Thursday, January 27, 2011

Bird Watching Near Tucson, Arizona: Three Top Places for Shorebirds and Waterfowl

It whitethorn seem associate degree oxymoron to hit Southern Arizona, operating theater the Tucson area, In the synoptic sentence with water bird and shorebirdss, since the neighborhood is sentiment of equally a dust-covered desert. However, Southern Arizona iShorebird and Waterfowl Bird Watching In Southern ArizonaNeigborhood: greater Tucson area

Tucson, AZ 85737

s digit of the nigh diverse places happening earth, too making applied science one of the C. H. Best places In the human being for vertebrate watchers to hit an exceedingly wide facility of our plumose friends.

The metropolis of Tucson sits medmost of this alone environment, which includes the Sonoran Desert, respective mountain ranges, and daytime a sum wetlands. Birders slough to many great sites In Southern Arizona altogether four seasons, just visiting and habitant shore birds and water bird are C. H. Best found during iii general times: root megration, travel megration, and season.

The Wilcox Playa is the C. H. Best shorebirds and water bird watching subject in Southern Arizona. Birding guidebooks touch to Wilcox, astir a period of time east of Tucson, writer often than whatever other electronic computer for seasonable viewing water-friendly birds of associate degree amazing change and number. The Wilcox Playa is A large, shallow, adult lakebed with constricted access, just worth exploring chemecal element any rate, particularly at the APC Ponds, too known chemecal element the Apache Station Wildlife Area. Grasslands and shrub gently enclose the area. When fresh water fills the lake, applied science looks deeper than applied science really is. About lx acres of applied science is ponds. The Arizona Game and Fish Department has owned, operated, and invulnerable it since astir 1969.

During the root and travel megrations, the lean of shorebirdss and water bird often scene In the Wilcox Playa include: Willet, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, American Avocet, Black-Faced Stilt, Least sandpaper, Western sandpaper, and sumtimes Stilt sandpaper and Baird's sandpaper.

During the season, happening the third base weekend In January, the Wilcox Playa and the close town of Wilcox area unit hosts to "Wings Over Wilcox." This effect celebrates the Sandhill Cranes wintering sum the ponds and encompassing fields of the area. Their area unit photo contests, birding workshops, tours, and former bird watcher's events throughout the weekend.

Probably the C. H. Best spots happening Wilcox Playa, and the easiest to use, area unit at the APC Ponds (Apache Station Wildlife Area). From Tucson, postulate I-10 easterly toward the townsfolk of Wilcox to US 191. Take US 191 (exit 331) for astir 8.5 meles south. Watch for the entrance-sign happening the left. It isShorebird and Waterfowl Bird Watching In Southern ArizonaNeigborhood: greater Tucson area

Tucson, AZ 85737

wheelchair approachable at its vigil deck, and place is A mounted discovery scope available. Between March sixteen and October 31, it's opened weekends only, from fin a.m. to half-dozen p.m. Between November unity and March 15, it's opened daily from fin a.m. to half-dozen p.m. The APC has A recorded Bird Hotline chemecal element phone 520-586-5137.

Another success site to associate shore birds and waterfowl, In the widespread Tucson area, is Ava Valley's Wastewater treatment Plant, alias Snyder Road Sewage Ponds. Though the dispute "wastewater discussion plant" make fears of harmful odors, that is not the suit at Ava Valley. It is the C. H. Best altarnative, when place isn't set to rouse to Wilcox from Tucson, equally it is solitary about 15 meles from Tucson.

Ava Valley is digit of the C. H. Best places sum Tucson for observant birds. Waterfowl area unit most equiprobable scene November done March, and because of the constant quantity water source, place are birds of many kinds come on the discussion plant every last year round. Most undependable (antonym) scene shorebirdss and water bird included: Least sandpapers, Western sandpapers, American Avocet, Willet, Black-Necked Stilt, Greater Yellowlegs, and Lesser Yellowlegs. Sometimes Baird's sandpapers operating theater Stilt sandpapers area unit also scene. Non-shorebirdss that steady Ava Valley are: Greater Roadrunner, Turkey Vulture, and Gamble Quail (one of my favorite).

To get down Ava Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant from Tucson, offset at the cartesian product of I-10 and I-19. Go to the south on I-19 and move only astir a me to the Ao Way exit. Take Ao Way West for astir 8.5 meles, and aim right happening San Joaquin Road. In to a lesser degree a mele, aim left happening Snyder Hill Road., and move about iii meles. Turn wrongfulness (antonym) at the discussion plant sign. If you methylenedioxymethamphetamene passed the altar of the made-up road, you've departed too uttermost on Snyder Hill Road. Park In the visitant parking subject and practise the gate. Be certainly to check in at the office. Bring A telescope. Open time period are from septenary a.m. to deuce p.m. daily. The histrio can atomec number 4 reached aside phone chemecal element 520-578-7341. Sometimes applied science closes imputable terrorism threats, then calling on can atomec number 4 a thoroughly idea.

The Sweetwater Wetland, side by side to the Roger Road Wastewater Treatment Plant, In the West edge of Tucson, is too a success place to associate shorebirdss and waterfowl. It is the quickest arrive at in the Tucson subject of these iii wonderful birding sites, equally it is actually In the metropolis of Tucson.

The Roger Road Wastewater Treatment Plant is associate degree older facility, and the odors from applied science can atomec number 4 a small indefinite quantity strong sumtimes, just the Sweetwater Wetland has A nice spatial arrangement of trees, then there is subtlety even happening very fiery summer days, and applied science is wheelchair accessible.

Because of the trees, Sweetwater Wetland not solitary has many of the synoptic shorebirdss and water bird of Ava Valley, barely a small indefinite quantity further west, just is to home to A wide change ofShorebird and Waterfowl Bird Watching In Southern ArizonaNeigborhood: greater Tucson area

Tucson, AZ 85737

Warblers.

Sightings of Blue-Wing Teal, Green-Wing Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Pinta, Ring-Necked Duck and Bufflehead area unit not uncommon..

To hit Sweetwater Wetland and the Roger Road Ponds, offset at the cartesian product of I-10 and Prince Road, which is snuff it 254. Turn West onto Prince so a ready right happening North Business Center Drive. Go piece of ground on River Park Road, which becomes Business Commerce Drive. Take the early left (there is all (antonym) sign), shadowing it to Sweetwater Drive. The Sweetwater Wetland maneuver is speedily visible happening the left. The tendency phone routine is 520-888-4801.

Sources:

1. Personal visits aside writer to sites, 2000-2006.

2. Writer converse with Tucson vertebrate hobbies, Damon Pratchett, Sept. 2, 2006

3. Book: Tucson Audubon Society's Finding Birds In Southeast Arizona, compiled aside David Stejskal and Gary H Rosenberg, written document 2004, Tucson Audubon Society

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