Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Arizona Bird Call

Some thoughts about a new book by renowned fiction writer and beginning birder Amy Tan, author of the long-time New York Times bestseller The Joy Luck Clum and, more recently, Backyard Bird Chronicles that describers her experiences as a new birder and reveals her extraordinary talent as a bird illustrator based here on the west coast. Bird of the episode: Wilson's Warbler. Birding hotspot, the Aztec Feedlot east of Yuma, Arizona. Friend of wildlife, the Arizona Natural History Association.

An introduction to the Dicksissel, a seed-eating bird that breeds in the vast grasslands of the Great Plains, is sometimes spotted here in Arizona in migration. A report on how rodenticides commonly used to kill rats also kill birds of prey that feed on dead and dying rats and other rodents that ingest them. An article on Turkey Vultures that feed on roadkill and other carrion in the desert. Bird of the episode, the New World warbler, the Painted Redstart. Birding hotspot, Tinajas Altas, nine plunge pools that often capture rainwater and so become bird magnets in southwest Arizona. Friend of wildlife: Arizona Parks and Trails.

A commentary on the reliability of eBird and other citizen science data collection tools by White Mountain Audubon Society President Mary Williams. A description of differences between 'Old World' and 'New World' bird species. Bird of the episode: Great Crested Flycatcher. Birding Hotspot: Bartlett Lake Recreation Area. Friend of Wildlife: Sky Island Alliance.

The Paton Center for Hummingbirds has reopened following completion of Phase One of renovations that include replacement of the roof on the visitor's center. Four healthy California Condors have been released into the wild along the Arizona Utah border. Arizona Game and Fish Department reports the condors are adjusting well. Birders and other conservationists have asked municipal officials to reconsider creation of a new paved parking lot along Prescott Creek in the city of Prescott. Audubon's Western Water News reports more water is flowing into the Great Salt Lake thanks to an agreement among several organizations in Utah and Arizona.
Bird of the episode: Ridgeway's Rail. Birding Hotspot: the Thrasher Spot west of Phoenix. Friend of Wildlife: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Are so-called 'rare' birds tracked by eBird and other citizen-science tools really all that rare? That question comes up more and more often as more and more birding enthusiasts go looking in the wild. We have a take on that. A report on fall birding on the Mogollon Rim from White Mountain Audubon Society. A report by the Sonoran Audubon Society on a number of birding events coming up in October and beyond in Central Arizona. Bird of the episode: Orange-Crowned Warbler. Birding Hotspot: Seven Springs Recreation Area north of Cave Creek/Carefree, Arizona. Friend of Wildlife: Arizona chapter of the Nature Conservancy.

Kenn Kaufman, Field Editor at Audubon Magazine, notes recent changes regarding bird names and species differentiation by the American Ornithological Society. White Mountain Audubon Society board member Suzy Walker discusses Birdcast, an online tool for tracking birds in migration across Arizona. Sarah King, rancher and Nature Conservancy board member describes investments in water conservation underway in the Altar Valley south of Tucson. Tucson Audubon Society's Matt Griffiths describes Vaux's Swift, a high-flying, often overlooked songbird found in Arizona. Bird of the episode: Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Birding hotspot: Cochise Stronghold National Monument. Friend of Wildlife: Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory.

A description of how raptors have been observed using fire to drive prey from hiding places in grasslands in Australia. Some field biologists have documented this behavior, even speculate that birds may have taught early humans to use fire for cooking and other purposes. Bird of the episode: the Lesser Scaup. Birding hotspot: Chino Valley northwest of Prescott. Friend of wildlife organization: Hispanic Access Foundation.

Four captive California Condors are set to be released into the wild from Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in northern Arizona at the end of September. The public is invited to witness this dramatic event in person or virtually. Banding of American White Pelicans at Great Salt Lake resumed this summer. Great Salt Lake is a major bird migration stop-over in Utah. Bird of the episode: Western Tanager. Birding hotspot: Maricopa County parks. Friend of Wildlife: Liberty Wildlife in Phoenix.

A description of an encounter with the rare Zone-tailed Hawk on our patio in central Arizona. According to the Sibley Guide to Birds (2nd Edition) Fewer than 300 nesting sites are known to exist in North America.
Excerpts from the newsletter of the Northern Arizona Audubon Society including a report on its recent CHAMP field trip for families of children with cancer. Bird of the episode: Pygmy Nuthatch. Birding hotspot: Fossil Creek wildlife area in the Coconino National Forest. Friend of Wildlife: the Payson Roundup online news service.

An update by Charles J. Babbitt, Conservation chair of the Maricopa Audubon Society on effects of groundwater pumping by mining operations in the Pinto Creek basin near Superior, Arizona. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service policy is a major win for mining interests in the region while perennial streams are being dewatered at an alarming rate.
A Roseate Spoonbill was spotted in a pond on the Mogollon Rim, a very unusual sighting in Arizona's high country. And a report on the dangers of open pipe fence posts and other structures that trap birds.
Bird of the episode: MacGillivray's Warbler. Birding hotspot: Arlington Wildlife Management Area in Maricopa County. Friend of Wildlife: Arizona Wilderness Coalition.

An introduction to the Coloradito, the Red-faced Warbler, one of the most sought-after birds by visitors to Arizona. A report on the historic Yavapai-Apache water agreement recently concluded with multiple partners working to achieve sustainable water resources in the Southwest. A brief description of molting wherein birds lose their feathers in a process that replaces them in time for migration and breeding. Bird of the episode: Mountain Bluebird. Birding hotspot: Yuma East Wetlands in the lower Colorado River delta. Friend of Wildlife: Paton Center for Hummingbirds at Patagonia.

An update on the possible return of Desert Martins to the Sonoran Desert. Desert Martins only nest in Saguaro cacti, and Tucson Audubon is asking area residents to be on the lookout for this elusive species.
A report on recent audio detections in the area by the Haikubox, a device that listens for bird songs and calls and collects and reports that data automatically.
A description of webinars to be presented by Southwest Audubon's Appleton Whittell Research Fellows describing their work and how it impacts Arizona's natural grasslands.
Bird of the episode: the Sora. Birding hotspot: Peloncillo Mountains.
Friends of Wildlife: Western Rivers Action Network

A report on a multi-million dollar WaterSMART grant awarded to a consortium of organizations including Audubon Southwest to restore riparian corridors along the Gila River southwest of Phoenix. Projects will include removal of invasive species such as Salt Cedar that have altered the river ecosystem by driving out native species. And a report on what birds hear - and don't hear - including the vocal range of the human voice. Go ahead and yack it up in the field. Chances are nearby birds are NOT eavesdropping. Bird of the episode: Rivoli's Hummingbird. Birding hotspot: Cave Creek Canyon in eastern Arizona. Friends of Wildlife: Friends of the Verde River Valley.

A report on the importance of citizen scientists, overwhelmingly volunteers, serving as ecological stewards along the U.S. Mexico border. Stereotypically characterized as drawn from the ranks of retirees, many are students, professionals, individuals with specialized expertise that lends itself to tasks at hand. Bird of the episode: Scaled Quail. Birding Hotspot: Ramsey Canyon Preserve near Sierra Vista. Friends of wildlife: the many science programs at the University of Arizona, Tucson.

A report on July birding along the Mogollon Rim in northeast Arizona and a riparian area between Eagar and Springerville during July. Written by Rob Bettaso, Field Trip coordinator and editor of the Osprey Overlook, newsletter of the White Mountain Audubon Society in Pinetop/Lakeside Arizona near Show Low, the report includes an invitation to join bird-walks in the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest in August by Mary Williams, President of the WMAS.  Bird of the episode: the Killdeer. Birding hotspot: Miller Peak Wilderness in southeastern Arizona. Friends of wildlife organization: Arizona Field Ornithologists.

Report from Western Water News on recent shorebird surveys conducted in Arizona. A look at hybrids, those perplexing, confusing, sometimes difficult to ID birds that often defy description. Bird of the episode: Buff-breasted Flycatcher. Birding hotspot Chevelon Canyon Wildlife Management Area on the Mogollon Rim. Friends of Wildlife: Friends of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in southern Arizona.

In a detrimental development for conservation of birds and other wildlife nearly 3,000 local newspapers have closed their doors in recent years, many highly regarded for their coverage over the years. Local media often perform a 'watchdog' function that can only be done locally for a number of reasons. National Audubon is sounding the alarm.
Aldo Leopold, legendary author of 'A Sand County Almanac' is remembered.
And, getting to know the Thick-billed Kingbird.
Bird of the Episode: Franklin's Gull. Birding hotspot: Ramsey Canyon near Sierra Vista. Friend of Wildlife: Student Conservation Association.

Third and final installment of reading of 'Must Add Water' from the Spring 2024 edition of Audubon Magazine regarding the state of saline lakes in the western United States and remote areas of Latin America with particular focus on Wilson's Phalarope and recent discoveries about how it is adapting to climate change. Bird of the episode, the Lesser Yellowlegs. Birding hotspot, Mica Mountain in the Rincon Mountains of southeastern Arizona. Friends of Wildlife: Sonoran Joint Venture.

Part two of 'Must Add Water,' an article from Audubon Magazine's Spring 2024 edition regarding the critical importance of saline lakes as stopovers for migrating waterfowl and other wildlife. Bird of the episode: Lucy's Warbler. Birding hotspot: Madera Canyon near Mt. Wrightson in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson. Friend of Wildlife organization: Arizona Solar Center, a broad coalition of colleges, universities and other organizations working to expand expertise and innovation within the growing solar industry in Arizona.

First of a three-part series of readings from Audubon Magazine regarding saline lakes in Western North America and the critical role they play for migrating water birds. Parts 2 and 3 will be included in episodes 145 and 146 respectively. Bird of the episode: Lesser Nighthawk. Birding hotspot: New River Reserve on the New River north of New River, Arizona. Friend of wildlife organization: Friends of Agua Caliente Park, Tucson

A report on woodpeckers that bang away on metal and other non-wood surfaces here in the Sonoran Desert. A report in an ongoing series that describes how bird's have been given human names and the growing movement to change some to be more reflective of the birds themselves. A report on how some birds are using human-created materials to build their nests in urban areas throughout the Southwest. A description of the Brown Creeper, tiny bird of pine forests in Arizona. Bird of the episode: Lincoln's Sparrow. Birding hotspot: Jewell of the Creek Preserve on Cave Creek in Maricopa County. Friend of Wildlife organization: Institute for Tribal Professionals at Northern Arizona University.

Announcement by Tucson Audubon Society that it has begun a process to change its name. The purpose is to delete the name of John James Audubon, an avowed racist who kept and sold enslaved people. A new report describes ongoing abandonment of millions of acres of cropland across North America beginning in the 1980s. Some scientists speculate this will have a positive effect on grassland birds and avian migrants. And, news about how to find birds nests in your neighborhood. Bird of the episode: Lewis' Woodpecker. Birding hotspot: Pena Blanca Lake. Friends of Wildlife: Cienega Watershed Partnership.

An update on the status of the imperiled Pinyon Jay of Arizona's highland pinyon pine woodlands from Charles Babbitt, Conservation Chair of the Maricopa Audubon Society.  A report on detections of bird. species by the Haikubox installed at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds. A report on a sighting of an Iceland Gull in Tucson. Bird of the episode: Long-billed Dowitcher. Birding hotspot: Willcox Playa, Cochise County. Friend of wildlife organization: Sky Island Alliance.

Renowned ornithologist and Audubon field guide editor Kenn Kaufman explains why tyrant flycatchers are so difficult to identify here in the Southwest. It's not about looks; it's about vocalization, he says. A report on the world-famous 'Thrasher Spot' at Beeline and Salome Highway west of Phoenix. The site has been leveled to make way for a massive solar farm. Bird of the episode: the Loggerhead Shrike. Birding hotspot: Buckskin Mountain State Park. Friend of wildlife organization: Arizona Land and Water Trust. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.

A report on effects of groundwater depletion on riparian birds. Ongoing residential and industrial development across Arizona is significantly reducing surface water in key riparian zones, disrupting natural ecological patterns on which birds and other wildlife depend. A report on a productive birding field trip to the Mogollon Rim lakes region in August, 2024 by members of the Maricopa Audubon Society. Bird of the episode: MacGillivray's Warbler. Birding hotspot: Cattail Cove State Park in western Arizona. friends of wildlife organization: Friends of Kentucky Camp in southeastern Arizona. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in days ahead in Arizona.

A report on new research that describes how the Nightingale, an Old World flycatcher that got a mention in Homer's Iliad, William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and countless other poetic and dramatic works over many centuries on its way to literary stardom, has a new claim to fame. It develops a capacity for mimicking the territorial songs of competing males in perfect pitch. Ornithologists are investigating whether other birds have similar abilities. Bird of the episode: the Mallard. Birding hotspot: Las Legunas de Anza Wetlands. Friends of wildlife organization: Natural Restorations based in Gilbert, AZ. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona

A report on research indicating Southwestern Flycatchers are adapting to climate change genetically by interbreeding with individuals from diverse population clusters in the Northwest and interior western US. A profile of the colorful Northern Shoveler, often spotted in Arizona during winter months. Introduction to Tucson Audubon's Mason Center. Bird of the episode: Lesser Goldfinch: Birding hotspot: Homolovi State Park. Friends of wildlife organization: Maricopa Trail & Park Foundation. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.

A report on the Arizona Field Ornithologist's field expedition to Lake Havasu on the Colorado River January 27, 2024. A 'save the date' for another field expedition, this to Springerville AZ in search of breeding Mountain Plovers.  White Mountain Audubon board member Rob Betasso report on a successful winter birding trip in search of Rosy Finches on Sandia Mountain near Albuquerque New Mexico.  Bird of the episode: Marbled Godwit. Birding hotspot: Slide Rock State Park near Sedona. Friend of Wildlife: Santa Fe Ranch Foundation.

A report on a novel approach to increasing the stock of seeds from plants preferred by the threatened Montezuma Quail. Quail hunters are donating sublingual pouches of harvested birds from which undigested seeds are collected and stored, then planted in quail-friendly natural areas.  A report on sightings of Spotted Towhee in Maine - in winter - the first ever. Bird of the week: LeConte's Thrasher. Birding hotspot: Lynx Lake in Prescott National Forest. Friend-of-wildlife organization: Gila Watershed Partnership of Arizona. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.

A report on efforts by the Cocopah Indian community to restore portions of the lower Colorado River riparian zone including critical delta bird habitat. These efforts are being supported by recently awarded federal grants and corporate philanthropy. Bird of the week: Least Sandpiper. Birding hotspot: Thunderbird Conservation Park and Arrowhead Lakes in Maricopa County. Friend of Wildlife organization: Water Education Foundation. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.

A report on a recently awarded multimillion dollar grant from the U.S. Highway Administration to Arizona Game and Fish Department and Arizona Department of Transportation for construction of wildlife overpasses/underpasses along Arizona portions of  Interstates 17 and 40. These structures are designed to allow large mammals and other wildlife to safely cross thoroughfares during seasonal migrations and to cut down on vehicle collisions with wildlife. Bird of the week: Lawrence's Goldfinch. Birding hotspot: Mingus Mountain in Yavapai County. Friend of wildlife organization: the Salton Sea Coalition. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.

An introduction to winter waterfowl birding across North America. Millions of waterfowl overwinter in Arizona, can be observed along riparian corridors and on lakes and reservoirs statewide.  An update on actions taken by several Audubon Society chapters in the Midwest that are stepping away from the Audubon name and forming a new organization. Bird of the episode: Long-billed Curlew. Birding hotspot: the Arboretum at Flagstaff. Friend of Wildlife organization: Gila River Indian Community of Arizona. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.

A report on scientific research being done by the Sala Lab at Arizona State University with support from the Drylands Institute. The Sala Lab is working to document environmental changes that are leading some scientists to conclude the decades long drought plaguing the Southwest is not temporary and that the region faces permanent aridification. An overview of research on Caledonian Crows and Jays and how they protect food sources and caches from conspecific competitors. Bird of the episode: Ladder-backed Woodpecker. Birding hotspot: P.A. Seitts Preserve at Go John Canyon in northern Maricopa County. Friend of wildlife: American Ornithological Society.

Update on research into effects of wildfires on birds, their migratory and breeding habitats here in the Southwest. A species overview of the Ferruginous Hawk, North America's largest hawk, a regular in southern Arizona. Bird of the episode: House Sparrow. Birding hotspot: ASU Research Park, Tempe. Friend of wildlife organization: Central Arizona Project. A brief calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.

An article on the Short-eared Owl, one of a very few owl species readily spotted during daylight hours on perches above open spaces and along forest edges throughout Arizona. And, an article that describes how birds survive extreme cold. Bird of the week: Greater Yellowlegs. Birding hotspot: Kartchner Caverns State Park. Friend of wildlife organization: Global Drylands Center at Arizona State University. Calendar of bird-friendly events in days ahead here it Arizona.

The Phoenix area annual winter water bird survey is back after a one-year hiatus. Information on how to contribute. A report from Tucson Audubon on winter towhees now present at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds. A report on research that some scientists say supports the idea that drought is the new normal in Arizona, that the future will be characterized by permanent aridification. Bird of the week: the Hermit Warbler. Birding hotspot: Rawhide Mountains Wilderness. Friend of Wildlife: Natural History Institute, Prescott. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.

An article on winter finches in Arizona by Charles J. Babbitt, author of Birds of Arizona: What to Know, Where to Go. Bird of the episode: Great-tailed Grackle. Birding Hotspot: San Rafael Valley grasslands in southeastern Arizona. Friend of Wildlife Organization: The Peregrine Fund. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.

An article 'Do You Hear What I Hear?' that discusses how birds are able to make sounds outside the range of human hearing in addition to the songs and calls we do hear without the aid of technical devices. Bird of the episode: Green Heron. Birding hotspot: Alamo Lake State Park. Friend of Wildlife: Runnin'W Wildlife Center, Cornville. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.

An introduction to the MOTUS wildlife stracking system being rolled out across Arizona in cooperation with several Audubon Society chapters. Bird of the week: Green Tailed Towhee. Birding hotspot: Dead Horse Ranch State Park. Friend of Wildlife organization: Discovery Center at Lake Pleasant, a program of the Maricopa County Parks department. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in weeks ahead in Arizona.

Species profile of Williamson's Sapsucker considered by many birders to be the most strikingly beautiful woodpecker of all North American woodpecker species. Bird of the week: Hairy Woodpecker. Birding Hotspot: Lost Dutchman State Park/Superstition Wilderness east of Phoenix in Central Arizona. Friend of Wildlife organization: Empire Ranch Foundation. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.

Overview of the 'Sagebrush Sea,' a vast grassland ecosystem spanning much of the western United States and prairie regions of Canada, home to numerous native bird species. Conservationists and ranchers among other stakeholders are cooperating to sustain and in some areas restore critical breeding habitat for grassland birds. And, a report of native Arizona birds Bell's Vireo and Western Flycatcher discovered for the first time in the province of New Brunswick in eastern Canada. Bird of the episode: Harris' Hawk. Birding hotspot: Glendale Recharge Ponds in Maricopa County. Friend-of-wildlife organization: Friends of Arizona Joshua Tree Forest. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in days ahead in Arizona.

A profile of early American ornithologist Alexander Wilson for whom Wilson's Warbler, Wilson's Phalarope, Wilson's Plover, Wilson's Snipe and other species are named. Update on progress in construction of wildlife crossings of major highways in western United States. Bird of the episode: Hermit Thrush. Birding hotspot: Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt spanning Scottsdale and Tempe. Friend of Wildlife: Rio Vista Conservation Project. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.

A report on progress being made in efforts to save the quickly diminishing Great Salt Lake in Utah, a critical migratory stopover for countless species of birds and other wildlife. A broad coalition of environmental and governmental organizations have organized to create a permanent solution to the crisis. And, a statement by the Arizona Water Coalition applauding Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs' decision to cancel water leases held by Fondomonte Arizona LLC that allowed the company to draw groundwater for commercial agriculture without limitations on quantity, and at no charge. Bird of the episode: Hooded Oriole. Birding hotspot: Picture Canyon near Flagstaff. Friend of wildlife organization: Western Field Ornithologists. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in the days ahead in Arizona.

A report on a research initiative by Tucson Audubon titled 'Save the Sonoran Saguaro.' participants will plant Saguaro Cactus seedlings and track their progress over time. An essay titled 'Highway of New Birds' that describes rare bird sightings in southern Arizona's high peaks; species typically found in the Rocky Mountains and northern Mexico that intermingle in Arizona. Bird of the week: Hooded Warber. Birding hotspot: Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Friend of wildlife organization: International Wildlife Museum, Tucson. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.

A guide to a number of extraordinary higher elevation birding spots in Arizona's southeastern sky island region compiled by Tucson Audubon and The Sky Island Alliance, a binational consortium of ecologists in U.S. and Mexico. Bird of the episode: Horned Grebe. Birding hotspot: Table Top Wilderness nature preserve along the southern border region of Arizona. Friend of Wildlife: Arizona Bird Committee. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.

On November 1, 2023 the American Ornithological Society, the scientific authority on the naming of bird species in the Americas, announced it will no longer allow birds to be named for people, and that it will begin a process to replace English bird names that have been named for people in the past. We will have the official announcement.
Bird of the week: Horned Lark. Birding hotspot: San Carlos Lake. Friend of wildlife organization: Central Arizona Conservation Alliance. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.

U.S. Supreme Court hands down ruling that limits EPA's authority to regulate commercial development of wetlands. Rio Rico residents and a consortium of environmentalists and wildlife conservation organizations challenge effort to bring commercial development to riparian corridors within the Rio Rico watershed. The proposal was withdrawn. Bird of the week: House Finch. Birding hotspot: Horseshoe reservoir on the Verde River north of Bartlett Lake. Friend of wildlife: Natural History Institute, Prescott. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in weeks ahead in Arizona.

A report titled 'Residential Neighborhood Diversity Study' by the The Central Arizona–Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research (CAP LTER) program. Bird of the episode: Greater Roadrunner. Birding hotspot: Roosevelt Lake at the headwaters of the Salt River. Friend of wildlife organization: VIDA Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Yuma. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.

Greater Phoenix has more than 1,400 artificial lakes. A report on a study conducted by faculty and students affiliated with The Central Arizona–Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research (CAP LTER) program. A description of the Zen Curtain device for preventing bird collisions with windows and other reflective surfaces. Bird of the Episode: the Great Egret. Birding Hotspot: Granite Reef Diversion Dam on the Salt River. Friend of wildlife organization: Reid Park Zoological Society. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.

An introduction to Birdcast from Cornell Lab of Ornithology, an app that tracks and visualizes birds in migration in real time across North America. A discussion of trees that attract birds to Western lands and forests. How Icelanders are saving Puffins from possible extinction by capturing newly fledged pufflings and throwing them into the sea. Bird of the episode: Common Loon. Birding hotspot: Chiricahua National Monument in Cochise County. Friend of Wildlife organization: ASU's CAP-LETR research project. Calendar of bird friendly events coming up in Arizona.