Birds of the San Pedro

Introduction

• San Pedro River Drainage

North running river Located mostly in SE Arizona

Only river that has not been dammed in SE US

Provides riparian habitat for many species

• The river basin provides food, shelter and water to 389

species of birds which adds up to about half of bird

species found in North America (Steinitz et al. 2003)

• The San Pedro River basin is listed as the

number one birding site in the United States

by Wild Bird Digest Magazine

Important Species of Birds

• Willow FlycatcherEndangered Species

Dependent on riparian habitat, which makes the San Pedro river a prime site for habitat.

Northern Goshawk

• Accipiter species

• Feeds on small mammals

• White stripe over eye

• Black bars on tail

• Lives in mountainous habitat

Summer Tanager• bright red plumage for males and

a bright yellow plumage for females

• found in wooded areas in Arizona

• The numbers in populations of this species have decreased

significantly due to land clearing (Tekiela, 2003).

Black Crowned Night Heron

• Aquatic species

• Eats fish and insects

• Black crown

• White belly

• Populations have decreased

In past 100 years

Red Winged Black Bird

• Males of this species are jet black

all over and have red and yellow

stripes located on the wings • females of this species are striped

and brown in coloration

• visits the San Pedro every spring • one of the most numerous species in Arizona• Associated with aquatic environments

Migrant Species

• Wilson’s Warbler

• Yellow Rumped Warbler

Problems

• Cattle GrazingDecreases vegetation for

food and habitat of bird species

• San Pedro National Conservation Area

Cattle were removed Bird surveys conducted Bird species and

populations increased due to removal

Brood Parasites

• Parasitize nests of other birds

• Brown headed and Bronzed Cowbirds

• Known to parasitize over 200 species of birds

Problems

• Three hundred years ago wetlands comprised about 5% of the state, whereas now they are less than 1% of the states landmass (Krueper et al. 2003)

• lowering of the water table in the basin

• about 80% of Arizona vertebrate species rely on wetlands at some

point in their life cycles

Conservation

• In 1988, the U.S. congress set aside the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area

• corridor for migrating birds

• a refuge for native species

Willow Flycatcher Program

• Arizona Game and Fish Department

• Management operatives include:

• bird surveys

• nest monitoring

• brood parasite trapping.

• The agency also monitors areas of riparian regeneration, and works to minimize land use impacts

The End