How can you beat a month when most of the migrant birds come back, the weather is perfect, there's a sale going on in the Nature Shops and the the world's most comprehensive urban bird survey is happening (the Tucson Bird Count)? 

What if you add the Tucson Audubon's funnest fundraiser: Birdathon?

This is not to mention the important conservation advocacy and volunteer opportunities in which you can participate. And there's more, read below—there's not enough space here to list all the wonderful things that are happening! 

But if you do only one thing as you "spring" into action, make it a trip outside to watch birds. We will understand entirely.

- Email editor, Kendall Kroesen

Get Your Birdathon On! April 10 – May 10

Lead a team yourself or join an expert-led team:

• Matt Griffiths of Tucson Audubon will lead the Loopers Bike Birdathon on Friday, April 17 from dawn to the late afternoon.
• Tucson Audubon's Los Pajaro Peregrinos de Patagonia (P3) The Bird Pilgrims of Patagonia will host a Birdathon in Patagonia on Monday, April 20.
• Scott Olmstead of Tropical Birding will lead Scott's Orioles on a trip on Saturday, April 25.
• Jennie MacFarland of Tucson Audubon will be Larking Up Lemmon on Tuesday, April 28 from 3 am to the early afternoon.
  

Visit tucsonaudubon.org/birdathon to sign up today or contact Diana Rosenblum at drosenblum@tucsonaudubon.org; 520-209-1802

Take Action for the Future of Open Space Conservation!

On April 21, 2015, the Pima County Board of Supervisors will discuss and vote on a resolution for a 2015 Special Bond Election. If approved by the board this April, and passed by the voters in November, the Bond Package will enable our community to purchase and preserve crucial wildlife habitat, open space and historic sites, support a thriving nature-based economic engine, and fund projects that will enhance economic opportunity and our quality of life in the Sonoran Desert.

TAKE ACTION! The Pima County Board of Supervisors and your local City Council representative need to hear from you that you strongly support a 2015 Bond Package that includes $95 MILLION FOR OPEN SPACE PROTECTION! Write to your supervisor and representative, and attend the crucial Board of Supervisors meeting on April 21 at 9:00 am.

Click here to get the details and take action in support of conserving the open spaces that are so vital to birds and biodiversity, recreation, tourism and the vitality of our communities!

Learn About Birds With Tucson Audubon

Advanced Topics: Birding by Ear
April 16 & 18 | Still a few spots left, hurry!
This workshop will delve into the world of bird vocalizations and give you a framework for learning the voices of our master singers. The evening classroom session will teach you to "see" what you "hear" with sonograms. It will provide a framework for understanding what you hear. Key parts of bird song will be deciphered, including trills, buzzes, upslurs and overslurs. All this will be combined with methods to compare similar sounding species and recognize taxonomic variation and similarities. Taught by Homer Hansen. Canyon Wren image by Jim Prudente.

Celebrate EARTHfest in Patagonia | April 18

• 7:45 am  HIKE: Patagonia Bird Walk—Join Tucson Audubon's Bryon Lichtenhan at the Patagonia Town Council Chambers for a guided bird walk to the Paton Center and all around town. 
• 10:00 am  LEARN: Tucson Audubon's Paton Center for Hummingbirds—Keith Ashley will offer a short presentation on the Paton Center, also at the Town Council Chambers.

Other Patagonia Area News

Friends of the Mountain Empire Benefit Concert
A very special evening of music with the Kevin Pakulis Band in Copper Hall at Hotel Congress, Tucson
Saturday, May 9 | 7 – 11 PM

Support the organizations working to protect and preserve the habitat, water, and wildlife of the Mountain Empire from new mining in the Patagonia Mountains, Santa Rita Mountains, Canelo Hills, and the San Rafael Valley of southern Arizona. More info here.

Arizona Antelope Foundation Highway 83 Empire Ranch Fence Modification
Need people for April 17 – 19!
The Foundation will be modifying approximately 2.6 miles of existing fence in 10 different segments on the right of way of Hwy 83 by removing the 2 bottom strands of barbed wire and replacing with a single strand of smooth wire at a height of 16 inches to benefit the local pronghorn herd. The AAF will provide dinner Friday & Saturday nights as well as breakfast on Saturday & Sunday. 

More info at www.azantelope.org

TUCSON BIRD AND WILDLIFE FESTIVAL UPDATE
Nine field trips still open for registration

Highlights:

• David MacKay of Solipaso Presents:
  Pre and Post 2015 Tucson Bird and Wildlife Festival Trip to Madera, Mexico: August 10-13 (7 spots) and August 17-20 (1 spot)
  Click here for trip details and to register.
  

Visit www.tucsonaudubon.org/festival for details and to register.

Free Urban Restoration Workshops!
Join Tucson Audubon and the Western Institute for Leadership Development (WILD) high school to learn simple yet vital skills for restoring Tucson's urban ecology. Learn techniques for native plant propagation, rainwater harvesting, and other urban restoration techniques for home and community. Please RSVP to Andy Bennett, (520) 262-1314 (or contact him for more information).

Saturday, April 25 | 8:00 AM
Rainwater Harvesting Barrel Installation
The Western Institute seeks to be a community sustainability information center. To that end, during this workshop we'll be growing the school's "rainwater harvesting petting zoo" by installing their second and third rainwater harvesting features. With assistance from regional experts at Watershed Management Group, we'll be planning, designing, and installing these features to serve as water sources for the school's new gardens and greenhouses.

Get details of this workshop

Volunteer Opportunities For YOU

Tucson Audubon Restoration Effort at Atturbury Wash Needs YOUR Help!
As the days heat up and the earth dries out, we'll need help every week watering hundreds of native plants at Atturbury Wash. Watering can be with the field crew on Fridays, or could be done on your own time following a brief training period. (NOTE: this is a great opportunity to learn native flora and fauna, and contribute to a positive and proactive effort. Side effects may include warm fuzzies!) Contact Andy Bennett, abennett@tucsonaudubon.org

GALA 2016

Silent Auction Chair
Do you have experience with organizing silent auctions? In this position, you will oversee the entire silent auction process from procurement to staging. You will receive support from and coordinate with the Gala Chair, Silent Auction Staging Lead, Silent Auction Checkout Lead, and the Tucson Audubon Volunteer Coordinator. You must be comfortable with leading a group of volunteers, and computer use including email, navigating the internet, Word and pdf documents; and managing google documents is a MUST!

Silent Auction Procurement Coordinator
Do you enjoy being out in the community and spreading the word about the important conservation work that Tucson Audubon does? This might be the perfect volunteer opportunity for you. Your task would be to lead a team of volunteers in an effort to procure a wide variety of quality items or experiences (40+) for an enticing and financially successful silent auction at next year’s Gala.

Contact Bete Jones, Outreach Manager at 520-209-1812; bjones@tucsonaudubon.org

A Variety of Bird Field Trip Destinations on Offer

May 5—Tuesday 7 am
Atturbury Wash at Lincoln Regional Park
Leader: Kendall Kroesen 520-971-2385 or kkroesen@tucsonaudubon.org

May 9--Saturday 6:30 am
Santa Catalina Mountains
Leader: Clifford Cathers: 520.982.3272 or AZCliffy@Q.com

Sign up online and see additional birding field trips.

Join Tucson Audubon in Madera Canyon for International Migratory Bird Day!
Come on down for a full day of nature/bird walks, presentations, booths, food and much more.

More info at www.friendsofmaderacanyon.org/IMBD-2015.html

Spring cleaning at the Tucson Audubon Nature Shop. 

Every day more and more items are marked down and the savings migrate to our patrons. Pick up some garden decorations or bird essay books at amazing prices. Stop in and get outfitted in a styling new Tucson Audubon Society t-shirt, currently 25% off. Not sure how you will keep the kids entertained once school is out? Currently ALL toys, puzzles, games and coloring books are 15% off (ENDING April 30). Stop in and find something fun for the whole family. Make a day of it, pick up something fun, spend some time viewing butterflies in our garden and grab lunch downtown. It's a perfect way to spend an afternoon!

OPTICS

Leica Ultravid HD 8x42
Over 100 years of craftsmanship culminates in the impressive performance of the Leica Ultravid HD binocular. State-of-the-art design incorporates fluoride glass with anti-reflective coatings to enhance color resolution and increase light transmission. The optimized Leica focus knob functions smoothly regardless of temperature extremes. The AquaDura™ lens coating forces rain to roll off the lens surfaces, makes it easier to remove dirt and smudges, and provides better protection against scratching. Leica covers new products with a limited lifetime warranty, plus a three-year Passport Protection Plan.

MSRP $ 2,332.99 Member Price $2,099.69

—Tucson Audubon Staff
(image by Angela Pritchard)