Scholarships Needed For The Institute of Desert Ecology

Each year the Institute of Desert Ecology extends the outreach of its program by offering partial scholarships to applicants who are in a position to share the knowledge they gain at the institute with others. Each year we receive far more requests for scholarships than we are able to meet. Please consider making a donation to the scholarship fund, so we can continue to offer scholarship help to those who need it. Any donations are tax deductible. If you would like to designate that your gift go to fund a scholarship for a teacher from a particular school district or an individual from a designated environmental organization, please let us know, and we will honor your request if possible. Thank you.

--Karen Nickey, acting director

Parking Garage p� Jll L

3rd t-­level

Duval Aud.

Univ. Med

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ELM STREET

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DUVAL AUDITORIUM

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SPEEDWAY BLVD

u r Membership Meeting Location

January & February

TUCSON AUDUBON SOCIETY 300 E. UNIVERSITY BLVD., #120

TUCSON, ARIZONA 85705

The TUCSON AUDUBON SOCIETY

Audubon Nature Shop

(602) 629-0510 300 E. University Blvd., #120

Tucson, Arizona 85705

Hours: Monday - Saturday 10 AM-4 PM, Thursday until 6 PM.

Holiday Hours: 10-5:30, Dec. 16-23.

Local Bird Reports: 798-1005

Bird Alert: Jack Holloway 881-2720

or Elinor Brabaw 326-9404

Nonprofit Organization U.S. POST AGE

PAID Tucson, Arizona Permit No. 1345

The Vermilion Flycatcher is printed on recycled paper.

-

The Vermilion

FLYCATCHER TUCSON AUDUBON SOCIETY

December-January 1991

Holiday Potluck & Membership Meeting Monday, December 9 at 5:30PM

Program: Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge--A Land of Many Stories by Peter Kresan. Location: Christ United Methodist Church, 655 N. Craycroft

Peter Kresan has planned a wonderful evening for us. He will present a talk and slide show on the rich natural heritage of the Cabeza Prieta region touching on the ecological and geological history of this fascinating part of the Sonoran Desert. He will also share with us his images and experiences while crossing the Camino del Diablo, at one time the old trail traveled by pioneers to get to Yuma and California. Peter's photographs have appeared in Arizona Highways, Time-Life Books, Audubon magazine and Natural History magazine. Cabeza Prieta is not well known to many of us, but after Peter's program you will probably want to put it on your camping list for spring.

The Holiday Potluck will start at 5:30 PM. Dinner will be served at 6 PM and our program will be at 7:30. Please bring your dish to the church before 6 PM. You may bring your choice of a main dish, salad, or dessert, cut and ready to serve 10 tO 12 people. Be sure to put your name on any dishes or serving spoons. Don't bring bread or rolls as they will be available at the dinner, as will tea and coffee. We will be using the church plates and flatware so you don't have to bring those items, but please bring your own coffee mug if you think of it. We need to know how many to expect, so please call theTAS office before Friday, Dec. 6, to sign up and to let us know what food you will be bringing. Note: Help Is needed for set-up, please call theTAS office to volunteer.

We will also have a Silent Book Auction and White Elephant Raffle

see Shop will have items for sale at the Potluck, so bring your Christmas list with you! Directions: Christ United Methodist Church is located at 4th and Craycroft. Park in the lot on the west side of the church and walk east through the breezeway to the entrance.

TAS On The Desert Speaks Tucson Audubon will be featured on The

Desert Speaks on Dec. 12, 1991 at 8 PM on KUAT, Channel 6. This segment was filmed during theTAS Birdathon in May of this year. Tune in and enjoy some great shots of Madera Canyon and some of our "Arizona" birds. Look for Lynn Kaufman, Mary Foster and me!

--Keirn Roach

Free Holiday Cards A membership to Audubon is a marvelous

Christmas gift that lasts all year. As an added incentive, we will give you a box of ten holiday cards if you purchase a gift membership (or one for yourself) through Tucson Audubon Society before Christmas. Due to the expense of mailing, we must ask you to bring in your membership application to the Audubon Nature Shop and pick up your box of cards. The address and hours for the shop are on the back of the Vermilion Flycatcher. Happy Holidays!

--Joyce Lebowitz

Page 2

Calendar of Events Dec. 2 Monday 5:15PM

Board of Directors Meeting. Nature Conservancy Conference Room. Open to the public.

Dec. 7 Saturday 6:30 AM Field Trip. ARIVACA CIENEGA & BUENOS AIRES NWR. Join Greer and John for a visit to a variety of habitats along Arivaca Creek and the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge. We will combine with the monthly NWR trip. A wide variety of species should be seen, including wintering waterfowl, raptors and sparrows. Weather is always iffy at this time of year, so be prepared for wind and cold. Bring snacks, water, lunch and a scope if you have one. We plan to finish by mid­afternoon. We strongly encourage carpooling for this long drive. Meet at 6:30 AM at the SW corner of the park, 1 block N of the TAS office on 5th Ave. (leader present) or at 7 AM in the K-Mart parking lot at 1-19 and Valencia Rd. (just E of the freeway). Leaders: Greer Warren (322-6247) and John Higgins (578-1830).

Dec. 9 Monday 5:30 PM Membership Meeting and Holiday Potluck. See article on page 1 for details.

Dec. 10 Tuesday 5 PM Conservation Meeting. This monthly meeting will be in theTAS office library to discuss environmental issues and recommend policy positions to the board. The public is welcome. For further information, contact Doug Koppinger at 298-3157 or Ed Curley at 326-3132.

Dec. 14-31: No field trips have been scheduled due to the traditional Christmas Bird Counts. We hope that field trip participants will come along on a count or two. Besides being lots of fun, you'll be contributing to our knowledge of wintering bird populations. See the Christmas Count articles for details.

Jan. 4 Saturday 8 AM Bird & Plant Guided Tour. BUENOS AIRES NWR.

This monthly tour of the Arivaca Cienega and riparian corridor is on the first Saturday of each month. Meet at the Arivaca Mercantile at 8 AM. Tour leaders will be Wayne Shifflett and Meg Clark. Please call (602) 823-4251 for further information.

Jan. 11 Saturday 6 AM Field Trip. WILLCOX PLAYA AND SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY. Join Greer and John to look for Sandhill Cranes and wintering raptors. We will also look for waterbirds at Willcox. Bring snacks, water, lunch and a scope if you have one. Be prepared for possible wind and cold. Back by 3 PM, or turn back earlier if you wish. We strongly encourage carpooling for this long drive. Meet at 6 AM at the SW corner of the park, 1 block N of theTAS office on 5th Ave. (leader present) or at 6:45 AM at the parking area on Houghton Rd., just N of 1-10. Leaders: Greer Warren (322-6247) and John Higgins (578-1830).

Dec-Jan 1991 Jan. 13 Monday 7:30PM

Monthly Membership Meeting. Location: DuVal Auditorium. Program: AND THEN THERE WERE NONE. Terry Johnson, Supervisor, Nongame Branch, Arizona Game and Fish Department, will focus his presentation on the Mexican wolf and the possibility of reintroduction of this species to parts of Arizona. He will also touch on the possibilities of reintroduction of the California Condor, Aplomado Falcon and ocelot. Terry has been in the midst of the Mexican wolf controversy and will have a current report for us on where the issue stands today. The Mexican wolf has been the center of much discussion in the newspapers and media and this is a wonderful opportunity to gain a better understanding of the problems surrounding it and other endangered species. Note: Consider joining Audubon friends for dinner in the UMC cafeteria (on the north side) at 6:15 PM before the membership meeting!

Jan. 14 Tuesday 5 PM Conservation Meeting. See December Calendar listing for details.

Jan. 18 Saturday 6:30 AM Field Trip. TANQUE VERDE WASH. Join Ron for a walk (possible soggy) through the riparian area adjacent to the 49ers Golf Course. Abert's Towhees, Black-throated Gray Warblers and Lawrence's Goldfinches usually winter here. We'll finish with lunch at Agua Caliente Park. Bring lunch, snacks, water and a change of footwear. Meet at 6:30 AM at the SW corner of the park, 1 block N of the TAS Nature Shop on 5th Ave. or at 7:15 AM at the K­Mart on the NW corner of Broadway and Kolb (Broadway entrance). Leader: Ron Haaseth (323-7623).

Jan. 25 Saturday 6 AM Field Trip. SAN RAPHAEL VALLEY. Join Greg for a visit to the grasslands in search of longspurs, sparrows and raptors. We will look especially for elusive Baird's sparrows and Sprague's Pipits. Bring lunch, snack and water (there are no stores, gas stations or restrooms). The roads are dirt, but unless quite muddy, ordinary cars will have no problem. Meet at 6 AM at the parking lot on the West side of Houghton Rd. just N of 1-10. Back by suppertime. Leader: Greg Homel (529-1581).

Feb. 2 Saturday 8 AM Bird & Plant Guided Tour. BUENOS AIRES NWR. See Jan. 4th calendar item for this monthly trip.

Feb. 10 Monday 7:30PM Monthly Membership Meeting.. DuVal Auditorium. Kenn Kaufman will speak on his birding experiences in New Zealand. Whether you plan a trip to New Zealand or not, you won't want to mess Kenn's talk on the unique and unusual habitat found in New Zealand and the many "flightless birds" that are found on the island. Kenn is the author of The Peterson Guide to Advanced Birding. Mark your calendar now for this birder's treat.

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Assistant Manager · . Carol de Waar.d

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.improving the quality of the environr:nen.t by providing• educational and, recreati_onal program�. Elf�Vironineriti:ll = leadership and 1nformat1on. TAS ma1ntams offices in Tucson With an extensive. ni;!t\Jr.e ·· nbrary;'iarid ifle·== Audubon Nature Shop where nature-related items are> sold for the benefit o.f Tucsori·.Audubon,(:::: · ===: .. >.:':::: .. ·= >==·

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Page 3

NATURE SHOP MOVES INTO NEW QUARTERS

The Audubon Nature Shop should be in the new area shortly after Thanksgiving. Those of you who volunteer or visit the Nature Shop regularly have watched our progress. In August, the walls were knocked down, and we began expanding into the suite directly behind our current shop and lobby. Our address will not change and we'll use the same entrance. This has been a long process and the results will be a much improved, spacious shopping area with an increased inventory.

All this has been made possible thanks to the combined efforts of numerous hard working people. There are many, many great folks to thank.

First on the list is Ms. Toby Housman, who generously donated the funds to make this expansion possible, not only for remodeling the shop, but also for remodeling the additional office and meeting space which will enable us to expand our environmental and educational programs.

Others giving donations of time, expertise, and physical labor are: �HE SHO.P/OFFICE SPACE COMMITTEE--This committee met many

t1mes dunng the summer to layout exactly where the shop, library, meeting rooms, and offices would be located. Marilyn Robinson, Ruth Russell, Keirn Roach, Terry Wagner, Judy Forester, and Barb Koenig . FURNITURE & FIXTURE CONSULTANTS--These ladies offered suggestions, took photos of other shops, and accompanied me on buying trips. Ruth Russell, Joafl Tedford, and June Hirsch CHAIR PICK-UP CREW--These two volunteered their vehicles and strong backs to pick up 29 used chairs for use in our new meeting room. Barbara Bickel and Don Guthrie TEAR-DOWN TEAM--This was the August "destruction team" that removed the old walls. Bob & Joan Tweit and Doug & Judy Forester MOVING TEAM--When it became necessary to move excess stock from one room to the other these fellows volunteered on very short notice to spend a Saturday morning just moving inventory from one room to another so the painting could begin. Barney Gardner and Ed Caldwell PAINTING TEAM--This group painted slat wall, grid work, and walls. When a rainy day prevented painting on the patio, the Forester's even took the grid work home to paint in their garage. Ed Caldwell, Barney Gardner, Doug & Judy Forester, Jon Parker, Trica Oshant, and Allison & Mark Gordon CLEAN-UP CREW--The construction continually generated dust, dirt, and trash. These folks helped remove trash, clean and polish windows and vacuum: Cherie Lazaroff, Harvey Lance, and Allison & Mark Gordon.

A special thank you should go to Terry Wagner of Rimrock Con­struction for all his hard work and especially for his patience and good humor throughout the entire project. Thanks also to Gillian Paine Robinson, our volunteer coordinator, for rounding up work crews and a gre�t big !hank you to our president, Doug Forester, for his expertise as ch1ef pamter and crew manager. We could not have gotten all this work done without the cooperation of so many wonderful individuals.

One last thank you to assistant shop manager, Carol deWaard, and to all the regular shop volunteers who worked without complaint in spite of the noise, interruptions, and general chaos that we encountered.

--Judy Edison, manager Audubon Nature Shop

Page 4

••

SHOP AUDUBON FOR THE HOLIDAYS

The Holidays are a time to be spent with friends and family practicing the traditions and beliefs that we individually espouse. It should not be a frantic time of battling crowds and traffic. To eliminate some of the insanity of the Holidays -- do your shopping at the Audubon Nature Shop. Don't forget to use our gift registry. To let friends and family know exactly what you want, please fill out a card at the shop and remind your loved ones to check with us.

We have a wide variety of nature books for children from small board books for little hands to the Eyewitness Series for the older child or adult. We have books on animals, flowers, insects, deserts, rainforests, oceans, saving the planet and activity books such as sticker books, punch-out books, stencil books, and coloring books. We have stocking stutters which are educational as well as fun. We have magnifying boxes, solargraphics print kits, inflatable globes, dinosaur erasers, bird gliders, and much, much more.

For the adults on your shopping list we have beautiful new wind chimes, jewelry, calendars. gift wrap, T-shirts and sweat shirts, mobiles. puzzles, stationery, bird feeders and accessories, bird baths, bird houses, bat houses, bird song cassettes, bird aP.d nature videos, hiking sticks and field equipment. Our latest video "Owls Up Close sells for $29.95. We also have an excellent selection of Bushnell and Bausch & Lomb binoculars ranging in price from $ 46.25 to $965.00.

Our nature books and field guide selection is one of the best in town. New titles include: BIRDS OF JAMAICA. Downer & Sutton ($29.95) GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF NEPAL, lnskip ($55.00)

PETERSON FIELD GUIDE TO FRESHWATER FISHES, Page & Burr ($16.95) DESERT WILDFLOWERS, Az Native Plant Society ($2.25) GUIDE TO WESTERN BIRD FEEDING, Dennis ($9.95) THE BLUEBIRD BOOK, Stokes ($9.95) BUTTERFLIES OF S.E. ARIZONA, Bailowitz & Brock ($29.95) THE BUTTERFLY BOOK, Stokes & Williams ($1 0.95) HOW TO ATTRACT HUMMINGBIRDS & BUTTERFLIES, Ortho ($8.95) TINY GAME HUNTING - PESTS IN YOUR HOUSE & GARDEN,Kiein & Wenner ($8.50) BACKYARD COMPOSTING, Harmonious Press ($6.95) ABOUT BIRDS- GUIDE FOR CHILDREN, Sill ($14.95) MY FIRST GREEN BOOK, Wilkes ($12.00)

--Judy Edison

Volunteers Wanted

Volunteers needed to clean, repair and re-upholster chairs for TAS office. Please call Gillian Paine Robinson at 770-1756 or the T AS office at 629-051 0.

Volunteers who can give a day or a couple of hours, we have special events and activities just f�r you. Pl�ase call Gillian Paine Robinson at 770-1756 1n the evenmgs or the TAS office (629-051 0) to volunteer!

Page 5

1991 TUCSON VALLEY CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT Many of you participated in the 1990 Tucson Valley Christmas Bird Count, which was one of the most successful counts

in recent years in Tucson. The primary reason it was so successful is because we had upwards of 65 people in the field who recorded 138 species. I would like to see even more of you out and counting this year. The date of the Count this year is Sunday, December 22. If you are interested in participating in this year's Count, please call me at 322-6247 (leave a message if I'm not home - include your first and last names and a telephone number). There is a participation fee of about $5, which goes toward the cost of publishing the results in American Birds.

In the meantime, howev�r. you can help us to prepare for the Christmas Count. If you have a hot birding spot that you frequent, like a pond or a lake in a subdivision, a good feeder (seed feeder or hummingbird feeder), a wash with thick vegetation, or a particularly tasty grove of trees, please let me know by dropping me a card c/o the Nature Shop at 300 E. University Blvd, #120, Tucson, AZ 85705. Note: Our Count circle is centered at River & Oracle and extends for a radius of 7Y2 miles out from that point. Remember, we are looking not only for a high number of species but also for high total numbers of birds. We want to make sure that we get coverage for all the good spots in Tucson.

As in past years, we welcome the participation of backyard feeder watchers. We would also like to get a few bicycle patrols in town again this year.

Linda Fagan has volunteered to help coordinate the compilation dinner, which will be a pot luck. A compilation dinner is a great occasion to get together and visit and rehash the day. The dinner will be held on the evening of the Count at the recreation room of the Promontory Apartments (located at 1 East River Road) from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm. We will need people to bring main dishes, bread, salads and desserts. Emphasis should be placed on hearty dishes to feed hungry and exhausted counters. We also ask that you bring your own utensils and cup.

When you let me know if you are participating in the Count, I will put you in touch with Linda to discuss details of the dinner.

1991 Christmas Counts Dec. 14 Morman Lake, Elaine Morrall

Nogales, John Bache-Wiig, 287-3466 Ramsey Canyon, Dave Krueper, 458-0542

Dec. 15 Atascosa, Scott Mills, 325-0426 featured count of AFO Jerome. Virginia Gillmore, 282-3996

Dec. 16 SaltNerde Rivers, Bob Bradley, 277-5162 Dec. 19 Santa Catalina, Bob Bates, 621-6317

Gila River, Dick Todd 978-0293 Dec. 20 Buenos Aires, Wayne Shifflett, 823-4251

Sedona, Alma Greene, 284-1684 Dec. 21 Avra Valley, Wayne Clark, 883-1639

Patagonia, Dan Jones, 624-8164 Dec. 22 Tucson Valley, Greer Warren, 322-6247 Dec. 27 Green Valley/Madera, Bob Scheibe, 749-

9805 Dec. 28 San Bias, Mex., Sharon Goldwasser &

Chuck Williamson, 298-3014

--Greer Warren -- ·-----r -v,.. ---

Atascosa Highlands--This Year's "Featured" Christmas Bird Count

In an attempt to provide adequate coverage and generate some new enthusiasm for Christmas Counts, the Arizona Field Ornithologists and seven compilers of southeastern Arizona Counts have banded together to choose a "Featured Count of the Year." The idea is simple--each year one Southeastern Arizona Count is selected and receives support from other compilers and as many other people as possible. Last year's Featured Count was Patagonia, which despite some pretty foul weather was a great success. This year the featured Count is the Atascosa Highlands on December 15.

The Atascosa Highlands Christmas Count circle is located along the Arizona-Sonora border west of Nogales. Most of the area is covered by oak woodland or mesquite grassland, but a variety of very interesting areas are present including Pena Blanca, Arivaca Lake, Sycamore Canyon, and California Gulch. The Atascosa Highlands Count has been run for 23 years. It was

Page 6

begun in 1960 and run until 1968 by Bill Harrison. During these 9 years the number of participants ranged from only one to twelve and the number of party hours from only eight to 38. The number of species recorded each year ranged from 36 to 99. the count was not run from 1969 through 1976. In 1977 the count was resurrected by Doug Stotz and Scott Mills and has been run every year since. During these last 14 years the number of participants has ranged from 1 0 to 56 and the total number of party hours from 54 to 217. The number of species recorded each year has ranged from 99 to 125. The total number of species recorded during the history of the count is 196.

Three aspects of the Atascosa Highlands Count make is especially appealing and exciting: the chance to discover some very unusual wintering species; the opportunity to help establish new all-time national high counts for a number of species; and the chance to walk through some of southern Arizona's least disturbed and most beautiful country. The Atascosa Highlands Count currently holds all-time high counts for at least twelve species: Montezuma Quail (156), Elegant Trogan (3), Red-naped Sapsucker (57), Gray-breasted Jay (1048), Bridled Titmouse (471), Rock Wren (300), Canyon Wren (111 ), Black-capped Gnatcatcher (2). Painted Redstart (12), Hepatic Tanager (4), Rufous-crowned Sparrow (249), and Five-striped Sparrow (6). It is also likely that the Count holds the all-time high for Canyon Towhee. For most of these species, the number of individuals counted is proportional to the number of observers. A high turnout should provide a excellent opportunity to reset several of these highs and perhaps add a few more. Let's hope the weather will be better than it was for the Patagonia Count last year!

. --G. Scott Mills

Holidav Potluck, Dec. 9 Silent Book lfuction and White Elephant Raffle

Please don't forget to bring to the T AS office any books on natural history, animal life, birds, hiking, flowers, etc. that you no longer want so we can sell them at the Silent Book Auction to be held at our Holiday Potluck, Dec. 9. The fun of this event is the variety and subject matter of old books that turn up. Remember what is gathering dust on your book shelf could be a real find for someone else. Help make this a treasure hunt for all of us!

ALSO, our White Elephant Raffle still needs items. Once again, please bring in to the office any items you don't want that you think might appeal to some good Audubon member. Who knows, those old cardinal placemats might be just what someone else wants for their picnic table next summer.

If you can't bring your articles or books to the TAS office, just phone and tell us you will be bring them with you to the Potluck. See you December 9th!

--Martie Barry

OUR WISHES ARE COMING TRUE

In response to our published "Wish List", Tucson Audu­bon has received donations of several items. We wish to thank Briggs and Pat Acken for their donation of a typewriter for our office and Bob and Joan Tweit for the donation of a calculator, step ladder, projector stand, and card table. With the expansion of our Shop and Office, we are in need of many office items. If you have something on the list or even something not listed that you think might be useful to us -- please call Judy Edison at 629-0510.

<'' Phyllis V. Sarotl

T AS Wish List Refrigerator, microwave oven. vacuum cleaner (with attachments), waste baskets, metal storage cabinets and shelves, desk chairs, card table and folding chairs, metal file cabinets and tripod.

Thank you!

r----------------------,

: National Audubon Society I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

Chapter Membership Application

Yes, I'd l ike w join.

Please enroll me as a member of the National Audubon Society and of my local chapter. Please send AUDUBON magazine and my membership card to the address below.

D My check for $20 is enclosed.

N�E ----------------------------------

ADDRESS -------------------------------

CITY _____________ STATE ZIP ---a// checks payable to the National Audubon Society.

Send thJs appllaatlon and your check to: Tucaon Audubon Society 300 E. University Avenue •120 Tucaon, AZ 85705·

\.--- LOCAL CHAPTER --------->.

Tucson Audubon Society Tucson, AZ 85705 B01

I Local Chapter COO. 1 7XCHA L----------------------�

Conservation

I '

Curbside Recycling--

Page 7

Considered by City Council

Anyone who feels strongly about the need to curb our excessive use of resources should take the time to contact the Mayor and their City Council member to let them know of their support for providing curbside recycling for city residents. Although we have outreach recycling at some shopping centers once a month it only begins to scratch the surface. The cost to provide curbside recycling can be covered in large part by switching to once a week garbage pick-up and once a week recyclables pick up. Other communities have done this without sacrificing health standards, including Phoenix, which is hotter than Tucson. Other cities, such as Seattle, San Jose and Portland, have moved forward aggressively with curbside recycling. Private companies outside the municipally served area, such as Waste Management and BFI, have provided the service with considerable success since April when the County mandated they provide it to customers who wanted it.

The City Council needs to make a strong commitment and move forward in a timely fashion to incorporate this service to that area of the community within the city limits. Please call the Mayor and Council answering service (791-4700) or your individual council member and the Mayor on their direct lines and express your support of curbside recycling.

--Conservation Committee

Protection for Our Last Wild and Scenic Rivers

A proposal to designate about 40 streams in Arizona as Wild and Scenic Rivers has been submitted for congressional support by the Arizona Rivers Coalition, a group of outdoor/conservation organizations including

Tucson Audubon Society. The list of watercourses includes well known steams like Pinto Creek near Miami, Arizona.

We all recognize the significance of the few remaining streams in our state. Sound, long-term stewardship of this resource dictates that we do something to secure their continued viability. Protection under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers system is the ideal mechanism to accomplish that. Now we need to illicit action from our congressional delegation which has r:_epeatedly pronounced their strong support of the environment. Brief letters encouraging them to co-sponsor and introduce the legislation to protect these exceptional areas are needed at this time. Some points to stress in your letters include: the importance of maintaining the watershed values of these streams to ensure they flow downstream to recharge groundwater and existing reservoirs; and the tourist dollars that their maintained integrity provides critical habitat for our states most threatened wildlife, native fishes.

Your letters should be copied to Senators McCain and DeConcini and also Rep. Jay Rhodes since he is on the House Interior Committee which has jurisdiction over the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. If you have questions about streams or what to include in your letter, please contact Doug Koppinger (628-7576).

--Conservation Committee

Work Day at Saguaro National Monument

On January 18th, which is likely to be a nice sunny winter Saturday with perfect temperatures, Tucson Audubon is going to help backfill old mine test pits in the Tucson Mountain portion of S a g u a r o N a t i o n a l Monument. All it will take is a little energy to shovel some dirt. If that isn't your idea of work, there will also be an opportunity to take down old fencing that has proved hazardous to wildlife as well as unsightly.

This will be a chance for us to get out and enjoy the weather and help alleviate a serious problem on the monument as well. There are dozens of these test holes to fix and plenty of old fencing so we will have plenty of work no matter how many of us turn out. With continuing budget cuts, Saguaro National monument relies on volunteer support now more than ever. Please call the Audubon office to sign up to spend a couple hours helping with these projects. A sign-up sheet will also be passed around at the December and January meetings.

--Conservation Committee

Page 8

Conference: Sonoran Peoples Summit

On January 24-25 a conference and series of workshop discussions will take place at the Ramada Inn in downtown Tucson. Workshops will focus on subjects such as growth and development in the southwest and how it affects the environment.

The border region has attracted thousands of recent immigrants whether it is people moving from California, the northeast or midwest to Tucson and Phoenix or Mexicans seeking economic opportunity in the border towns. Now with heightened expectations from a likely free trade agreement, development pressures will only intensify. This conference is an opportunity to focus on how to achieve a sustainable future for this borderland area. Tucson Audubon and other groups such as the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Arizona Toxics Information, and League of Women Voters are co­sponsors of the event which is being organized primarily by the United Nations Association of Southern Arizona and the American Friends Service Committee Arizona Area Program.

The findings and results of this event will become a part of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development to be held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. You may call 290-0828 for details.

--Conservation Committee

Volunteers Needed: Bald Eagle Survey

Arizona supports a small population of breeding Bald Eagles that begin nesting in January and February. In the past ten years, state, federal and private agencies have worked hard to learn more about the bird's ecology in Arizona. After a four-year ecology study, we feel that the future looks bright for this endangered species. What we know very little about though, is how many and at what locations do wintering migrant Bald Eagles occur in Arizona.

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has coordinated annual counts of Bald Eagles for five years, collecting information and tabulating a nationwide report. These counts are an invaluable. Looking at the entire population we can document population fluctuations, age class distribution, and migrant locations due to climatic factors. As a state, we can utilize more specific information for management purposes: critical habitat, roost sites, and food availability. Just recently, we've discovered a concentration of 30-40 wintering bald eagles in the Grand Canyon due to a new population of spawning trout!

We targeted January 10-12, 1992 as our survey days for this year's count. We are asking for volunteers to help us get the most complete information on Arizona's migrant population of wintering eagles. Every eagle counted during this time frame is an important data point, even if it is only a single bird. If you are interested in contributing to the management and recovery of the Bald Eagle please contact Emory Froelich (coordinator) at 760-0302.

--Greg Beatty, Game & Fish Department

Ecology Tips: Recycling Directory

Tucson Clean and Beautiful Inc., in cooperation with TNI Partners, has just published their 1991 Tucson Recycling Directory. This free guide is available in all branches of the public library. This year the directory will not be included in the Arizona Daily Star or the Tucson Citizen. The guide explains where to take recyclables, what is recyclable and who can answer your questions.

Recycling is taking place every day in Pima County, but let's face it, Tucson is not on the "cutting edge" of the recycling movement. Just because something is stamped "recyclable" doesn't mean it won't end up in a landfill. However, seeing more items made from recycled materials and having the "recyclable" stamp on items is definitely a healthy sign--even if your garbage collector won't accept it! So let's keep working on the problems and solutions. And be sure to pick up your copy of the Tucson Recycling Directory.

--Judy Forester

How to Clean the Natural Way

"Every day American homeowners marshal an arsenal of toxic chemicals to fight grime in their kitchens and slay tiny six-legged intruders. Victory is usually swift, but the environmental cost of this chemical warfare is growing. Americans annually dump 1.5 billion pounds of household hazardous waste into the nation's streams and landfills, where contaminants pose long-term health threats to plants, animals, and even humans," according to Robert Service in the Audubon Activist.

But there are many things you can do to reduce toxic wastes in your home. Here are a few ideas from the November issue of the Audubon Activist for cleaning the natural way:

Hazardous Product Alternative All-purpose cleaner A m1xture of v1negar and salt

makes an effective surface cleaner. For a deodorizing solution, 4 Tablespoons of baking soda in one quart of water.

Oven Cleaner Prevent messy clean ups by lining your oven floor with aluminum foil. For spills, moisten floor with warm water and sprinkle with salt. Sponge with vinegar and water mixture to remove grease.

Drain Cleaners To unclog drains, use a plunger.

Roach Killers

if that fails, pour 1/4 cup baking soda and 2 oz. of vinegar in the drain to loosen the clog. After a few minutes, follow with boiling water.

Plug floor cracks with caulk.

Sprinkle mixture of 2 parts boric acid to 1 part flour along baseboards. Caution: boric acid is toxic if eaten.

Paint Remover Avoid oil based paints.

Pesticides Spray houseplant with a blend of one garlic clove and mild soap to repel pests.

In addition to these hints, there is one more way to avoid the need for using hazardous cleaners--clean things as they get dirty and you won't need all the harsh chemicals! (Doesn't that sound like your mother?) Don't wait until your stove is ready to catch on fire, or you can no longer see through the shower door. Spend a few minutes cleaning your stove daily with soap and water (you don't need a grease cutter for the grease and a glass cleaner for the glass). Use a squeegee on the shower whenever" you use it. I know it sounds like a pain, but it beats spending a day in there with Limeaway or some other nasty chemical trying to scrub off the soap and hard water film that defies removal! And for the toilet bowl, try a pumice stone to remove the hard water ring. I started using "soap and water" to clean when we rented a new house with marble floors and countertops. The owner said that is all I would need (according to her "maid"). I tried it. It works!

--Judy Forester

Catalina State Park Catalina State Park will lead weekly Beginner Bird

Walks on Fridays at 8:30AM. These walks, led by a park ranger, will last approximately 1-1/2 hours and be on level ground. Plan to meet by the restrooms in the Picnic Area. There is a $3 per vehicle entry fee or State Parks Annual Day Use Permit. Call 628-5798 for further information. Please note: There will be no Bird Walk on Friday, Dec. 27 or Friday, Jan. 3.

�� �r-= · Sabino Canyon

The Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists present an extensive program of trail walks, nature walks, and bird walks at Sabino Canyon under the auspices of the U.S. Forest Service. Bird walks take place on the first Wednesday of the month at 8:00 AM and on the third Monday of the month at 8:00 AM. Bird & Plant Walks take place every Tuesday starting at 9 AM.

Other trail & nature walks and activities occur daily. The complete schedule of these events is posted at the Sabino Canyon Visitors' Center. For further information you may call the Visitors' Center (749-8700) any time between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4 PM, Monday through Saturday.

Gambel's Quail by Greg Hamel of Natural Elements Photo-Research

Book Review: A Guide to Western Bird Feeding by John v. Dennis. 1991. Bird Watcher's Digest Press. 192 pp. $9.95

If your curiosity is aroused by the thought of rabbit and dog food pellets, mealworms, canned peas, baked beans, halved tomatoes, grape jelly and waffles as bird food and you want to find out what these foods attract, you'll want to read this book. It has an attractive format with many illustrations by Dimitry Schidlovsky decorating its wi�e margins. The first chapter is an interesting history of b1rd feeding in the Wef,t, and the �ook e�ds with cha�!�rs on questions people ask about b1rd feedmg, such as_. 1s suet safe for birds in summer," and "how can I keep b1rds from flying into my windows?" Also included are a�pendi�es giving "A Quick Reference Feeding Chart", "FrUJt-beanng Trees and Shrubs", and "Plants for Hummingbirds".

The substance of the book is found in its beginning and ending chapters. The middle section consists largely of nicely written descriptions of birds that can be expected to come to feeders in various parts of the West, and numerous accounts of species appearing at feeders here and there. As a guide to bird feeding, this seemed like just so much padding. Anywax. who wo�ld want an exact list of what to expect at the1r feeders, 1f one could be given, anyway? After all, doesn't a great deal of the fun of feeding birds come from having the unexpected show up at your feeder rather than the expected?

The appendices, which might have made th1s book quite useful, are incomplete, not only in terms of the subject matter, they don't even include all the plant_s mentioned in the text. Check the index for longer, but st1ll incomplete, lists. . . For anyone looking for a comprehensive gu1de to the subject of bird feeding in the West, this isn't it, but !I might get someone new to birdwatching interested. Th1s book is available in the Audubon Nature Shop.

--Karen Nickey

Page 10

Bird Sightings October, 1991

Some months it is an unusual weather pattern, some months an outstanding bird and some months a location th�t seems to stand out when compiling the sightings.

Th1s month seems to be a combination of all three! October was extremely warm until a short-lived but unexpe.ctedly sharp cold snap broke the trend - albeit o�ly bnefly. The news of nesting Eared Trogons is a bittersweet saga :elated later in the report. And finally, the apparent rediscovery of the Pinal Air Park pecan orchard unleashed a remarkable series of interesting species for a single location.

The fall months often produce an assortment of waterbirds that are not seen during other seasons. This month a WESTERN GREBE was seen at Silverbell Lake (1 0/31 KK) and an AMERICAN BITTERN was found at Arivaca Lake (1 0/30 LD).

Various species of geese were spotted at local sewage ponds in the Tucson area. 1 GREATER WHITE-FRONT ED GOOSE was at Snyder Hill Rd. sewage pond (1 0/13 WC). Two SNOW GEESE were noted at Ruthrauff Rd. pond (10/19 Jho) and 1 was at the same location on 10/26 (RH). A ROSS' GOOSE also turned up at Ruthrauff (10/26 KK).

T h e r e w e r e

/. B. several reports

-·� - � o f W O O D

_ ___L__ � . - D U C K S , ��- -- · i n c l u d i n g a

� sighting around 1 0/3 at the

49er's Golf Co�rse pond, a male at Silverbell Pond ( 10/20 KM) and a pa1r at eastern Tucson's La Cebadilla Lake (1 0/27).

R e p o r t s c o n t i n u e d i n t o O c t o b e r o f BLACK-SHOULDERED KITES at the pecan groves just south of the Pinal Air Park (10/09 BH). Also at that location was a MERLIN (10/ 1 3 WM). Four COMMON BLACK-HAWKS on southward migration were spotted on the east side of Tucson (10/22 RJ). A GRAY HAWK was seen on the first pond at Arivaca ( 1 0/18 WB).

The sighting of SANDHILL CRANES at the Willcox sewage ponds indicated their return for the winter stay at the Sulphur Springs Valley region. 30 were noted on 10/9 (JB) and 50 on were reported on 10/19 (JH).

A transient BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER was reported from the Willcox sewage pond (10/9 JB). At Snyder Hill sewage pond there was a SNOWY PLOVER (1 0/2 JB) a late SOLITARY SANDPIPER (10/2 JB) and oddly, a MOUNTAIN PLOVER (10/31 KK). An excessive number of LONG-BILLED CURLEWS (200) on 10/09 (JB) were reported from Willcox sewage. BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS were reported from Willcox (1 0/1 8 LD) and Ruthrauff ( 1 0/25 JH). There were 3 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS at Willcox (1 0/09 LD and 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER at Snyder Hill (1 0/12 MS) along with 2 D UNLIN (1 0/12 WC). Single SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS were seen in Willcox on 10/9 and 10/26 JB but 16 reported from Ruthrauff ( 1 0/15 BL) would be an unusua! number, especially for this time of year.

A fairly common fall transient, a RED-NECKED

PHALAROPE, was at Ruthrauff on 10/25 (GM) . The much rarer transient RED PHALAROPE (1 0/30 OJ) seen at Snyder Hill sewage at sunset was not found at sunrise the next day.

At Willcox, a SABINE'S GULL (10/13 JW, 10/15 LD) was repeatedly seen.

At the pecan groves just south of the Pinal Air Park outside of Marana, up to 2 RUDDY GROUND-DOVES were seen or heard through the month of October ( 1 0/03 KK, 10/04, 10/11 JK) 2 on 10/23 WR, 10/27 JB). Out of the same pecan grove also flew a report of a SHORT-EARED OWL (10/9 BH).

Relatively late VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRDS were reported from the Paton's residence and Bob's Cafe in Patagonia (10/26 AS).

Also relatively late ELEGANT TROGONS (10/ 1 4 PB, 10/23 LD) were reported from Sylvester Springs near Bog Springs in Madera Canyon. Regular sighting of 2 EARED TROGONS (10/03 TF, 10/06 WL, 10/14 JH) along the Hamburg Trail in Ramsey Canyon continued through the first half of October. Then, the exciting news emanated from Ramsey that a nest was found with 2 young. A call for volunteer nest monitors was put out. Birders may want to keep in mind the cautions that were recommended to help keep disturbances by birders of the nest to a minimum: "Please keep in mind the following requests: 1) do not wear any light colored clothing - this tends to have a disturbing effect on the male, please wear dark clothes, 2) please be quiet and keep movement to a minimum, 3) don't play any tapes of Eared Trogon, 4) be patient -feeding visits to the nest may be as long as 3 hours". There was sad news by the end of the month. About October 25th, the young had apparently died and the adults had abandoned the nest. Why did the nest fail? Extralimit nesting? Pressure by birders? The late October storms? Just hard luck? Will they return next year? Will access be restricted if they do? Will EARED TROGONS nest again in Arizona?

A Green Kingfisher was sighted at Arivaca on 1 0/18 (WB) and again on 10/30 at the same location (LD). Another was seen in Nogales on 10/20 (CG).

A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, a species which usually occurs east of southern Arizona, was found in Madera Canyon on 10/20 (WR) A Williamson's Sapsucker was at the same location on 10/17.

Always a rather uncommon transient, an Olive-sided Flycatcher was noted at Madera Canyon on 10/04 (JB). A relatively late sighting of a Buff-breasted Flycatcher came on 10/5 at Carr Canyon (JB).

Two very late Purple Martins were at Ruthrauff on 10/27 and even more extraordinary was a Cave Swallow at the same location, also on 10/27 (KK)

A Winter Wren was found in Madera Canyon on 1 0/25 (LD). Moist canyons sites like Madera are the best place to find this mouse-like species in southern Arizona.

A Townsend's Solitaire was found at Madera on 10/2 (JB) and again on 10/26 (LD).

October is often an interesting month for meandering

parulines. Among the u n e x p e c t e d warblers to show up this month were a Tennessee Warbler at the Pinal Air Park pecan orchards on 10/12 (JB) and a Northern Parula at Madera Canyon on 1 0 / 2 0 ( W R ) . Several reports of C h e s t n u t - s i d e d Warblers came from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum on 10/9 (RB) and from along the Santa Cruz River at Avra Valley Road (near Pinal Air Park) on 10/9 (JK) and again around 10/18 at the same location (obs. unk). The Pinal Air Park pecan groves provided additional variety in warblers included a Black-throated Blue Warbler reported by several observers on 10/10 (WR, JK & BL) a Palm Warbler on 10/3 (WR) and a Black-and-White Warbler on 10/10 (JK). Two more Black-and-White Warblers were noted in Madera Canyon on 10/20 (WR). Seemingly more common in recent years, Louisiana Waterthrush sightings came on 10/17 and 10/26 at Madera Canyon (LD)

On 10/3 at Pinal Air Park, there was a Rose-breasted Grosbeak (WR). Another individual of this species was found in Madera Canyon on 10/05 (LD). A male Painted Bunting found at Kino Springs on 10/12 (SG) might have been wild - then again it might not. This species is sold as a caged bird on the streets of Nogales only a few miles south of Kino Springs. This always presents the question of what to do with the record.

Clay-colored Sparrow sightings at the infamous Pinal pecan orchard came on 10/3 (KK), 10/5 (Jho), 10/13 (WM), 10/23 (WR) and 10/27 (JB). A Swamp Sparrow was found at the same spot on 10/12 (JB) and another at Arivaca on 10/30 (LD). Chestnut-collared Longspurs were noted from the Willcox area on 10/26 (BL).

American Goldfinches were reported from Ruthrauff on the 25th (GM) and several Evening Grosbeaks were found at Carr Canyon on 10/05 (JB) OBSERVERS: BL (Barry Lyon); BH (Betty Hunt); CG (Clive Green); DJ (Dan Jones); GM (Gloria Morton); Jho (Jack Holloway); JK (Jeff Kingery); JB (Jerry Bock); JW (Jim Woolfenden); JH (John Higgins); KM (Keith Martis); KK (Kenn Kaufman);LD (Louie Dombrowski); MS (Mark Stevenson); PB (Pete Baum); RB (Rebecca Jones); RB (Rick Bowers); AS (Robert "Smitty" Smith); RH (Ron Haaseth); SG (Sharon Goldwasser); TF (Todd Furnace); WL (Wade Leitner); WM (Walt Monroe); WB (Walter Burson); WC (Wayne Clark); and WR (Will Russell).

For up-to-date, detailed directions to 73 birding hotspots, consult the new 3rd edition of Birds in Southeastern Arizona by Davis and Russell. Proceeds from sales of this book go to Tucson Audubon's Educational and conservation activities.

Your bird sightings are valued. Compiled with reports from other birders, they provide an informative snapshot of the seasonal transitions for the region. Repon bird sightings, rare and otherwise, to Jack Holloway (661-2720). Call 796-1005 for a recorded message of bird sightings.

--Sharon Goldwasser & Chuck Williamson

Page 1 1

Field Trip Reports Ruthrauff & Willcox Ponds. oct.19.1991

Fifteen of us enjoyed beautiful fall birding despite the unusually warm weather. We were surprised by two Snow Geese at Ruthrauff Ponds. Willcox Ponds treated us to Sandhill Cranes, Curlews and Ring-billed Gulls. A single male Scaled Quail put on a show for us. We saw 61 species.

--John Higgins

Chiricahua National Monument & Willcox Ponds, oct. 26, 1991

Eighteen enthusiastic people met shortly after sunrise for a full day's birding.

Our first stop, Willcox Ponds, produced interesting birds including Northern Shoveler, Willet, Ring-billed Gull, American Pipit and a lone Chestnut-collared Longspur. During a walk around the big pond, we watched the approach of a sizable flock of Long-billed Curlews grow from a barely perceptible line on the horizon until overhead--to everybody's amazement, the birds literally "fell" out of the sky, toward the pond, in a "blizzard" of beaks, legs and wings! Shortly afterwards, a hungry Northern Harrier made a dramatic dive at a group of Greater Yellowlegs standing on a sandbar, sending the frightened birds scattering for safety! The yellowlegs escaped, and the harrier went back to catching grasshoppers.

Surrounded by a wonderland of hoodoo formations at Chiricahua National Monument, we hiked 4 miles. Montane birds adding to the trip's tally, included a mixed flock of Bridled Titmice, Bushtits and Mexican Chickadees.

At the day's end, we again stopped at Willcox Ponds. Skeins of Sandhills Cranes flying in to roost were inspiring against a backdrop of the Galiuro Mountains. Yellow-headed Blackbirds and Scaled Quail topped off the list, for a total of 67 species!

--Greg Homel

Sulphur Springs Valley, Nov. 9, 1 991 Our group of 32 was treated to warm weather, 45

species including cranes and Ferruginous Hawks and a field full of newborn lambs!

--Greer Warren & John Higgins