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| Red-naped Sapsucker |
On Saturday, Feb.19th, I went on one of the bird walks at
Boyce Thompson, led by Cynthia Donald and Pete Moulton. The birds were somewhat scarce, hunkered down keeping out of the cold breeze, but Cynthia and Pete still made it interesting and fun, there's always alot to learn from those two. I saw my first
Hermit Thrush, and was surprised to get a long close-up view of the
Red-naped Sapsucker. He was not at all camera shy as he happily fed for hours on low branches just a few feet from a main trail.
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| Hermit Thrush |
Boyce Thompson is one of my favorite places to escape to - lots of plants, birds, butterflies, lizards, and shade. If you use a wheelchair to get around, there's just one place along the bird walk that is impassable - the trail above Ayer Lake becomes too narrow. Read a review of accessibility at
Accessing Arizona.
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| Male Northern Cardinal |
Birds seen - Cooper's Hawk, American Coot, Broad-billed Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird, Gila Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Red-naped Sapsucker, Black Phoebe, Plumbeous Vireo, Hutton's Vireo, Cassin's Vireo, Common Raven, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Verdin, House Wren, Bewick's Wren, Cactus Wren, Rock Wren, Canyon Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Northern Mockingbird, Curve-billed Thrasher, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's); Abert's Towhee, Spotted Towhee, Lark Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco Northern Cardinal, House Finch and Lesser Goldfinch.
During March the Arboretum's visitor center art gallery exhibits breathtaking and feather-crisp bird photographs by Scottsdale author
Jim Burns. You can see his work daily from 8 am to 5 pm this month. Join the author for a
guided bird walk March 5 from 8:30 am - 10 am then ,meet him in the gallery for a coffee hour reception at 11 am.
Its nesting season for Bald Eagles in Arizona. If you are lucky enough to encounter an active Bald Eagle's nest, please take some precautions. Enjoy bald eagles from a distance, as they are very sensitive to human activity, so use binoculars or spotting scopes to get a closer look. A disturbance can cause nest abandonment, egg failure, a decrease in the ability to capture food, and early unsuccessful fledging. Disturbing bald eagles is against federal and state laws. If you encounter a nest on a reservation be advised that the tribal police patrol the area during the nesting season to keep folks from stopping. Stoppng along the roadside near the nest is an illegal activity and could be subject to tribal fines. Unless there is an emergancy, stopping along the roadway is not permitted. Bald Eagle Nest closures that are in place on Tonto National Forest have a minimum of 1000 ft. buffer around the nest tree for land access and 300 ft. for boat access. Read more HERE 
