Desert Rivers and Tropical Cats
by Mike Evans
Conservation Director
Desert Rivers Audubon Society
The recent stories of jaguars and ocelots being spotted in Arizona got me thinking about the historic role that our desert rivers played in wildlife population distribution. My thoughts wandered to the impact the “dang fence” on the border would have in limiting the future distribution of these tropical species back into Arizona. I also got to thinking about how our modern system of canals has come to partially replace the role that our desert rivers historically played in wildlife distribution, especially here in the Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, and Mesa area.
Jaguar, Panthera onca.
For those that missed the news reports, the Arizona Game and Fish Department confirmed through photographs that a mountain lion hunter treed a jaguar southeast of Tucson. The Arizona Daily Star also reported that in June a helicopter pilot for Homeland Security spotted a jaguar loping down a forested hillside in the Santa Rita Mountains of southern Arizona. Arizona Game & Fish also reported that a further five reports by hunters have been confirmed and the department is now attempting to determine through photographic analysis how many jaguars may be roaming about southern Arizona. The Game & Fish believe that these individuals represent the most northern part of a population of jaguars living in Sonora, Mexico.
We were also recently briefly regaled with the story of a sighting of an ocelot. Upon further analysis, the Game and Fish Department believes that the cat was more likely a serval, or serval hybrid, an African cat popular in the pet trade. However, there were two other confirmed sightings of ocelots earlier in the year, both in the Huachuca Mountains.
These are only the third and fourth reports of ocelots in Arizona since the 1960’s. It was generally agreed by most wildlife observers
Ocelot, Leopardus pardalis, also known as the dwarf leopard or McKenney's wildcat.
that the ocelot was extinct in Arizona until one was found dead along the highway in the Globe area in 2010 and one was photographed in 2009 by a trail camera belonging to the Sky Island Alliance. There is a small remnant population of ocelots in Texas and the rest of the range was believed to be much farther south in Mexico, but now Arizona has to be added to the list of locations where the species is still holding on to some territory.
Historically, Arizona’s desert rivers have been corridors for wildlife. Although the exact locations of the traditional corridors used by jaguars and ocelots remain uncertain, there is good evidence that the prey species of both cats were originally found in abundance along our desert rivers. For these species to survive, movement corridors need to be maintained. Conservation efforts are crucial as habitat becomes more fragmented and isolated. The Sky Island Alliance is one organization working to maintain the connections north and south of the border through their Wildlife Linkages program.
One threat to the continued efforts to conserve both of these species is the proposed border fence. The Center for Biological Diversity has been warning of the environmental catastrophe that the border fence would be for wildlife populations for five years. Back in 2006, the Center said:
More border walls, militarization, low-level aircraft and roads would further damage already-stressed wildlife and places, such as the Cactus Pygmy Owl and Sonoran Pronghorn in Arizona, Flat-Tailed Horned Lizard and Peninsular Ranges Bighorn Sheep in California, Jaguar and Mexican Gray Wolves in New Mexico, and the Rio Grande River, Ocelot, and Big Bend National Park in Texas. Triple walls are harmful to wildlife blocking critical migration corridors and destroying valuable habitat. The distance of the triple wall – 370 miles – is approximately the distance of the entire border in Arizona.
With two Arizona desert rivers having their headwaters in Mexico, the border fence will affect wildlife distribution. It seems clear that the northernmost range for the ocelot and jaguar would be cut off from the population in Mexico and stop any natural repopulation of these species in Arizona.
Roosevelt Water Conservation District
Closer to home, our canal system is the wildlife corridor for coyotes and other mammals. In the southeast valley, the four SRP canals (Consolidated, Eastern, Western, & Tempe) plus the Roosevelt Water Conservation District canal are regular coyote corridors. When we add in the Eastern Maricopa Floodway, we have a wildlife corridor that stretches from the San Tan Mountains in the south to the Salt River Recreation Area. So the next time you see a coyote in one of the East Valley riparian areas, or a coyote loping through a southeast valley neighborhood, remind yourself that it is the same mode of transit that wildlife has always used in the southwest: our riparian desert rivers. And, if you want your children and grandchildren to someday see jaguars and ocelots in the wildlands of Arizona, let your opinion be known to our elected officials the next time they start talking about building “the dang fence”.
Christmas Birds
by Joy Dingley
Education Committee
Desert Rivers Audubon
The British Robin is Erithacus rubecula; American Robin is Turdus migratorius.
If you know anyone from Britain the chances are that, one year or another, you’ll get a Christmas card from them with a Robin on the front. The European Robin is very different from the American Robin, while the American version belongs in the Thrush family the European Robin is a Chat. Only a few inches long these are indomitable birds that seem to have no fear of anyone or anything. Their life style included the search for worms and grubs turned up by pigs in forests. When the forests and the wild pigs disappeared from Britain they turned their attention to the gardens, often following closely as someone dug up the earth. You may remember the robin doing that in the children’s book “The Secret Garden.” Human activity makes them seem curious as they associate us with food sources. Many garden birdwatchers have a Robin “friend” they feed regularly.
Robins are also very conspicuous in winter. This is because Britain, particularly the southern part, gets an influx of Robins from the European continent where the winters are usually harsher and longer. Robins are extremely territorial, even pairs will only share a territory while they are bringing up the nestlings, and they sing all winter long to state their claims. Not only will they sing through the winter but they will sing all day and night until an intruder backs off.
So they were already connected with winter when a sartorial decision by the Royal Mail sealed the connection forever. During the Victorian period when Christmas cards where becoming popular there was, for a time, a uniform worn by the mail deliverers that included a bright red vest (or waistcoat as the British would say). This earned the postmen the nickname “Robin Redbreasts”. Given the English predilection for puns it wasn’t long before a few Christmas cards appeared with Robins holding envelopes in their beaks and the sentiment, “This Robin Redbreast brings you Christmas cheer.”
I expect only about 1 person in five hundred back in Britain knows about this story or even wonders why the Robin is so popular. So I’m not surprised that I haven’t yet had an answer to my question “Why is the Cardinal the Christmas bird in the US – is it just because it’s a red bird that’s seen in the snow?” Maybe there’s someone out there who can tell me all about it.
Birding the Elevation Staircase with Rick Taylor December 13th
Tuesday, December 13, 2011, Gilbert Community Center, 130 N. Oak St., Gilbert, 7pm, Free:
Desert Rivers Audubon & Wild At Heart Dig In Wildlife Development for Burrowing Owls in Gilbert
By Eileen Kane
Communications Director
Desert Rivers Audubon
Greg Clark, Owl Habitat Coordinator for raptor rescue and rehabilitation group Wild At Heart, talked about the struggle to preserve Arizona’s Burrowing Owls, September 13, 2011, at Desert Rivers Audubon’s monthly meeting.
Burrowing Owl visits Desert Rivers Audubon's September 2011 meeting, photo by Linda Covey.
A Species of Special Concern, Burrowing Owls live their lives largely in underground burrows made by squirrels, coyotes, skunks and other animals. Small and active both day and night, Burrowing Owls are vulnerable to other birds of prey, animals, and construction.
With over 5,000 artificial owl burrows installed throughout Arizona, Greg describds his latest project with Desert Rivers Audubon to install 100 burrows at Zanjero Park, Gilbert. Immediately adjacent to active farmland, Zanjero is an example of the disturbed land on the fringes of suburban areas Burrowing Owls prefer.
Desert Rivers Audubon is organizing volunteers to dig the burrows, 8am-2pm, Saturday, October 29, 2011 at Zanjero Park, 3785 S. Lindsay Road, Lindsay Road, South of Loop 202, Gilbert. In the spring, volunteers will again be needed to feed and care for the owls while they are acclimated to the site and before their release.
The Burrowing Owl Habitat Project is made possible by a grant from Together Green, an initiative by the National Audubon Society and Toyota to fund conservation projects, train environmental leaders, and offer volunteer and individual action opportunities that significantly benefit the environment.
Desert Rivers Audubon and Wild At Heart will also present a technology forum Wednesday, September 28, 2011, as part of the Gangplank Brown Bag Series lunchtime series. Both organizations are seeking advice and brainstorming on social media, mobile technology, and signage to enhance the public’s experience of this Burrowing Owl habitat.
UPDATE (10/24/2011) from Greg Clark:
“Zanjero Park is considered underutilized by the Town of Gilbert. It is designed for use by horses and there is evidence that horse owners do take their horses there for riding. But, it is not used much for that purpose. It has attractive recirculating water features and two well maintained ramadas that are occasionally used at lunch time by office workers. The main trail around the edge of the park is part of a larger trail used mostly by bicycles. This appears to me to be the main use in the park. There is a nice park bench area and plantings in one area in the middle of the trail.
“Because the park is devoid of grass it is not attractive to families with small children looking for a playground. For all these reasons the park doesn’t see much use. But, situated next to farm land, it is perfect for Burrowing Owls. The trail system and park bench would allow easy access to see the owls and small children would not typically be at the park running around and looking for fun opportunities to chase the owls. The low density vegetation will allow the owls good visibility, especially in the large basin area where the release sites are located. 100 burrows are being installed with four release sites.
“Once the owls are present the use of the park will go way up as people go to see the owls up pretty close.
“The close proximity of Campo Verde High School (adjacent to the park) could provide scientific and educational opportunities for the students via monitoring, owl behavior descriptions, pellet comparison studies with other nearby owl sites, and gathering video and still images for web site reports and creative writing.
“I anticipate that one release tent per year would go up for the next 4 years.”
UPDATE (11/14/2011) from Steve Thomas (conact stevepthomas@cox.net to volunteer):
If you missed #OWLDAY, Wild at Heart has another habitat install project, Saturday, November 19, 2011.
“On Nov 19th we will be constructing new homes for burrowing owls at a farm northwest of Gila Bend. Travel time from Phoenix to the site is approximately 2 hours.
“The 400 new homes, or artificial burrows as they are called, are needed to relocate AZ burrowing owls who have been displaced by development and/or loss of their natural burrows and habitat.
“Building the burrows consists of placing plastic burrow chambers in the ground, connecting flexible access tubes to the chambers and creating ground-level entrances so the owls can get down inside their new home. We expect these new homes will support many families of owls for the next 20 years.
“Children are welcome at the event. Children ages 10 and up can usually perform any of the tasks; children ages 8-9 can learn some of the more difficult tasks and be good helpers to an adult or teen. Children 4-7 may be able to paint the tubes and help carry supplies back and forth. Children under 4 will need constant supervision to be sure they stay safe.”
Greg Clark, Wild At Heart Burrowing Owl Habitat Coordinator, joins chapter president Krys Hammers and a rescued burrowing owl at Desert Rivers Audubon's September 2011 meeting. Photo by Linda Covey.
Tropical Kingbird Attends Desert Rivers Audubon’s Board Retreat
by Mike Evans
Conservation Director
Desert Rivers Audubon Society
Desert Rivers Audubon Board of Directors Retreat Saturday, July 30, 2011 at the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center, Phoenix, AZ.
Tropical Kingbird
Having not seen one in a couple of decades, and only having seen Couch’s Kingbird once before (when one spent the winter outside Tacna, AZ), and not hearing it’s call, we can’t definitively say it is a Tropical and not a Couch’s. We had a very good view of the tail and back in the scope. There was no white on the tail, and the tail had a distinctive notch. The tail color was brown, not black. Yesterday and today, multiple books were used for reference. I hope someone with more experience with Tropical Kingbirds can substantiate the find.
Summer Conservation News and Notes
by Mike Evans
Conservation Director
Desert Rivers Audubon Society
On the afternoon of May 24th, I received a call from Scott Cleaves, the Park Ranger for the Riparian Preserve at Gilbert Water Ranch Park. In the previous two weeks he had only seen one cat in the Riparian Preserve. He had repeatedly tried to catch it over that time. He called me to report that he had finally been successful. To the best knowledge of GWR and Riparian Preserve staff, there were NO feral cats left at GWR! The most recent survey in mid-March reported only 13 cats left in the preserve. The staff trapped eight of those cats. Coyotes or natural causes are believed to have accounted for the other five. (Coyotes have been photographed this spring with one adult and two kittens in their mouths.) This compares to last October’s survey that had 82 cats and two litters of hidden kittens living in the preserve.
Signs have been installed at the GWR prohibiting the dumping of any type of animal at the facility. An ordinance prohibiting the dumping of animals has been drafted and circulated for comments. It will come before the town council this summer for adoption. Town employees will continue to trap for cats should any more appear at GWR.
If you run into Scott Anderson, Riparian Preserve Executive Director, Lisa Hermann, Education Director, Ranger Scott Cleaves, or Naturalist Jennie Rambo during a future visit to GWR, please thank them for their efforts to make the Riparian Preserve at Gilbert Water Ranch a feral cat-free facility. Thanks go out as well to the members of Save the Cats Arizona for their cooperation in the removal of the cats.
Thank you to all those that contacted Gilbert town staff and elected officials regarding this issue. The hard work of the birding community has been rewarded with a cat-free Important Birding Area (IBA) here in Gilbert, AZ.
However, since that happy day in late May, I have received two emails reporting additional cats in the preserve. Both reports gave detailed descriptions and very good locations. I have forwarded them on to Riparian Preserve staff so that they can be trapped and removed. Please continue to let me know at mascatce@cox.net if you see any on your visits to GWR.
For those of you interested in our Important Birding Area (IBA) program here in Arizona, the Arizona Audubon Council and Audubon Arizona are planning a conference for this October 1st at the Rio Salado Nature Center. The conference will focus on threats to the IBA from power line and transmission tower corridors that are scheduled to be established across our state due to the planned increase in alternative power sources. This is a classic public policy conflict, when two desired goals and their implementation conflict with one another. Please save the date on your calendars if this is of interest to you. More details will be coming soon. (So, I suppose there are a few of you wondering, “What the heck is the Arizona Audubon Council?” Well, that is the organization where all of the Audubon societies in Arizona work together on conservation issues.)
Our board was recently asked by Audubon Arizona to sign on to a letter from the Arizona Wilderness Coalition regarding a threat to roadless areas on the Coronado National Forest. As a former USFS firefighter on the Coronado NF and a former park Ranger at Chiricahua National Monument, that is a part of the state near and dear to me and also to many other birders. We added our support to the letter. If you would like more information, you can go to the AZ Wilderness Coalition website for more information: http://azwild.org/action/foresttravel.php.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking public review and input on an action plan for wildlife viewing recreation in Arizona. The Wildlife Viewing Action Plan outlines objectives and strategies to help guide and implement a statewide watchable wildlife project. It identifies programs, products, and services the department is currently providing in wildlife viewing recreation, discusses opportunities and challenges for the future, and identifies new approaches that, if implemented, will help take advantage of opportunities and overcome challenges. Game and Fish is seeking input from the public on the general topics and strategies that have been developed in the plan. Here in the East Valley, a public meeting will be held from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Wednesday, June 29, at the Arizona Game and Fish Department Mesa Regional Office, 7200 E. University Drive. Here is a link to the Action Plan: http://www.azgfd.gov/images/outdoor_recreation/watchablewildlife/WildlifeViewPlanForReview.pdf. For additional information of the Watchable Wildlife program, check out this link: www.azgfd.gov/wwreview.
Finally, one last note, if I may. I’m sure there are others like me that are just as heart-sick as I am at the destruction brought on by a man-caused fire in the Chiricahua Mountains in southeast Arizona. As I write this, there are over 72,000 acres burned in the sixth largest fire in our state’s history. Containment is projected for sometime in late June. If you are of the mind to do so, please keep our brave wildland firefighters battling “the beast” (as our firefighters call big fires) in your thoughts and prayers.
Cow Bird Conundrums
by Joy Dingley
Education Committee
Desert Rivers Audubon
Cowbirds at bird feeder.
When I grew up in England every child knew the call of the cuckoo and that it laid its eggs in other birds’ nests. Yet, even when I was a grown up bird watcher no one could give me a reasonable explanation of why the bird should choose such a roundabout way to produce the next generation – still less how the behavior evolved. So when I got to theU.S.and found that Cowbirds followed the same route of absentee parenting I was delighted when I was given a rational explanation. Cowbirds apparently followed the great herds of buffalo around feasting on the attendant insects. When the herd moved, the birds moved and they didn’t have time to build a nest, incubate eggs and feed the young ones.
It sounded good to me and I’ve repeated the explanation to other people. However, I’ve now got doubts about it. Right from the start I should have asked, if there are still enough insects around to feed the young chicks then why aren’t there enough for the parents as well? Many birds feed their young the protein providing insects they need to develop but make do with a much less rich diet themselves.
Secondly I noticed this summer how often Cowbirds are coming to my seed feeders. There do seem to be more of them than I’ve noticed before but this isn’t the first year they have done this. Even at the Santa Rita lodge in Madera Canyon at the end of May they were vying with Black Headed Grosbeaks for possession of the seed feeders. So if they aren’t dependant on insects they could have stayed with their chicks for a few weeks before flying on to where the Buffalo had migrated.
So I’m back to asking the same questions I used to ask about the cuckoo, how on earth did this strategy evolve, could the bird ever revert to looking after its own eggs if the surrogate parents disappear and what mechanism ensures that the parasite bird doesn’t wipe out all the possible surrogate parents if they are too successful in a given area? Somebody out there must know!
AZGFD Wildlife Viewing Action Plan-Birders Be Heard
Join Desert Rivers Audubon members and Conservation Director Mike Evans in listening to and commenting about the AZGFD Wildlife Viewing Action Plan, Wednesday, June 29, 2011, 6:00pm - 8:00pm at the Arizona Game and Fish Department Mesa Regional Office, 7200 E. University Drive, Mesa, AZ. Mike notes, “I like attending this kind of meeting. It gives you a chance to have your voice heard and you leave with a feeling of having actually accomplished something.”
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking public review and input on an action plan for wildlife viewing recreation in Arizona.
The Wildlife Viewing Action Plan outlines objectives and strategies to help guide and implement a statewide watchable wildlife project. It identifies programs, products, and services the department is currently providing in wildlife viewing recreation, discusses opportunities and challenges for the future, and identifies new approaches that, if implemented, will help take advantage of opportunities and overcome challenges.
Game and Fish is seeking input from the public on the general topics and strategies that have been developed in the plan.
“This is a step to include users and stakeholders in evaluating the plan,” says Watchable Wildlife Coordinator Joe Yarchin. “We’re looking for input on any broad objectives or strategies we might have missed, including alternatives. We want feedback on whether this is hitting the mark or has some gaps that need to be addressed.”
The Arizona Game and Fish Department recognizes the need to manage for positive wildlife 
opportunities for all outdoor recreationists. There is strong public interest in watching wildlife. According to the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, 1.3 million wildlife viewing participants spend $838 million in Arizona annually.
Despite this comparatively large demographic, there appears to be a significant gap between the current conditions, as they relate to wildlife viewing recreation, and the desired future conditions. The action plan outlines objectives, goals and actions to narrow the gap.
Comments can be submitted at the meetings, or you can submit comments by e-mail to wwreview@azgfd.gov or by U.S. mail to: Wildlife Viewing Action Plan Comment, c/o Arizona Game and Fish Department, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086. The deadline to submit comment is July 6, 2011.
Hawk On Top Of My Yard
by Ameya Thatte
Elementary school member of
Desert Rivers Audubon Early Birds Kids Club
Claudia Kirscher with Chaco, Anne Peyton with Bagheera and Craig Fischer with Duncan, the Red-tailed Hawks of Liberty Wildlife.
One sunny afternoon, I was looking out my kitchen window. I saw a mourning dove eating from my feeder when I spotted a large bird of prey flying above my yard. I also realized it wasn’t a turkey vulture which was the only bird of prey I had seen from my yard and it wasn’t the sharp shinned hawk I had seen near the neighborhood park lately.
I called my Uncle Parth right away. He was in his room studying. When he heard me, he came running and asked ”where”? I took him outside and pointed at the raptor. He looked at it in excitement. He told me to go get my binoculars. When I got my binoculars, I started looking at it again. My uncle went to go get his binoculars and field guide.
When he got back, before he could take a look, I told him it was a red-tailed hawk. He took a look said “it has red-tailed hawk wing patterns, but its tail is brown”. I told him “it’s a juvenile, juveniles don’t have red tails”. He got out his field guide and took a look at the red-tailed hawk. He looked at the tail and realized I was right. It can be tricky to identify because juveniles don’t have red tails.
It was exciting to see it go. It was flying so fast it made me dizzy!
Joy Dingley, immediate past Education Director, notes, “Ameya’s uncle is an excellent birder and probably only feigned not knowing the bird to encourage Ameya.”
Gilbert, AZ Gilbert Water Ranch: Feral Cat Update — No Cat Sightings!
by Mike Evans
Conservation Director
Desert Rivers Audubon Society
The most recent survey in mid-March reported only 13 cats left in the preserve. The staff trapped eight of those cats. Coyotes or natural causes are believed to have accounted for the other five. (Coyotes have been photographed this spring with one adult and two kittens in coyote mouths.) Last October’s survey had 82 cats and two litters of hidden kittens living in the preserve.Late this afternoon I spoke with Scott Cleaves, the Park Ranger, @ GWR . In the last two weeks he has only seen one cat in the Riparian Preserve at Gilbert Water Ranch. He has repeatedly tried to catch it over the last two weeks, and today he was successful. To the best knowledge of GWR and Riparian Preserve staff, there are
Signs have been installed at the GWR prohibiting the dumping of any type of animal at the facility. An ordinance prohibiting the dumping of animals has been drafted and circulated for comments. It will come before the town council this summer for adoption. Town employees will continue to trap for cats should any more appear at GWR.
If you run into Scott Anderson, Riparian Preserve Executive Director, Education Director Lisa Hermann, Ranger Scott Cleaves, or Naturalist Jennie Rambo during a future visit to GWR, please thank them for their efforts to make the Riparian Preserve at Gilbert Water Ranch at feral cat-free facility. Thanks goes out as well to the members of Save the Cats Arizona for their cooperation in the removal of the cats.
Thank you to all those on this list serve that contacted Gilbert town staff and elected officials regarding this issue. The hard work of the birding community has been rewarded with a cat-free Important Birding Area here in Gilbert, AZ.
Good Birding,
Mike
Desert Rivers Audubon on Flickr
|
We like you, Like us, too!
Hear our chirps:
Desert Rivers Audubon
“Humans seldom value what they cannot name.”
-Elaine Brooks
