WHERE & WHEN -
 SEPTEMBER THROUGH NOVEMBER 2001

By Mike Baker/Walter Thurber

Maricopa Audubon Strongly encourages carpooling on filed trips.  Please make every effort to organize your own carpool; consolidate vehicles at meeting places; and/or contact leaders for car pooling assistance.  It is recommended that passengers reimburse drivers 5 to 10 centers per mile.

Legend:

Limit:  Maximum number of participants per filed trip.  Please call early to make your reservations.

Difficulty Levels 1 through 5:  1 equals very low level of exertion, short waling distance, considerable birding from vehicle and possible multiple birding stops.  5 equals very high level of difficulty with respect to exertion.  Longer hiking distances are expected with possible steep trails.

Reminders:

• Wear neutral colored clothing and sturdy walking shoes.
  
• bring sunscreen, sunglasses, head protection and water
  
• Avoid wearing bright colors
  
• bring your binoculars
  
• don't forget to have FUN!!

Saturday and Sunday, November 10 - 11 
Rocky Point Mexico Field Trip- Bob will take us to encounter  overwintering North American shorebirds and waterfowl, and Sea of Cortez breeding species including  two boobies.  Possible shorebirds,  waterfowl and gulls include Oystercatcher, Surfbird, Wandering Tattler, scoters, loons, Yellow-footed and Thayers gull. Lower Sonoran desert specialty birds include Large-billed Sparrow and  LeConte's Thrasher. Drivers should purchase Mexican Insurance prior to entering Mexico. Limit 20. Difficulty 1.  $25.00 contribution to Maricopa Audubon Society is suggested. Contact leader for information and reservations. 

Leader: Bob Witzeman
602-840-0052
No e-mails please.

Tuesday, November 27
Gilbert Library Ponds -- Join Cindy and visit the Gilbert Library ponds and wildlife area. The ponds and associated marsh vegetation attracts a variety of migrating waterfowl, wintering raptor and passerine species. Bring a lunch, water and spotting scope if available. Limit: 15. Difficulty: 1. Please contact leader for information and reservations.

Leader: Cindy West
480-830-5332
cwestbirdr@juno.com 

Saturday, December 8 
Estrella Mountain Regional Park- Bob will lead us around the 30 square mile Estrella County park to observe an assortment of Sonoran desert and riparian birds.  In addition, many examples of indigenous flora and fauna will be shown.  We will meet at 7:30, at the navy area parking lot, at the east end of the picnic loop.  There is a $3.00 park entrance fee. Bring a lunch, water and spotting scope if available.  Morning only.  No limit. Difficulty 2. 

Leader: Bob Gaulden
623-932-3811
estrellamountainpark@
mail.maricopa.gov 

Wednesday, January 23
Thrasher Palaver -- Jim will lead us around Arlington/Buck- eye/Palo Verde in search of our 5 thrasher species that frequent this area.  Plan on an early start as these birds are active and sing at dawn.  Other birds species expected include wintering hawks and sparrows.  Bring a lunch, water and spotting scope if available.  Limit: 10.  Difficulty: 2.  Please contact leader for information and reservations.

Leader: Jim Burns
480-946-2502
jpbaztec@aol.com 

Saturday, February 2 
Lower Salt River- We will bake various stops along a ten mile stretch of the Salt River between Granite Reef Dam and Saguaro Lake.  This section of the river lies within the Tonto National Forest north of Mesa.  The flowing river and its adjacent mesquite bosques make this and excellent area for waterbirds, raptors and possible early migrants.  There is a lake entry fee.  Bring water, lunch and a scope if available. Limit 20. Difficulty. Contact leader for information and reservations. 

Leader: Charles Saffell
480-668-9393
mws2@qwest.net 

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(continued from page 7)
By Mike Baker/Walter Thurber

Saturday, February 15-16,
Bill Williams National Wildlife Refuge - Mike will take us to many unique birding areas around the Bill Williams delta in this wildlife reserve.  A diverse array of lower Sonoran-Mojave desert, riparian and marsh plant communities provides excellent habitat for many raptor, waterfowl, shorebird, marsh and overwintering passerine bird species.  Bring sturdy walking shoes, water, a lunch  and spotting scope if available. Limit: 15. Difficulty: 3. Please contact leader for information and reservations.

Leader: Mike Totcky
520-505-7801
mtotcky@uneedspeed.net 

Saturday, March 2
lost Dutchman State Park - Join Laurie and visit this beautiful park located at the base of the Sperstition Mountains near Apache Junction.  The spring flowers, bird feeders and bird baths here are an attractant that few birds can ignore.  Birds expected in the area include resident Canyon Towhee, Costa's Hummingbird, Phainopela, migrating warblers and vireos.  There is a park entry fee. Bring a lunch, water and sturdy walking shoes. Limit: 25. Difficulty: 2. Please contact leader for information and reservations.

Leader: Laurie Nessel
480-968-5614
laurienessel@hotmail.com 

Saturday, March 16
Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, Brown Canyon - Birds along this sycamore and live oak mountain canyon, with a 47-foot natural bridge hidden in the upper canyon includes Montezuma quail, Strickland's wookpecker, or painted red-start.  A refuge naturalist will cover birding, plant identification, and natural history of some of the canyon's wild residents.  One of Arizona's special places, Brown Canyon is opened by "guided tour only."  There is a fee of $5 per person.  Bring walking shoes, a lunch and plenty of water. Limit: 20. Difficulty: 3. Please contact leader for information and reservations.

Leader: Bonnie Swarbrick
520-823-4251 x 108
bonnie_swarbrick@fws.gov 

Saturday, April 6
Dudleyville, Lower San Pedro River Area - This a very diverse area with upper Sonoran desert and riparian plant communities and agriculture area.  Many of Arizona's special raptor species nest in the Dudleyville area which include Gray, Common Black-, Zone-tailed Hawks and Mississippi Kite.  Passerine species abound in the riparian gallery forests. Bring a lunch, water and sturdy walking shoes. Limit: 25. Difficulty: 2. Please contact leader for information and reservations.

Leader: Josh Burns
602-468-3002
josh_a_burns@yahoo.com 

Sunday, April 21
Patagonia Area - This trip begins at the Patagonia- Sonoita Creek Preserve, a nationally known birding hotspot owned and managed by the Nature Conservancy.  Gray Hawk, Thick-billed Kingbird, Northern Beardless Tyrannulet, and Green Kingfisher will be some bird species sought.  Other areas visited include the Patton's hummingbird feeders, Kino Springs and time permit- ting, the Nogales sewage ponds. Bring a lunch, water and sturdy walking shoes. Limit: 20. Difficulty: 2. Please contact leader for information and reservations.

Leader: Richard Kaiser
602-276-3312

Wednesday, May01
Agua Fria National Monument - Here is a great opportunity to become familiar with one of Arizona's newest national monuments.  Agua Fria covers over 110 square miles between Black Canyon City and Cordes Junction.  The rugged area of grassland, riparian and upper Sonoran desert contains more than 450 prehistoric sites and wide array of sensitive wildlife species.  Some expected bird species are Zone-tailed Hawk, Vermillion Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo and Blue Grosbeak.  Bring a lunch, water and sturdy walking shoes. Please contact leader for information and reservations.

Leader: Dwayne Fink
480-967-9202
edna.fink@asu.edu  

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