Gambel’s Tales
The Newsletter of the Sonoran Audubon Society
Volume 8 Issue 3
At our next meeting….
Wednesday, November 8, 2006 at 7 p.m.
Jo Miller will give a program on the Glendale
Xeriscape Garden that surrounds the library.
Here’s an opportunity for you to learn about the
unique history of this garden including a sneak pre-
view of things to come like an area designed to attract
birds and butterflies.
As a bonus, all attendees will receive the new interac-
tive landscape CD, Water Wise Landscapes in the
Arizona Desert, with lots of pictures of Phoenix area
gardens and how you can beautify your landscape.
Jo Miller is the Water Conservation Program Man-
ager for the city of Glendale, where she maintains a
comprehensive and innovative public education and
outreach program. She also manages the award win-
ning Xeriscape Demonstration garden at the Glendale
Main Library. She was instrumental in the develop-
ment of a high-tech one-of-a-kind audio tour that
opened at the garden in 2003. The project won a Gov-
ernor’s Pride Award in Water Conservation in 2004.
She is the co-author of Earth-Friendly Desert Gar-
dening, a book published by the Master Gardener
Press. The book received the 2003 Communication
Award and a 2005 Arizona Glyph award for best gar-
dening book.
November, 2006
What’s Happening in our Chapter?
By Your Editor
The Sonoran Audubon Society board meeting con-
vened at 7 p.m. on October 4, 2006. Here are some
of the items discussed by board members Bob
McCormick, Anne Durning, Suzanne Cash,
Andrée Tarby, George Wall and Alvin and Arlene
Scheuer. Others present who had input were Tice
Supplee, Nancy Kroening and Tracy Unmacht.
1. Tracy Unmacht made a presentation on the re-
design of the website. Should be in effect by the
end of this month.
2. After approval of the minutes and discussion of
the treasury report, Committee Reports were
made.
A. Conservation: The Conservation Committee
met just before the board meeting. Six items were
discussed.
● Continued support of Proposition 106;
● Support opponents of Proposition 207;
● Consider whether to be party to petition to
keep Desert Bald Eagle on endangered species list;
● Support State’s effort in management of the
Desert Bald Eagle;
● Game and Fish Department Wildlife 2012
Strategic Plan;
● Forest Service should have guiding princi-
ples and we should write to each forest to support
environmental coalition.
As a result of the above, motions were made and
approved to send $100 to proponents of Proposition
106 and opponents of Proposition 207.
B. Field Trip: Nothing New to report.
C. Membership: Welcome letters and a copy of
the October newsletter were sent to new members
indicated by National Audubon. Total numbers are
about the same as last month.
(Continued on Page 4)
 EVENTS IN AND AROUND THE VALLEY
Rio Salado
www.phoenix.gov/riosalado. They have bird walks,
nature programs and other items of interest. Their loca-
tion is 2439 S. Central Ave., Phoenix.
The bird walks are every Saturday starting at 7:00 a.m.
You meet at visitors’ plaza on the north bank at Central
Ave. Everyone is welcome and no need to make reserva-
tions in advance. There are several resident birds like the
Belted Kingfisher, Peregrine Falcon and Burrowing Owl
among others. On one of our bird trips in October, we
saw or heard 43 species. This area is improving all the
time.
Desert Botanical Garden
Each Monday morning from now through April, 2007,
there will be bird walks from 8 a.m. to approximately 10
a.m. There will be additional walks on the second Satur-
day of each month at the same time. They see as many as
40 birds during these walks.
Desert Botanical Garden entrance fees of $10.00 ($9.00
seniors) apply unless you’re a DBG member. Member-
ship is $55 a year. See their website at www.dbg.com
for further information.
Hassayampa River Preserve
Hassayampa is having a program on Lizards, Snakes and
Frogs Saturday, November 4, 2006, from 9-10:30 a.m.,
presented by Paul Hamilton of ASU.
On Sunday, November 11, 2006, from 8-10:30 a.m., there
will be a bird walk and talk presented by Kathe Ander-
son, Director of Adult Birding Program at the Gilbert
Riparian Institute.
Reservations may be required for some events. Entrance
fees are $5, TNC members $3 and children 12 and under
are free. To make reservations call 928 684-2772 or e-
mail: bmccollum@tnc.org
Normal visiting hours are Wednesday—Sunday from
8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Birders’ Anonymous
Birders’ Anonymous, a group of birdwatchers, has their
monthly meeting from 10—11:30 a.m. They meet on the
third Friday of each month all year around at the Church
of the Palms on the corner of Boswell and 103rd Ave. in
Sun City in King Hall.
Page 2
The program for November 17, 2006, will be pre-
sented by Paul Halesworth of East Valley Wildlife.
They rescue and rehab birds. Live birds will be in-
cluded in the presentation.
Boyce Thompson Arboretum
Boyce Thompson Arboretum is now in their Fall/
Winter schedule. Their hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. each day. The price of admission is $7.50 for
adults and $3 for children ages 5-12.
Guided bird walks with top-notch leaders are sched-
uled for November 4, with Kathe Anderson & Kurt
Radamaker leading; November 12, with Troy Corman
& Tracy McCarthey leading; and November 18, with
Marceline VandeWater, Pete Moulton & Cynthia
Donald leading. They start at 8:30 a.m.
This is an ideal place to bird with two miles of trails.
If you don’t feel like birding, there are plenty of other
things to do.
For driving directions or other details, call 520-689-
2811 or visit their website at http://arboretum.org
where you can see all their scheduled events.
North Mountain
Smithsonian Culture Fest, Saturday, November 4,
2006, 9.30-12:00 p.m. Enjoy a presentation entitled
"Where the Chicks Hang Out” by author and natural-
ist Pinau Merlin.
Cost: Free.
Meeting location: North Mountain Visitor Center,
12950 N. 7th St., Phoenix. (602) 495-5540
Advance registration required. http://phoenix.gov/
PARKS/index.html
Noftsger Hill Inn Bed & Breakfast in Globe, AZ
The Inn is sponsoring a Birding trip on November 4,
to spend Sunday morning birding Pinal Mountain.
Marceline VandeWater will be the leader.
On November 17, there will be a birding class. Join
Kathe Anderson for 90 minutes of learning The 3 Bs
of Birding: Binoculars, Books & Birds.
For Information or reservations call 928-425-2260 or
call toll free at 877-780-2479. E-mail
info@noftsgerhillinn.com
Gambel's Tales
Join the National Audubon Society
Sonoran Audubon Society Officers, Board Mem-
New adult or family membership: $20.00 bers and Committee Contacts:
Seniors and students: $15.00
Officers
Renewal fee for seniors and students: $15.00
These fees cover membership in the National Audubon Soci- President: Robert McCormick 602-237-3951
ety and a subscription to Audubon magazine. An application mcbobaz@aol.com
form for National membership may be obtained from the Vice President: Karen LaFrance 602-788-9646
chapter at the regular meeting or by contacting klaf@cox.net
<chuckkan@mindspring.com>. Treasurer: Loretta Richards 623-594-6554
carichards@nowonline.net
Each year all National members in the Sonoran Audubon Secretary: Anne Durning 602-237-9635
chapter area receive the September Gambel’s Tales that de- a.durning@earthlink.net
scribes major chapter activities for the year. All monthly
issues of Gambel’s Tales may be obtained free from the chap- Board Members— Directors at Large
ter website <www.sonoranaudubon.org> or by mail for
$10.00 per year. If you wish to get the newsletter by mail or Suzanne Cash 602-942-0727 roxiep@msn.com
to be notified when a new issue is placed on the website, Dick Fogle 623-584-3922 rpfogle@yahoo.com
please contact chuckkan@mindspring.com or by mail to: Chuck Richards 623-594-6554
Sonoran Audubon Society, P O Box 8068, Glendale, AZ carichards@nowonline.net
85312-8068. For Information or questions call 623-939-6181. Alvin & Arlene Scheuer 602-938-4056
ahscheuer@earthlink.net
Andrée Tarby 480-948-1074 atarby@cox.net
George Wall 623-875-7057 gwall5@cox.net
Daniela Yellan 602-942-7791
SAS Web Site: www.sonoranaudubon.org danielay11@earthlink.net
Arizona Audubon Web Site: www.az.audubon.org
Friends of Audubon Arizona Web Site: Committees
www.friendsofaudubonarizona.org Programs: Daniela Yellan 602-942-7791
danielay11@earthlink.net

Education:

Field Trips: Donna Smith 623-556-9535

rms15247@cox.net

Finance Treasurer: Loretta Richards 623-594-

6554 carichards@nowonline.net

Hospitality: Tom Lazzelle 602-843-8451

tlazzelle@cox.net and Charles Kangas 623-931-
and 6677 chuckkan@mindspring.com

KARL’S BAKERY Publicity: Karen LaFrance 602-788-9646

klaf@cox.net

Membership: Charles Kangas 623-931-6677

chuckkan@mindspring.com

Newsletter : George Wall 623-875-7057

gwall5@cox.net

Conservation: Tom Lazzelle 602-843-8451

tlazzelle@cox.net & Karen LaFrance 602-788-9646
klaf@cox.net

Gambel’s Tales
Page 3
 VOTE YES ON PROP 106
• Conserve and protect 694,000 acres of some of the
most important natural areas surrounding Arizona’s
state and national parks, monuments, and preserves
for future generations - places like the McDowell
Mountains, Catalina State Park, Cave Creek, Saguaro
National Park.
• Require the state land department to cooperate with
local governments when planning on state trust lands
and provide local authorities the power to limit and
control development.
• Protect and guarantee essential classroom funding to
ensure better schools for Arizona.
I took the above information from a flyer that was
paid for by Conserving Arizona's Future in support of
Prop 106 with major funding by the Arizona Conser-
vation Campaign, Sonoran Institute, AEA Education
Improvement Fund, and The Nature Conservancy in
Arizona and National Education Association, two
national out-of-state contributors with almost 60,000
Arizona members.
VOTE NO ON PROP 207
This is a dangerous proposal and an Arizona taxpayers
nightmare which is a confusing bait-and-switch
proposition.
If Prop 207 passes, here’s what would be at risk:
• Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan
• Hillside Zoning
• Preserving Archeological Sites
• Protecting Wildlife Habitat
• Preserving Historical Sites
• Protecting Neighborhoods.
Proposition 207 will harm Arizona’s quality of life.
By dramatically increasing the cost of basic land use
laws, this measure will make it all but impossible for
local communities to pass or enforce laws to limit
irresponsible development, preserve limited water
supplies, protect open space, or preserve their
neighborhoods’ character. In effect, Proposition 207
will make it impossible to enact additional planning
tools in the future.
Who will pay for costly legal actions in the future
(and there will be many) if this passes? Arizona Tax-
payers.
Page 4
(Continued from Page 1)
What’s Happening in our Chapter?
3. Here are a few of the other items discussed at the
board meeting:
A. Arizona Audubon Calendars. We currently
have 20 with more coming. The Board agreed to sell
them for $8 and Arlene and Alvin Scheuer agreed to
start selling them at next week’s General Membership
Meeting.
B. Membership Picnic scheduled for October 22.
We have about 40 signed up at the moment. SAS will
provide meat, buns, veggie trays, ice, condiments,
drinks and water.
C. The yearly Retreat. The Retreat will be at
Horseshoe Ranch, but a facilitator hasn’t been found
yet nor has a firm November date been set.
D. SAS Newsletter. It currently costs about
$.92 each to print 10 pages. It was determined to keep
it at 10 pages. It will be mailed to all members/friends
in December in order to request renewals if they need
to do so.
—————————————————————
At the regular monthly membership meeting held on
October 11, 2006, Joe Yarchin of Arizona Game &
Fish Department gave an interesting program on
“Living with Wild Neighbors in an Urban Setting.”
It was announced that Fred Gilmand is retiring from
being the SAS Webmaster and that Tracy Unmacht
was taking over. A certificate of appreciation for the
work Fred has done is being sent to him.
Other announcements that were made were reminders
of the Picnic on October 22, the surveys that we’d like
you to fill out, the Agua Fria Festival on October 21
and that the new 2007 Calendars for Audubon Ari-
zona were available at $8.00 each. These are great
calendars with beautiful pictures by Jim Burns and a
month dedicated to each society. The picture for our
month is the Burrowing Owl.
Gail Bliss made an announcement about the “Good
Earth! Good God” program being held on Friday, No-
vember 3, 2006.
It must be noted that only 24 people attended this
General Membership meeting. This was the lowest in
all the years since I’ve been a member. Did baseball
keep a few away? If you’re a member or a “friend” of
the Sonoran Audubon Society, you need to support
your organization.
Gambel's Tales
 SAS MEMBERSHIP PICNIC—October 22, 2006

Can you find yourself in one of these pictures? The 40 people who attended the First Annual SAS Membership Picnic had a
great time. Thanks must be given to all who helped out, especially Andrée Tarby who did most of the work getting the food
and setting up. Some others who helped were Tom Lazzelle for getting the Ramada reserved at Thunderbird Park, Rosita
Larsen and George Wall for doing the cooking, and other board members not mentioned who helped in the planning—Bob
McCormick, Karen LaFrance, Dick Fogle, Ann Durning, Chuck & Loretta Richards, Alvin & Arlene Scheuer, Suzanne
Cash and Daniela Yellan. Thanks most of all to those who attended. Let’s do it again next year and hopefully more of you
will attend. (Photos by George Wall)

Gambel’s Tales
Page 5
 ARIZONA (& VICINITY) CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT SCHEDULE [2006-2007]
The National Audubon Society has conducted Christmas bird counts since 1900. Volunteers from across North America and beyond take to the field
during one calendar day between December 14 and January 5 to record every bird species and individual bird encountered within a designated 15-
mile diameter circle. These records now comprise an extensive ornithological database that enables monitoring of winter bird populations and the
overall health of the environment.

Participants are typically assigned to teams based on their bird identification skill level and endurance. Many counts hold a compilation dinner at the
end of the day where results are tabulated and stories shared. A $5.00 participation fee defrays a portion of the cost of tabulating and publishing the
overall count results. Help is needed on most of these counts, so find one that interests you and contact the compiler for more information.
Date Day Count Name Compiler Phone E-Mail
12/14 Th Salt-Verde Rivers Kurt Radamaker 480-837-2446 kurtrad@mexicobirding.com
12/14 Th Pipe Spring Nat. Monument Andrea Bornemeier 928-643-7105 andrea_bornemeier@nps.gov
12/14 Th Ajo-Cabeza Prieta NWR Curt McCasland 520-387-4992 curtis_mccasland@fws.gov
12/14 Th Sedona Compiler Unknown
12/15 Fr Buenos Aires NWR Bonnie Swarbrick 520-823-4251 bonnie_swarbrick@fws.gov
12/16 Sa Avra Valley George Montgomery 520-682-8530 diamond@dakotacom.net
12/16 Sa Mormon Lake Elaine Morrall 928-526-1022 elaimorr@npgcable.com
12/16 Sa Nogales Michael Bissontz 520-577-8778 seetrogon@comcast.net
12/16 Sa Puerto Penasco, Sonora, MX Steve Ganley 480-830-5538 sganley@cox.net
12/16 Sa Yuma-Mittry Lake Henry Detwiler 928-343-8363 henrydetwiler@earthlink.net
12/17 Su Santa Catalina Mountains Bob Bates 520-296-5629 batesr@u.arizona.edu
12/17 Su Timber Mesa Jimmy Videle 928-337-2466 moonrise@wmonline.com
12/17 Su Chino Valley Russell Duerksen 928-925-5567 duerksen@msn.com
12/17 Su Jerome-Cottonwood Betsy Feinberg 928-203-0676 betsyfpub101@catharon.com
12/17 Su Patagonia Thomas Arny 520-394-0146 tarny@theriver.com
12/17 Su Tucson Valley Susan Birky 520-743-9390 snbbirky@yahoo.com
12/18 Mo Elfrida Tom Wood 520-432-1388 tom@sabo.org
12/19 Tu Phoenix-Tres Rios David Powell 602-441-5508 vireo@vireos.com
12/22 Fr Saint David Tom Wood 520-432-1388 tom@sabo.org
12/27 We Gila River Troy Corman 602-482-6187 aplomado@cox.net
12/28 Th Green Valley-Madera Canyon Reid Freeman 520-625-9895 wallcreeper@cox.net
12/28 Th Havasu NWR Norma Miller 520-578-1399 n8urnut@comcast.net
12/29 Fr Bill Williams Delta Kathleen Blair 928-667-4144 kathleen_blair@fws.gov
12/29 Fr Sierra Pinta-Cabeza Prieta NWR David Griffin 505-382-2080 ripley@bluefrog.com
12/30 Sa Dudleyville Tracy McCarthey 602-451-4179 tmccarthey@msn.com
12/30 Sa Flagstaff-Mount Elden Terry Blows 928-774-8028 terence.blows@nau.edu
12/30 Sa Portal Larry Gates 520-558-1020 hummers@vtc.net
12/30 Sa Ramsey Canyon Ted Mouras 520-803-0221 tedmourast@mindspring.com
12/30 Sa Hassayampa River Vanessa Montgomery 623-465-0012 hassayampacbc@hotmail.com
12/31 Su Camp Verde Betsy Feinberg 928-203-0676 betsyfpub101@catharon.com
12/31 Su Peloncillo Mountains, NM Alan Craig 520-558-2220 narca@vtc.net
1/2 Tu Carefree Walter Thurber 480-483-6450 wathurber@cox.net
1/3 We Glen Canyon John Spence 928-608-6267 john_spence@nps.gov
1/4 Th Superior Cynthia Donald 480-283-4515 planres@earthlink.net
Date Unknown Prescott
If you want to see the various sites on a map, Maricopa Audubon has the info. Go to www.maricopaaudubon.org

Page 6 Gambel’s Tales

 BIRDING SPOTS
By George Wall
This is the second in a series about birding spots in and
around our area. For those of you who go birding,
you’ve probably been there; however, there may be a
few that haven’t or you may be a new birder.
Hassayampa River Preserve
This Preserve is operated by The Nature Conservancy,
but not always so. The preserve and headquarters were
once a part of the Frederick Louis Brill Ranch, now
listed on Arizona’s State Register of Historic
Places. The four-room adobe core of the Visitor Center
was built in the 1860s. Brill, an immigrant from Bil-
stein, Westphalia, Prussia (Germany), assumed owner-
ship of the property around 1871 and raised cattle, op-
erated a stagecoach way station, raised fruit from ex-
tensive orchards, and operated the first carp farm in
Arizona.
In 1913 the Brill Ranch became one of Arizona’s first
guest ranches when new owners transformed it to the
“Garden of Allah”. Later it was called the Lazy RC
Ranch.
The Nature Conservancy purchased the property in
December of 1986. It doubled in size in 2004 with the
acquisition and donation of 330 acres of desert foothills
west of the river.
The Hassayampa River which runs through the prop-
erty is very unusual. It is 100 miles long, but mostly
runs underground; hence, it is sometimes called
“Arizona’s Upside Down River”. At the Preserve, it
flows above ground which makes it an ideal habitat for
birds. Over 230 species have been recorded here.
Photo by George Wall
Page 7
Here are some of the species counts, at what time of
year and one of the birds seen during the day.
25 – January 21, 2001 – Red- Shouldered Hawk
43—April 12, 2001 - Zone-tailed Hawk
27 - June 22, 2002 – Yellow-breasted Chat
23 - November 8, 2002 – Western Scrub Jay
38 - April 23, 2003 – Hooded Oriole
21- October 24, 2003 – Cooper’s Hawk
49 - May 14, 2004 – Spotted Sandpiper
23 - November 12, 2004 – Orange-crowned Warbler
25 - February 19, 2005 – Vermilion Flycatcher
31- March 26, 2005 – Lawrence’s Goldfinch
25 - March 31, 2005 – Common Yellowthroat
41- May 6, 2005 – Thick-billed Kingbird
23 - November 19, 2005 – Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher
44 - March 21, 2006 – Brown-crested Flycatcher
32 – August 19, 2006 – Lark Sparrow
Besides being a good place to go birding, The Has-
sayampa River Preserve provides many educational
classes/programs during the year presented by ex-
perts in their field. These include, but are not limited
to, bird banding, nature walks, live exhibits, bird
basics and photography.
The hours and days open change during the year.
Check these by going to www.hassayampa.org. En-
trance fees are $5, TNC members $3 and children 12
and under are free.
Hassayampa River Preserve is located on Highway
60, 3 miles southeast of Wickenburg, Arizona. The
Preserve entrance is on the west side of the highway
near mile marker 114. It is marked by a wooden gate
and tall wood gate post entry with a banner sign. The
road leads down to the parking lot.
To get to the Preserve from Phoenix, take I-17 north
to the exit for State Highway 74 (Carefree Highway).
Follow the signs toward Wickenburg to Highway 60.
Go north on Highway 60 for 7 miles.
To get to the Preserve from the west side of Phoenix,
take I-10 west to the Cotton Lane/303 Loop exit.
Continue north on the 303 Loop to Highway 60.
Head northwest on Highway 60 towards Wicken-
burg.
From the Sun City areas, take Grand Ave. (Highway
60) northwest towards Wickenburg to the Preserve.
Gambel’s Tales
 My First Mexico Birding Trip
By: Vera J. Markham
In September, 2006, I had the opportunity to experi-
ence my first Mexican birding trip. My friend Richard
from Brooklyn, New York, told me about SABO
(Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory) operated by
Tom Wood and Sheri Williamson. They take out
birders to Madera, Alamos, and other birding hotspots
in northern Mexico. I agreed to go on this trip; so I
met Richard in Benson, Arizona, where Tom Wood
picked us up. He took us to Bisbee where he and
Sheri lived. Richard and I stayed at a very nice place
called the School House Inn B&B.
The next day, we traveled in a 9 passenger van and
headed south over the border from Naco to Madera. I
was amazed at how poor the people were in that area.
They lived in ramshackle homes, had old vehicles and
drove on bad roads - an immediate contrast to the
standard of living I am used to in the U.S.
The drive south from the U.S. border gave us the op-
portunity to see many Swainson's and Harris' Hawks
perched on telephone poles. Just north of the small
town of Janos, we observed about a dozen burrowing
owls living in harmony with a colony of black-tailed
prairie dogs which was a pleasant surprise.
The area is heavily forested with mixed trees of pine,
oak, juniper, aspens, sycamores and maples. Logging
is the main source of the Chihuahuan peoples in-
come. Thank goodness they perform selective cut-
ting of the trees as they realize how important it is to
conserve their natural forests.
They are also aware that the local Thick-billed Par-
rots, that roost and live in that area, are known to be
a threatened species and that many birdwatchers
come to see them in Madera. This is a boon for eco-
tourism in the state of Chihuahua.
The only bad thing about the trip was that it was dur-
ing the rainy season and we hit some of it, but the
birding was still great. All total on the trip, I person-
ally saw 99 different species that included these three
life birds for me - Eared Quetzal, Thick-billed Parrot
and the Aztec Thrush.
Besides birds, the flowers were extremely abundant
and beautiful. Most of the pictures I took weren’t the
best because of the weather, but here is one.

It took us all day to drive the 175 miles from Bisbee

to get to our destination of Madera, a small town of
about 20,000 inhabitants at 7,000 feet above sea
level. Here, we stayed in a local hotel for four nights
while we birded during the day.
Cassin’s Kingbird

Treasurers Report—October 10, 2006

Sonoran Audubon Society Budget To Date

2006-2007 10/10/06

Income $7,870 $ 1,704.87

SAS Dues Return 2,000 690.00
Chapter Sources 5,870 1,014.87
Projects -- --

Expenditures $7,870 $1,505.57

Fund Raising Activities 200 200.00
Committees 3,650 661.18
Projects 1,100 --
Chapter Operations 2,570 520.73
Insurance 375 --

Assets & Liabilities

Total Cash $16,467.00
Encumbered Funds 3,267.97
Clear Funds $13,199.03
This report is submitted for publication three times per year as required in the Chapter By-Laws and by acts of the Board.
Any questions, including requests for more details, please contact Treasurer, Loretta Richards at caricards@nowonline.net

Page 8 Gambel's Tales

 Fall/Winter 2006 Field Trips
An * indicates a Birders’ Anonymous planned trip
Saturday, November 4, 2006
McCormick Ranch Lakes
Leader: Dick Fogle 623-584-3922
rpfogle@yahoo.com
McCormick Ranch is in North Scottsdale. It has several
lakes/ponds with grassy areas and trees to explore.
There are always wintering ducks and Canada Geese and
occasionally some rarities. We should see large flocks
of American Wigeon. There is also the Pavilion Ponds
near a shopping center that has plenty of waterfowl. Last
year at this time we saw 45 species.
Difficulty: 1 Morning only.
Meet at Bell Recreation Center, SW corner of parking
lot (Boswell and Hutton Dr. one block south of Bell Rd.)
in Sun City to LEAVE at 7:00 a.m. or call the leader for
a meeting place farther east.
Thursday, November 9, 2006
Arcosanti
Leaders: Chuck & Loretta Richards 623- 594- 6554
carichards@nowonline.net
We will be birding in a riparian area on Arcosanti land
adjacent to the artist studios. There will be the usual
year around species found in the fall at this elevation.
We should also encounter some of the fall/winter migra-
tion birds.
The Gilbert Water Ranch is one of the Valley's fine bird-
ing places. The ponds attract large numbers of ducks and
shore birds. There are many common permanent valley
birds, plus lots of other winter migrants.
The trails are well maintained, graveled and level. 51
birds were seen or heard on last February’s trip to this
site. There are picnic areas for those who want to bring
lunch.
Difficulty: 1 Morning only.
Meet at Lowe's parking lot on Thunderbird just west of
83rd Ave. on the West Side of Burger King. There is lots
of parking available. We plan to leave at 7:00 a.m..
Saturday, December 2, 2006
Boyce Thompson Arboretum
Leader: Donna Smith 623-556-9535
rms15247@cox.net
Boyce Thompson is near Superior on Queen Creek. The
variety of plants there attracts many birds, the Rufous-
backed Robin may be found here in the winter. There is a
fee to enter the gardens.
Difficulty 1: Bring a lunch
Meet at the Sun Bowl parking lot on 107th Ave. just S. of
Peoria Ave. in Sun City to leave at 7:00 a.m.

If the rains continue, there may be some water to be

crossed but we should be able to keep our feet dry.

Arcosanti has a lunch buffet for $7.95, all you can eat.
Soup and sandwiches are available as well. There are
picnic tables outside and dining tables inside. So if you
want to stay for lunch, either bring it or buy it.

Morning only—Difficulty 1

We will meet at the parking lot on the West Side of

Denny’s which is on the Southwest corner of I-17 and
Bell Rd to leave at 7:00 a.m.
Vermilion Flycatcher—Photo by George Wall
*Saturday, November 18, 2006
Gilbert Ponds In the December Newsletter, we’ll have the January and
Leaders: Chuck & Loretta Richards 623- 594- 6554 February Trips.
carichards@nowonline.net

Gambel’s Tales
Page 9
Calendar of Monthly Meetings…

Location: Auditorium, Glendale Public Library, 5959 West Brown Street

(one block south of Peoria Ave. & 59th Ave. intersection) Time: 6:30 p.m.

November 8, 2006 Jo Miller

Other Dates of Interest: November 1, 2006 at 6:45 p.m. Board Meeting at Glendale Library in the small meeting room.
All SAS members welcome.

Sonoran Audubon Society

P.O. Box 8068
Glendale, AZ 85312-8068

Page 10 Gambel's Tales