Gambel's quail is a charismatic bird. Our city would be blessed to have more of them. A study at the University of Arizona found that only 10-15% of the ground surface needs to have the right kind of native shrub cover in order to support quail.
The vermilion flycatcher was at the athletic fields at Catalina High School. In Tucson almost every grassy park or school ground has at least one pair of these brilliant birds. I'll try to get a photo of our local one, along with the quail!.
Unfortunately not everybody in Tucson knows how cool the birds are. That's why I was really happy to assist Tucson Audubon field trip leader Brian Nicholas on Saturday on a trip for beginners. He had the brilliant idea of doing an afternoon field trip, figuring that some people may be nature enthusiasts--and perhaps nascent birders--even though they don't want to get up early in the morning.
Red-tailed hawk |
At the place where Tanque Verde Loop Road crosses the was we birded along the road and up the wash a short distance. Beginners got stunning views of a red-tailed hawk. Northern cardinal, northern (red-shafted) flicker, phainopepla, Abert's towhee and many other resident and wintering species showed off for us. Somewhat rare were several wintering white-winged doves, a few western bluebirds and a plumbeous vireo. The vireo nests in our local mountains but most go much farther south for the winter. Occasionally one is seen in the local lowlands in the winter.
Yellow-bellied sapsucker |
At the larger lake beginners got a good luck at many ducks, northern shovelers, ruddy ducks, northern shovelers and a gadwall. A couple of pied-billed grebes were in the lake and a great egret patrolled the edges. A Say's phoebe also showed off nearby on the top of the recreation building.
Say's phoebe |
As the sun disappeared the temperature dropped and people were ready to leave. I took one last photo of Brian and the group. You can tell Brian was having fun.
Brian Nicholas, right center |
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