Great News for the Middle Santa Cruz
The Santa Cruz River team has unveiled a science-based plan to restore flows to the middle Santa Cruz River, a historically dry stretch from the Santa Cruz-Pima County line to the southern edge of the Tohono O'odham Nation's San Xavier District, using high-quality treated effluent from the Green Valley Water Reclamation Facility. This approach will increase surface flows, enhancing native vegetation, wildlife habitats, and public access. Supported by the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART program and the Santa Cruz Watershed Collaborative, the project has developed conceptual designs for flow reintroduction. Pima County is advancing permitting processes to implement the initial phase.
This initiative exemplifies how federal investment, and regional collaboration can lead to sustainable, community-supported environmental restoration
Tubac Nature Center's New Interpretive Signs
www.tubacnaturecenter.org
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TUBAC NATURE CENTER BIRD WALK & JOURNAL
TUBAC NATURE CENTER JOURNAL - AMAZING PLANTS II
One of the taboo questions among many botanists is “are plants intelligent?” Rather than getting hung up on defining terms let’s focus on what amazing things plants do. Humans are biologically very different from plants. But like us plants have an internal circadian clock that recognizes and reacts to day and night. They slowdown in the winter, and are more active in the spring; they go through youth and old age; and they remember what they have gone through in the past. They know enough not to burst from the ground after a two day warm spell in February which would be a disaster, many plants wait for four or more days to pass before they emerge. Though the author, Zoe Schlanger, points out many examples, let’s focus on a couple.
I suspect everyone knows that the Venus flytrap captures and feeds on insects by closing its bowl shaped flower. Here is how it works. If two of the trigger hairs inside the flytrap are touched within twenty seconds of each other, a good indication that a living creature is moving inside the trap, the trap flies shut. The plant continues to count, and if the trigger hairs are touched five times in quick succession - assurance that a living creature is inside - the plant remains closed and injects digestive juices inside the trap and the meal commences. But if the triggering cues stop, the plant will open again within one day. Notice the precise timing it engages in. There are other plants that exhibit the ability to count, and to take corrective action if there is an error in judgment. Is this evidence of intelligence?
Or take the dodder seed that develops into an herb often used for medical purposes. When the seed is planted between a wheat plant and a tomato plant, shortly after it emerges from the soil it will begin to move in a circular fashion and after a few twists in the air move toward the tomato plant, ignoring the wheat plant. Lab studies have shown that the dodder seed will go toward the host that can provide it with the most nutrients. If one places the dodder seed between two hawthorn plants, one injected with extra nutrients and the other not, the seed will select the nutrient rich plant to move toward and to invade. Is that a display of intelligence? I don’t know what you call it, but you have to call it amazing.
(After five days of driving we arrived in Lansdale, PA, our first visit, some 2563 miles from Tubac. Except for a semi in New Mexico passing three cars on a blind curve forcing us off the two-lane road, the trip was uneventful. Our bodies tolerated the long days in the car well. The weather was cooperative the entire trip with only one very brief shower. (Just like Tubac!!!). Though this is our fourth day in Pennsylvania, we have yet to see the sun. Day time highs in the 60s are a sharp contrast to the ones at home. We had a good Father’s Day. One grandchild is home from his freshman year in college, and another wrapped up her final test in junior high school German this morning - and the test wasn’t bad. Always good news.)
Jim Karp
Tubac Nature Center
June 17, 2025
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.
FROM HAWKWATCH. ORG
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/
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.