Author Archives: Bob

Broad-billed Hummingbirds on Catalina State Park’s Hidden Falls Trail

Arizona’s Catalina State Park is worth visiting any day of the year, but if you had to pick a single month it would be hard to beat April.  The park, which is within the Tucson metropolitan area, covers 5,500 acres … Continue reading

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Surprise Shorebird Visitors to SaddleBrooke

On Friday, a neighbor emailed a photograph she had just taken of some mystery birds hanging out at one of SaddleBrooke’s golf course ponds.  There were 13 birds in the photo, and though I’m getting used to bird surprises, this … Continue reading

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The Canyon Wren at Balanced Rock

The Arizona retirement community of SaddleBrooke, in the northwest corner of metropolitan Tucson, is nestled into the Santa Catalina Mountain foothills at 3,200 feet above sea level.  As the crow flies, the 9,157-foot summit of Mt. Lemmon is just nine … Continue reading

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Birding the Canada del Oro River Park, Rooney Ranch to Oro Valley Country Club

Arizona’s Cañada del Oro Wash originates on the north side of Mt. Lemmon at more than 9,000 feet, and ends 48 miles later in the town of Marana where it ‘flows’ into the Santa Cruz River at slightly more than … Continue reading

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Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet in SaddleBrooke

Late afternoon on February 9, golfers had departed the SaddleBrooke courses, leaving them for birders and recreational walkers.  Prudy and I took advantage of this late-day access, as we often do, and walked a couple of miles on one of … Continue reading

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Tucson Bird Count Sites along Willow Springs Road in Pinal County, Arizona

The Tucson Bird Count (TBC) began in 2001 to monitor bird populations and distribution throughout the greater Tucson metropolitan area.  Citizen scientist volunteers collect data under two programs: the Route program, an annual survey of predetermined routes in the area, … Continue reading

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Highlights of Audubon’s 112th Christmas Bird Count

Volume 66 of American Birds, which details results of the National Audubon Society’s 112th annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC), has just been published.  This will be the last hard copy version of the magazine, a data-rich compilation of statistics gathered … Continue reading

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Gray Head Lives! Return of the Winter Oriole

In late summer of 2010, our Hooded Orioles packed their bags and left town on schedule.  By Labor Day they were all back in Mexico for the winter.  Well, all but one.  A  solitary male Hooded Oriole showed up after … Continue reading

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Monsoon Birding Mt. Lemmon with Tucson Audubon

As the raven flies (no crows around here), Mt. Lemmon’s summit is just nine short miles from SaddleBrooke, but when you’re driving, it’s two hours:  an hour to Catalina Highway near the base, and another hour to cover the 25 … Continue reading

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Arizona’s State Bird, the Cactus Wren

This posting launches a new series on state birds. It’s fitting to start with Arizona’s choice for a couple of reasons. I live here, for one, and Arizona’s state bird is one of the relatively few unique selections. Surprisingly, 60 percent of … Continue reading

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