Upcoming events
NOTE: FOR PROGRAM INFO ON THIS DATE; PLEASE GO TO NEXT EVENT.
On Tuesday night, September 9, 2008, we will be moving our meeting nights back to our favored 2nd Tuesday nights! And, on that date, we will begin holding our meetings at the new Gilbert Page Park Center, right off Gilbert Rd., in the heart of downtown Gilbert.
The Page Park Center is located two blocks West of Gilbert Rd., and two blocks North of Elliott. If coming South on Gilbert Rd., go past Guadualupe, go over the RR tracks, and turn right on Bruce. The Building is at 132 W. Bruce, in Gilbert. The Town of Gilbert has worked with us to find us a suitable meeting spot on our 2nd Tuesday nights, which should be a better meeting time for everyone. And, this will be closer to many of our members than was the library. Thank you, Town of Gilbert!
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WILDLIFE RESCUE; IT ISN'T ALWAYS EASY!
Terry Stevens, Director of Operations as well as Rescue & Transport Coordinator for Liberty Wildlife will regale us with stories and photos of his team's rescues of wildlife in every kind of situation imaginable, from eagles, hawks, and owls to javalina, foxes, and snakes. JOIN US AT 6:30 FOR REFRESHMENTS, AND GET ACQUAINTED AT OUR NEW MEETING PLACE.
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Pierre Deviche, PhD., ASU Ornithologist, will lead us to the Dudleyville area, located along the San Pedro River. This location offers rich and varied riparian habitats with year-round running water. Thus, there is great potential for observing regular resident species, but also uncommon to rare species that use the San Pedro River riparian corridor during migration.
We also have permission on this trip, to visit the San Pedro Nature Conservancy Preserve also in the area. Info on reservations and number limit will be posted soon. Bring water, a lunch, and waterproof footwear and mosquito repellent are also recommended
Reservations; Charles or Marion Saffell, marisaff@cox.net, or 480 668-9393.
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We will be visiting the great and various birding spots listed in this area in Southern and SE AZ on the AZ Birding Trail Map. Varied stops run the gamut from preserves to private back yards (with a small donation charge at private spots), to mountain vistas.
More info to follow, soon.
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Recent events
Field Expedition to the Sierra Anchas, Gila Co.: July 18-20, 2008
OVERVIEW:
Rising high above the popular summertime destination of Roosevelt Lake is another destination more popular amongst breeding birds than among their human counterparts - the Sierra Anchas. On this Field Expedition, we will focus on seldom-birded drainages accessible from Young Road (better known as SR 288), including the beautiful perennial Workman and Reynolds Creeks. We will also visit a few higher elevation locations like Center Mountain and Aztec Peak, which should afford us slightly cooler temperatures and a different variety of birds. We will aim to develop a clearer picture of breeding birdlife in all area
John Yerger, Field Expeditions Chair
Please register with John Yerger by email (jyerger24@yahoo.com) or phone (814-308-4078) by Friday, July 1th.
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY / WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE FIELD:
-This trip will require moderate hiking over broken terrain (in potentially hot weather), in mixed conifer-deciduous forest along boulder filled streams and small creeks.
-This is also the season and elevation to expect afternoon cloud build-up and thunderstorms.
-Two early mornings and at least one afternoon of surveying; also possible nocturnal surveys from our base camp.
LODGING:
-We will establish a base camp on the west side of the Sierra Anchas, perhaps even in one of the canyons we plan to explore; plan for tent camping, although it may be possible to arrange small RV camping nearby if desired
OTHER PREPARATIONS:
-Food (plan to supply your own meals and snacks) and water (1 gallon per day per person always recommended!)
-Please bring sunscreen and a hat, long pants, and sturdy hiking footwear. Two-way radios will be useful; if you have some to lend, please bring them
-Hummingbird feeders have proven to attract some visitors at our base camps on recent Expeditions, so bring one along (plus sugar) if you have an extra.
CARPOOLING, MEETING TIMES/PLACES:
-Carpooling to be arranged by Expedition Chair and coordinated with registered participants
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Escape to Rim country with Audubon AZ naturalist Cathy Wise for a fun-filled, birdy day in the forest. We will visit two popular sites, both brimming with some of Arizona's prettiest warblers including red-faced, olive, Grace's and painted redstart. We'll start at See Canyon at 7:30 for a 1-2 mile hike along the creek, expect a slight grade on a well-worn trail. We'll turn around as the trail starts to climb, jump into cars and finish our morning at the Tonto Creek Fish hatchery. Bring a sack lunch to eat at the hatchery, plus water and snacks. We'll carpool from the Saffell's yard, 805 N. Grand, Mesa, AZ 85201. (Google this address for location, we are only a few blocks from Country Club (Hwy 87), and Brown Rd., with plenty of room to park in our yard).
Directions to the See Canyon trail: Take Hwy 87 north to Payson; turn east onto Arizona 260, and drive about 22 miles to FR 284; turn left and drive 1.5 miles to the trailhead.
For reservations; Charles or Marion Saffell, marisaff@cox.net, or 480 668-9393. Limit 10. See below for additional info on this area.
http://www.azcentral.com/travel/hiking/articles/seecanyon.html
http://www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/wildlife_area_tonto_creek.shtml
http://www.pr.state.az.us/Parks/parkhtml/tonto.html
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NEW MEETING INFO FOR THOSE GOING ON THIS TRIP. Also, please check your email from the Saffells for more info.
We'll meet in Phoenix at 5:15 a.m. at the Denny's, at Bell Road and I-17, and leave there promptly at 5:30 a.m. Denny's is on the West side of Bell Rd. and I-17. We will form carpools if needed, at that time.
We are to meet the Burks, our leaders, at 7 a.m. on Saturday, at the Bashas parking lot in Frontier Village on Hwy. 69 just east of Prescott. This shopping center is on your left, on a hill, just before you get into the city of Prescott. We suggest leaving the NW Phoenix area by 5:30 a.m. in order to reach their meeting site by 7 a.m. It's 86 miles from Bell Rd and I-17 in NW Phoenix to Prescott.
Any questions or problems, contact the Saffells, below.
Once again, Karen O'Neil will be leading us on a new trip to the beautiful cool Prescott Area. We will be birding in the Bradshaw Mts. at the base of Mt. Tritle and at a road crossing of the Hassayampa River. Birds we can expect include broad-tailed hummingbird, acorn and hairy woodpeckers, northern flicker, cordilleran flycatcher, western wood pewee, plumbeous vireo, Stellers jay, violet-green swallow, mountain chickadee, white-breasted and pygmy nuthatches, house and Bewicks wrens, hermit thrush, American robin, yellow and Graces warblers, painted redstart, western and hepatic tanagers, pine siskin, house finches, and lesser goldfinches. Greater pewee, olive and red-faced warblers have occasionally been seen in this area.
This trip involves about two miles of walking (round trip) that is somewhat up and down, but not steep. At this time (who knows by the end of May!), there is water flowing, not only in the Hassayampa,but also in an ephemeral creek about ½ mile drive from the river. We will be leaving our cars to walk in that area. For those who do not want to do the slow birding walk for the two miles, bring a chair, and enjoy a birding sit! We will meet at the Bashas parking lot in Frontier Village on Hwy. 69 just east of Prescott at 7 a.m. on May 31st. Car pooling will be helpful, especially along the Hassayampa River. The last couple miles of driving are on dirt roads that are generally passable in a passenger car. Because there is logging in the general area (but not where we will be birding as of this writing), we may need to go to an alternative site, at the Old Homestead area. (Essentially the same bird species). A last minute pre-run will occur to assess the logging activities. I will let Charles and Marion Saffell know if there is a last minute change. Please bring water, lunch, hats, and sunscreen. If you are going to sit out the hike, bring a lawn chair. Limit 10 from Desert Rivers.
Reservations: Charles or Marion Saffell, marisaff@cox.net 480-668-9393.
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Dr. Deviche has had to cancel leading this trip at this time. Instead, Charles Saffell, Jon Mann, and Rob Lane will be your leaders to Madera Canyon. Please note that we will be moving this field trip to Sunday, May 18. Since we’ll be heading South to Madera Canyon, we will meet at the Safeway parking lot, located at the SE intersection of Chandler Ave. and 40th St. in Ahwatukee. We will depart this meeting area prompty at 4:30 a.m. The Safeway is a short distance from the I-10 Chandler Ave. Exit, and so it will also take just a couple of minutes to get back on the highway. We will then meet up with the rest of the group in Green Valley, at the I-19 and Continental Rd., Exit 63, at the Chevron Station, planning to leave this area promptly at 6:30 a.m. Participants should definitely bring water and snacks or food. We'll be birding much of the day, leaving mid afternoon to start the drive back to the Valley. Limit 10. Reservations before May 15; Charles or Marion Saffell, 480 668-9393; or, email; marisaff@cox.net.
Photo: Bob & May Swanson
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Bring your spouse/significant other/family and join us for a repeat of last year's end of the season BBQ and Potluck party at the Saffell's home, 805 N. Grand, Mesa, 85201.
Arrive at 6 p.m., and we will eat promptly at 6:30 p.m. The Saffells will once again be smoking BBQ pork and beef, and we will furnish the utensils and drink. Bring a very large covered dish, a vegetable, salad, fruit, or dessert, also your lawn chairs. All else will be furnished. A nominal charge of $5 per person will be charged, children under 10 are free. The Saffell's son, Chuck, and his rock band, The "Back-Yard Birds," will once again play and sing oldies acoustically for our enjoyment, and we also will be having a blues group to perform. All children are welcome. (Please be aware, if bringing small children, that the Saffell's pool is open and not fenced). Please make reservations so that we will know how many to prepare for; Janice Miano, egret@cox.net; or phone 480 946-1327; or Claudia Kirscher, antclaudia@hotmail.com; phone 623 934-5460, (leave message). For directions Google the address, above. Come and enjoy a relaxed evening at our end of the season meeting. Photo : Mike Rupp
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