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Monthly Calendar is located on the Events Page.
Tubac Nature Center Hours
Wednesday 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Saturday 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
The Bird Walks will continue in May,
7:00 AM at the Nature Center!
Tuesday Bird Walk – Tubac Nature Center - 28-Apr
Well, the last regular season bird walk was today and we had about 20 people show up. We split into two groups going in opposite directions to the bridge and back. Nice weather, good birds and sad goodbyes. We had more flycatchers with Brown-crested, Hammond's, Dusky-capped, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Vermilion, and Western. There were many Black-headed Grosbeaks and Summer Tanagers eating mulberries.
Caroline’s group got a good look at the Brown Creeper and heard it singing.
I just got back from Indiana were I learned how to bird with the Bird group at Eagle Creek Park. The park covers 10,000 acres with a 5,000 acre reservoir in the middle. This bird group has been going for 50 some years now. Last Sunday I rejoined the group and we had 92 species of birds, as the birders spread out over the park to cover all the different habitats. It's a nice cadre of birding friends just like I have in Tubac. So I will miss you all for the summer and will long for your return. I'm still going to be birding for the next couple of months, next week I will be meeting at the Nature Center at 7am and going to Rock Coral Springs to look for the reported Five-striped Sparrows back there.
We had a total of 52 species today. The Trip report is here: https://ebird.org/tripreport/508119
Rob Rutledge
Tubac Nature Center - 28-Apr - 07:45 AM - 1.274 mile(s) - 2 hour(s), 1 minute(s) – Rob
1 Mexican Duck
1 Eurasian Collared-Dove
1 Common Ground Dove
3 White-winged Dove
2 Mourning Dove
1 Rufous Hummingbird
2 Broad-billed Hummingbird
1 Black Vulture
1 Turkey Vulture
1 Cooper's Hawk
3 Gray Hawk
1 Zone-tailed Hawk
2 Gila Woodpecker
1 Ladder-backed Woodpecker
1 Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet
1 Hammond's Flycatcher
2 Western Flycatcher
1 Vermilion Flycatcher
1 Dusky-capped Flycatcher
2 Brown-crested Flycatcher
1 Cassin's Kingbird
2 Bell's Vireo
1 Cassin's Vireo
2 Western Warbling Vireo
1 Common Raven
4 Bridled Titmouse
2 Verdin
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 Bewick's Wren
3 European Starling
1 Northern Mockingbird
4 Phainopepla
5 House Sparrow
7 House Finch
5 Lesser Goldfinch
4 Lark Sparrow
3 Song Sparrow
2 Abert's Towhee
2 Yellow-breasted Chat
5 Brown-headed Cowbird
6 Lucy's Warbler
5 Northern Yellow Warbler
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
11 Summer Tanager
2 Western Tanager
3 Northern Cardinal
6 Black-headed Grosbeak
1 Lazuli Bunting
Number of Taxa: 48
Tubac Nature Center - 28-Apr- 08:05 AM - 0.695 mile(s) - 1 hour(s), 55 minute(s) – Caroline
12 White-winged Dove
5 Mourning Dove
1 Black-chinned Hummingbird
1 Rufous Hummingbird – Feeding on desert honeysuckle by gate to Anza Trail
4 Broad-billed Hummingbird
13 Black Vulture
1 Turkey Vulture
1 Cooper's Hawk
3 Gray Hawk – Saw 3 at the same time
1 Zone-tailed Hawk
1 Great Horned Owl – Heard when we were on the bridge
10 Gila Woodpecker
1 Empidonax sp. – Too far away to see well
6 Vermilion Flycatcher
1 Dusky-capped Flycatcher (olivascens)
6 Brown-crested Flycatcher
1 Bell's Vireo (Arizona)
1 Western Warbling Vireo
1 Common Raven
2 Bridled Titmouse
3 Verdin
1 White-breasted Nuthatch (Interior West)
1 Brown Creeper – Great view and it was calling
8 Bewick's Wren (mexicanus Group)
15 Phainopepla
8 House Finch
9 Lesser Goldfinch
1 Lark Sparrow
3 Song Sparrow (fallax Group)
1 Abert's Towhee HO
4 Yellow-breasted Chat – Saw 2 and heard more
5 Brown-headed Cowbird
4 Lucy's Warbler
17 Northern Yellow Warbler
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's)
1 Wilson's Warbler
5 Summer Tanager – We saw several males
2 Western Tanager – 2 males
6 Northern Cardinal
6 Black-headed Grosbeak
Number of Taxa: 40
TUBAC NATURE CENTER JOURNAL - THE WOUNDED RIVER
Last week I offered some possible avenues for addressing the problem of our deteriorating river and surrounding cottonwood/willow forest. My call for a wealthy, generous person to step forward has not been answered, but it has only been a matter of days. I am still hopeful! Budget woes of the USFWS preventing progress on a National Urban Wildlife Refuge are not likely to ease for years to come. The Santa Cruz County’s new comprehensive plan, it is rumored, will be delayed a year and is not likely to be approved until sometime in 2027. Having read some of the very early ideas being offered, I am excited that if they are approved as part of the comprehensive plan, there is hope. Suppose none of these possible solutions comes through for us, is there anything else out there? Even if a little riskier? Alas, I thought you would never ask.
Once upon a time in the land called the Arizona Territory, and even before, the river system thrived. It had dams creating wetlands, called cienegas, by the dozens (hundreds?) along the river. Today? No dams, and cienegas are rare to non-existent. What happened? The two big contributors were the desire for fashionable furs in Europe and elsewhere, and after that an influx of livestock. Beavers that provided the furs were hunted and trapped almost to extinction here and elsewhere in the country. Beavers make dams, dams make wetlands, wetlands provide variable habitat for vegetation to thrive, and the vegetation and water attract diverse assortment of large animals, fish and a rich assortment of smaller critters. Beavers provide their dam building services free of charge, and they do regular repairs, also free of charge. When beavers are on the land studies show that their dams cause about 30% of the rain water to stay in the floodplain and not race through our incised river channel providing little value to the land it flows through. Dammed areas are net storers of carbon addressing another issue. Beaver dams aid in making rivers that may dry up part of the year into perennial streams. There is a reason why beavers are called a keystone species - there presence changes everything.
Are you serious? You know that beavers are known to cause localized flooding problems at times, have a mind of their own, are unpredictable and sometimes pick up their large, flat tails and abandon the dams. The beavers may not like our habitat. We do have people living here who do not like any kind of risk. And we still have livestock. I mentioned above that this idea was a little riskier, it would have to be done with sensitivity toward residents and ranchers, and we would have to acknowledge upfront that the experiment could fail. BUT, it could succeed gloriously, and it is cheaper than the alternatives. I think it would be a lot more fun. Beavers are providing their services in Utah, Wyoming, on the San Pedro River in Arizona, and along Arctic rivers (since 2008.) Why not the desert? If the riskiness of unpredictable living beavers is too much, there are man-made structures that do a good job of mimicking beaver dams that are available. They are being used as close as Utah. The structures are not self-improving, but they sometimes attract the real things - beavers.
If you this idea appeals to you, I would suggest a new book titled, “Eager Beavers Matter”, by Ben Goldfarb (2026).
Jim Karp
Tubac Nature Center
April 28, 2026
Great News from the HAWKWATCH. ORG
It has been hard to keep this secret from you for the last several months. But I can finally share that HawkWatch International has a new Roost!
Late last year, a generous individual donated a 16-acre property to HWI in Tucson, Arizona. The property—to be called The Roost—will serve as the hub for our programs Arizona, and will build on 35+ years of work in the state, from the Grand Canyon HawkWatch to the forest owls we follow in the Chiricahua Mountains.
You can read more about this transformational gift here: https://hawkwatch.org/hwi-acquires-theroost/
HOW TO WATCH HAWKS FOR BEGINNERS : You’ll learn where to find a good spot to watch the migration (even if a hawkwatch doesn't currently exist near you), what gear to bring, resources to help ID distant birds, and more! Check it out here:
https://hawkwatch.org/how-to-hawkwatch-a-beginners-guide-to-observing-raptors/
Take a Hike! El Pilar and Bathtub Tank by Wayne Tomasi
THANK YOU TO PATAGONIA REGIONAL FOR THIS STORY
Bathtub Tank
PHOTO by Wayne Tomasi
February 6, 2026
El Pilar and Bathtub Tank are landmarks centrally located in the upper basin of Adobe Canyon. Although both destinations can be reached from virtually any direction, this column describes the shortest, easiest and most direct route.
The hike to El Pilar and Bathtub Tank begins at the end of the Adobe Canyon Road (FR-234), which is in miserable condition and impassable for passenger cars, low-clearance vehicles, tricycles and less capable trucks and SUVs. The Adobe Canyon Road leaves Route 82 about a half mile south of Milepost 28. After turning onto Adobe Canyon Road, bear sharply to the right and drive approximately one mile, passing several private driveways. The good road ends where it turns sharply to the left and crosses a broad creekbed. After a couple hundred yards, the road turns sharply to the right, passes through a gate, and begins a precarious journey up Adobe Canyon. In a few minutes you enter the Coronado National Forest and pass FR-4088 on the right. Continue driving north past a sign stating that Adobe Canyon Road dead ends in three miles.
If you manage to drive to the end of FR-234, the hike to Bathtub Tank is less than half a mile. If you continue to El Pilar, add another half mile to your hike. If you decide to park somewhere along the road and walk to the end of FR-234, the mileage will obviously be longer. FR-234 ends approximately five miles northwest of Route 82. The road is narrow, rocky, rutted, and crosses Adobe Creek 23 times. There are large dips in the road at many of the creek crossings that you have to creep over, regardless of what kind of vehicle you are driving. A reasonably fast hiker can probably walk the road almost as fast as a cautious person can drive it.
Note that FR-234 ends in a circular turn-around large enough to accommodate several vehicles; however, the circle is a tight fit and could be a difficult maneuver for a long vehicle or one pulling a trailer.
The most direct route to Bathtub Tank and El Pillar is up the narrow west arm of Adobe Canyon, which leaves FR-234 a couple of hundred yards before the turnaround. There is no official trailhead marking the beginning of the route but the entrance to the canyon is obvious.
After approximately 220 yards of easy walking, you arrive at Bathtub Tank, which the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) constructed sometime in the early 1930s. The tub consists of a man-made 15-foot-long concrete dam across a narrow channel in a large, fortress-like outcrop of solid rock that nearly pinches off the canyon. A small reservoir resembling a bathtub sits between the concrete wall and the native rock. A sizable section of the wall has eroded away so the tub is not nearly as deep as when constructed. When the bathtub is full, water flows over the opening in the wall, creating a ten-foot-high waterfall spilling into a natural pond at the foot of the barrier. In the distant past, a galvanized pipe carried water from the tub into a concrete cattle trough at the base of the wall on the right side of the waterfall.
There is a securely mounted 12-foot-high steel ladder attached to the rock on the right side of the basin. To continue to El Pilar, climb the ladder and work your way over the rocky ledge above the tub and continue walking up the narrow gorge. Within a few minutes, El Pilar comes into view, although it may be difficult to see through the dense growth of trees and underbrush. El Pilar is a 50-foot-high sandstone spire standing guard over the narrow passageway between the grass-covered hidden valley above and the marshy lowland below. The CCC constructed a concrete dam next to El Pilar, creating a shallow reservoir (or tank) above it with the same purpose as Bathtub Tan: to store water. The dam actually adds a bit of charm to the area because a steady stream of water flows over the barrier, giving the large pool at the base of the wall a garden-like appearance. To reach the upper basin, follow a well-trodden path up a natural ramp on the right side of the spire to a wide, man-made slot in the otherwise solid rock wall between El Pilar and the adjacent hilltop. The upper basin is covered with tall grass growing in a moist bed of rich, loamy soil.
An alternate route to El Pilar and Bathtub Tank is up the narrow main arm of Adobe Canyon. This hike begins up a footpath off the north end of the turnaround and immediately enters a narrow drainage bordered with plants typical of the Sonoran Desert. The trail climbs over an embankment and then drops to the rocky bed of the drainage. Hike up the wash 25 feet to where the trail veers up the left bank and then quickly returns to the creek. The path winds back and forth across the wash several times over the next 200 feet and then climbs a steep hill on the left. About a third of the way up the hill, the trail passes through a hiker’s gate between two large posts and then climbs out of the drainage next to a fence on a narrow ridge resembling an earthen dam. Although the trail continues up the ridge approximately a mile to where it connects to FR-4088, do not follow the trail. Instead, make a sharp left turn and walk west across a narrow land bridge to an opening in a fence. Pass through the fence, drop about 20 vertical feet, and follow the path a couple hundred feet along the south edge of a grassy marsh to El Pilar.
Return the way you came or continue down the narrow canyon to the main arm of Adobe Canyon and then on to Bathtub Tank, FR-234, and your vehicle.
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The Thinning Sky: The Quiet Disappearance of North America’s
We are not witnessing a simple fluctuation.
We are witnessing a steady disappearance.
In just one human generation, about one in four birds in North America has vanished. Since 1970, the continent has lost roughly 2.9 billion birds.
As the sun rises across March landscapes, the first “vanguard” migrants begin arriving in the United States—cranes, blackbirds, and meadowlarks returning to their breeding grounds. But long-term monitoring and recent reporting confirm a troubling reality: many bird populations across North America are declining, and some losses are accelerating.
Even familiar species are affected. The shimmering blue of the Indigo Bunting, now preparing to migrate north from the Caribbean and Central America, is becoming a less common sight in summer fields and brushlands.
The Myth: “Bird Populations Naturally Fluctuate”
A common assumption is that bird numbers rise and fall naturally.
Because many people still see birds at backyard feeders, it can feel like ecosystems remain stable. But large-scale scientific surveys tell a different story.
The loss of 2.9 billion birds since 1970 reflects not only the disappearance of rare species. It represents a broad “thinning” of once-common birds—sparrows, warblers, blackbirds, and buntings that form the backbone of North America’s ecosystems.
The Scientific Reality: Multiple Pressures
Long-term studies across the continent reveal several key drivers behind these declines.
Grassland Habitat Loss
Grassland birds have experienced the steepest decline of any bird group. Species like meadowlarks and bobolinks have lost more than half of their populations (about 53%) since 1970 as prairies and open fields disappear.
Hazards Across Two Continents
Migratory birds face challenges across their entire journey. Species like the Indigo Bunting must navigate habitat loss in tropical wintering forests and intensive agricultural landscapes in North America where pesticides and habitat fragmentation reduce food and nesting sites.
Climate Timing Mismatches
Warming temperatures are shifting seasonal patterns. In some cases, insects emerge earlier in spring before long-distance migrants arrive, making it harder for parent birds to find the caterpillars their chicks need.
What Is Happening Right Now (Early March)
Across Central America and the Caribbean, millions of songbirds are preparing for migration.
The Weight Race
Many species are currently in hyperphagia—an intense feeding period where they rapidly store fat. These fat reserves will fuel the long flights north.
The Early Arrivals
Meanwhile, some birds are already establishing territories. The Eastern Meadowlark has begun singing across parts of the southern United States, claiming fence posts and open fields as breeding territory.
Each territory secured is a small victory for a group of birds working to maintain shrinking populations.
Why Bird Declines Matter
Birds are vital to the health of ecosystems.
Natural Pest Control
Many small songbirds consume hundreds to thousands of insects each week, especially during breeding season. Their presence helps regulate insect populations naturally.
Seed Dispersal and Plant Growth
Birds help move seeds across landscapes, allowing forests and grasslands to regenerate and maintain plant diversity.
Environmental Early-Warning System
Bird populations often respond quickly to environmental change. Their decline can signal deeper problems affecting entire ecosystems.
Small Actions That Can Help
Individual choices can make meaningful differences for migrating birds.
Replace Some Lawn with Native Plants
Native grasses, shrubs, and wildflowers provide food and shelter that sterile turf lawns cannot.
Make Windows Safer
During migration, millions of birds collide with glass. Window decals, screens, or patterned films can dramatically reduce strikes.
Reduce or Eliminate Pesticides
Insects are essential food for birds. Every pesticide-free yard helps maintain the food supply birds rely on.
Conclusion
The decline of North America’s birds is a quiet emergency.
When species like the Indigo Bunting or Meadowlark disappear, we lose more than beautiful songs. We lose essential partners in the ecosystems that support forests, farms, and wild landscapes.
As spring migration begins this March, millions of birds are returning north.
The question is simple:
Will the landscapes they return to still be able to support them?
The answer depends, in part, on the choices we make today.
From the Smithsonian
El Jefe became famous after crossing into Arizona from Mexico in 2011. As the only known jaguar in the United States at the time, he quickly captured national attention, appearing on trail cameras, inspiring the documentary El Jefe of the Mountains, and becoming a symbol in the debate over development in the Santa Rita Mountains.
Take a closer look at the jaguar who became a star: https://bit.ly/4rDg8Zs
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
American Kestrel
(Falco sparverius)
The brightly colored American Kestrel is North America’s smallest falcon, measuring just 8 to 10 inches in length. They feed primarily on insects, small rodents and sometimes birds. This fierce hunter adapts well to human-influenced habitats and urban settings, but the species’ population is declining in many regions of the United States, including Arizona. Tucson Bird Count data show a sharp reduction in numbers locally since 2010. Kestrels suffer from habitat loss and a lack of available nest cavities. Fortunately, this species readily accepts human-crafted nestboxes.
Nestbox programs are currently supporting the American Kestrel around the country. Watch for these birds perching on utility wires or hovering in the sky as they search for prey below. You may hear them calling: klee-klee-klee.
HABITAT Kestrels prefer semi-open country of all kinds,
especially with available hunting perches providing views of surrounding land. In the Sonoran Desert kestrels frequently nest in flicker holes in saguaros. Kestrels also nest in urban and suburban palm trees, underneath untrimmed fronds.
BOX MOUNTING Boxes should be placed between10
and 20 feet high with a northern or eastern orientation. They can
be affixed to houses, trees or poles. Boxes should not be placed among dense trees or shrubs, an open flight path to the entrance of the box is a must.
NESTING FACTS Kestrel pairs in Arizona deserts begin
courtship in late winter. The male often performs impressive feats of aerial display. As the time for egg-laying draws near, the male provides more and more of the female’s daily food. Kestrels lay eggs as early as March, but the peak of the breeding season is in April and May. The birds use no nesting material, laying eggs on debris found naturally in cavities. For nestboxes, we recommend providing wood shavings to cushion the eggs. Kestrels may return to reuse the same nests, year after year. During the winter, kestrels sometimes roost in nestboxes and cavities.
Photos (top to bottom) by Doris Evans (female) and Alan Vernon / Flickr Creative Commons License (male), TAS webcam (pair). Text by Keith Ashley, Olya Weekley.
To learn more about the American Kestrel Partner- ship and the decline of this species, please visit kestrel.peregrinefund.org.
To begin contributing to American Kestrel conservation in Arizona or for more information contact us at raptors@azgfd.gov.
Sign up: Support the Santa Cruz River Urban Wildlife Refuge
https://santacruzriver.org/letter-of-support/
Together, we represent thousands of Pima and Santa Cruz County residents who want to see the river corridor protected in perpetuity. The Santa Cruz River Refuge coalition recognizes that the Santa Cruz River has been a storied spiritual and cultural place for the Tohono O’odham and their distinct ancestors, and Pascua Yaqui people from time immemorial. We recognize that the people of the San Xavier District, in particular, have ancestral ties to the flowing Santa Cruz River and the lands around it. The original homeland of the O’odham and their ancestors, including the Hohokam and Early Agricultural People, is located on the river, which they collectively have stewarded for millennia. They continue to access these lands for ongoing cultural and religious practices.
The ecologically and culturally rich Santa Cruz River flows through the heart of Tucson, a fast-growing city of over 1 million people in the greater metropolitan area. After generations of colonization and groundwater overuse, the surface flow stopped running in some areas, with flows all but drying up except during heavy seasonal rains. In 2012, Pima County approved funding to vastly improve the quality of wastewater effluent that was being released into the Santa Cruz River. By upgrading the wastewater treatment facilities—which currently release highly treated wastewater into the Santa Cruz—local leaders, alongside restoration volunteers, created over 25 miles of vibrant habitat that has been foundational to the recovery of native vegetation, wildlife, insects, and migratory bird species.
The Santa Cruz corridor offers abundant recreation opportunities, including birdwatching at Sweetwater Wetlands and cycling and walking along the beloved 137-mile Chuck Huckelberry Loop, a popular paved recreation trail with dozens of access points that runs alongside the Santa Cruz and its major tributaries.
Our vision for an urban national wildlife refuge imagines an archipelago of protected properties along the Santa Cruz River that would offer permanent wildlife habitat and outdoor access. The Tucson land would anchor this “string of pearls,” offering shade, river access, and outdoor education for the neighboring communities. The Santa Cruz River Urban National Wildlife Refuge draws inspiration and lessons from current exemplary restoration work happening along the corridor, including the San Xavier District’s Wa:k Hikdan project.
Wildlife Emergency
Tucson Wildlife Center
If you have a wildlife emergency, please call our 24/7 helpline at (520) 290-9453. We are available to answer calls and to offer advice. We will travel after hours for emergency wildlife situations if we are available and if the situation warrants. Our hours of admission/intake are from 8am to 5pm daily.
Hello... I'm a bat...
I don't suck blood and I don't want to get stuck in your hair.
If I accidentally walk into your house,
please don't hit me with sticks or brooms, it really hurts and I'm very scared.
It was an accident, I didn't want to scare you. If I land, I may not be able to get up and I need your help. Just use a towel to get me out and I'll fly right away, I promise. I eat mosquitoes and many other insects. Our houses are being demolished for other buildings and we only have a few places to shelter. so if I fly into your house, turn off the lights, leave the outside light on and leave the door open, I'll be out in a heartbeat.
Be a human, I want to live too..
Local Backyard wildlife by Glenn Walen
A mother and her three nearly full grown kittens paid us a visit for a drink from the birdbath. This wasn't the first time, since a few mornings recently I found the birdbath bowl tipped onto the ground. I thought it must have been deer but now I know who the real culprit is. We live in Rio Rico on the western slope of the San Cayetano mountains overlooking the Santa Cruz river. These beautiful bobcats are just one example of the abundant and varied wildlife we enjoy on a daily basis. photo by BRUCE TILDEN
FROM DICK YORK'S BACKYARD
A GRAY FOX photographed by DICK YORK
Dick saw the grey fox run. Run fox, run !
Dick saw the grey fox run. Run fox, run !
Dick saw the grey fox run. Run fox, run !
Dick saw the grey fox run. Run fox, run !
Dick saw the grey fox run. Run fox, run !
!
HELP THE BIRDS SURVIVE THE HEAT
HELP !!! ALL OUR BIRDS ARE THIRSTY and need water to cool off !
Leave out CLEAN water for birds in a bird bath or another type of clean ceramic dish. Remember that water can get moldy which can kill the birds, hummingbird sugar water too, so change it every other day.
PHOTO by Dick York
How to Avoid a Lion Encounter
Painting by David Simons
Do not run. Running into a large predator in the wilderness will instantly trigger your fight-or-flight instincts. Follow the former; do not ever turn and run from a cougar. This is certain to trigger the cat’s predator response — they almost universally take prey by chasing and attacking from behind.
Look big. Make yourself look bigger to the cat. Open your jacket, raise your arms and spread your legs, and face the lion at all times. If you have trek poles or any objects handy, wave them around — and be prepared to use them to defend yourself.
Make noise. Speak loudly, and make as much noise as possible. There are plenty of anecdotes of people scaring away mountain lions with loud music (Metallica, in particular) played from a speaker or smartphone.
Maintain eye contact. You may have been told that staring down an animal is considered a challenge that could invite an attack — especially with dogs — but, in this case, maintaining eye contact with the lion is a best practice.
Stand your ground. If the lion challenges you by approaching from a distance, stand your ground. To the lion, only prey animals retreat. Lions don’t recognize a standing human as a typical prey animal. Standing your ground reinforces this fact.
- Throw objects and retreat. But if the distance between you and a curious mountain lion closes to an uncomfortable degree, it’s time to act in self-defense: Throw rocks, sticks, and other nearby objects in the cat’s direction, and slowly walk backward to put space between you and the cat.
If a Mountain Lion Attacks
Do everything to fight back. Adult male lions weigh 135 to 175 pounds, while females weigh between 90 and 105 pounds. These are powerful creatures with sharp claws and strong bites, but they aren’t insurmountable — and, if you’re attacked, there’s nothing better to do than to fight back. Mountain lions usually attack the head and neck; do your best to protect these areas by remaining upright and facing the cat during the attack. Use any weapon available to you. A sharp crack to the skull with a rock, or a blow to the body with a pocket knife or any other sharp implement, could be enough to end the attack.
Immediately Report All Sightings
If you see a mountain lion near any area frequented by people, immediately contact your local authorities. If you’re near a state park or forest, contact park officials or your state’s Department of Wildlife. If no contact information for rangers or DNR services are available, or if you see a lion near an urban area, contact your local sheriff’s office or police department — they’ll either respond directly, or contact the appropriate wildlife service.
wild horse sighting on TUBAC'S ANZA TRAIL
PHOTOGRAPH BY MARY FRANCIS HARRIS
HOW CAN I HELP BIRDS?
I was recently asked by someone "how can I help the birds?" While it is sometimes easy to feel helpless, there is so much you can do!! Here are some tips:
- Vote for and support people and organizations who will fight climate change. Climate change is the number one existential threat for not just birds, but all living things, including us.
- Support bird conservation organizations at the local, state, and national levels.
- Keep cats indoors and learn how to protect birds from window strikes.
- Educate yourself about birds, as well as the healing and wellness power of birds and nature so you can educate others.
- Participate in HawkWatch, Citizen Science, such as Project FeederWatch and eBird so scientists can learn more about how birds are doing and what they need.
- Create a bird sanctuary in your own yard with native plantings to help resident, migrating, wintering, and breeding bird species.
- Feed the birds and learn best bird feeding practices to successfully attract the most birds and keep them safe.
- Mentor someone and help them learn about birds, including kids!!
Chasing Monsoon Waterfalls
Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Org.
In Southern Arizona, monsoon rains usually come in early July, although the official monsoon season kicks off on June 15 and runs through September 30, with many factors throughout the spring and early summer influencing its exact start. The word monsoon is derived from the Arabic word mausim, which means season. Monsoon thunderstorm activity accounts for two-thirds to three-fourths of the annual precipitation in Southern Arizona, where short-lived, intense monsoon thunderstorms can cause flash flooding in areas with steep terrain, low-lying roads, or normally dry washes. Lightning, hail, dust storms, and strong winds often occur during the monsoon season. Furthermore, it is incorrect to call a single thunderstorm a “monsoon,” rather it is a large-scale weather pattern that causes these thunderstorms.
The dew point can help predict when the monsoon is likely to start. When the dew point hits 55 degrees on three consecutive days, the chance of monsoon rain is high.
Places to see waterfalls after a good rain:
- Bridal Wreath Falls in the Rincon Mountains
- Maiden Falls in the Santa Catalina Mountains
- Seven Falls in the Santa Catalina Mountains
- Tanque Verde Falls in the Rincon Mountains
- Romero Falls in the Santa Catalina Mountains
Safety tips:
- Check the weather forecast before setting out.
- Hike in the morning instead of the afternoon, when flooding is more likely to occur.
- If you hear a flash flood, get to higher ground as quickly as possible.
- Keep in mind that stream beds, narrow canyons, and washes can flood quickly.
- If you see an area with flash flood warning signs posted, proceed with caution.
- Remember, it can be raining upstream even if you can't see it, which can cause flooding downstream.
Patagonia Area Resource Alliance
Water is Life campaign
Water is life, but it's under threat in drought-stricken Arizona from mining and other industries. That's why the Patagonia Area Resource Alliance (PARA) is launching a Water is Life campaign to reform the laws and regulations that heavily favor mining in Arizona and allow for unlimited pumping of precious groundwater.
You know how vital clean, accessible water is to all life in Arizona. But current regulations simply aren't strong enough to prevent over-extraction that's drying up our aquifers and wells and devastating local ecosystems, especially given long term drought conditions. PARA is dedicated to protecting Arizona's water for generations to come. And your help is needed to make it happen. The only way to protect our region from Hermosa and looming future mines is to reform the state laws and regulations that heavily favor mining at the expense of water, air, healthy communities, wildlife and a sustainable economy.
Here's our plan to safeguard our water future:
Short–Term Goals
- Expand our current collaborative partnership network and coalesce alliances to reform groundwater regulations in rural Arizona
- Research and develop policy reform strategies for the many laws and regulations in Arizona exhibiting favoritism toward the mining industry
- Educate the public about pro-mining biases in Arizona statutes
- Continue to mitigate Hermosa Project impacts through the permitting process and the Community Protections and Benefits Agreement process
Long-Term Goals
- Reform and update Arizona laws that currently favor the mining industry, to protect air and water resources from waste and pollution from mining activities
- Mining activities in the Patagonia Mountains and throughout Arizona are conducted with minimal negative impacts to water, air, wildlife, and the existing nature-based economy (ranching, recreation, agriculture) continues to thrive
“There is no justification for allowing one industrial project to undermine any community's future, especially under a legal loophole that permits extraction in the middle of a water crisis. The question isn't whether Arizona should mine copper and other minerals. It's whether we can afford to do it without rules that protect our shared resources and prioritize long-term public needs. We live in a desert. Water is life. Arizona's future depends on treating it that way.” - John Ball, Nogales resident, retired battalion chief and fire chief, testifying at a the Nogales City Council meeting
* We can't do this alone. We need the support of concerned citizens like you. The future of Arizona's water is at stake. You can help to create the changes needed to keep our water flowing for centuries to come.*
Please donate to our Water is Life campaign.
Your one-time tax-deductible gift will help kick start our Water is Life campaign, while a monthly gift will work wonders over time!
With gratitude from the entire PARA Watchdogs Team,
Anna, Joni, Carolyn, Laurie, Val, Chris, Sean, Richard, Markleigh and Cynie
P.S. Won’t you please support the Water is Life campaign today?
Water is Life: Don’t Mine it Away!