.
A report on concerns about possible effects of aerial drones on raptors. Arizona Game and Fish Department's continuing work on installation of wildlife crossovers and underpasses along Interstate 17. near Flagstaff. A report from Tucson Bird Alliance on the Purple Gallinule wetland bird increasingly spotted in Arizona. Bird of the episode: Bell's Vireo. Birding hotspot: Borderlands Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. Friends of wildlife: Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum, Flagstaff.
A report on research regarding shorebird use of the Colorado River Delta by millions of shorebirds in migration. Highlights from the Northern Arizona Audubon Society August newsletter. A closeup of the Lark Bunting, elusive winter resident of the Wilcox Playa often observed with other sparrows. Bird of the episode: Barn Owl. Birding hotspot: Beaver Dam Mountains wilderness. Friend of wildlife: Arizona Natural Plant Society.
The Crested Caracara, a desert scavenger and sometimes breeder in Arizona's Sonoran Desert, was spotted recently in Canada. Locals say it has been observed repeatedly and may be a year-round resident. The bird was scavenging in a town dump in the Province of Ontario. Wild burros, while not native to Arizona have adapted to the desert and are wreaking havoc on native plants including Saguaro cacti. Bird of the episode: American Wigeon. Birding hotspot: Blue Range Wilderness. Friends of wildlife: Arizona Master Naturalists.
A report on the release of five more California Condors at Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in northern Arizona. This is the fifth year that new endangered condors have been introduced into to the wild through a program involving the San Diego Zoo, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Hawk Watch International and the Peregrine Fund, among other partners. A report on how saline lakes are making a comeback in southern California and western Arizona following sigificant rains during the recent monsoon season. Some scientists are celebrating this turn of events as the western drought continues, albeit cautiously. Bird of the episode: American Robin. Birding hotspot: Baboquivari Peak Wilderness. Friend of wildlife: Arizona Ecological Services Field Office.
A recent study by the Nature Conservancy confirms that thinning of forests here in the Southwest is good for trees and the wildlife sustained by them, including birds. An Audubon sponsored project involving scores of scientists has come up with a new way to track birds in migration. A report on how dressing for desert conditions, especially in the heat of summer, is critically important. Bird of the episode: Lucy's Warbler. Birding hotspot: Chevelon Canyon Wildlife Area. Friend of wildlife: Arizona Conservation Corps.
Arizona Game and Fish Department statement encouraging the public to not feed wildlife. Doing so has the potential to spread diseases and encourage dangerous encounters with humans. Birdability update on innovative technologies designed to give disabled birders and other outdoor enthusiasts access to nature trails and other wildlife viewing opportunities. A report on the elusive Five-striped Sparrow in Southeastern Arizona. Bird of the episode: American Redstart. Birding hotspot: Aztec cattle feed lot east of Yuma. Friend of wildlife: Arizona Bird Committee.
A report on new research showing that Arizona Bald Eagles are expanding their ranges to include regions of the Northwestern United States. A description of how birds conform to Zipf's Law, a pattern of communication commonly observed in human language where a few words are used very frequently while many words are used rarely. Those words (sounds in the case of birds) are simplified to make the communication process faster and more efficient. A Western Resource Associates statement on the condition of the Colorado River. Bird of the episode: American Pipit. Birding Hotspot: Aubrey Peak Wilderness. Friend of wildlife: Arizona Chapter of the National Association of Environmental Professionals.
A report on the Colorado River Oxbow Bridge collapse August 8, 2025. The bridge connected Cibola, Arizona to Palo Verde, California in the vicinity of the Cibola Wildlife Refuge. A description of the Sierra Madre Occidental, a unique high elevation mountain region along extreme western Mexico and parts of California and Arizona. Bird of the episode: American Kestrel. Birding Hotspot: Arizona State University Research Park. Friend of Wildlife: Arizona Solar Center.
Arizona Game and Fish Department is receiving reports of coyotes and other canids with Canine Distemper, an infectious and sometimes fatal disease that, while not a threat to humans can be transmitted to unvaccinated dogs and other pets exposed to wild canids in suburban parks and other urban areas. Symptoms are similar to behavior of animals with rabies. An in depth description of the unique ecosystems that comprise the Mojave and Sonoran desert regions of the Southwestern U.S. Bird of the episode: American Crow. Birding Hotspot: Ash Canyon Bird Observatory. Friend of Wildlife: American Ornithological Society.
Scientists have discovered that plants and animals, primarily insects but including birds, communicate by exchanging information through sound. This development has upended long-held scientific assumptions and is generating new lines of research on inter-species communication that could lead to dramatic changes in understanding animal and plant ecology. Lesser Goldfinches, common in Arizona, are expanding their range to the west and northwest where they were once a rarity. Ornithologists think that range expansion may be coming, not at the expense of resident populations, but as an enhancement. Bird of the episode: Western Bluebird. Birding hotspot: Tuzigoot IBA near Cottonwood. Friend of wildlife: Genius Loci Foundation near Tucson.
Recently ornithologists have determined that Black-capped and Mountain Chickadees, both familiar to Arizona birders, are interbreeding in the state altering certain behavioral and appearance characteristics known to both. A report on night moths that serve as important forage for night birds and bats. Bird of the episode: Pinyon Jay. Birding Hotspot: Quigley State Wildlife Management Area. Friend of Wildlife: Paradise Mountain Preserve Trust.
Birds are classified scientifically using a system devised by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus during the 18th Century. That system, titled Systema Naturae in Latin, has been adopted internationally. It undergoes constant revision as new species of plants and animals are encountered and previously known species require updating. This episode is an introduction to classification of organisms scientifically as well as among Indigenous cultures in Arizona. Bird of the episode: Black-headed Grosbeak. Birding hotspot: Arboretum at Flagstaff. Friend of wildlife: American Conservation Experience.
Birding web cams are growing in popularity, and some ornithologists think they may soon begin to make significant contributions to bird science. Bird of the episode: Band-tailed Pigeon. Birding hotspot: Upper Little Colorado River IBA. Friend of wildlife: Northern Arizona Climbing Coalition.
A report on progress being made in documenting bird species found in underbirded area of Arizona. Bird of the episode: American White Pelican. Birding hotspot: Coon Bluff in the Tonto National Forest. Friend of wildlife: Arizona Forest and Fire Management.
An in-depth look at the Bald Eagle, native to North America and historically considered to be the epitome of avian dominance. But it is a complicated story that may not be so simple, or accurate. A report on the California Fan Palm, the the only palm native to Arizona and a favorite of some bird species for nesting, brooding and foraging. Bird of the episode: Black Rail. Birding hotspot: Pinaleno Mountains IBA. Friend of wildlife: Prescott Creek area volunteers.
Report on a movement to reconsider rules - or lack of them - regarding extraction of water from Arizona aquifers as wells in some parts of the state run dry. A report on the surprising presence of fireflies in Arizona. Bird of the episode: American Goldfinch. Birding hotspot: Joshua Tree Important Bird Area (IBA) in the Mojave Desert in western Arizona. Friend of wildlife: Wild at Heart in Cave Creek.
A report on Swinhoe's White-eye, a small Asian songbird that has become established in parts of California and may be headed for Arizona and other parts of North America as well. Bird of the episode: the Neotropic Cormorant. Birding hotspot: Alamo Lake State Park. Friend of wildlife: Animal Defense League of Arizona.
A report on the domestication of the American Turkey whose origins date back nearly 1,000 years in the four-corners region of the Southwest where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah come together. Indigenous people known as Anisazi are known to have domesticated birds. They predated the Aztecs who are often credited with domesticating the turkey. Bird of the episode: Arizona Woodpecker. Birding hotspot: Watson and Willow Lake IBA, Prescott. Friends of wildlife: Center for Nature and Place at Prescott College.
A perspective on how smartphone bird detection software may diminish the birding experience for some birders. A report by Arizona Game and Fish Department on the lack of Chronic Wasting Disease on the Arizona deer population. The disease is known to be an issue throughout the Southwest, but not here in Arizona. Bird of the episode: Black-headed Grosbeak. Birding hotspot: Mogollon Rim Snowmelt Draw. Friend of wildlife: Central Arizona Chapter for Conservation Biology.
A report on research indicating that the growing proliferation of hummingbird feeders may be causing evolutionary changes in the length and size of the Anna's Hummingbird bill, perhaps that of other species as well. Bird of the episode: Lark Sparrow. Birding hotspot: San Rafael Grasslands in southern Arizona. Friends of wildlife: Patagonia Area Resource Alliance.
A report by AXIOS/Phoenix on birds that appear to be disappearing from Arizona, among them the official Arizona State bird, the Cactus Wren. News about habitat restoration activity in southeastern Arizona. An update on Northern Arizona Audubon's new MOTUS bird detection station near Flagstaff. Bird of the episode: American Coot. Birding hotspot: Sabino Canyon Tanque Verde ecosystem. Friends of wildlife: Arizona Master Naturalists Development Program.
Research evidence is mounting that hearing bird songs in the wild as well as touching and smelling, even tasting many plants in their natural states is good for human health. A report on Audubon Southwest's recent water resource tour for Arizona local, state and federal policymakers. Bird of the episode: American Avocet. Birding hotspot: Lower Salt and Gila River ecosystem IBA. Friend of wildlife: Western Field Ornithologists.
Tips and tricks to get the most from your experiences for those new to birding. News from Arizona Game and Fish Department regarding wildlife conservation and welfare. David Allen Sibley on Chickadees. Bird of the episode: Black Phoebe. Birding hotspot: Quigley State Wildlife Management Area. Friend of Wildlife: the Urban Bird Foundation.
New research findings on migratory habits of the Desert Purple Martin, a rare breeder in the deserts of southeastern Arizona, from Jennie McFarland, Bird Conservation Biologist at Tucson Bird Alliance. Bird of the episode: Western Osprey. Birding hotspot: Mittry Lake Wildlife Management Area. Friends of wildlife: Friends of the Santa Cruz River.
A description of how some birds migrate from breeding grounds in extreme North America to wintering grounds in New Zealand and other southern Pacific Ocean regions in one-hop flights of thousands of miles. Some consume their own body organs to fuel those flights, a remarkable evolutionary adaptation. Bird of the episode: Acorn Woodpecker. Birding hotspot: Cave Creek Canyon IBA in estreme eastern Arizona. Friend of wildlife: Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection.
A list of detections of songbirds on our patio on April 28, 2025. Many are migrants passing through while others are regular residents of the Sonoran Desert and broader Southwestern region of the United States. Kenn Kaufman describes how birds keep themselves clean throughout the year. Bird of the episode: Western Bluebird. Birding hotspot: Yaki Point on the Grand Canyon South Rim. Friend of Wildlife: Superstition Area Land Trust.
Sandhill Cranes, often found wintering in southeastern Arizona, are a conservation success story. The species has come back from the brink of extirpation in Arizona. But they also represent a challenge to farmers, especially in the Great Plains region. We'll have a report. And, ornithologists are studying the evolution of certain warbler species by sampling DNA extracted from their droppings. It is new research with great promise for breakthroughs in bird science. Bird of the episode: American Wigeon. Birding hotspot: Bear Wallow Wilderness. Friends of wildlife: Mund's Park Trail Stewards.
Part II of an article that explains the extraordinary iridescence of hummingbird feathers. Hummingbirds are the most colorful birds in the Western Hemisphere. David Allen Sibley describes notable aspects of bird movement. Bird of the episode: Yellow-rumped Warbler. Birding hotspot: the Verde River Oak Creek IBA. Friend of wildlife: Northern Arizona State Conservation Partnership.
Native plants are preferable to man-made birdfeeders. Ornithologist Michael Plagens explains why and how to make your bird feeding stations nature friendly. Part 1 of an article explaining iridescence in hummingbird feathers. Hummingbirds are the most colorful birds in the Western Hemisphere across the full spectrum of color including in the ultraviolet range. Bird of the episode: Anna's Hummingbird. Birding hotspot: Atascosa Highlands. Friend of wildlife: Arizona Land and Water Trust.
Make your favorite birding location your 'sit spot.' You can enjoy birding with very little effort by by making it part of your daily routine where you are. We'll have some thoughts on that from the Tucson Bird Alliance. And, Arizona Game and Fish Department advises birders and other outdoor recreationists to pay attention to summer wildlife including rattlesnakes that tend to move around in spring and summer. We have their advisory. Bird of the episode: Pinyon Jay. Birding hotspot: Boyce Thompson Arboretum and Queen Creek IBA. Friend of wildlife: Paradise Valley Mountain Preserve Trust.
Aerospace engineers at Princeton University have discovered that applying feather-like flaps to airplane wings has the potential to improve aircraft efficiency and maneuverability. New research suggests that the resurgence of Bald Eagles across North America may be affecting the distribution of sea ducks and other waterfowl. Bird of the episode: Ash-throated Flycatcher. Birding hotspot: Lower Colorado River/Gadsden Important Bird Area (IBA). Friend of Wildlife: White Mountains Conservancy.
Thoughts by an eminent biologist with decades of experience probing animal intelligence on whether humans are smart enough to know how smart animals are. It's a question that is gaining momentum within the scientific community, generating more questions than answers. Bird of the episode: Great Blue Heron. Birding hotspot: Blue and San Francisco Rivers IBA in eastern Arizona. Friends of wildlife: Arizona Association for Environmental Education.
A description of how ornithologists recently discovered the location of non-breeding Giant Hummingbirds, a long-time mystery dating back to Charles Darwin's discovery tour of Latin America. Darwin had a hunch, but the improbability and the relative inaccessibility of the region at the time made it impossible to verify. Bird of the episode: Phainopepla. Birding hotspot: Bill Williams/Lake Havasu Important Bird Area in western Arizona. Friend of Wildlife: Friends of Saguaro National Park.
A description of how and why Mountain Chickadees often encountered in Arizona at elevations above 5,000 feet are smarter than chickadees found in lower elevation forests and desert scrublands. Bird of the episode: White-crowned Sparrow. Birding hotspot: White Mountains region of northeastern Arizona. Friends of wildlife: Desert Foothills Land Trust in Central Arizona.
A report on Tucson Audubon Society's ongoing 'green infrastructure' habitat restoration project. A description of how seed dispersal by birds and other wildlife is critical to range expansion of many plant species helping them fend off disease and effects of global warming. A report on the impact of rodenticides on birds and other wildlife. A report on birds' senses by bird illustrator and naturalist David Allen Sibley. Bird of the episode: Black-throated sparrow. Birding hotspot: Sedona Wetlands Preserve. Friends of wildlife: Sky Island Alliance.
An eyewitness account of a warbler (Ovenbird often spotted in Arizona) landing on the ocean off Mexico's east coast, taking what appeared to be a break from its southerly migration to wintering grounds in South America, then launching back into the air to continue its journey. This account by a distinguished scientist upends long-held beliefs in the scientific community about presumed mortality among birds that run out of energy flying over large bodies of water. Bird of the episode: the Verdin. Birding hotspot: Willcox Playa in southeastern Arizona. Friend of Wildlife: Liberty Wildlife in Phoenix.
An account of how an owl nest was saved following an invasion by a swarm of bees. A nature photographer and a beekeeper teamed up to move owl eggs from the nest to a quickly constructed nest box that was then mounted nearby. The female owl quickly took up residence and raised newly hatched owlettes to fledging. A report on Arizona Trail association's 'Seeds of Stewardship' initiative that introduces youth to nature. Bird of the episode: White-winged Dove. Birding hotspot: Marble Canyon/Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. Friend of wildlife: Friends of the San Pedro River.
An update on research that describes how birds learn to communicate with one another through imitation and practice. A report on how bird losses affect the ability of some plant species to expand their ranges leaving them vulnerable to disease and ecological changes that can lead to extinction. Bird of the episode: Gambel's Quail. Birding hotspot: Huachuca Mountains Important Bird Area (IBA). Friends of wildlife: the Sonoran Institute.
A perspective on the extraordinary conservation movement involving social, cultural, industrial and political alliances that let to the establishment of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. Bird of the episode: Abert's Towhee. Birding hotspot: Imperial National Wildlife Refuge IBA. Friend of wildlife: Hall Lab at Arizona State University.
A report on work underway to mitigate wildfire danger along roadways in Patagonia. A description of 'dust bathing,' a desert bird behavior among quail and other species that appears to help maintain good feather structure and control ectoparasites. A report on a field trip to Oak Flat campground by Maricopa Audubon Society. Bird of the episode: Ruddy Ground Dove. Birding hotspot: Anderson Mesa southeast of Flagstaff. Friend of wildlife: Southwest Audubon.
A report on new research indicating songbirds communicate across species during overnight migration. These findings are challenging long held beliefs about bird communication in general. A report on how and why the City of Tucson is using goats to control wetland plant growth in recharge basins at Sweetwater Wetlands. An introduction to Wilson's Warbler, a tiny songbird common to Arizona riparian areas Spring through Fall.
Bird of the episode: Red-tailed Hawk. Birding hotspot: Lower Oak Creek IBA in central Arizona. Friend of wildlife: Nature Conservancy of Arizona.
A review of the Kenn Kaufman book 'The Birds Audubon Missed' by Tom Gatz. New research on effects of fireworks on birds. Bird of the episode: Curve-billed Thrasher. Birding hotspot: Arivaca Lake south of Tucson. Friend of wildlife: Grand Canyon Trust.
An extensive report of bird detections captured by the Haikubox located on my patio in the North Valley of the Phoenix metro. Bird of the episode: Vaux's Swift. Birding hotspot of the episode: Lake Havasu National Wildlife Refuge and Important Bird Area (IBA) on the lower Colorado River near Yuma. Friends of wildlife: Phoenix Mountains Preservation Council.
A look at how birds raise their young from egg laying to hatching to fledging. An overview of the unique behavior of corvids (jays) and why they are such an attraction among birders. Bird of the episode: the Upland Sandpiper. Birding Hotspot: Gilbert Riparian Water Ranch, Gilbert, in the heart of the Phoenix Metro. Friends of Wildlife: Friends of Saguaro National Park.
Information about restrictions on activity near Bald Eagle nest sites across Arizona as a new breeding cycle begins. California Condor recently released into the wilds of northern Arizona returns to the site where the egg from which she hatched was retrieved and incubated by biologists following the death of her mother from Avian flu. Incredibly, she had a brief encounter with her father as the two shared a meal. Bird of the episode: Western Grebe. Birding hotspot: Apache Creek Wilderness. Friend of wildlife organization: Altar Valley Conservation Alliance.
Sweetwater Wetlands reopens to wetland birds and birders after controlled burns eradicate invasive wetland plant species. Arizona Field Ornithologists conduct field expedition to Greenlee County. Cochise County receives $1.5 million Arizona state grant for water recharge project to protect San Pedro River. Birdability continues work promoting projects to enhance wildlife viewing for all. 72-year-old Albatross, oldest known wild bird, lays an egg. Bird of the episode: Gila Woodpecker. Birding hotspot: Cibola National Wildlife Refuge. Friend of wildlife: Friends of the Sonoran Desert.
News from the Northern Arizona Audubon Society December Newsletter. A Bureau of Land Management plan to save the Greater Sage Grouse in grasslands across the West. A report on the unique nature of bird vision. Bird of the episode: Elf Owl. Birding hotspot: Las Cienegas National Wildlife Area. Friend of wildlife: Friends of Sonoita Creek.
A discussion about bird memory. A description of the Northern Parula, a small New World Warbler sometimes encountered in Arizona. Audubon Southwest report on efforts to conserve and protect birds as renewable energy systems roll out across Arizona. Bird of the episode: Pied-billed Grebe. Birding hotspot: Bubbling Ponds important bird area in Cornville. Friend of Wildlife: Arizona Land and Water Trust.
How discarded fishing line (monofilament) endangers wildlife throughout Arizona and how to dispose of it properly. How Towhees and other birds use a variety of foraging techniques to uncover insect prey. Bird of the episode: the Common Whimbrel. Birding hotspot: Base and Meridian Wildlife Management Area west of Phoenix. Friend of wildlife organization: Desert Foothills Land Trust.
A report by Arizona Game and Fish Department on record-setting success in Bald Eagle nesting and fledging across the state during the 2024 breeding season. A report on efforts in the West to monitor saline lake populations of the Snowy Plover, especially on Great Salt Lake in Utah. Bird of the episode: Turkey Vulture: Birding Hotspot: Agua Fria National Monument in central Arizona north of Phoenix. Friend of Wildlife: organizations including the University of Arizona working to establish the Santa Cruz River Urban Wildlife Refuge, rhe first in Arizona.
A report on how birds invented the internet. How Canada Geese have expanded their range throughout North America including in Arizona. Bird of the episode: the Cactus Wren, North America's largest wren. Birding hotspot, Whitewater Draw and the Sulphur Springs Valley. Friend of Wildlife: Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection.
Some thoughts about a new book by renowned fiction writer and beginning birder Amy Tan, author of the long-time New York Times bestseller The Joy Luck Club and, more recently, Backyard Bird Chronicles that describers her experiences as a new birder and reveals her extraordinary talent as a bird illustrator based here on the west coast. Bird of the episode: Wilson's Warbler. Birding hotspot, the Aztec Feedlot east of Yuma, Arizona. Friend of wildlife, the Arizona Natural History Association.
An introduction to the Dicksissel, a seed-eating bird that breeds in the vast grasslands of the Great Plains, is sometimes spotted here in Arizona in migration. A report on how rodenticides commonly used to kill rats also kill birds of prey that feed on dead and dying rats and other rodents that ingest them. An article on Turkey Vultures that feed on roadkill and other carrion in the desert. Bird of the episode, the New World warbler, the Painted Redstart. Birding hotspot, Tinajas Altas, nine plunge pools that often capture rainwater and so become bird magnets in southwest Arizona. Friend of wildlife: Arizona Parks and Trails.
A commentary on the reliability of eBird and other citizen science data collection tools by White Mountain Audubon Society President Mary Williams. A description of differences between 'Old World' and 'New World' bird species. Bird of the episode: Great Crested Flycatcher. Birding Hotspot: Bartlett Lake Recreation Area. Friend of Wildlife: Sky Island Alliance.
The Paton Center for Hummingbirds has reopened following completion of Phase One of renovations that include replacement of the roof on the visitor's center. Four healthy California Condors have been released into the wild along the Arizona Utah border. Arizona Game and Fish Department reports the condors are adjusting well. Birders and other conservationists have asked municipal officials to reconsider creation of a new paved parking lot along Prescott Creek in the city of Prescott. Audubon's Western Water News reports more water is flowing into the Great Salt Lake thanks to an agreement among several organizations in Utah and Arizona.
Bird of the episode: Ridgeway's Rail. Birding Hotspot: the Thrasher Spot west of Phoenix. Friend of Wildlife: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Are so-called 'rare' birds tracked by eBird and other citizen-science tools really all that rare? That question comes up more and more often as more and more birding enthusiasts go looking in the wild. We have a take on that. A report on fall birding on the Mogollon Rim from White Mountain Audubon Society. A report by the Sonoran Audubon Society on a number of birding events coming up in October and beyond in Central Arizona. Bird of the episode: Orange-Crowned Warbler. Birding Hotspot: Seven Springs Recreation Area north of Cave Creek/Carefree, Arizona. Friend of Wildlife: Arizona chapter of the Nature Conservancy.
Kenn Kaufman, Field Editor at Audubon Magazine, notes recent changes regarding bird names and species differentiation by the American Ornithological Society. White Mountain Audubon Society board member Suzy Walker discusses Birdcast, an online tool for tracking birds in migration across Arizona. Sarah King, rancher and Nature Conservancy board member describes investments in water conservation underway in the Altar Valley south of Tucson. Tucson Audubon Society's Matt Griffiths describes Vaux's Swift, a high-flying, often overlooked songbird found in Arizona. Bird of the episode: Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Birding hotspot: Cochise Stronghold National Monument. Friend of Wildlife: Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory.
A description of how raptors have been observed using fire to drive prey from hiding places in grasslands in Australia. Some field biologists have documented this behavior, even speculate that birds may have taught early humans to use fire for cooking and other purposes. Bird of the episode: the Lesser Scaup. Birding hotspot: Chino Valley northwest of Prescott. Friend of wildlife organization: Hispanic Access Foundation.
Four captive California Condors are set to be released into the wild from Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in northern Arizona at the end of September. The public is invited to witness this dramatic event in person or virtually. Banding of American White Pelicans at Great Salt Lake resumed this summer. Great Salt Lake is a major bird migration stop-over in Utah. Bird of the episode: Western Tanager. Birding hotspot: Maricopa County parks. Friend of Wildlife: Liberty Wildlife in Phoenix.
A description of an encounter with the rare Zone-tailed Hawk on our patio in central Arizona. According to the Sibley Guide to Birds (2nd Edition) Fewer than 300 nesting sites are known to exist in North America.
Excerpts from the newsletter of the Northern Arizona Audubon Society including a report on its recent CHAMP field trip for families of children with cancer. Bird of the episode: Pygmy Nuthatch. Birding hotspot: Fossil Creek wildlife area in the Coconino National Forest. Friend of Wildlife: the Payson Roundup online news service.
An update by Charles J. Babbitt, Conservation chair of the Maricopa Audubon Society on effects of groundwater pumping by mining operations in the Pinto Creek basin near Superior, Arizona. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service policy is a major win for mining interests in the region while perennial streams are being dewatered at an alarming rate.
A Roseate Spoonbill was spotted in a pond on the Mogollon Rim, a very unusual sighting in Arizona's high country. And a report on the dangers of open pipe fence posts and other structures that trap birds.
Bird of the episode: MacGillivray's Warbler. Birding hotspot: Arlington Wildlife Management Area in Maricopa County. Friend of Wildlife: Arizona Wilderness Coalition.
An introduction to the Coloradito, the Red-faced Warbler, one of the most sought-after birds by visitors to Arizona. A report on the historic Yavapai-Apache water agreement recently concluded with multiple partners working to achieve sustainable water resources in the Southwest. A brief description of molting wherein birds lose their feathers in a process that replaces them in time for migration and breeding. Bird of the episode: Mountain Bluebird. Birding hotspot: Yuma East Wetlands in the lower Colorado River delta. Friend of Wildlife: Paton Center for Hummingbirds at Patagonia.
An update on the possible return of Desert Martins to the Sonoran Desert. Desert Martins only nest in Saguaro cacti, and Tucson Audubon is asking area residents to be on the lookout for this elusive species.
A report on recent audio detections in the area by the Haikubox, a device that listens for bird songs and calls and collects and reports that data automatically.
A description of webinars to be presented by Southwest Audubon's Appleton Whittell Research Fellows describing their work and how it impacts Arizona's natural grasslands.
Bird of the episode: the Sora. Birding hotspot: Peloncillo Mountains.
Friends of Wildlife: Western Rivers Action Network
A report on a multi-million dollar WaterSMART grant awarded to a consortium of organizations including Audubon Southwest to restore riparian corridors along the Gila River southwest of Phoenix. Projects will include removal of invasive species such as Salt Cedar that have altered the river ecosystem by driving out native species. And a report on what birds hear - and don't hear - including the vocal range of the human voice. Go ahead and yack it up in the field. Chances are nearby birds are NOT eavesdropping. Bird of the episode: Rivoli's Hummingbird. Birding hotspot: Cave Creek Canyon in eastern Arizona. Friends of Wildlife: Friends of the Verde River Valley.
A report on the importance of citizen scientists, overwhelmingly volunteers, serving as ecological stewards along the U.S. Mexico border. Stereotypically characterized as drawn from the ranks of retirees, many are students, professionals, individuals with specialized expertise that lends itself to tasks at hand. Bird of the episode: Scaled Quail. Birding Hotspot: Ramsey Canyon Preserve near Sierra Vista. Friends of wildlife: the many science programs at the University of Arizona, Tucson.
A report on July birding along the Mogollon Rim in northeast Arizona and a riparian area between Eagar and Springerville during July. Written by Rob Bettaso, Field Trip coordinator and editor of the Osprey Overlook, newsletter of the White Mountain Audubon Society in Pinetop/Lakeside Arizona near Show Low, the report includes an invitation to join bird-walks in the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest in August by Mary Williams, President of the WMAS. Bird of the episode: the Killdeer. Birding hotspot: Miller Peak Wilderness in southeastern Arizona. Friends of wildlife organization: Arizona Field Ornithologists.
Report from Western Water News on recent shorebird surveys conducted in Arizona. A look at hybrids, those perplexing, confusing, sometimes difficult to ID birds that often defy description. Bird of the episode: Buff-breasted Flycatcher. Birding hotspot Chevelon Canyon Wildlife Management Area on the Mogollon Rim. Friends of Wildlife: Friends of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in southern Arizona.
In a detrimental development for conservation of birds and other wildlife nearly 3,000 local newspapers have closed their doors in recent years, many highly regarded for their coverage over the years. Local media often perform a 'watchdog' function that can only be done locally for a number of reasons. National Audubon is sounding the alarm.
Aldo Leopold, legendary author of 'A Sand County Almanac' is remembered.
And, getting to know the Thick-billed Kingbird.
Bird of the Episode: Franklin's Gull. Birding hotspot: Ramsey Canyon near Sierra Vista. Friend of Wildlife: Student Conservation Association.
Third and final installment of reading of 'Must Add Water' from the Spring 2024 edition of Audubon Magazine regarding the state of saline lakes in the western United States and remote areas of Latin America with particular focus on Wilson's Phalarope and recent discoveries about how it is adapting to climate change. Bird of the episode, the Lesser Yellowlegs. Birding hotspot, Mica Mountain in the Rincon Mountains of southeastern Arizona. Friends of Wildlife: Sonoran Joint Venture.
Part two of 'Must Add Water,' an article from Audubon Magazine's Spring 2024 edition regarding the critical importance of saline lakes as stopovers for migrating waterfowl and other wildlife. Bird of the episode: Lucy's Warbler. Birding hotspot: Madera Canyon near Mt. Wrightson in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson. Friend of Wildlife organization: Arizona Solar Center, a broad coalition of colleges, universities and other organizations working to expand expertise and innovation within the growing solar industry in Arizona.
First of a three-part series of readings from Audubon Magazine regarding saline lakes in Western North America and the critical role they play for migrating water birds. Parts 2 and 3 will be included in episodes 145 and 146 respectively. Bird of the episode: Lesser Nighthawk. Birding hotspot: New River Reserve on the New River north of New River, Arizona. Friend of wildlife organization: Friends of Agua Caliente Park, Tucson
A report on woodpeckers that bang away on metal and other non-wood surfaces here in the Sonoran Desert. A report in an ongoing series that describes how bird's have been given human names and the growing movement to change some to be more reflective of the birds themselves. A report on how some birds are using human-created materials to build their nests in urban areas throughout the Southwest. A description of the Brown Creeper, tiny bird of pine forests in Arizona. Bird of the episode: Lincoln's Sparrow. Birding hotspot: Jewell of the Creek Preserve on Cave Creek in Maricopa County. Friend of Wildlife organization: Institute for Tribal Professionals at Northern Arizona University.
Announcement by Tucson Audubon Society that it has begun a process to change its name. The purpose is to delete the name of John James Audubon, an avowed racist who kept and sold enslaved people. A new report describes ongoing abandonment of millions of acres of cropland across North America beginning in the 1980s. Some scientists speculate this will have a positive effect on grassland birds and avian migrants. And, news about how to find birds nests in your neighborhood. Bird of the episode: Lewis' Woodpecker. Birding hotspot: Pena Blanca Lake. Friends of Wildlife: Cienega Watershed Partnership.
An update on the status of the imperiled Pinyon Jay of Arizona's highland pinyon pine woodlands from Charles Babbitt, Conservation Chair of the Maricopa Audubon Society. A report on detections of bird. species by the Haikubox installed at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds. A report on a sighting of an Iceland Gull in Tucson. Bird of the episode: Long-billed Dowitcher. Birding hotspot: Willcox Playa, Cochise County. Friend of wildlife organization: Sky Island Alliance.
Renowned ornithologist and Audubon field guide editor Kenn Kaufman explains why tyrant flycatchers are so difficult to identify here in the Southwest. It's not about looks; it's about vocalization, he says. A report on the world-famous 'Thrasher Spot' at Beeline and Salome Highway west of Phoenix. The site has been leveled to make way for a massive solar farm. Bird of the episode: the Loggerhead Shrike. Birding hotspot: Buckskin Mountain State Park. Friend of wildlife organization: Arizona Land and Water Trust. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
A report on effects of groundwater depletion on riparian birds. Ongoing residential and industrial development across Arizona is significantly reducing surface water in key riparian zones, disrupting natural ecological patterns on which birds and other wildlife depend. A report on a productive birding field trip to the Mogollon Rim lakes region in August, 2024 by members of the Maricopa Audubon Society. Bird of the episode: MacGillivray's Warbler. Birding hotspot: Cattail Cove State Park in western Arizona. friends of wildlife organization: Friends of Kentucky Camp in southeastern Arizona. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in days ahead in Arizona.
A report on new research that describes how the Nightingale, an Old World flycatcher that got a mention in Homer's Iliad, William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and countless other poetic and dramatic works over many centuries on its way to literary stardom, has a new claim to fame. It develops a capacity for mimicking the territorial songs of competing males in perfect pitch. Ornithologists are investigating whether other birds have similar abilities. Bird of the episode: the Mallard. Birding hotspot: Las Legunas de Anza Wetlands. Friends of wildlife organization: Natural Restorations based in Gilbert, AZ. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona
A report on research indicating Southwestern Flycatchers are adapting to climate change genetically by interbreeding with individuals from diverse population clusters in the Northwest and interior western US. A profile of the colorful Northern Shoveler, often spotted in Arizona during winter months. Introduction to Tucson Audubon's Mason Center. Bird of the episode: Lesser Goldfinch: Birding hotspot: Homolovi State Park. Friends of wildlife organization: Maricopa Trail & Park Foundation. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
A report on the Arizona Field Ornithologist's field expedition to Lake Havasu on the Colorado River January 27, 2024. A 'save the date' for another field expedition, this to Springerville AZ in search of breeding Mountain Plovers. White Mountain Audubon board member Rob Betasso report on a successful winter birding trip in search of Rosy Finches on Sandia Mountain near Albuquerque New Mexico. Bird of the episode: Marbled Godwit. Birding hotspot: Slide Rock State Park near Sedona. Friend of Wildlife: Santa Fe Ranch Foundation.
A report on a novel approach to increasing the stock of seeds from plants preferred by the threatened Montezuma Quail. Quail hunters are donating sublingual pouches of harvested birds from which undigested seeds are collected and stored, then planted in quail-friendly natural areas. A report on sightings of Spotted Towhee in Maine - in winter - the first ever. Bird of the week: LeConte's Thrasher. Birding hotspot: Lynx Lake in Prescott National Forest. Friend-of-wildlife organization: Gila Watershed Partnership of Arizona. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
A report on efforts by the Cocopah Indian community to restore portions of the lower Colorado River riparian zone including critical delta bird habitat. These efforts are being supported by recently awarded federal grants and corporate philanthropy. Bird of the week: Least Sandpiper. Birding hotspot: Thunderbird Conservation Park and Arrowhead Lakes in Maricopa County. Friend of Wildlife organization: Water Education Foundation. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
A report on a recently awarded multimillion dollar grant from the U.S. Highway Administration to Arizona Game and Fish Department and Arizona Department of Transportation for construction of wildlife overpasses/underpasses along Arizona portions of Interstates 17 and 40. These structures are designed to allow large mammals and other wildlife to safely cross thoroughfares during seasonal migrations and to cut down on vehicle collisions with wildlife. Bird of the week: Lawrence's Goldfinch. Birding hotspot: Mingus Mountain in Yavapai County. Friend of wildlife organization: the Salton Sea Coalition. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
An introduction to winter waterfowl birding across North America. Millions of waterfowl overwinter in Arizona, can be observed along riparian corridors and on lakes and reservoirs statewide. An update on actions taken by several Audubon Society chapters in the Midwest that are stepping away from the Audubon name and forming a new organization. Bird of the episode: Long-billed Curlew. Birding hotspot: the Arboretum at Flagstaff. Friend of Wildlife organization: Gila River Indian Community of Arizona. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
A report on scientific research being done by the Sala Lab at Arizona State University with support from the Drylands Institute. The Sala Lab is working to document environmental changes that are leading some scientists to conclude the decades long drought plaguing the Southwest is not temporary and that the region faces permanent aridification. An overview of research on Caledonian Crows and Jays and how they protect food sources and caches from conspecific competitors. Bird of the episode: Ladder-backed Woodpecker. Birding hotspot: P.A. Seitts Preserve at Go John Canyon in northern Maricopa County. Friend of wildlife: American Ornithological Society.
Update on research into effects of wildfires on birds, their migratory and breeding habitats here in the Southwest. A species overview of the Ferruginous Hawk, North America's largest hawk, a regular in southern Arizona. Bird of the episode: House Sparrow. Birding hotspot: ASU Research Park, Tempe. Friend of wildlife organization: Central Arizona Project. A brief calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
An article on the Short-eared Owl, one of a very few owl species readily spotted during daylight hours on perches above open spaces and along forest edges throughout Arizona. And, an article that describes how birds survive extreme cold. Bird of the week: Greater Yellowlegs. Birding hotspot: Kartchner Caverns State Park. Friend of wildlife organization: Global Drylands Center at Arizona State University. Calendar of bird-friendly events in days ahead here it Arizona.
The Phoenix area annual winter water bird survey is back after a one-year hiatus. Information on how to contribute. A report from Tucson Audubon on winter towhees now present at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds. A report on research that some scientists say supports the idea that drought is the new normal in Arizona, that the future will be characterized by permanent aridification. Bird of the week: the Hermit Warbler. Birding hotspot: Rawhide Mountains Wilderness. Friend of Wildlife: Natural History Institute, Prescott. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
An article on winter finches in Arizona by Charles J. Babbitt, author of Birds of Arizona: What to Know, Where to Go. Bird of the episode: Great-tailed Grackle. Birding Hotspot: San Rafael Valley grasslands in southeastern Arizona. Friend of Wildlife Organization: The Peregrine Fund. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
An article 'Do You Hear What I Hear?' that discusses how birds are able to make sounds outside the range of human hearing in addition to the songs and calls we do hear without the aid of technical devices. Bird of the episode: Green Heron. Birding hotspot: Alamo Lake State Park. Friend of Wildlife: Runnin'W Wildlife Center, Cornville. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
An introduction to the MOTUS wildlife stracking system being rolled out across Arizona in cooperation with several Audubon Society chapters. Bird of the week: Green Tailed Towhee. Birding hotspot: Dead Horse Ranch State Park. Friend of Wildlife organization: Discovery Center at Lake Pleasant, a program of the Maricopa County Parks department. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in weeks ahead in Arizona.
Species profile of Williamson's Sapsucker considered by many birders to be the most strikingly beautiful woodpecker of all North American woodpecker species. Bird of the week: Hairy Woodpecker. Birding Hotspot: Lost Dutchman State Park/Superstition Wilderness east of Phoenix in Central Arizona. Friend of Wildlife organization: Empire Ranch Foundation. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Overview of the 'Sagebrush Sea,' a vast grassland ecosystem spanning much of the western United States and prairie regions of Canada, home to numerous native bird species. Conservationists and ranchers among other stakeholders are cooperating to sustain and in some areas restore critical breeding habitat for grassland birds. And, a report of native Arizona birds Bell's Vireo and Western Flycatcher discovered for the first time in the province of New Brunswick in eastern Canada. Bird of the episode: Harris' Hawk. Birding hotspot: Glendale Recharge Ponds in Maricopa County. Friend-of-wildlife organization: Friends of Arizona Joshua Tree Forest. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in days ahead in Arizona.
A profile of early American ornithologist Alexander Wilson for whom Wilson's Warbler, Wilson's Phalarope, Wilson's Plover, Wilson's Snipe and other species are named. Update on progress in construction of wildlife crossings of major highways in western United States. Bird of the episode: Hermit Thrush. Birding hotspot: Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt spanning Scottsdale and Tempe. Friend of Wildlife: Rio Vista Conservation Project. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
A report on progress being made in efforts to save the quickly diminishing Great Salt Lake in Utah, a critical migratory stopover for countless species of birds and other wildlife. A broad coalition of environmental and governmental organizations have organized to create a permanent solution to the crisis. And, a statement by the Arizona Water Coalition applauding Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs' decision to cancel water leases held by Fondomonte Arizona LLC that allowed the company to draw groundwater for commercial agriculture without limitations on quantity, and at no charge. Bird of the episode: Hooded Oriole. Birding hotspot: Picture Canyon near Flagstaff. Friend of wildlife organization: Western Field Ornithologists. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in the days ahead in Arizona.
A report on a research initiative by Tucson Audubon titled 'Save the Sonoran Saguaro.' participants will plant Saguaro Cactus seedlings and track their progress over time. An essay titled 'Highway of New Birds' that describes rare bird sightings in southern Arizona's high peaks; species typically found in the Rocky Mountains and northern Mexico that intermingle in Arizona. Bird of the week: Hooded Warber. Birding hotspot: Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Friend of wildlife organization: International Wildlife Museum, Tucson. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
A guide to a number of extraordinary higher elevation birding spots in Arizona's southeastern sky island region compiled by Tucson Audubon and The Sky Island Alliance, a binational consortium of ecologists in U.S. and Mexico. Bird of the episode: Horned Grebe. Birding hotspot: Table Top Wilderness nature preserve along the southern border region of Arizona. Friend of Wildlife: Arizona Bird Committee. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
On November 1, 2023 the American Ornithological Society, the scientific authority on the naming of bird species in the Americas, announced it will no longer allow birds to be named for people, and that it will begin a process to replace English bird names that have been named for people in the past. We will have the official announcement.
Bird of the week: Horned Lark. Birding hotspot: San Carlos Lake. Friend of wildlife organization: Central Arizona Conservation Alliance. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
U.S. Supreme Court hands down ruling that limits EPA's authority to regulate commercial development of wetlands. Rio Rico residents and a consortium of environmentalists and wildlife conservation organizations challenge effort to bring commercial development to riparian corridors within the Rio Rico watershed. The proposal was withdrawn. Bird of the week: House Finch. Birding hotspot: Horseshoe reservoir on the Verde River north of Bartlett Lake. Friend of wildlife: Natural History Institute, Prescott. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in weeks ahead in Arizona.
A report titled 'Residential Neighborhood Diversity Study' by the The Central Arizona–Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research (CAP LTER) program. Bird of the episode: Greater Roadrunner. Birding hotspot: Roosevelt Lake at the headwaters of the Salt River. Friend of wildlife organization: VIDA Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Yuma. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Greater Phoenix has more than 1,400 artificial lakes. A report on a study conducted by faculty and students affiliated with The Central Arizona–Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research (CAP LTER) program. A description of the Zen Curtain device for preventing bird collisions with windows and other reflective surfaces. Bird of the Episode: the Great Egret. Birding Hotspot: Granite Reef Diversion Dam on the Salt River. Friend of wildlife organization: Reid Park Zoological Society. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
An introduction to Birdcast from Cornell Lab of Ornithology, an app that tracks and visualizes birds in migration in real time across North America. A discussion of trees that attract birds to Western lands and forests. How Icelanders are saving Puffins from possible extinction by capturing newly fledged pufflings and throwing them into the sea. Bird of the episode: Common Loon. Birding hotspot: Chiricahua National Monument in Cochise County. Friend of Wildlife organization: ASU's CAP-LETR research project. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Rare bird sightings in Maricopa County in late September. Includes a Great Crested Flycatcher and Sabine's Gull. A commentary on migration habits of White Winged Doves by Charles J. Babbitt, author of Birds of Arizona, What to Know and Where to Go. Bird of the week: Grace's Warbler. Birding Hotspot: Mormon Lake in Coconino County. Friend of Wildlife organization: White Mountain Nature Center at Pinetop/Lakeside. List of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
The movement to replace the names of people attached to bird names with names that specifically describe the species is gaining momentum, and not just among birders. Bird of the week: Great Horned Owl. Birding hotspot: Harcuvar Mountains Wilderness in LaPaz County. Friend of Wildlife: Hassayampa River Preserve near Wickenburg. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in October.
A report on the Arizona Field Ornithologist's recent successful field expedition to Arizona's Santa Cruz riparian region in search of the Green Kingfisher. Bird of the episode: the Gray Hawk. Birding hotspot: Riggs Lake, Mt. Graham's 'crown jewel.' Friend-of-wildlife initiative, Arizona Game and Fish Department's Focus Wild Arizona. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.l
A look at 8 'spark birds' that draw youngsters (and the young at heart) into birding. An introduction to the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher by Matt Griffiths at Tucson Audubon. Bird of the week: Golden Eagle. Birding Hotspot: Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area. Friend of wildlofe organization: Arizona Natural History Association. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
For some blind and visually impaired persons birding by ear has become a lifelong passion. Their ranks are swelling, and birding trails in Arizona and elsewhere are undergoing changes to become more accessible to visually impaired and otherwise disabled birders. Bird of the week: Hepatic Tanager. Birding hotspot: Gillespie Wash in Graham County. Friend of wildlife organization: Arizona Association of Environmental Professionals. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up across Arizona.
A Hurricane Hilary follow-up... a look at research that investigates where birds go during a hurricane and other major weather events. A report on a wildlife overpass planned for Interstate 40 near Flagstaff that will allow Elk, Deer, Pronghorn and other large mammals to cross the highway unimpeded by vehicular traffic. Bird of the episode: Glossy Ibis. Birding hotspot: Tempe Town Lake. Friend-of-wildlife organization: Southwest Biological Science Center. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in the days and weeks ahead.
A report on recent research that shows hummingbirds actively prey on an invasive insect that has been devastating blueberry, raspberry, blackberry and other fruit crops. Growers are installing hummingbird feeders in berry patches to attract them. Bird of the week: Eared Grebe. Birding hotspot: Riggs and Price Road ponds in Maricopa County. Friend of wildlife organization: biological sciences program at Grand Canyon University, Phoenix. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
A sampling of July 2023 postings to the American Birding Association Arizona-New Mexico listserv by seasoned birders in Yuma County and southeastern Arizona. Bird of the episode: Dark-eyed Junco. Birding Hotspot: Rousseau Sod Farm complex at Scottsdale. Friend of Wildlife organization: Friends of the Ironwood Forest. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
A report on new scientific evidence that changes in atmospheric pressure affect bird behavior in migration. More specifically, studies have found that departure times during migration can be predicted with weather data. Another report on bi-partisan support for continuation of the Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. Bird of the episode: Double-crested Cormorant. Birding hotspot: Lake Pleasant Regional Park. Friend-of-wildlife organization: Quail Forever/Pheasants Forever.org.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has restored protection for the Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy Owl based on accumulating evidence it is struggling to maintain its nesting range in the Tucson area. Once listed as endangered that status was set aside in the face of pressure from developers. Bird of the episode: the Downy Woodpecker. Birding hotspot: the remote Vekol Wash in the south-central Arizona borderlands region. Friend of wildlife organization: Navajo Nation Fish and Wildlife Service. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
A report on the devastating Diamond wildfire west of Scottsdale earlier this summer posted by the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. An assessment of its impact on the McDowell Conservancy Preserve and surrounding desert landscape is underway.
A report from the BBC on how Magpies in Europe have turned the tables on human efforts to discourage their presence where it is not wanted by using anti-bird spikes and similar material to protect themselves and their nestlings from predators.
Bird-of-the-episode: the Common (European) Starling. Birding hotspot: Ash Canyon Bird Observatory. Friend of Wildlife organization: the National Park Service. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up across Arizona.
A report on how the uniquely southwestern Lucy's Warbler got its name, and the controversy over whether to replace it. Lucy Baird was an extraordinarily successful ornithologist who helped establish the Smithsonian Institution as the premier scientific repository for bird identification and categorization. Bird of the episode: the Kingbird. Birding hotspot: St. John's Sewage Treatment Ponds in northeastern Arizona. Friend-of-wildlife organization: Arizona Association for Environmental Education.
Caring for birdwatching equipment in the wild including binoculars, photography gear, video cameras. An introduction to the Greater Roadrunner, fearless predator of the Sonoran desert. Bird-of-the-episode: Crissal Thrasher. Birding Hotspot: Jacques Marsh atop the Mogollon Rim near Show Low, AZ. Friend-of-wildlife organization: Friends of Tonto National Forest. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Maricopa Audubon Society bird list update including new recent sightings. Results of the Global Big Day bird survey, the most data ever gathered by eBird. Bird of the episode: Cooper's Hawk. Birding hotspot: Chiricahua Mountains region of southeastern Arizona. Friend-of-wildlife organization: Rocky Mountain Research Station based in Colorado that has a field office with staff at Flagstaff. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
A report on how birds and other wildlife keep cool during the heat of the Arizona summer. Bird of the episode: Crested Caracara. Birding Hotspot: Big Horn Mountains Wilderness. Friend of wildlife: Arizona Ecological Services Field Office. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
A description of 'Arizona warblers,' six warbler species endemic to Arizona according to noted Arizona birder Charles J. Babbitt, author of Birding Arizona: What to Know, Where to Go. Bird of the episode: Costa's Hummingbird. Birding hotspot: Fool Hollow Lake State Park. Friend of wildlife organization: American Bird Conservancy. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
A report on research that demonstrates birds are becoming smaller. A team of scientists recently compared data collected over many decades that documents how birds have shrunk, especially small birds. Bird of the episode, the Common Yellowthroat. Birding hotspot: the Baboquivari Peak Wilderness. Friend of Wildlife organization: Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up across Arizona.
An overview of numerous studies on the impact of tracking technology including the installation of physical tracking devices on migrating birds. These include acoustic (audio) tracking, leg bands, collars, wing tags and full-body harnesses. Bird-of-the-week: Cordilleran Flycatcher. Birding hotspot: Confluence of the Little Colorado River and Silver Creek in northeast Arizona. Friend of Wildlife: Black Canyon Heritage Park. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
A report by Tucson Audubon Society on how to attract night birds to your yard. Information about scholarships and other opportunities for youth and college students interested in nature studies. Bird of the week: Dusky Flycatcher. Birding Hotspot: Beaver Dam Mountains Wilderness. Friend of wildlife organization: Wildlife for Tomorrow. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
A report by the Arizona Republic on how the municipality of Queen Creek in Maricopa County is working to acquire water rights to support expected growth in that community. The plan proposes construction of wastewater recharge ponds that have proven to be magnets for waterfowl and other wild birds. Bird of the episode: Meadowlark. Birding Hotspot: Rock Art Ranch in northeastern Arizona. Friend of wildlife: Coconino Watershed Partnership. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Report on California Condor deaths from bird flu along the Arizona-Utah border. A report on a proposal by conservationists to have a wildlife corridor along the outflow of the Agua Fria River near Glendale and Peoria designated the McMicken Dam Conservation Area. A summary of research on how Cooper's Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks co-exist in backyard ecosystems. Bird of the episode: Mexican Whip-poor-will. Birding Hotspot: Blue Range Wilderness. Friend of wildlife organization: Arizona Wildlife Federation. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Insomnia keeping you awake at night? Or is it that Northern Mockingbird rattling away outside the bedroom window? You are not alone. Louie Dombrowski at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds has the scoop. And, a deep dive into the difference between precocial and altricial birds; why some are off and running the moment they are born while others stay in the nest for weeks before fledging.
Bird of the week: Elegant Trogon. Birding hotspot: Round Valley near Greer, Arizona. Friend of wildlife: Oasis Bird Sanctuary at Benson, Arizona. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
An article from Desert Rivers Audubon Magazine on how to turn your Arizona backyard landscape into a bird oasis. Introducing new Southwest Audubon Policy Manager Sam Draper and new Rio Salado Audubon Center director Daniel Roper-Jones. Bird of the episode: Common Gallinule. Birding Hotspot: Aubrey Peak Wilderness. Friend-of-Wildlife: ConservationJobBoard.com. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
White Mountain Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count report. Get to know the Bill's Vireo. A description of Arizona's Important Bird Area (IBA) program. Bird of the episode: Ferruginous Hawk. Birding Hotspot: Sulphur Springs Valley in southeastern Arizona. Friend of wildlife organization: Northland Pioneer College. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in days ahead.
Western Water News update on drought conditions in western North America. Tucson Audubon launches program to offer its expertise to organizations looking for interesting programs pertaining to wildlife conservation and protection. An overview of the Bird Buddy Hummingbird monitor. Bird of the episode: Forster's Tern. Birding Hotspot: Big Horn Mountain Wilderness. Friend of Wildlife: Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in the days ahead.
A report on Audubon lobbying for bird conservation and preservation at the Arizona state capital. A report on a California legislative proposal to save and clean up the Salton Sea, a critical migratory bird stopover in California. An overview of the federal Wilderness Area program. Bird of the episode: Gilded Flicker. Birding hotspot: Kanab Creek Wilderness. Friend of wildlife organization: Southern Arizona Research Station at the University of Arizona. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in days ahead.
Report on a July 2022 ABA birding tour of the Santa Cruz River basin and surrounding area. A report on early spring birds spotted at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds near Tucson. Northern Arizona Audubon is recruiting bluebird nest box monitors. Bird of the episode: Eurasian Collared Dove. Birding hotspot: Santa Cruz County, AZ. Friend of Wildlife: South Mountain Community College. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in the days and weeks ahead.
Who - or what - is 'decapitating' beautiful Saguaro cacti in southeastern Arizona? Hint: it's a bird. A Tucson birder now spending part of the year at Pinetop-Lakeside describes his experience discovering new birds and birding hotspots along the Mogollon rim. Bird of the episode: Clark's Nutcracker. Birding Hotspot: Lyman Lake State Park. Friend-of-wildlife organization: Eastern Arizona College. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
A report published by the Washington Post earlier this month on the decision by the National Audubon Society to keep its name after years of controversy surrounding John James Audubon's legacy as a slave owner and anti-abolitionist. A number of regional Audubon Society chapters have vowed to shed Audubon's name from their titles. Bird of the week: Chestnut-sided Warbler. Birding hotspot, the Bear Wallow Wilderness in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. Friend of wildlife organization: Diné Environmental Institute at Diné College in Shiprock, AZ.
Followup on preparing nest boxes for the spring and summer nesting season. Update on the legendary thrasher spot at Baseline Road and Salome Highway west of Phoenix. Bird of the episode: Bushtit. Birding hotspot: Mule Mountains wilderness in southeastern Arizona. Friend of wildlife agency: Merriam-Powell Research Station at Northern Arizona University. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Update on Avian Influenza currently spreading across North America. Scientists are reporting wild bird kills on an unprecedented scale, and that the virus has moved to mammals. The report titled 'Eagles are Falling, Bears are Going Blind' was posted recently on the website of The Atlantic magazine. Bird of the episode: Common Ground Dove. Birding hotspot: Concho Lake in northeastern Arizona. Friend-of-wildlife organization: San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
An overview of funding opportunities for scholarships and conservation activities available from the Northern Arizona Audubon Society. A description of the wildlife viewing station at the Apache electric power generating station in the Sulphur Valley, Cochise County. Bird of the episode: the Chipping Sparrow. Birding hotspot: Hellsgate Wilderness in the Tonto Creek basin. Friend of Wildlife organization: Southwestern Research Station of the Museum of Natural History. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
News of scholarships available to students pursuing careers in environmental services. A blogger's report on December birding along the Santa Cruz Flats. Bird of the episode: Cassin's Kingbird. Birding hotspot: Show Low/Pinetop Lakeside area. Friend of Wildlife organization: University of Arizona Project Wet. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Arizona winter birding update and advice on preparing nest boxes for spring nesting along the Mogollon Rim from White Mountain Audubon President Mary Williams. Audubon's Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch has announced its popular 'Living Gently on the Land' potluck dinner series is back. A brief look at recent postings to the American Birding Association's Arizona-New Mexico birding list. Bird of the Episode: Canada Goose. Birding hotspot: Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness. Friend of wildlife organization: Friends of Northern Arizona Forests. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Report on a newly discovered hybrid: Rose-breasted Grosbeak by Scarlet Tanager. Why feeding Mule Deer, Elk, Moose and other snow-bound Cervidae corn, hay and other summer forage can kill them. Results of the May 2022 Global Big Day in Arizona. Bird of the episode: California Gull. Birding hotspot: Dankworth Pond State Park near Safford. Friend of Wildlife organization: Arizona Heritage Foundation. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision to continue exemption of pesticide-coated seeds from ban draws objections from many wildlife conservation organizations and other stakeholders. A report on why leaving dead trees and columnar cacti in place is important for many species of birds. A look at Eared Grebes, common in Arizona in winter but often overlooked by birders. Bird of the episode: Brown Pelican. Birding hotspot: Apache Wilderness in north central Arizona. Friend-of-wildlife organization: Grand Canyon Conservancy. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
A report on Arizona Game and Fish Commission's new 10-year Conservation Strategy. Southwest Audubon's conservation and watershed protection priorities for the 2023 Arizona state legislative session. A report on a proposal by an Israeli company to build a massive desalination project in Mexico that would sell drinking water to Arizona. Bird of the episode: Broad-billed Hummingbird. Birding Hotspot, Pintail Lake in northeastern Arizona. Friend of wildlife organization: Arizona Conservation Corps. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Federal Bureau of Land Management announces cattle grazing will be allowed to continue on grazing allotments in the San Pedro River basin. A number of conservation organizations have filed suit to force BLM to reconsider.
Madera Canyon, one of Arizona's premier birding hotspots, was recently spotlighted in a Desert Leaf Magazine feature story. We'll read that article.
Bird of the episode: Brown Creeper. Birding Hotspot: Petrified Forest National Park east of Flagstaff. Friend of Wildlife organization: Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Update on Christmas Bird Count and other recent birder reports across Arizona from the American Birding Association. AZ Gov. Doug Ducey announcement of his most recent nomination to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. A look at 'birding out Wickenburg Way. Bird of the episode: Clark's Grebe. Birding hotspot: Hummingbird Springs Wilderness in extreme western Maricopa County. Friend-of-wildlife organization: Friends of Cibola National Wildlife Refuge. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona in the weeks ahead.
Western states scramble to avoid Colorado River's Lake Powell becoming a 'dead pool.' Greater Phoenix Area Aquatic Bird Survey coming January 21. Volunteer observers needed. A November birding field trip report by White Mountain Audubon. Bird of the episode: Chimney Swift. Birding hotspot: Kofa Wilderness in western Arizona. Friend of wildlife organization: Southern Arizona Forest Fund. Calendar of bird-friendly events in January.
Birds turning up in early Christmas Bird Count observations by top birders: an update. New federal legislation passed by Congress takes aim at conserving, restoring Great Salt Lake and other saline water bodies critical to migrating birds. A report on a study that supports other research indicating birdwatching is good for the brain. Bird of the week: Cassin's Vireo. Birding hotspot: Hell's Canyon Wilderness. Friend of wildlife organization: Friends of the Forest - Sedona. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in January 2023.
Results of the 2022 Greater Phoenix Area Aquatic Bird Count, and a call for volunteers to contribute to the 2023 survey coming January 21. An introduction to the often maligned Desert Mistletoe. Spoiler alert: it is NOT a weed. Bird of the week: Canyon Towhee. Birding Hotspot: Kendrick Mountain Wilderness in northern Arizona. Friend-of-wildlife organization: Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Area north of Douglas, Arizona. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up across the state.
A report on rare waterbird and shorebird sightings on Lake Pleasant and other lakes and ponds across Arizona. Exciting bird sightings at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds. Bald eagle nesting season is underway; tips from AZGFD on how to avoid disturbing nests and nestlings. A report on how Scott's Oriole got its name. Bird of the episode: Brewer's Sparrow. Birding hotspot: Roper Lake State Park near Safford, Arizona. Friend of wildlife organization: Animal Defense League of Arizona. Calendar of events coming up in Arizona.
An update on shorebird surveys conducted recently across Arizona. Hybrids: what are they and how common are they in Arizona? Bird of the episode: Buff-breasted Flycatcher. Birding hotspot: Chevelon Canyon Wildlife Management Area. Friends of wildlife organization: Friends of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
A review of Haikubox, a new bird ID audio capture tool that serves as a 24/7 wildlife cam for birders. Haikubox can be installed anywhere and monitored from a smartphone from anywhere. Bird of the episode: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Birding hotspot: Arrastra Mountain Wilderness south of Kingman, Arizona. Friend of wildlife organization: University of Arizona. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Update from Arizona Fish and Game Department on recent eagle nesting surveys across the state. A report on virtual fencing technology showing promise for controlling ranging cattle in sensitive riparian habitats. A report on the American Robin in Arizona. Bird of the episode: Black-legged Kittiwake. Birding hotspot: Tucson Mountains IBA. Friend of wildlife organization: East Valley Wildlife Rehabilitation League, Mesa. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Southwest Audubon update on the Colorado River draw-down crisis and what is being done about it. Introduction to ornithologist and naturalist John Cassin for whom Cassin's Finch and other birds are named. Bird of the week: Bullock's Oriole. Birding hotspot: Mt. Lemmon in the Catalina Mountains southeast of Tucson. Friend of Wildlife organization: Friends of Brown Canyon Ranch near Sierra Vista, AZ. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up across Arizona.
Northern Arizona University students team up with Northern Arizona Audubon Society on a recent birding field trip, a collaboration showing great promise for advancing the ranks of professional naturalists in Arizona. A report on the recent western bluebird nest box season by NAAS. A report on the recent monsoon rain season in the central highlands from Prescott Creeks. Desert Foothills land trust call for volunteers to help with Discovery Day, an annual event for families, always well attended. Bird of the episode: Burrowing Owl. Birding hotspot: Florida (pronounced Flor-EE-da) Canyon. Friend of wildlife agency: Upper Gila Watershed Partnership. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Avian flu virus detected in dead pelicans at Phoenix Zoo. Deaths among wild birds including Canada Geese in the Phoenix area suggest the disease is widespread in Arizona. West Nile Virus has been killing crows across North America. Cornell's Lab of Ornithology has developed a vaccine proven effective but needs a means to administer it in the wild. Report on autumn birding at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds. Bird of the episode: Bronzed Cowbird. Birding hotspot: Coon Bluff in the Tonto National Forest. Friend-of-wildlife organization: Ironwood Tree Experience for young naturalists. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Alert from Arizona Game and Fish Department regarding bird flu symptoms among wild birds that includes safety information for waterfowl hunters. Nina Mason Pulliam Audubon Center reopens following pandemic closure. Tips on how to keep pests away from hummingbird feeders. Bird of the episode: Brewer's Blackbird. Birding Hotspot: Yaki Point on the Grand Canyon south rim. Friend-of-wildlife-organization: U.S. Geological Survey field station at University of Arizona, Tucson. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Introduction to early American naturalist Thomas Say for whom Say's Phoebe, a well-known Arizona bird, is named. Bird of the episode: Black-throated Gray (or Grey) Warbler. Birding hotspot: Agua Fria National Monument in Central Arizona. Friend of Wildlife organization: Northern Arizona Forest Fund. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
An introduction to Birdcast, a new free online tool that shows nocturnal bird migration in real time. Urgent alerts regarding closings of facilities at Lake Powell and the Glen Canyon Dam due to drought conditions. Bird of the episode: Bridled Titmouse. Birding Hotspot: Mount Ord, 50 miles northeast of the Phoenix Metro. Friend of wildlife organization: Wild Arizona. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Southwest Audubon's Western Water News report on the effect of drought conditions on birds in the Colorado River watershed. How - and by whom - Anna's Hummingbird was named. Bird of the episode: Bonaparte's Gull. Birding hotspot: Patagonia Sonoita Creek TNC IBA. Friend of Wildlife organization: Friends of Canoa Heritage Foundation. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
AZ Governor seeks applicants for opening on Arizona Game and Fish Commission. Birders welcome. Statutory eligibility requirements apply. New app Bird Migration Explorer tracks bird migration in remarkable detail. Bio of John Stevens Henslow, mentor to Charles Darwin and for whom Henslow's Sparrow is named. Bird of the episode: Ladder-backed Woodpecker. Birding hotspot: Lower San Pedro River IBA. Friend-of-Wildlife organization: Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists. Calendar of Bird Friendly events coming up in Arizona.
More than 100 bird species are named for people. There is a growing movement to change those names to describe the birds, not the people, many of whom were slave holders, grave robbers and supremacists. But not all. Some were extraordinary, selfless naturalists to whom birders owe a huge debt of gratitude for their work. This episode includes my thoughts on the subject and some of their stories. Bird of the week: Black-necked Stilt. Birding hotspot: Borderlands/Cabeza Prieta IBA in southern Arizona. Friend of wildlife organization: Arizona Trail Association. Calendar of bird friendly events in Arizona.
Invitation to view captive California Condor release at Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in northern Arizona. Report on recent hummingbird banding and species tracking by the Northern Arizona Audubon Society. Followup to a request by National Audubon Society to offer suggested name changes for Arizona bird species named for people. Bird of the Week: Lark Bunting, a regular sparrow in southern Arizona during the winter. Birding hotspot: Tucson Sky Islands Important Bird Area (IBA). Friend of Wildlife organization: Southern Arizona Forest Fund. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Updates on the Southeast Arizona Bird Festival and the Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo survey underway in central Arizona. Watching for MacGillivray's Warbler in southern Arizona. Colorado River crisis in the Grand Canyon National Park. Bird-of-the-episode: California Condor. Birding hotspot: Upper Santa Cruz River IBA. Friend-of-Wildlife organization: Yuma Conservation Garden. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Breeding behavior of the elusive Rose-throated Becard along the Santa Cruz River. Bird of the episode: Black-tailed Gnatcatcher. Arizona birding hotspot: Sonoita Creek/Patagonia Lake IBA. Friend of Wildlife organization: Sonoran Desert Museum near Tucson. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in the weeks ahead.
Magnificent Frigatebird and other rare species spotted in Pinal County in July. New bird banding program underway at Hassayampa Nature Preserve near Wickenburg. Rufous-backed Robins found to be nesting in southern Arizona. Bird-of-the-week: Black-crowned Night Heron. Birding Hotspot: San Pedro Riparian Natural Conservation Area. Friend-of-wildlife organization: Arizona Native Plant Society. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Students in the veterinary program at Midwestern University, Glendale AZ, establish a new student chapter of the National Audubon Society, are seeking collaborations with Audubon Society chapters throughout Arizona. A solar electric generation project has been approved for state trust land at Salome Highway and Baseline Road, the legendary 'Thrasher Site' west of Phoenix. What does that mean for the rare thrasher species regularly spotted there? 'Monsoon hummingbirds' are on the wing. Find out where. Bird of the week: Calliope Hummingbird. Birding hotspot: Muggins Mountain Wilderness southeast of Yuma. Friend of Wildlife organization: Borderlands Restoration Network. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Third and final installment of a reading of 'Our Blinding, Blaring World' excerpted from an article by Ed Yong in the July/August 2022 edition of the Atlantic. Details how human technology affecting light and sound in Earth's atmosphere is confounding animal sensory systems. Bird of the week: Juniper Titmouse. Birding hotspot: Santa Rita Mountains IBA. Friend-of-Wildlife organization: Student Conservation Association. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Second installment of a reading of 'Our Blinding, Blaring World' excerpted from an article by Ed Yong in the July/August 2022 edition of the Atlantic. Details how human technology affecting light and sound in Earth's atmosphere is confounding animal sensory systems. Bird of the week: Inca Dove. Birding hotspot: Tuzigoot National Monument IBA. Friend-of-Wildlife organization: American Conservation Experience. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Part 1 of a 3-part reading of Pulitzer Prize awardee Ed Yong's Atlantic magazine article 'Our Blinding, Blaring World.' How artificial light and sound is confusing the senses of thousands, perhaps millions of non-human animal species including birds. Suggestions on how to locate professional job and internship opportunities in wildlife conservation in Arizona. Bird of the week: Hutton's Vireo. Birding Hotspot: Whitewater Draw IBA in Cochise County. Friend-of-wildlife organization: Arizona Sustainability Alliance. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
A look back at Biosphere 2, an experiment that attempted to replicate Earth's biosphere artificially by locking specimens of multiple species of animals and plants including humans inside a large chamber near Oracle, AZ in the 1990s. The experiment ultimately failed but much was learned. Bird of the week: American Redstart. Birding Hotspot: Patagonia Mountains IBA in southeastern Arizona. Friend-of-wildlife agency: Arizona Ecological Services Field Office. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
U.S. Congress moving legislation ahead to provide significant permanent funding boost for wildlife conservation in Arizona, among other states. Bird of the week: American Pipit. Birding hotspot: Upper Verde River Wildlife Management Area IBA. Friend of wildlife organization of the episode: Altar Valley Conservation Alliance. Calendar of Bird-friendly-events coming up in Arizona.
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo spotted at Hassayampa River Preserve in Maricopa County. Update on Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo survey underway in Agua Fria National Monument, Tres Rios (Avondale) among other riparian sites across Arizona. Audubon researchers collaborate on new process for mapping bird migration in Arizona and New Mexico. Bird of the episode: Barn Swallow. Birding hotspot: Willcox Playa Cochise Lakes IBA. Friend-of-wildlife agency: Watershed Management Group based in Tucson. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
An introduction to the purpose of recharge ponds; what they are, how they are maintained by municipalities around Arizona and why they are some of the best birding spots. A report on a first-ever sighting of a Veery, a member of the Thrush family, in Yavapai County. Bird-of-the-episode: American Robin. Birding hotspot: Upper Little Colorado River IBA. Friend-of-wildlife organization: PrescottCreeks.org. Calendar of Bird Friendly Events coming up in Arizona.
Update on Avian Flu discovered among typically resistant wild birds in Arizona. Nature Conservancy report on efforts to mitigate excessive heat in metro Phoenix with native shade trees, sunlight deflectors and other methods. Bird of the episode: Black and White Warbler. Birding hotspot: Watson and Willow Lake IBA in Yavapai County. Friend of Wildlife agency: McDowell Conservancy, Scottsdale. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Nocturnal Flight Call (NFC) research provides surprising insight into nighttime migrating bird overflights of Arizona. Ways to minimize bird collisions with windows and other obstructions. Bird of the week: Belted Kingfisher. Birding Hotspot: Pinaleno Mountains IBA. Friend of Wildlife organization: Center for Biological Diversity. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Center for Biological Diversity, Xerces Society, Advocates for the West sue USDA over pesticide spraying across vast areas of western states claiming devastating effects on birds and other wildlife. Bird of the episode: Arizona Woodpecker. Birding hotspot: Salt and Verde Riparian Ecosystem IBA in central Arizona. Friends of wildlife agency: Association for Environmental Education. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Important information about what to wear for safe hot desert birding in summer. News about completion of Phase 3 of the purchase of Sopori Creek Ranch, part of a long-term plan that will provide perpetual protection of wildlife migration corridors in Southern Arizona. News about an ongoing marsh and water bird survey underway in the White Mountains. Bird of the week: Black-chinned Sparrow. Birding Hotspot: San Rafael Grasslands, headwaters of the Santa Cruze River. Friend of Wildlife agency: Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in days and weeks ahead in Arizona.
New research on how birds nests are constructed to resist forces of nature that might destroy them. Gnats, and how they support avian ecosystems in the Sonoran Desert. Recruiting interns and volunteers for the important Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo survey this summer. Bird-of-the-episode: Band-tailed Pigeon. Birding Hotspot: Sabino Canyon Tanque Verde IBA. Friend-of-wildlife: Center for Nature and Place at Prescott College. Calendar of bird friendly events in coming days in Arizona.
Follow-up on California Condor parthenogenesis report by Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Northern Arizona Audubon stewardship grants. Pinyon Jay survey underway in Arizona's high country. Nature Conservancy forest thinning research report shows thinning can save trees. Wild at Heart bird rehabilitation center in Cave Creek having an extraordinary year. Bird of the week: Barn Owl. Birding hotspot: Lower Salt & Gila River ecosystem IBA. Friend of Wildlife organization of the week: Northern Arizona State Conservation Partnership. Bird friendly events calendar for the coming weeks.
An article that describes a tribal model for wildlife conservation. A Mourning Dove and a Gambel's Quail take turns brooding each other's eggs in a flower pot in Cave Creek. Bird of the week: the notoriously elusive Black Rail. Birding Hotspot: Quigley State Wildlife Management IBA in western Arizona. Friends of Wildlife organization: Patagonia Area Resource Alliance. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
10-year-old birder Thomas co-hosts, describes spring migrants observed in a weekend of birding in the Sonoran Desert. Bird of the week: Yellow-rumped Warbler. Birding hotspot: Marble Canyon/Vermilion Cliffs IBA in northern Arizona. Friends of wildlife organization: Friends of Madera Canyon in southeastern Arizona. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in days and weeks ahead.
A report by Southwest Audubon on the creation of more than 150,000 acres of protected habitat for the endangered Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Bird-of-the-episode: American White Pelican. Birding hotspot: Mogollon Rim Snowmelt Draw IBA. Friends-of-wildlife organization of the week: Friends of Cave Creek Canyon in southeastern Arizona. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Report on a 2017 Arizona Field Ornithologists expedition to the Upper Agua Fria River at Humbolt, AZ. A report by Tucson Audubon on the Arizona Woodpecker. White Mountain Audubon's most recent biological sciences scholarship awardee. Bird of the week: Black-headed Grosbeak. Birding hotspot: Mittry Lake Wildlife Management Area in western Arizona. Friend of wildlife organization: Arizona Master Naturalists development program. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in the days and weeks ahead.
Broad-billed and Violet-crowned Hummingbirds at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds. Calurus: is he - or isn't he? - the oldest Red-tailed Hawk in the Southwest? Arizona Land and Water Trust workshop on farm soil conservation to benefits wildlife. Remembering Genaro Ruiz, Rio Salado Center Director and community leader in South Phoenix. Bird-of-the-epsidode: the Black Phoebe. Birding hotspot: Joshua Tree IBA. Friend-of-Wildlife-agency: The Urban Bird Foundation. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Common Poorwill, a species known to birders of Arizona's deserts and highlands, is discovered on the Canadian prairie. A report on an Arizona Field Ornithologists expedition to Alamo Lake and the Santa Maria River in Lapaz and Mohave counties in 2019. Bird of the week: Anna's Hummingbird. Birding Hotspot of the week: Huachuca Mountains IBA in southeastern Arizona. Friend-of-Wildlife agency of the week: Superstition Area Land Trust. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Revealing research on Starling murmurations. How to participate in the eBird gaps campaign by the Arizona Field Ornithologists. Bird of the week: Bald Eagle. Birding hotspot: Las Cienegas Important Bird Area (IBA) near Tucson. Friend of Wildlife Agency: Friends of Bill Williams and Lake Havasu National Wildlife Areas along the lower Colorado River in western Arizona. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in the days and weeks ahead.
Why birds rub their beaks on hard surfaces. Arizona Field Ornithologist expedition to the Southern Patagonia Mountains. Bird of the week: Bell's Vireo. Birding hotspot: Lower Oak Creek IBA. Friend-of-wildlife agency: Genius Loci Foundation. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Chiricahua Resource Council response to U.S. Air Force proposal to expand low altitude military flight training over critical bird habitat in southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico. Bureau of Land Management and partners acquire Cross F Ranch that includes critical bird habitat in the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness region. Bird of the week: Black-chinned Hummingbird. Birding hotspot: Lower Colorado River Gadsden IBA near Yuma. Friend-of-Wildlife Agency of the week: Paradise Valley Mountain Preserve Trust. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona
Alert regarding U.S. Air Force proposal to expand Military Operations Areas in southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico. Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) planning resources for highway engineering and maintenance projects that address wildlife conservation and protection. Bird of the week: Bendire's Thrasher. Birding hotspot: Cibola National Wildlife Refuge IBA. Friends of wildlife agency of the episode: Munds Park Trail Stewards. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
A report on how drones are a threat to raptors, and how they are helping with bird conservation efforts. Birding the Hopi and Navajo Reservations. Bird of the week: Bewick's Wren. Birding hotspot: Havasu National Wildlife Refuge IBA. Friends-of-wildlife agency: Friends of the White Tank Mountains Conservancy. Calendar of bird-friendly events in coming days in Arizona.
An introduction to Birdability, a movement to make birding accessible to everyone. Results from the 2022 Great Backyard Bird Count. Bird of the week: the American Kestrel. Birding hotspot: Grand Canyon IBA in northern Arizona. Friends of wildlife agency: Friends of the Santa Cruz River. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in days ahead in Arizona.
Research underway on how birds may enhance Ponderosa Pine immune systems. Report on the Sedona area Christmas Bird Count. A commentary on bluebird trail building in Coconino County. Bird of the week: American Goldfinch. Birding hotspot of the week: Chiricahua Mountains IBA (Important Bird Area). Friend-of-wildlife agency: Phoenix Mountain Preservation Council
Southwest Audubon, Center for Biodiversity suing Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forestry Service for failing to control cattle in Agua Fria River and other riparian areas on the Agua Fria National Monument in central Arizona. Federal agents announce plans to begin shooting feral cattle destroying riparian habitat in eastern Arizona and New Mexico. Birding field trip reports from Northern Arizona Audubon and White Mountain Audubon. New bird banding program underway at Camp Colton near Flagstaff. Bird of the Week: Lazuli Bunting. Birding hotspot: Joshua Tree IBA. Friend-of-Wildlife agency of the week: McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Light pollution of night skies are imperiling birds during peak migration. California Condors born without fathers sheds new light on wild bird parthenogenesis. Bird of the Week: the Lark Sparrow. Birding hotspot: Cave Creek IBA. Friend of Wildlife agency of the week: Friends of Sonoita Creek. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up this month.
A review of the 2020-21 FeederWatch survey data for the Southwest. Distinguishing between the Sagebrush Sparrow and Bell's Sparrow, formerly classified together as the Sage Sparrow. Bird of the Week: American Coot. Birding hotspot: Imperial National Wildlife Refuge in western Arizona. Friend-of-Wildlife Agency of the Week: Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
A look at preliminary data from the Santa Cruz Flats Raptor Survey held January 15; an overview of excellent bird guides to the Verde Valley and Yuma County regions of Arizona; Tools for identifying birds by sound and through photos; Bird of the week: American Avocet; Birding hotspot: Gilbert Riparian Water Ranch; Friend-of-Wildlife agency: Arizona Land and Water Trust; calendar of bird friendly events throughout Arizona.
Effort to put Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy Owl back on the Endangered Species list; Greater Phoenix Urban Aquatic Species Survey; Santa Cruz River Flats Raptor Survey; Bird-of-the-Week: American Wigeon; Birding hotspot: Camp Verde Important Bird Area (IBA); Friend-of-wildlife agency of the week: Wild at Heart bird rehabilitation center, Cave Creek; calendar of bird-friendly events in days ahead throughout Arizona.
Are Northern Cardinals here is Arizona really what they seem to be? Research suggests at least some southwestern populations could be separate species. Bird feeder hygiene tips to ward off bird disease including among hummingbirds. Bird of the week: Acorn Woodpecker; Birding hotspots: Sweetwater Wetlands and the Arivaca Cienega IBA in southeastern Arizona. Friend-of-Wildlife agency: Grand Canyon Trust. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
A review of the trivia game 'Bird Brains' as a teaching tool for improving birding skills and knowledge; A report on White-breasted Nuthatch irruptions across North America including here in Arizona; Bird-of-the-week: American Crow; Birding hotspot: Atascosa Highlands along the U.S.-Mexican border near Nogales; Friend of wildlife agency: Friends of the San Pedro River and Conservation Area; Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in days ahead in Arizona.
EBird list of rarely sighted birds spotted during mid-December in Maricopa County, Arizona; Report on a Arizona Field Ornithologist's expedition to northern grasslands in February 2020; Bird of the Week: Common Raven; Birding hotspots: Boyce Arboretum/Queen Creek IBA and Aubrey Valley and Cliffs IBA; Friend of Wildlife agency of the week: Sonoran Institute; Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
Arizona Game and Fish announcement request for public cooperation as Bald Eagle nesting is underway; an essay suggesting perceptions that European Starlings are 'invasive' and 'pests' may need rethinking; bird of the week: the Osprey; Birding hotspot: Blue and San Francisco Rivers IBA; Friends of wildlife agency: Friends of Saguaro National Park; Calendar of bird friendly events coming up across Arizona.
More thoughts about Merlin, the new audio ID app from Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Native desert plants that attract birds and other desirable wildlife; Nature Conservancy/Arizona restoration of Aravaipa Creek northeast of Tucson a great success story; Bird-of-the-Week: Great Blue Heron; Birding Hotspot: Bill Williams River/Lake Havasu National Wildlife Refuge IBA; Friends of Wildlife Agency: Friends of the Huachuca Mountains; A calendar of birding events throughout Arizona in the days and weeks ahead.
Arizona Groundwater Coalition presentations on declining groundwater statewide; New professional conservation hires at Tucson Audubon; How and why vultures thrive in urban environments; Bird-of-the-Week: Phainopepla; Birding Hotspot: White Mountains region of northeastern Arizona; Friends-of-Wildlife Agency of the week: Desert Foothills Land Trust; Weekly calendar of bird friendly events throughout Arizona.
Some thoughts about Merlin, Cornell Lab of Ornithology's new audio app for identifying wild birds in the field; DNA research on the Northern and Gilded Flicker confirming "one-size-fits-all"; Bird of the week: White-crowned Sparrow; Birding hotspot: Sedona Wetlands Preserve in central Arizona; Friend of Wildlife agency: Friends of the Sonoran Desert; Calendar of bird friendly events in coming days throughout Arizona.
Preview of results from the 2021 Hawkwatch International raptor survey at Yaki Point on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon; Report on water flowing again from the Colorado River into the Gulf of California to reconstitute important wetland bird habitat; Thousands of Sandhill Cranes have returned to winter at Whitewater Draw WMA near Willcox; Bird of the Week: Western Bluebird; Friend of Wildlife agency: Arizona Wilderness Coalition; Birding hotspot: Whitewater Draw WMA; Calendar of birding events coming up in days ahead across Arizona.
Overview of public land designations across Arizona focusing on State Trust Lands; Why some songbirds and hummingbirds appear to have a 'sweet tooth;' Bird-of-the-week: Mourning Dove; Friend-of-Wildlife: Sky Island Alliance; Birding hotspot: Bubbling Ponds at the Page Springs Fish Hatchery, Cornville. Bird walks and other events offered by Maricopa Audubon, Northern Arizona Audubon, White Mountain Audubon, Prescott Audubon, Yuma Audubon, Desert Rivers Audubon, Arizona Field Ornithologists, Wings Over Willcox Birding Festival.
Report on results of 2021 Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo survey on the Agua Fria National Monument; City of Yuma resumes sending water to to Yuma East Wetlands recharge ponds in support of bird conservation in the lower Colorado River region; Featured bird: Elf Owl; Birding Hotspot: Arivaca Lake south of Tucson; Friends-of-Wildlife Agency: Western Rivers Action Network; Calendar of birding events throughout Arizona in coming weeks.
A report by Arizona Field Ornithologists on their recent expedition to the Southern Bradshaw Mountains in Prescott National Forest. A spotlight on the BLM Conservation Resource Management Field Certificate Program (Phoenix Field School) for 18-24 year-old youth. Bird of the episode: Abert's Towhee. Friend of Wildlife agency Friends of the Verde River. Calendar of birding events and field trips across Arizona in the days ahead.
A call by Arizona Field Ornithologists for citizen scientists to help fill in gaps in bird data in remote areas of Arizona where data is lacking. Bird of the week: Northern Mockingbird. Featured Friends-of-Wildlife agency Arizona Parks and Trails. Overview of the Paton Center for Hummingbirds in Patagonia, Arizona. A calendar of Arizona birding events and activities coming up in October and beyond.
Overview of globally significant southeastern Arizona birding destinations. September 2021 birding report by the White Mountains Audubon Society at Pine Top/Lakeside in the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest. Bird of the week: Pinyon Jay. Birding Hotspot of the week: Arlington Wildlife Management Area near Buckeye. Agency spotlight: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
A report on the impact of the ongoing western U.S. drought on skyrocketing prices of bird feeder stock including sunflower, safflower and millet. 2021 crop yields are down 40 percent and more. A report on noxious weed removal at Kachina Wetlands Preserve that has restored pond trails that had become nearly impassible due to uncontrolled weeds. Native plants and wildflowers are making a comeback.
Bird of the week is the Black-throated Sparrow; spotlight on Arizona Field Ornithologists; birding hotspot Yuma East Wetlands; calendar of events coming up in days ahead.
New Youth Leadership Program in South Phoenix designed to generate the next generation of Arizona naturalists; A Voice of America report on the lingering effects on wildlife of construction of the wall along the U.S. Mexico border; a report from Audubon Magazine on how Arizona's many tribes can play a critical role in bird conservation and protection. Bird of the week is the Verdin; birding hotspot is the Willcox, AZ Playa, a former bombing range now winter home to thousands of migrating Sandhill Cranes. Friend of wildlife agency is the Nature Conservancy - Arizona. Finally, a calendar of birding events and bird walks coming up in days ahead.
Report from the American Bird Conservancy on the status of the Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo across the Southwest; Overview of birding hotspot Base and Meridian Wildlife Management Area near Avondale, AZ; Spotlight on Sonoran Joint Venture, an U.S.-Mexico partnership whose mission is to conserve and protect bird habitat across the Southwest; Featured bird-of-the-week: White-winged Dove. Extensive list of birding events across Arizona in coming days and weeks.
A report on the decline of backyard birds due to non-native plants in suburban landscapes. An interview by Field and Stream with Arizona Game and Fish Commission on why trail cameras have been banned in Arizona. A Smithsonian study on formerly unknown migratory routes of Common Nighthawks; mystery solved. Spotlight on the Lower Oak Creek IBA near Sedona. Introduction to the Hall Lab at ASU, launch pad for undergraduate students focused on careers in field biology. Featured bird: Gambel's Quail. Calendar of events/bird walks in coming days across Arizona.
Birders debate eliminating eponymous bird names. Audubon Society wins suit to protect coastal beaches from sand mining, a major win for shore birds along the lower Colorado River. Wildlife Society working with native Arizona tribe to protect birds. Bird-of-the-week, Ash-throated Flycatcher. Spotlight on Southeast Arizona Bird Observatory, and bird event calendar for September.
Birding highlights from Fall 2020 from Arizona Birds - Journal of Arizona Field Ornithologists. A new bill in Congress to reinforce and improve the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. A call by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to landowners and mining interests to cap open-ended PVC and iron pipes and other devices that trap birds and other wildlife. Overview of the Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch of the NAS Important Bird Area (IBA) near Elgin, Arizona. Introduction to the Red-tailed Hawk, a common sight in Arizona. Calendar of birding events and bird walks across Arizona.
Excerpt of a report on the critical importance of 'citizen science' in tracking the impact of human activity on bird populations in southeast Arizona during construction of the border wall in early 2020. Bird of the week: Curve-billed Thrasher, one of five species of thrasher found in Arizona. Agency spotlight: Liberty Wildlife. Weekly list of birding events and bird walks across the state over coming weeks.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) protocol for tracking and protecting Burrowing Owl Habitat, especially in urban areas including metro Phoenix. The Arizona Bald Eagle Protection Program. Tucson Audubon Society's commitment to restoring Sonoita Creek through eradication of non-native plants. Overview of the Birdability initiative to make more wildlife viewing sites around Arizona accessible to disabled birders. Bird of the week: Gila Woodpecker. Birding Hotspot: Anderson Mesa IBA southeast of Flagstaff. Weekly calendar.
Report on a new Arizona law that benefits Arizona birds. Overview of Arizona's state coordinated bird monitoring program. Report on the Azure Bluebird Nest Box Program in southeast Arizona. Introduction to the Important Bird Area (IBA) program that includes 48 sites across the state. Bird of the week: the Cactus Wren. Agency of the week: Southwest Audubon Society. Calendar of upcoming birding events and opportunities across Arizona.