HUACHUCA AUDUBON SOCIETY March 2009

P.O. BOX 63
SIERRA VISTA, ARIZONA 85636 Volume XXXI Number 1

Trogon News

Bone Box Lessons by Virginia Bealer HAS Education Chairperson

Jane Chambers, Catherine
Newell and I recently took
the Friends of the San
Pedro/HAS “bone box” to
the Pueblo del Sol Elemen-
tary School classes of Kim-
berly Moschetti, Jennifer
Caputo, and Mary Scruggs.
The box is designed to assist
meeting state science stan-
dards while piquing students’
interest in nature.
We used sample skulls to
elicit inferences about animal
size, senses of sight and
smell, and food source, based
on the skull and tooth traits.
After introducing terms such
as “carnivore,” “herbivore,”
“omnivore,” “predator,” and
“prey,” groups of students
examined unidentified skulls
and shared with the class
their guesses and justifica-
tions about the animal’s role
in a food web. At this point,
we revealed the animal’s
identity and diet, showed a
photo, and gave students the
chance to feel the pelt. A
panel of animal tracks fur-
ther encouraged students to
relate structure to function.
We observed students relat-
ing the skull teeth types to
their own; placing the fox
pelt, which
included
the head,
on the fox
skull; com-
piling their
inferences and organizing
who would present them;
and guessing the identity of
the skull.
With the assistance of Kriss
Hagerl, Director of Human
Relations and Operations,
Sierra Vista Public Schools
Superintendent Brett Agen-
broad has forwarded our
offer to present programs to
grades 3–5 at all six elemen-
tary schools in the district.
Schools now have fliers ex-
plaining our program, and
we have received inquiries
from teachers of other grade
levels. We will be presenting
our lesson to classes at Vil-
lage Meadows Elementary
School on March 11.
After this trial run, my col-
leagues and I are looking
forward to adapting the pres-
entation to the abilities and
science standards of younger
students. For the students
and us, our experiences in
the classrooms have been
rewarding and revealing.

Calendar Highlights March 17, 2009 HAS Program 7 p.m. Cochise College Room 313
• Apr 21 HAS Priscilla and Hank Brodkin Peru's Rivers of Butterflies
program: Sandy &
This presentation documents a five-week trip to the Tambopata
Betsy Kunzer /
and Manu reserves of southeastern Peru to study and photograph
Arctic summer
the butterflies of that amazingly biodiverse area. We’ll show these
• May 9 International butterflies plus many of other insects, birds, mammals, reptiles,
Migratory Bird Day, and plants. Join the Brodkins on a trip of a lifetime!
San Pedro House BIOSKETCH: Hank and Priscilla, long-time birders, have taken
dozens of trips to tropical areas. Some 15 years ago a friend intro-
• May 19 HAS
duced them to the fascinating world of butterflies. That interest
program: Lauren has led to their co-authoring two books on the butterflies of Ari-
Hierl / NAS Alaska zona and their photos appearing in several others. They had vis-
Road show ited southeastern Arizona to bird many times from their home in
• June 13 Potluck Los Angeles, so when the time came to retire in 1997, this part of
the country seemed the ideal place to settle down. They now live
Picnic RC Preserve
in beautiful Carr Canyon.
 Trogon News Volume XXXI Number 1
Page 2
Q u a r t e r l y P r o g r a m L i n e u p ( 3 r d Tu e s d ay a t 7 p m )
Cochise College Room 313

April 21, 2009 Sandy and Betsy Kunzer

Arctic Summer
Travel with Betsy (biologist)
and Sandy (geologist) Kun-
zer, long-time nature photog-
raphers, from the high arctic
of the Svalbard archipelago
south along the fjords of
Norway. Going from ice
caps and pack ice to lush
forests, this journey dupli-
cates post glacial warming
and illustrates the ecological
changes that occur behind
retreating glaciers. Along the
way we'll look at large mam-
mals, small to medium- sized
birds and local color and
culture.

May 19, 2009 Lauren Hierl, NAS

From Rainforests to Polar Bears:
Tackling Alaska’s Conservation Challenges
Alaska contains our largest
and most spectacular public
lands, including National
Parks, National Forests, and
National Wildlife Refuges.
Alaska is also home to in-
credibly diverse wildlife,
from bald eagles, brown
bears, and salmon in the
south to polar bears, musk
oxen, and snowy owls in the
north. These public lands are
facing critical conservation
threats ranging from oil drill-
ing on important wildlife
habitats in the North Slope
to logging rare old-growth
temperate rainforest in the
Tongass National Forest.
Audubon is scientifically
identifying and prioritizing
the most important wildlife
habitats in these threatened
regions and is working hard
to protect these priority areas
from development. Learn
what’s being done to protect
Alaska’s public lands, and
what you can do to help.
Lauren Hierl is “Alaska Pol-
icy Associate” for the Na-
tional Audubon Society and
acts as a traveling ambassa-
dor for protecting Alaska’s
natural riches. She has
worked on conservation pro-
jects from Maine to southern
California, and received her
BA in Environmental Stud-
ies from Dartmouth College,
and Master of Environ-
mental Management and
Master of Public Policy de-
grees from Duke University.

Huachuca Audubon Potluck Picnic

Saturday June 13
We’ll end our “season” with a potluck picnic at Ramsey Canyon Preserve
starting at 5 pm on June 13, so save the date. We may organize an afternoon
bird walk beforehand. Full details will appear in the June Trogon News.
Trogon News Volume XXXI Number 1
Page 3

International Migratory Bird Day

May 9, 2009 President’s Message
at the San Pedro House Hello. Within a background of growing interna-
tional concern and distress I am pleased to offer
Save the date! The Sonoran Joint Venture, the some good tidings about our own small society.
Friends of the San Pedro River, and the Coronado We had an excellent turnout for our January meet-
National Forest are again collaborating to put to- ing when Rick Thompson entertained us with his
gether an International Migratory Bird Day Spring fledgling audio/video recordings of a wide variety
Festival at the San Pedro House in Sierra Vista on of bird species and locations. Attendance on our
Saturday, May 9, 2009. Stay tuned for more info. field trips has also been good, along with the num-
bers of birds located, and Ginny Bealer and her
helpers have expanded their popular "bird/
mammal" trunk visits to local schools.
Looking ahead we have funded a modest scholar-
ship with Cochise College for a student pursuing a
science or science education career, and with the
aid of a grant from NAS we are significantly help-
ing to fund this year’s Ramsey Canyon Kids
Camp. We are waiting to hear about the balance
of the funding, but plans are to run the camp for
four weeks—two in June and two in July, managed
by HAS member Jane Chambers and Judy Phillips.
We have been invited to participate, for the third
time, at Fort Huachuca’s Safety Fair in May and
will again offer Nest Box construction for young-
sters at Southwest Wings Festival in August.
These are most commendable efforts, considering
our small number of active volunteers. I thank you
A Beautiful Walk on a Chilly Day all. It is not too soon to remind you that our elec-
tion of officers takes place in June. I’ll still have
By Alan Blixt one year to run of my President’s term but all
other positions will be open. We would be very
On January 27, 2009, 15 rows. In the grasslands we pleased to have new people come forward and
folks from as far away as New found Loggerhead Shrikes, serve as an officer or Board member. Think about
York, Colorado, and Alaska American Kestrels, and it - seriously!
met in freezing 8 am tem- Northern Harriers. In the big
peratures at San Pedro dead tree in Garden Wash we Regards, Mike
House. We recorded 45 spe- found a perched Prairie Fal-
cies of birds on a 3½ hour con. Definitely the bird of the
walk south through the grass- day and the photographers all
lands and back along the San got great pictures. along the river, we spotted
Pedro River. several woodpeckers, Ruby-
At the beginning we got the We found several Lazuli Bun- crowned Kinglets, and both a
sun behind us and started tings, a flock of Gambel's Gray and a Hammond's Fly-
working on sparrow identifi- Quail, and many sparrows catcher.
cation. We found Lark and and towhees in Garden
Wash. On the river we found We enjoyed seeing the beaver
White-crowned sparrows. dams and had a great time. American
Then we identified Brewer's, a small flock of seven or eight
Black-throated Sparrows com- Come take a walk with us. Kestrel
Vesper, and Chipping spar- USFWS
ing down for a drink. Also Photo
 Trogon News Volume XXXI Number 1
Page 4

Check the web site (http://www.huachuca-

Regular Events audubon.org) for the latest updates to the schedule
Spring/Summer
WEEKLY hour birding field trips to MONTHLY
Outings Gordon Lewis' property on
Sundays at 8 am October 2nd Wednesday at 8 am Oc-
• Mar 23 Grasslands / through March (7 am during the San Pedro River. Meet at tober-March; 7 am April-
San Pedro summer months). Bird Walk the pulloff just west of the September: Bird Walk at
at Sierra Vista Environ- bridge on the north side of San Pedro House.
• Apr 4 San Bernar- mental Operations Park. Highway 92 (near Palominas,
gate numbered 10663).TIME 4th Saturday at 8 am Octo-
dino NWR Limited to 20 participants ber-March; 7 am April-
with two docents. CHANGES TO 7 am for
• Apr 18 St David / May. No walks during June, September: Bird Walk at
San Pedro Mondays at 8 am (for March San Pedro House. (South off
July, August.
and April), Bird Walks on Hwy 90 just west of the San
• Apr 21 Grasslands / the San Pedro River. 2-3 Pedro River)
San Pedro
• May 2 Monitoring
Carr Canyon
HAS Spring Field Trips
• May 4 Garden & Monday March 23: Grasslands and San Pedro River
Scheelite canyons Trek through the grasslands and down to the San Pedro River to see lingering winter residents give
way to early spring migrants.
• May 16 Lewis Meet 7:30 am at San Pedro House. Bring hat, water, snacks. Free and open to the public.
Springs Leaders: Erika Wilson (234-4359, terika88@cox.net) / Alan Blixt (515-9458, alanblixt@yahoo.com)
• May 18 Grasslands / Saturday April 4: San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge (NWR)
San Pedro San Bernardino NWR affords protection for over 280 bird species, 62 mammal species, and 55
• May 25 Miller Can- reptile and amphibian species. The refuge is located on the U.S.-Mexican border, situated at 3,720
yon and Beatty’s to 3,920 feet elevation in the bottom of a wide valley. It encompasses a portion of the headquarters
of the Rio Yaqui, which drains primarily western Chihuahua and eastern Sonora, Mexico.
• June 7 Monitoring Meet 7:00 am at Sierra Vista City Hall to carpool to the refuge. Bring hat, water, snacks. Free and
Hunter Canyon open to the public.
Leader: Bill Radke (364-2104 x101, Bill_Radke@fws.gov)
• June 13 Charleston
and points north Tuesday April 21 and Monday May 18: Grasslands and San Pedro River
• June 24 Ramsey Trek through the grasslands and down to the San Pedro River to see warblers, flycatchers, and
Canyon Preserve other spring migratory delights.
Meet 7:00 am at San Pedro House. Bring hat, water, snacks. Free and open to the public.
• June 28 Carr Reef Leaders: Erika Wilson (234-4359, terika88@cox.net) / Alan Blixt (515-9458, alanblixt@yahoo.com)
• July 15 Ramsey Monday May 4: Garden and Scheelite Canyons
Canyon Preserve 2-3 hour walk up Garden and Scheelite canyons on Fort Huachuca along an uphill, rocky trail.
Meet 7 am at Gateway Park near the fort’s main gate. Please carpool. Bring sturdy shoes, water,
• July 18 San Pedro /
snacks. Photo ID required. Auto registration and proof of insurance required to drive on post.
Boquillas Leaders: TBD
• July 27 Grasslands /
Monday May 25: Miller Canyon and Beatty’s Orchard
del Valle Road We will hike up Miller Canyon trail to the “second stream crossing” in search of Huachuca Moun-
• Aug 2 Monitoring tain specialties such as Red-faced and Grace’s warblers, Hepatic Tanager, Greater Pewee, then we
Miller Canyon will spend time at the hummingbird feeders at Beatty’s orchard. The trail is rough and steep, so
bring water, wear sturdy shoes, and be prepared for a 2-mile uphill hike at a relaxed pace.
Whew! Meet 6:30 am at the Forest Service parking lot, located just below the Beatty’s Orchard at the up-
per end of Miller Canyon Road (west off Highway 92). A small fee is required to access the upper
feeders at Beatty’s.
Leaders: TBD
See page 6 for the summer trip schedule
Trogon News Volume XXXI
Friends of the San Pedro
Spring and Summer Field Trips
Saturday April 18: Bird Walk at Holy Trinity Monastery in St.
David
This trip covers the monastery grounds, ponds, and adjacent San Pedro
River. Be prepared to get your feet wet along the river. Spring migration
is in full swing in prime riparian habitat. We can expect 60-65 species,
including many neotropical migrants, especially flycatchers, tanagers, and
warblers. The monastery is located on Hwy 80 between mile markers 302
and 303—roughly 9 miles south of Benson and 14 miles north of Tomb-
stone.
Meet: 6:45 am at Sierra Vista City Hall to carpool or 7:30 am at the
monastery. Bring hat, water, snacks. Free and open to the public.
Leaders: Robert Weissler (803-0794, weissler@aves.org) and
Alan Blixt (515-9458, alanblixt@yahoo.com)
Saturday May 16: Lewis Springs
Strenuous 8-mile hike from San Pedro house to Lewis Springs and back
should have plenty of birds along the river. Be prepared to bush-whack
and get your feet wet! Spring migrants and breeding birds along the ripar-
ian corridor.
Meet: 7:00 am at San Pedro House. Bring sturdy footwear, hat, water,
snacks. Free and open to the public.
Leader: Mike Foster (sarjuesos@gmail.com)
Saturday June 13: Charleston and Points North
Strenuous 10-mile hike north from the Charleston Rd Bridge, passing
rock art, the Narrows, and other points of interest.
Meet: 7:00 am at the Millville Trailhead 1/4 mile east of the San Pedro
River on Charleston Rd. Bring sturdy shoes, hat, water, snacks. Free and
open to the public.
Leader: Alan Blixt (515-9458, alanblixt@yahoo.com)
Sunday July 18 Boquillas Section of San Pedro Trail
Moderate 8-mile hike south on the San Pedro Trail from Fairbank to
historic Little Boquillas Ranch and the ruins of Boston Mill, then back
along the adjacent San Pedro River. There should be plenty of birds at
the ranch and the vicinity of the river.
Meet 7:00 am at the Fairbank parking lot 1/4 mile east of the river on
Hwy 82.Bring hat, water, snacks. Free and open to the public.
Leader: Alan Blixt (515-9458, alanblixt@yahoo.com)
Note: Carpool passengers are expected to provide adequate
compensation to their drivers, about 8 cents per mile. ¡Gracias!
Number 1
Page 5
Forest Service Monitoring
Tr a i n i n g S e s s i o n s
Learn about the Coronado National Forest’s
study of the effects of fuels treatments
(thinning, prescribed burns, and other meth-
ods to reduce the risk of high-severity wildfire
and improve forest health) on birds and other
wildlife. Three field trips will demonstrate the
methods and skills required to carry out the
protocol for collecting data on cavity-nesting
and other breeding birds of the Huachuca
Mountains for this multi-year Forest Service
study. Bring sturdy boots, water, hat, snacks.
Leader: Robert Weissler (803-0794,
weissler@aves.org)
Saturday May 2 Lower Carr Canyon
Meet 7:00 am at the Perimeter Trail parking
lot on Carr Canyon Rd., then regroup at Carr
House to practice the protocol there.
Co-leader Alan Blixt (515-9458, alan-
blixt@yahoo.com).
Sunday June 7 Hunter Canyon Spring
Meet 7:00 am at the Hunter Canyon parking
lot adjacent to Highway 92 (south on Hwy 92
past 3 Canyons Rd at the top of the rise before
Stump Cyn), then carpool 0.6 mile up to the
spring. Learn the monitoring protocol and get
to know this hidden delight with large syca-
mores and bubbling spring.
Sunday August 2 Miller Canyon
Meet: 7:00 am at the Forest Service trailhead
parking lot, located just below Beatty’s Or-
chard at the upper end of Miller Canyon Road
(west off Highway 92). After trying out the
bird monitoring protocol (and we find Hua-
chuca specialties such as Red-faced and
Grace’s warblers, Hepatic Tanager, Greater
Pewee), participants have the option to spend
time at the hummingbird feeders at Beatty’s
orchard. The trail is rough and steep, so bring
water and wear sturdy shoes and be prepared
for a 2 mile uphill hike at a relaxed pace. A
small fee is required to access the upper feed-
ers at Beatty’s.
The actual monitoring will be a solitary or very
small group activity taking place at dozens of loca-
tions on the Sierra Vista Ranger District.

Page 6
Bino Box
Available
Huachuca Audubon Society,
in partnership with Audubon
Arizona, is pleased to offer a
free educational resource to
the community. We have a
portable box containing 24
binoculars, several field guides
and a copy of the “Science
Takes Wing” lesson set.
Teachers are encouraged to
checkout the box for use with
their students. Scout and
other community groups may
also use the box. Conservation
starts with understanding so
share the wonder of birds with
your favorite club or class this
year! The box is available for
one-week periods.
To reserve the box, please con-
tact Tricia Gerrodette in Si-
erra Vista at triciag2@cox.net
or (520) 378-4937.
Trogon News Volume XXXI Number 1
Summer 2009
Field Trip Preview
Wednesday June 24 and Wednesday July 15: Ramsey Canyon Preserve
Join us for a 2-3 hour Monday morning bird walk at The Nature Conservancy’s Ramsey Can-
yon Preserve. The walk will go about 1 mile up through the preserve at a very relaxed pace
with some uphill walking. Meet 6:30 am at the Ramsey Canyon Preserve parking lot at the
end of Ramsey Canyon Road. Wear sturdy shoes. Open to the public, but standard preserve
entrance fees apply: $5/person for a weekly pass; $3 Nature Conservancy members and
Cochise County residents.
Leader: Alan Blixt (515-9458, alanblixt@yahoo.com)
Sunday June 28: Carr Reef and High-elevation Birds of the Huachucas
Meet at 6:30 am at the Perimeter Trail parking lot, then carpool to head up to the Reef
Townsite campground where the birding begins. Bring sturdy boots, hat, water, snacks.
Leaders: Robert Weissler (803-0794, weissler@aves.org) and
Alan Blixt (515-9458, alanblixt@yahoo.com)
Monday July 27: Grasslands and Del Valle Road
Field trip through the grasslands along Del Valle Road during the monsoon season with nu-
merous singing Cassin's and Botteri's Sparrows.
Meet 6:00 am at San Pedro House. Free and open to the public. Bring hat, snacks, and
plenty of water. Should finish by 9:00 am.
Leaders: Erika Wilson (234-4359, terika88@cox.net) and
Alan Blixt (515-9458, alanblixt@yahoo.com)
Trogon News Volume XXXI Number 1
Page 7

We l co m e N ew M e mb e r s
Rose Allan, Willcox
Mary Cragg, Portal
Sean & Verna Dougherty, Sierra Vista
James L. Harper, Sierra Vista
Paul Imbroglia, Benson
Herb & Alice King, Ararat, VA
Laurie Kintzele, Bisbee
James & Gloria Lawrence, Casper, WY Opuntia spinosior
Cane Cholla
Matt Marlow, Hereford 1911 watercolor
By Kako Morita
Lloyd & Ingrid Minor, Sierra Vista Smithsonian Botanical Illustrations

Gerald Noonan, Sierra Vista

Bob & Diane Parks, Hereford
Reed Peters, Portal
James R. Sprigg, Sierra Vista
Jennifer Tate, Sierra Vista
Susan Walls-Bortman, Hereford
Lisa Williams, Bisbee
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Old cell phones plus laser and ink-jet cartridges
are still being recycled by Mike Guest on behalf
of HAS, with over 300 items collected to date.
Drop items off at Wild Birds Unlimited, Ramsey
Canyon Preserve, or the San Pedro House, plus
during any HAS meeting or field trip.

Relax
HUACHUCA AUDUBON SOCIETY
P.O. BOX 63
SIERRA VISTA, ARIZONA 85636

Directors Huachuca Audubon Society Directory (520 area code)

Ginny Bealer 378-6341 President Mike Guest mwguest@juno.com 378-0667

Tricia Gerrodette 378-4937 Vice President Robert Weissler weissler@aves.org 803-0794
Dave Cunningham 378-2201 Secretary Anne Graf batfalcon2@yahoo.com 603-2674
Sherry Cunningham 378-2201 Treasurer Phil Tucker wbunlimited1013 803-8440
@qwestoffice.net
Alan Blixt 515-9458

Arizona Audubon Council Representative Committee Chairs

Tricia Gerrodette Field Trips Robert Weissler weissler@aves.org 803-0794
Alan Blixt alanblixt@yahoo.com 515-9458
Education Ginny Bealer v.bealer@cox.net 378-6341
Membership Ginny Bealer v.bealer@cox.net 378-6341
Visit the website for current information:
www.huachuca-audubon.org Conservation vacant
Webmaster, Robert Weissler Programs vacant
Submit Trogon News items to:
has_admin@huachuca-audubon.org
“Print” Trogon News Editor, Brooke Gebow