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Tucson Audubon Society
March 29, 2024
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Welcome, Jo, to Tucson Audubon's weekly update.

If you have been procrastinating over joining our upcoming classes on Nature Journaling, and on Flight and Feathers now is the time to say YES firmly. The cut-off dates for registration are fast approaching. See below for details.

In a surprising turn of events, on October 7 the Marana City Council rejected a proposal to build 178 homes on the 138-acre Lazy K Ranch property, which is located one-half mile north of Saguaro National Park West. This, more conservation news, and ways to speak up for birds are below.

Do you like talking to people about birds and birding? As always we seek volunteers to help with our outreach activities. October sees the launch of our Bringing Birds Home initiative at the Home and Garden Show at the Tucson Convention Center. Details below from Jennie MacFarland.

If you are good at asking companies to give items to Tucson Audubon, we need your help now: we need to raise items for our Gala Silent Auction. These and other volunteer opportunities are below.

Next month sees the first Bisbee Film Festival with a string of FREE films about wildlife and environment. I'll be speaking for a few minutes following the showing of Emptying the Skies. While the tickets are free, you do need to book seats online.

Thank you Jo for sharing your love of birds, birding, and the places they live through Tucson Audubon.



Are You Passionate For Nature? Are You a Development Professional?

Are you ready for the challenge of developing supporters for the birds of southeast Arizona? Tucson Audubon seeks a motivated fund raiser who loves people and birds. You will have a love for birds, the places they live, for birding, and an awareness of the conservation threats to our natural world. You will also have demonstrated success in nurturing a development program so that you can grow Tucson Audubon’s support base. We need your enthusiasm and support to complete our development plan, and craft a new membership plan. You will be great with people, from managing your own staff, reporting to the board of directors, and listening for what is important to our donors and supporters. If you can bring benefits to Tucson Audubon, we’d like to hear from you. Image by Glenn Butler.

Go here for more details, including how to apply.

 


Urban Bird Habitat at the SAHBA Home Show

THIS WEEKEND! Tucson Audubon has partnered with the upcoming SAHBA Home & Garden Show (Oct. 17–19) and will have a booth promoting our urban bird habitat programs and rolling out the Bringing Birds Home initiative. Please come on by and see our booth!

Bird ID Quiz for Family 4 Pack of Tickets to the SAHBA Home Show

For a chance to win a Family 4 Pack of tickets to attend the upcoming SAHBA Home & Garden Show participate in our Bird ID quiz. Just email the identity of the mystery bird at right to jmacfarland@tucsonaudubon.org with "Bird ID Quiz" in the subject line. Two winners will be randomly chosen.

ID Hint: These birds are migrating to the Tucson area right now!

Image by Laura Stafford.




Paton Center Construction and Grounds Maintenance Continue

If you'd like to join the Restoration Crew on work days at the Paton Center, please contact Jonathan. Above, Board Member Bob Hernbrode and Field Supervisor Rodd Lancaster fell the dead pecan tree. 

Seven Saturdays in Patagonia--November 15
  • HIKE—Guajalote Flats—FULL!
  • LEARN—Relaxed Lecture—The Azure Bluebird: Why Subspecies Matter with Jennie MacFarland, Arizona IBA Program Biologist. A discussion of southeast Arizona subspecies and the stories they tell us. No registration necessary, but an e-mail to Keith to let us know you're coming would be helpful.

What Hummingbirds (and People) DON'T need more of: Toxic Sludge
Although it's bright red, hummingbirds shouldn't be drinking water laced with sulphuric acid. Learn more about recent flushes of toxins in the Patagonia Mountains from this video ... then join us as supporters of the Paton Center for Hummingbirds as we work FOR and not AGAINST Arizona's clean waters and healthy wildlife.




A New Season For Birding

Have you taken Moving To Mastery? This course is the perfect follow-up.

Have you longed to deepen your connection with the birds you love and the places they live?  Have you wished you could linger longer amongst their magic?  Would you like to find a way to take the wonders of nature home with you in something more than Facebook photos?
 
If your answer is, “Well … heck, yeah!” then you might be the perfect match for Birds, Beauty, and Biodiversity—a Nature Journaling Retreat Weekend offered by Lynn Hassler and Keith Ashley on the flanks of the Santa Ritas.

Find details and register online by clicking on the course name. For questions, contact Bete Jones.
Image by Kate Reynolds.




Bluebird Supporters Unite! 20 Boxes and Counting...
 
Our first Azure Bluebird nest box building at the Paton Center in Patagonia was so successful that we are fresh out of lumber and kits. In the meantime, six more have been created by carpentry volunteer, Joe DeRouen. UA Evolutionary Biology Professor Renee Duckworth has now joined forces with Tucson Audubon to use our bluebird conservation project as a platform for formal research. High School students at the Western Institute for Leadership Development have built and donated boxes. Where do you fit in?
 
We are gathering a list of bluebird supporters to participate in our Win-Win for Azure Bluebirds and Arizona Vineyards conservation projectfrom future bluebird nest box trail monitors, to box builders and financial sponsors. Contact Keith and let him know what role you would like to play.

WISH LIST: A portable belt sander would be very useful for our nest box building events. If you could loan one long-term, have one to donate, or donate funds for us to purchase one (donations tax deductible), you'd be a bluebird hero!



Cooler Weather Means Volunteer Time

We have some exciting volunteer opportunities happening over the next few weeks. Please see tucsonaudubon.org/volunteer for details.

Gala Silent Auction Team Members

Help raise thousands of dollars for our work on birds. Are you good at reaching out to businesses and individuals to donate items for our Gala Silent Auction? We need two or more Procurement Coordinator volunteers to join the team responsible for all aspects of Tucson Audubon’s 2015 Gala Silent Auction. There is an immediate need to assist the Procurement Coordinator in identifying items of interest for the Gala and reaching out to organizations during business hours, evenings or weekends (as appropriate) by phone, letters and in-person to donate items. Bring a positive attitude and a smile. The Procurement team is involved in four roles; procurement, descriptions/bid-sheets, staging, and check-out. Position to start: Immediate. Contact Bete Jones.


Habitat Restoration Volunteers
Atturbury Wash Workdays are back with opportunities November 8 and February 14
. Celebrate our cool fall weather by getting out on the land, getting dirty, and making a difference! This is a chance to wield your outdoor strengths with a team of fellow volunteers at our urban ecosystem restoration site. At the events, which run from 8am-noon, you'll learn about restoring desert ecosystems through planting native plants and installing natural channel design structures. For more information and to sign up to volunteer, contact: Andy Bennett, Ecosystem Restoration Specialist, 520.262.1314 More info about the overall project

SAHBA Homeshow "Urban Bird Habitat" Event
We are looking for volunteers to greet the public at our outreach table during the SAHBA Homeshow October 17–19. Contact Jennie MacFarland.

Find the details of these positions and more here.


Upcoming Birding Field Trips

SIGN UP for these trips at tucsonaudubon.org/fieldtrips

October 22—Wednesday 7 AM
Tanque Verde Wash IBA

Join the Arizona Important Bird Areas Biologist for Tucson Audubon in exploring this excellent urban IBA.
Leader: Jennie MacFarland, jmacfarland@tucsonaudubon.org

October 23—Thursday 6AM
Upper Pena Blanca Canyon

By now the summer riffraff are gone and we can concentrate upon the tougher, permanent residents for this scenic area draining into Pena Blanca Lake in the Coronado NF.
Leader: Tim Helentjaris. Limit 12 participants.

October 25—Saturday 7:00 am
Urban Birding By Bike

October is a great month to be on a bike, so join me for a ride around town to see what birds have come to winter or just passing through along with all the endemics.
Leader: Michael Bissontz 520-577-8778 seetrogon@comcast.net

See the full list of current trips

 


Based on a magazine essay written by noted best-selling novelist Jonathan Franzen for The New Yorker and widely republished around the world, ‘Emptying the Skies’ chronicles the rampant poaching of migratory songbirds in southern Europe.

GUEST SPEAKER: DR. PAUL GREEN | Thursday, November 6 at 7:00 PM

Reserve FREE tickets at bzbfilmfest.com

 


Welcome To Subirdia

You may have heard the term suburbia before and often times when this term is mentioned in conversation we think of lush lawns, quiet communities, carpools, picket fences, block parties, and more besides. So what’s missing in this mental picture? The answer is right in front of us and anyone who may find themselves within a suburban landscape, than answer is “the birds”. It’s not the first thing that comes to mind with the term suburbia and maybe that is the problem, the term we are using. Instead author John M. Marzluff has presented us a new term subirdia and in his latest book invites us to revisit what we see in suburban landscapes. The aforementioned items are still present but in a closer look we can see the natural wonders of dense biodiversity right in our backyards. After years of research Marzluff presents us with idea of how we can better promote bird habitats within suburban developments as well as shows how birds have already adapted in creative ways.

At $30 Welcome to Subirdia is not just a good read but an educational experience and can be found at our Nature Shop, stop by today to pick up your copy.


Optics

Opticron Discovery 8x32

The Discovery 8x32 from Opticron is fast becoming one of our best sellers here at Tucson Audubon Nature Shop. These binoculars are among the lightest 8x32 models available and offer water proof prisms. The focus wheel is well gripped however and runs smoothly and quickly. We recommend the Discovery 8x32 to those who are new to birding, looking for a travel or back up pair of binoculars, and backyard/window birders alike.  But don’t take our word for it, stop into our Nature Shop today and try out a pair for yourself.
MSRP $252.00 Member Price $229.00


Tucson Audubon's Nature Shops are the best place in our region to try and buy binoculars. Check out our prices and you can see why. Come in and see us for the top brands.

 Need directions to our Nature Shops? Find all the info here.



Conservation News

Buenavista del Cobre Mine Spill: Aftermath and Accountability
Tragedy continues to unfold with regard to the Buenavista del Cobre copper mine spill in Cananea, Sonora, Mexico. According to a Mexico News Daily report, “The mine spilled 40,000 cubic meters of copper sulphate acid solution into the Sonora and Bacanuchi rivers on August 6, leaving some 22,000 people without drinking water in as many as seven area municipalities.” Two Arizona Daily Star Articles provide us with further important updates on the catastrophic spill. The first article focuses on the horrible ramifications the mining spill has had upon the livelihoods of the people affected. The second article interviews Arturo Rodríguez Abitia, deputy director for industrial inspection at Mexico’s Federal Department of Environmental Protection, about how the spill occurred, “why authorities weren’t able to stop it and how the government plans to ensure the company is held accountable for the immediate damage and any long term effects.”  A local advocacy group is forming to ensure the offending mining company Grupo México is held accountable and that affected communities are adequately compensated. Citizen leaders are seeking contributions to get the organization off of the ground.

Resolution Copper Opponents Resolved to Stop Enabling Land Exchange
The Arizona Republic recently reported on the status of the controversial proposed Resolution Copper Mine near the town of Superior, Arizona. Resolution is a joint venture between Rio Tinto and BHP-Billiton, and if constructed would be the largest copper mine in the nation. The Republic reports the mine proposal is still, “facing opposition from the nearby San Carlos Apache and other tribes in Arizona and throughout the country, as well as from a variety of environmentalists. The mine's opponents hold leverage over the project because, unfortunately for Resolution, part of the underground copper deposit lies under a 740-acre piece of national forest called Oak Flat that was withdrawn from mining activity in 1955 in part to protect 16 U.S. Forest Service campsites. That means it will take an act of Congress to allow mining at the site, something Resolution and the Arizona congressional delegation have failed to secure for nine years running, and something opponents say they aim to prevent. Resolution has proposed dealing with this issue by trading 5,300 acres of "environmentally sensitive" land on eight parcels from near Payson to southern Arizona for the 2,400 acres of federal land, including Oak Flat, that the company would like to dig under near Superior. Most politicians in Arizona approve of the deal, but Democratic Reps. Ed Pastor and Raúl Grijalva have opposed the land swap.” The Republic article notes supporters are likely to introduce a new land exchange bill in the 114th Congress that begins in January, but that opponents are resolved to fight any such bill. Roger Featherstone, director of the Arizona Mining Reform Coalition is quoted in the article saying "I'm sure we'll see another bill next Congress. We'll stop that one, too." 

Marana City Council Rejects High Density Development Proposal for Lazy K Ranch
In a surprising turn of events, on October 7 the Marana City Council rejected a proposal to build 178 homes on the 138-acre Lazy K Ranch property, which is located one-half mile north of Saguaro National Park West. The high density housing proposal drew strong opposition from local residents, Saguaro National Park officials, Friends of Saguaro National Park and the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection. Prior to the City Council’s vote, the Friends group issued a statement that, according to Park officials, the proposal would “threaten the fragile Sonoran desert ecosystem, jeopardize vulnerable wildlife species, and impede wildlife movements to other protected areas.” The Arizona Daily Star
reports that, “Councilwoman Patti Comerford was the lone “nay” vote. Rezoning proposals require that 75 percent of council members vote in favor. With one member absent, Vice Mayor Jon Post, the proposal needed support from all six council members present in order to pass, said town attorney Frank Cassidy.” Tucson Audubon commends Councilwoman Patti Comerford for doing the right thing despite the rest of the Council's apparent lack of concern for impacts to Saguaro NP West, a national treasure and sustainable, local economic engine. We also hope any future revised proposals will include significantly more undisturbed open space and protected wildlife corridors that will ensure the Tucson Mountains are not completely isolated from adjacent wildlife habitats.

A Living River | Charting Wetland Conditions of the Lower Santa Cruz River | 2013 Water Year
The Santa Cruz River is not dead! Sonoran Institute and Pima County are happy to announce the release of the first
Living River report for the Lower Santa Cruz River! This report captures the baseline conditions of the river prior to Pima County completing significant upgrades to the two wastewater reclamation facilities that release water into this stretch of the river through northwest Tucson and Marana.  As usual, you can find links to the report from the Sonoran Institute website, both on our homepage and in the “news and updates” of our Santa Cruz River Initiative page at www.tiny.cc/santacruzriver.

 


Dates For Your Calendar


Members' Annual Holiday Potluck. December 8 | 6:00 PM St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church
Rich Hoyer presents Why Botanists Make Better Birders. Also celebrate Paul and Eng-Li Green as they conclude their tenure at Tucson Audubon. See tucsonaudubon.org/calendar for full info.

Wednesdays Sweetwater Wetlands Bird Walk. Join Bryon Lichtenhan for an easy walk through the wetlands to see waterfowl, regular and visiting warblers, and several exciting species hiding in the reeds. Birders of all experience levels welcome! Contact leader for start time and to sign up.

Every Thursday! Wake Up With the Birds at Agua Caliente Park. Explore the ponds and Molino Basin occasionally. FREE. Call 615-7855 for meeting time or see tucsonaudubon.org/fieldtrips.html.

February 10, 2015 Tucson Audubon's Seventh Annual Gala. An Evening for the Birds: Bringing Nature Home. Featuring Brad Lancaster. Oasis Tucson:Transforming Mirage into Reality. Sponsorship details from Paul Green


Thank you, Jo, for being a part of Tucson Audubon and helping to protect birds, other wildlife, and the places they live in southeast Arizona for future generations. 

Sincerely,

Dr. Paul Green
Executive Director | Tucson Audubon

 

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