NORA BURBA TRULSSON 2022-08-30 11:28:23
Grab your binoculars and telephoto lenses. Arizona is a birdwatcher’s paradise. The global pandemic may have been the ultimate prompt for many of us to explore the great outdoors, and what we found in the process was a world where majestic birds of all sizes and colors sang and soared—perhaps even sending our spirits soaring as well. While birdwatching can be a great way to experience the outdoors, several recent studies have shown that birds also improve our sense of wellbeing. (Take for example, a study by the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research that declared seeing 10 percent more bird species produced satisfaction on par with a comparable increase in income). Thankfully, more than 500 species of birds have been documented in Arizona, making this the perfect place to view some feathered friends. East of Phoenix, Boyce Thompson Arboretum is a 343-acre oasis, skirted by a creek, canyon and mountain, making it a favorite hangout for some 275 kinds of birds, including Gila woodpeckers, red-winged blackbirds, canyon towhees, hawks, quails and doves. Join a docent-led bird walk, offered October through May. In Tucson, Sweetwater Wetlands is a constructed wetland with 2.5 miles of paths and more than 200 species of birds. Look for green herons, black phoebes, vermilion flycatchers, teals and more. Best bet? Sign up with Tucson Audubon Society for weekly guided bird tours at the wetlands. A virtual Coachella for cranes, Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area in southeastern Arizona draws some 30,000 Sandhill cranes during the winter months. Keep your eyes peeled for other water-loving birds, like ducks, herons, egrets and shorebirds. In Southern Arizona, The Nature Conservancy protects several areas important to birds, including Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve, an 873-acre preserve along a cool creek, shaded with cottonwoods and willows, all magnets for more than 280 species of birds, like hummingbirds, belted kingfishers, turkey vultures and yellow-billed cuckoos. Roam the 6 miles of trails on your own or join one of the preserve’s guided nature walks. Ramsey Canyon Preserve just outside of Sierra Vista is another protected area, where the high canyon walls and a spring-fed stream create a moist, cool environment ideal for hummingbirds—precisely why this area is known as the “Hummingbird Capital of the World.” Hike the Hamburg Trail along Ramsey Creek to see if you can spot these fluttering beauties.
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Eyes Skyward
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