March 29, 2020
So the end is coming, the reliable pundits on YouTube tell me. Stay at Home! So today I drove down to the Arivaca Cienega, 55 miles south of Tucson. Take I-19 until you get to the Arivaca Road turnoff at Amado. Go east to the frontage road, then right. Almost immediately you will make a left turn onto Arivaca Road proper. After several miles you will pass a Border checkpoint. Continuing on about 25 miles on a twisty, scenic drive and you will see the Gadsen Coffee Company and then the remains of the Grubstake Saloon. Continue a short bit and you will arrive. The large dirt trailhead/parking area is on the left. There are facilities.
From the trail head there is a concrete path which runs about 1/4 mile at which point the trail alternates between decking and dirt.
The trail and deck lead you through a variety of habitats. Due to the ongoing drought and groundwater pumping the water level has dropped, and the ponds, which are alleged to have been year-round, are dry much of the year. There is still much riparian habitat with giant cottonwoods, lush willow and vast areas of what we often call weeds.
I visited last fall, and found a nice selection of warblers, buntings, tanagers, black vultures etc.
Today I found a surprising number of Vermilion Flycatchers, a half dozen Yellow Warblers, several festive Yellow-rumped Warblers, singing Bell’s Vireos, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Song Sparrow , Red-winged Blackbirds, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a Cassin’s Kingbird, Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Gila Woodpeckers, Harrier, Cooper’s Hawk, a score of Turkey Vultures and a few Lucy’s Warblers.
When I got home I found a Hooded Oriole and Lucy’s Warbler in my yard!
Of course you went far afield and birding whilst the end of the world is upon us!
Too bad the groundwater has been “stolen” from the area but it still looks wild enough and good for birding! Thanks for another great post, Eric.