Newsletter of the Northern Arizona Audubon Society

March Meetings

Arizona’s Watchable Wildlife Experience

30 sites near Flagstaff

Get ready for spring with a fun and informative presentation on the Arizona Watchable Wildlife Experience, a new collaborative project to bring watchable wildlife opportunities to Flagstaff. Jessica Gist, Wildlife Biologist from Arizona

Game & Fish, will speak on behalf of the partnership group, Arizona Wildlife Federation, City of Flagstaff, Coconino County, the Forest Service, and AG&F at the March 15 (Flagstaff) and March 21 (Sedona) meetings. The Project’s mission is to promote wildlife viewing by improving wildlife habitat, providing facilities to make viewing easier, creating guides and maps, developing programming and education, and most importantly by building partnerships with local community groups – like Northern Arizona Audubon Society! Gist’stalkwillhelpyoufindwatchablewildlifesitesnearyou,make the most of them, and increase your chances of spotting wildlife and their signs. We’ll take a virtual tour to some of our favorite spots (and some of NAAS’, too), looking for wildlife of all kinds. Flagstaff’s diverse ecosystems are home to songbirds, elk, pronghorn, eagles, prairie dogs, and so many more species. Arizona’s Watchable Wildlife Experience, or AWWE, invites you to learn more about them by exploring the rich natural resources we have in this community. The talk also will give us a chance to discuss opportunities for working together. NAAS has provided a great deal of groundwork for AWWE, identifying Important Bird Areas and Bird Sanctuaries, developing bird lists, and doing hands-on restoration to bring birds to these sites. We want your ideas for future partnerships to continue building AWWE. There is no end to the great work we can do! Gisthasextensivefieldexperienceworkingwithperegrinefalcons, northern spotted owls, northern goshawks, badgers, Sonoran pronghorn, Abert’s squirrel, and songbirds in California and Arizona. In her current position at Game & Fish’s Flagstaff Region, she works on landscape scale habitat conservation, restoration, and proactive planning. Drawing on her teaching background, Jessica is becoming increasingly involved in environmental education efforts, like AWWE, the topic of this month’s talk.

™ Volume XLI • Number 4 • March - April 2012

Northern Arizona Audubon Society

northernarizonaaudubon.orgTell your friends

April Meetings

Migrating With The Sandhill Cranes

In the spring of 2008 Erv Nichols and Sandra Noll, photographers, decided to pursue their passion for Sandhill Cranes by following them from their wintering grounds in New Mexico through their staging area along the Platte River in Nebraska and then all the way to their nesting grounds in Alaska. At our April 18 (Sedona) and 19 (Flagstaff) meetings Erv and Sandy will tell the story of their six month journey and the variety of birds and wildlife encountered along the way. Erv and Sandra met and joined forces in 2006. Erv had recently retired from a long career as a photographer and was conducting tours at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico. A chance meeting on one of those tours introduced him to Sandra and they discovered mutual interests in birding, photography and adventure. A year later Sandra retired from a forty year plus career in nursing and they decided to pursue their passions as a team. Since then they have traveled from north of the Arctic Circle to the border with Mexico as volunteers for various government and private agencies. Taking advantage of the vast network of volunteer opportunities available they developed their talents as speakers, interpretive guides and birders. They live in their motorhome for nine months of the year and return as needed to home base in Socorro, New Mexico, to regroup for their next adventure.

Adventurers, Erv Nichols and Sandra Noll, March meeting speakers.

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President’s CornerBy Zackery Zdinak

March/April 2012

This winter I’m enjoying a long read of “John James Audubon, the Making of an American” by Richard Rhodes. I still have the last quarter to read, so I won’t give a book review here (I’ll prepare that for the next issue). What has consistently fascinated me in this incredibly detailed life story has been his vast travels – especially for the early 1800’s–andthevariedpeoplethatinfluencedhimonhisjourney. Audubon traveled widely from his first American home nearPhiladelphia. He took advantage of water transport and developing commerce along the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. He learned much from and journaled respectfully of the Osage and other native peoples, especially on their understanding of nature. The study of Natural History in America was fueled by other artists, scientists and business people with whom Audubon crossed paths, often due to his personal effort. Contemporaries he met with included ornithologist Alexander Wilson, naturalist Constantine Rafenesque, Charles Willson Peale, Thomas Bewick, William Roscoe, Robert Jameson, William Swainson, Reverend John Steven Henslow, among others in America, England and France. Each of these people played some role in Audubon’s success. Over 150 years after most of John James LaForest Audubon’s

endeavors, here we are, as small group of birding enthusiasts in a club named in his honor. We, the Audubon of the day in northern Arizona, are sedentary and place-based. We seek out our ornithological rewards and promote our mission over a couple of counties instead of wandering the continent (though I must give a mention to those NAAS members and other birders who do wander the continent and beyond!) Like John, we still knock on doors, though metaphorically, via our newsletter, email updates, speakers and events. Wetoohaveenjoyedthemanyvariedpeoplethathaveinfluencedour journey and supported the NAAS. With a nod to Margaret Mead, it has been a dynamic small group of dedicated people who have engaged in the work, change and play embodied by our Mission. Meeting bymeeting, project by project, field trip byfield trip, ourmembership involvement helps us grow and enhances nature awareness throughout our community. WetoohaveenjoyedthemanypeoplewhohaveinfluencedNAAS’success on our journey. Takealookatsomelatewinterfieldtripsplanned.Also,we’vebeenpreparing more for warmer weather and the northward migration in April. Be sure to check our online calendar for updates and possible newfieldtrips!

Good birding everyone!

Welcome ourNeW Board memBers

by Zack Zdinak

At our January 24th meeting, your Board of Directors moved in accordance with our By-laws to fill two vacancies for the remainder of this term. We unanimously approved Suzy Clemenz for Education Below the Rim and Matt Crozier for Conservation Below the Rim.

Suzy Clemenz, a long-time NAAS member, returns to the Board after an eight-year hiatus. When not birding, Suzy, who was a national freelance scenic photographer for some 25 years, now works part-time on contract with a Reno company doing web content writing. Excited about the new Sedona wetlands, Suzy decided she wants to get some education programming going again. Starting with the Sedona Recreation Department, she’s already investigating where to focus our efforts. We’re glad to have you back Suzy!

Matt Crozier, a member of NAAS for three years, read about NAAS efforts at Page Springs and believes his personal conservation ethics can be put to good use there. Matt runs a thriving gardening business in Sedona and thoroughly enjoys working and playing outdoors. He lives with his wife and young daughter in Cornville. Welcome to the team, Matt.

Please give a warm welcome to our newest Board Members at our meetings and work days!

Here Are Your 2012 Board Nominationsby Zack Zdinak

This coming July begins the 2012-14 Board Term. Terms are for two years each. This year’s nominating committee - Anita MacFarlane, Paul Holmgren and Zack Zdinak - propose the following nominations for the Northern Arizona Audubon Board:

Bea Cooley/Jim Logan for PresidentMatt Crozier for Conservation BTR Suzy Clemenz for Education BTRJulie Wills for Member-At-large Zack Zdinak for Field Trips ATRBarbara Hirt for Membership BTR Debbie Compton for Newsletter Editor

Although Matt and Suzy were voted in by the Board in January, they are only filling in the remainder of this current term. They will need to be voted in by the Membership present at our May meetings with the rest of the slate of nominations. We will still be seeking nominations for President, Vice-President and one Member At-Large through April. For details about these positions, review the articles in your back issues of Backhawk Watch, November/December 2011, page 1, “Jump On Board”.January/February 2012, page 6, “Jump On Board II”. Can you introduce us to a member who has useful skills?! Perhaps you yourself are motivated “To promote the understanding and appreciation of birds and other wildlife and the conservation and restoration of their natural habitats.” Please call us for more details and offer your assistance.

As always, you can also serve on a project committee! Ask about ….• Greeting members at our Flagstaff and Sedona meetings.• Invasive vegetation removal at Logans Crossing.• Be a Field Trip Leader to your favorite birding location.

Contact the Nominating Committee:Zack Zdinak at 928-774-4229, wildlife@lifedraw.comAntia MacFarlane, 928-282-4063, ajmac@macfarlanes.usPaul Holmgren, 928-556-0212, prh222@gmail.com

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Northern Arizona Audubon Field Trips

Hay, Tremaine and Long LakesSaturday, March 3rd

Trip Leader: Rick Miller Rickflewoverthelakeslastweekandfoundtheyarecompletelydry! So this trip is CANCELLED. If we get good snow and melt over the month, he may organize a later date to enter the area. Check the NAAS calendar online for updates!

Sandia Crest Regional Field TripSaturday, March 10th – Monday March 12th

Trip Leader: Terry Blows

We will leave Flagstaff around 7:00 arriving in Albuquerque in the early afternoon. We will go to the Rio Grande Nature Center that afternoon to stretch our legs and bird at this lovely spot. We willproceed toSandiaCrestonSundayhoping tofindall threespeciesofrosyfinch.WewillreturnonMonday.Moredetailswillbe provided closer to the date. Please contact Terry at Terence.Blows@nau.edu to sign up for the trip.

Birding the Hinterlands of Eastern Coconino County

Saturday, March 24thTrip Leader: Jason Wilder

Eastern Coconino County has recently been discovered as a hotspot for grassland bird species, most notably as a wintering site for Chestnut-collared and Lapland Longspurs. This trip will explore grassland and sagebrush habitat, including Babbitt Tank and various stops along Buffalo Range Rd. With luck, wintering longspurs will still be present - and will perhaps even be transitioning into breeding plumages. We’ll also look for sparrows and thrashers (both Sage Sparrow and Sage Thrasher are likely in this area), meadowlarks, shrikes and raptors. Much of this trip will be a driving tour, so we’ll carpool from Flagstaff and will need willing drivers with vehicles capable of handling potentially bumpy dirt roads. The trip will include some short walks across open and uneven country to access water tanks. There are no facilities anywhere, so come prepared with snacks, water, and sun protection (and also for cold and wind, if necessary!). It will be helpful to have as many spotting scopes as possible on the trip, but having a scope is certainly not required. Finally, because our primary bird targets (longspurs) are exceedingly skittish, I’d like to limit the total size of the group to 12. Contact Jason Wilder, jason.wilder@nau.edu for trip information.

Pumphouse GreenwaySunday, April 22nd

Trip Leader: Tom Linda NorthernArizonaAudubonwilltakeafield-triptothisneatandunder-birded place. Meet at the Raymond County Park in Kachina Village at 7 a.m. for a morning of birding. The rather short checklist of the birds that Elaine Morrall compiled for this area will be provided by the trip leader and we will hope to add another dozen or so birds to the checklist. Color maps of the greenway and its birding areas will also be provided. After birding this area, the group will likely continue to bird at the Kachina Wetlands a short distance away. Contact Tom Linda, roughlegged@gmail.com for trip information.

Willow Bend Bird SanctuarySaturday, May 19th

Trip Leader: Deb and Tom JamesDescription: TBA

Contact Deb and Tom James, deborah.james@nau.edu for trip information.

Spring Events ScheduleWatch for new Spring Field Trips in your monthly email updates and in the calendar of our new website, northernarizonaaudubon.org.

FiELD TRiP REPoRTS

Agua Fria Field Trip ReportSunday, January 15, 2012

Sixteen members of Prescott Audubon and Northern Arizona Audubon met at Bloody Basin Road just off I-17 and took the winding dirt road through Agua Fria National Monument. This area consists of miles and miles of open grassland interspersed with Prickly Pears, Junipers, Catclaw Acacias, and Yuccas. To the average person, this may seem a barren, unattractive place, but to the birder it’s a place to findunusualspeciesofSonoranDesertblendinginwiththoseofthegrassland. This is an under-birded area and we didn’t know quite what to expect. Things were generally quiet with bursts of activity. For example, one stop yielded Western Bluebirds, Mountain Bluebirds, American Robins, a Rock Wren, Vesper Sparrows, Black-throated Sparrows, Western Meadowlark and the bird of the day, a Sage Thrasher.Ourleader,PAS’sMicahReignernotes“Itwasdefinitelyanactive location and interesting to see that even grassland birds form largemixed-speciesflocksinthewinter.Somebirds,likebluebirdsand robins, preferred to be in junipers, while the Vesper Sparrows perched low on the Catclaw Acacia, the Black-throated Sparrows foraged in the prickly pear and the Rock Wren stuck to its rocky outcropping.Theywereallpartitioningwhatseemedatfirstglancetobe a fairly monotonous ecosystem.”

Gilbert Water Ranch Field Trip ReportSunday, January 20, 2012

Hosted by Kathe Anderson, Maricopa Audubon

The Gilbert Water Ranch is 110 acres of recharge basins for the city of Gilbert’s wastewater treatment plant. Fortunately for 12 Northern Arizona birders plus one woman who thought our group looked like fun, the Water Ranch is like a lovely park filled withwoodsy, winding paths around seven very birdy lagoons and a little fishinglake.TheWaterRanchisbeneficialforwinteringwaterfowl,waders, shorebirds, and song birds as well, in a state where 95% of our waterways no longer have water. Our leader, Kathe Anderson of Maricopa Audubon, has shown 150 groups through the facility, and we were all amazed at the encyclopedia of facts she shared about even common birds. Of the 53 species seen in 3 hours, a few highlights were Eared Grebe, Neoptropic Cormorants, Black-crowned Night-heron, Snow and White-fronted Geese, many ducks including Pintails, an early Turkey Vulture, strafes by a Northern Harrier, Black-neck Stilt and Avocets, Long-billed Dowitchers, and a Loggerhead Shrike. Onefortunateearly-arriversawthePeach-facedLovebirdflockthatfrequents the Water Ranch. Thanks to Maricopa’s Joe Willy for coordinating our plans, and to NAAS expediters Terry Blows and Suzy Clemenz. We had a gorgeous, exciting morning of non-stop birding. And a fun aside: Spell checking suggested “dogwatchers” for “dowitchers!”

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Beginning Birding Class 101 offered this Spring

By Jim Logan Do you have a friend that may be interested in birding but does not know where to start? Northern Arizona Audubon Society will be offering a bird watching workshop for beginners starting April 17. The workshop includes 3 evening classes and 3 fieldtrips. Topics includewhat to look for in purchasing apairofbinoculars,fieldguides,andtipsandtechniquesforidentifyingandenjoying common birds found around Flagstaff and below the Rim. The evening classes will be held in the Flagstaff main (downtown) library.

Evening Classes -- Tuesdays, 6:30pm – 8:00 pm, April 17, April 24, and May 1

Fieldtrips -- Saturdays, April 21, 28, and May 5. The instructors will be Bea Cooley and Jim Logan.

The evening classes are free to the public. The fieldtrips are free toNorthern Arizona Audubon members. Non-member fee is $15 (includes NAAS membership)

For additional information and to sign up contact Bea Cooley; bea.cooley@gmail.com

Have fun this spring learning about the colorful birds of Northern Arizona!

PAGE SPRINGS IBA

MOVES FORWARDBy Brent Bitz

As members of Northern Arizona Audubon Society, we are very fortunate to have some Important Bird Areas located near our homes. Among these is the Lower Oak Creek IBA, which includes Page Springs North (also known as Bubbling Ponds). NAAS has a long-standing relationship with Arizona Game & Fish helping to improve and maintain this wonderful riparian habitat. Several years ago, our chapter installed the ramada at our expense with the idea of providing shade in our sunny climate. On January 28, a work party helped us make that ramada a much more usable facility by installing six new table and bench combinations at a cost of around $4,000. Over the years, your Chapter has accumulated some financial reserves, mostly as a result of donations and grants. Your Board decided that this expenditure would make Page Springs an even more desirable birding location by providing this amenity. These tables are part of a planned program to make Page Springs a first class facility and a true birding destination for northern Arizona. The Board has directed a team consisting of Anita MacFarlane, Dena Greenwood and Brent Bitz to develop a Master Plan for our involvement at Page Springs. Over the next few months, this team will consider improvements to the entrance and parking area, trail system, signage, etc. We welcome all ideas so don’t hesitate to talk to any Board Member about this exciting program.

Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival

By Karin Slavey

The Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival will be held April 26-29, 2012 at Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood. Registration has begun and festival details are available at www.birdyverde.org. My main reason in writing you is to thank the many of you who helped me staff our Northern Arizona Audubon booth and helped at the onsite registration last year. Yes,

I know I’m really late with my thanks! But I’m hoping that some of you will be able to find a bit of time to help again this year. I am only in charge of our booth this year, so I promise to not be as stressed as last year. Jeri Higgins, a newer chapter member, is in charge of the onsite registration. If you can help either of us, please let me know. I can be reached at 928-282-9688 (leave a message), or kslavey@earthlink.net. To volunteer for the onsite registration table, please go the birding festival website and push the volunteer button. Or call me and I’ll get the information to Jeri. We’ll also have sign-up sheets at the next two chapter meetings. Also, if anyone has a creative or artistic ability, which I lack, we really need to update our display board. The theme for this year’s festival is the Arizona Centennial. Updates to our display board should probably incorporate some of the centennial theme as well if possible. Please let me know if you have any ideas or some time to help with the update. Thanks again for your help your last year, and please let me hear from you if you can help this year.

Audubon online Bird GuideThis convenient online guide features 750 species. Search and identify hundreds of North American birds with text, photos,

sounds, range maps and more.

www.audubonbirds.org

Birds

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e.g. Long-legged Waders, Duck-like Birds...

e.g. Ducks, Geese & Swans...

e.g. Yellow-billed Loon

e.g. Shape, Region, Habitat, Color and Size

Resources

About this guide

How to Bird

How to Identify Birds

Plumage and Molt

Parts of a Bird

Classification of Birds

Bird Families

Natural History of Birds

Endangered and Threatened Birds

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Glossary

News from Audubon

New Directors Bring Science, Conservation, Finance

& Education Expertise to the National Audubon

Society Board

Statement of David Yarnold, Audubon President &

CEO, regarding proposed Upton, Inhofe legislation

that would undermine Clean Air Act

Texan Named Top Audubon Educator

Audubon President Comments on Report by the

National Commission on Gulf Oil Disaster &

Recommendations

The Online Guide to North American Birds

This online guide to North American Birds features 750 species of birds in 22 Orders and 74 families. The guide covers allof North America's regular breeding birds-approximately 580 species - as well as ana additional 180 or so nonbreedingspecies that regulary or occasionally visit North America north of Mexico. more about the guide

Landing

Birds

State of the Birds

Bird FAQs

Conservation

Policy Issues & Action

Alaska & the Arctic

Education

Audubon Adventures

Audubon at Home

Support Us

Join Audubon

One Time Gift

BIRDS CONSERVATION EDUCATION GET OUTSIDE ABOUT US

QUICK GUIDE FAMILY COMMON NAME ADVANCED SEARCH ZIPCODE

e.g. Long-legged Waders, Duck-like Birds...

e.g. Ducks, Geese & Swans...

e.g. Yellow-billed Loon

e.g. Shape, Region, Habitat, Color and Size

Resources

About this guide

How to Bird

How to Identify Birds

Plumage and Molt

Parts of a Bird

Classification of Birds

Bird Families

Natural History of Birds

Endangered and Threatened Birds

Bird Conservation

Glossary

News from Audubon

New Directors Bring Science, Conservation, Finance

& Education Expertise to the National Audubon

Society Board

Statement of David Yarnold, Audubon President &

CEO, regarding proposed Upton, Inhofe legislation

that would undermine Clean Air Act

Texan Named Top Audubon Educator

Audubon President Comments on Report by the

National Commission on Gulf Oil Disaster &

Recommendations

The Online Guide to North American Birds

This online guide to North American Birds features 750 species of birds in 22 Orders and 74 families. The guide covers allof North America's regular breeding birds-approximately 580 species - as well as ana additional 180 or so nonbreedingspecies that regulary or occasionally visit North America north of Mexico. more about the guide

Landing

BlackHawk watcH Page 5storIes and InformatIon ...

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Producing and mailingthe “BlackHawk Watch” newsletter

Submitted by Steve Ayers

Fossil Creek Fish barrierset For repair

Nearly two years ago, a flood damaged the fish barrier at Fossil Creek that separates the upper end of the creek, which is home to exclusively native fish and the lower end of the creek, which contains non-native fish such as smallmouth bass and sunfish. The non-natives were able to breach the barrier when the flood deposited boulders, cobbles and sediment along the downstream base, effectively building a fish ladder. In July 2011, a recreation officer with the Coconino National Forest spotted smallmouth bass above the fish barrier. A temporary barrier was put in place to limit the range of those fish that had jumped the main barrier. Since then the question has been how to fix the problems within the confines of the law regarding power equipment within a wilderness area. Last month the Forest Service decided it would have to permit the use of a gas-powered generator, but little else, as it sends a team into the site to break up the boulders. Federal law permits gas-powered equipment in a wilderness area only under dire circumstances. The boulders will be drilled and either blasted or split using an expansive chemical. The generator will power an electric drill. All equipment will be carried to the site on pack animals. All heavy lifting will be done by manual labor, pulleys, come-alongs and winches. Additional concrete work to repair the existing barrier will also be necessary. Work will begin next month and include the poisoning of the non-natives above the fish barrier. Work will be completed by April.

Cornell Arts And nAture Workshop InspIred Youth

Edited by Zack from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website

Twenty-three youth, 9-18 years old, and twelve chaperones from around the country were selected to attend the 2012 Arts and Nature Workshop held on Jan. 31-Feb. 2 at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithica, New York. The workshop forged connections between the arts, nature, and conservation. Staff at the Cornell Lab shared their expertise and time. Science illustrators and community artists taught students techniques used in conservation and science. Reviewing art by Louis Agassiz Fuertes, Charlie Harper, and others, students learned how they can make a difference by mobilizing communi-ties through the arts. Exploring the power of graphic design and even performing arts, they met people who have made a career out of their love for the arts, conservation, and science. What a great integrative program! Listen to what some students and chaperones said: “The thing I loved the most was our walk in the woods at night in silence – I have never experienced anything like that before.” “I learned that there are many ways in which you can inform others about conser-vation/how animals tell us or show us something is wrong.” “Seeing the collections was my favorite part of the workshop because we got a close-up look at birds we would never see in person.” “I got way more out of the workshop than I could have expected.” ”This workshop was amazing, making me want to go and start my own garden to attract all sorts of birds.” “I feel like a specially trained science/art assassin who can execute new ideas!” “The workshop helped me find direction in art and science...areas I can go into…” “I will change the way people think about nature in my community.”

Imagine children and young adults saying things like that in our northern Arizona communities. They already are! Birding has often been viewed as a passive activity for older people. I think we just have to start reaching outside of that box! As NAAS reinvigorates its education approach and creates an outreach to the Boy Scouts, let’s see how excited we can get young people. Our beginning programs will be seeds. Bird seeds, if you will. I believe we can get our programs growing and inspiring new flight in all ages!

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BlackHawk watcHPage 6 Volunteer & memBers corner

To see when your membership expires, look at the date next to your address

on your newsletter.

M. AUSTIN & E. GARRISON MARGARET DYEKMAN TED FRITZINGER LAURA HARTGROVES DAVID & VIRGINIA HAYES ANN HIGGINS & DAN BOONE CLIFF & PATTY HOLTZ

BRENDA JOBE ELAINE MORRALL DENNIS TOMKOSTUART TUTTLE JOHN WALDER JULIE WILLS

Sedona Hosts First HummingbirdFestival Local birders are familiar with The Hummingbird Society and its leader, Dr. Ross Hawkins. Enthusiastic devotees of all things Hummingbird, the Society is pleased to announce that it will host the first Sedona Hummingbird Festival on August 3 – 5, 2012. The Festival will present speakers on a wide range of topics, including gardening, photography, conservation and much more. A special lecture will feature Dr. Luis Mazariegos, who founded the Hummingbird Conservancy that focuses on protecting Columbia’s hummingbird populations. Opportunities to see the bird themselves will feature the three migrating species who will join the two species that are already here. There will also be a Hummingbird Mall, where visitors can shop for bird and nature-themed merchandise. Many of the events will be located in Sedona’s wonderful Performing Arts Center. For more information please contact the Hummingbird Society office at 928-284-2251.

It’s a long story…by NAAS member Besty McKeller

Coming home from the National Aubudon Convention in Tucson in 1989, Steve and I did some birding in the mountains around Sierra Vista, hoping to see the Mexican Spotted Owls that everyone else at the meeting had already seen, and had already told us exactly where to look for. I think they were known at the time as Smitty’s owls, and the point we didn’t understand until later was that you were only supposed to go there with Smitty. But we didn’t. And we didn’t see the owls either. We were so disappointed that we stayed rather late, and ended up going back to our camp in the dark. We were camped in a nice little side canyon which I’m sure is no longer open to dispersed camping, but it was then. Only problem was that you had to rather pick your way over some large rocks to get back to it, and in the dark I fell and skinned my knee very badly. In fact, I think I still have the scar. BUT that’s another story. Whenwegotbacktoourcampsitethefirstthingwenoticedwastwoteenagekittenswhohad not been there the night before. Hmmm. Looked like someone had dropped them off for us. We were not in the market for a kitten, but we happened to have a bag of cat food with us because the cat of the house where I had been staying just happened to die during the course of the convention, and we had been given its food to take home to our own cats. (I said it was a long story…) So we put out a little cat food on the far edge of our clearing, ate our dinner in the dark, listening to an entire herd of javelina crash through the brush not far away, and wondering if sleeping on the ground without a tent was really a smart idea. But the moon was bright now and as we laid out our sleeping bags under a big juniper tree we could clearly see that we now had company. A SKUNK had been attracted to the cat food also, and was now duking it out with the kittens.GREAT!Wecouldhearhissingandsnarlingandfigureditwasonlyamatteroftimebefore the atmosphere was going to change. I gotta tell you that it is exciting lying on the ground waiting for that, and wondering just how many feet away they will be when it does. But they worked it out. Eventually the skunk wandered over to check us out. In fact, I could easily have reached out and touched it, but I didn’t. I even managed to fall asleep eventually. Sometime later I woke up and realized that sitting on a branch right above our heads was a big, beautiful, Mexican Spotted Owl. I woke up Steve and we both watched him. I think I even shinedmyflashlightonhim.Thenwithoutasound,hespreadhiswingsandglidedovertonaila mouse that was eating the cat food.

There’s got to be a moral here somewhere.

BlackHawk watcH Page 7InformatIon ...

NAAS Directory Officers

President Zack Zdinak 928-774-4229 wildlife@lifedraw.com

Previous Pres. Phyllis Kegley kegleyphyllis@hotmail.com

Vice President Open

Secretary Bea Cooley bea.cooley@gmail.com

Treasurer Jim Logan bunky@cybertrails.com

Directors at Large

Anita MacFarlane David Smith Brent Bitz

Standing Committee Chairs and Co-chairs

Programs Phyllis Kegley kegleyphyllis@hotmail.com

Field Trips Dena Greenwood 2nesting@gmail.com

Terry Blows Terence.Blows@nau.edu

Publications/Book Sales Terry Blows Terence.Blows@nau.edu

Conservation Matt Crozier 928-202-1201 matthew.crozier@ymail.com

Membership Barbara Hirt ragayli-hirt@esedona.net

Helen-Marie and Paul Holmgren prh222@gmail.com

Hospitality Betty Kahrl bettyjkl@hotmail.com

Publicity Phyllis Kegley kegleyphyllis@hotmail.com

Education Suzy Clemenz 928.284.2524 clemenz@esedona.net

Special Project Team Leaders

Verde Valley Bird and Nature Festival

Karin Slavey kslavey@earthlink.netPage Springs Development Committee Brent Bitz, Anita MacFarlane Dena Greenwood

Volunteer Coordinator - Logan’s Crossing Open

Arizona Community Birding Forums

Roger Radd webmaster@nazas.org

Newsletter Editor Debbie Compton weehawks@hotmail.com

Tuzigoot/Dead Horse State Park IBA

Celia Holm CRHolm@q.com

Lower Oak Creek IBA Roger Radd webmaster@nazas.org

Anderson Mesa IBA Elaine Morrall morrall.em@gmail.com

Upper Oak Creek Bird Sanctuary

John Grahame jdgrahame@gmail.com

Willow Bend Bird Sanctuary Debbie and Tom James

Elden Spring Bird Sanctuary Jason Wilder Jason.Wilder@nau.edu

Picture Canyon Bird Sanctuary Bea Cooley bea.cooley@gmail.com

Logan’s Crossing Bird Sanctuary

Jim Logan bunky@cybertrails.com

Birders, Check theLocal Field Trip forum

for updates, new field trips and trip reports!

Go to northernarizonaaudubon.org/

Boy SCouTBiRD STuDiES MERiT BADGE

NAAS Member Debbie James seeks two additional members for a

committee to help develop a program for early spring 2012.

Please call 527-0750 to discuss your

interest and plan of action!

Birding The neT ScreenSaverAn exclusive Birding the Net screensaver captures the fun and beauty of the game’s virtual birds. You

can download the screensaver here: http://www.audubon.org/birdingthenetscreensaver.

Northern Arizona Audubon Society Mission Statement

“To promote the understanding and appreciation of birds and other wildlife and the conservation and restoration of their natural habitats.”

BLACKHAWK WATCH Northern Arizona Audubon SocietyPO Box 1496, Sedona, AZ 86339

• The BlackHawk Watch is published bi-monthly September through May, and is sent to members of the Northern Arizona Audubon Society as a membership benefit.• Articles are welcome from members and non-members. Send proposed articles by email to Debbie at weehawks@hotmail.com Deadline for copy is the 10th of the month.

MARCH-APRIL MeetIngSGuest Speaker - Jessica Gist

“Arizona’s Watchable Wildlife Experience”Flagstaff - March 15 (Thurs)

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church1601 N San Francisco St.

Sedona - March 21 (Wed)Sedona Public Library - 3250 White Bear Road

Guest Speakers - Erv Nichols & Sandra Noll“Migrating With The Sandhill Cranes”

Sedona - April 18 (Wed)Sedona Public Library - 3250 White Bear Road

Flagstaff - April 19 (Thurs)Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church

1601 N San Francisco St. Meetings start at 7:00 pm with social time and an informal

Hot Topics session. Formal meeting begins at 7:15 pm.

Have you visited our web site? northernarizonaaudubon.org

Join Us!northern ArizonA AUdUbon society

Please enroll me/our household as a Chapter Member of Northern Arizona Audubon Society (NAAS).

Name: Address: City, State, ZipPhone:Email:

Enclosed: $15 for 1 year $25 for 2 years $35 for 3 years

Please make checks payable to nAAS and mail to: Membership Chair, NAAS PO Box 1496, Sedona, AZ 86339I am interested in: ___ Volunteer opportunities ___ Receiving NAAS newsletter via e-mail ___ Receiving NAAS news update e-mails

Check here if this is a change of address

Check here if this is a renewal

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Non-profitU.S. Postage

PAIDFlagstaff, AZ

Permit No. 163