ARIZONA (& VICINITY) CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT SCHEDULE - 2009-2010

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.

by Walter Thurber

The Count List 2009-2010

The 2009-2010 Arizona Christmas Bird Count list (below) includes a couple of nearby counts in New Mexico and Mexico.   
Count # corresponds to number on CBC Location map.

---

Date		Day	Map #	Count Name	Compiler	Phone	E-Mail
14-Dec		Mo	1	Salt-Verde Rivers	Kurt Radamaker	480-837-2446	Website
15-Dec		Tu	15	Prescott	Carl Tomoff	928-778-2626	tomoff@northlink.com
18-Dec		Fr	4	Buenos Aires NWR	Bonnie Swarbrick	520-823-4251 x108	bonnie_swarbrick@fws.gov
18-Dec		Fr	21	Saint David	Tom Wood	520-432-1388	tom@sabo.org
19-Dec		Sa	5, 25	Ajo-Cabeza Prieta NWR	Curt McCasland	520-387-4992	curtis_mccasland@fws.gov
19-Dec		Sa	6	Avra Valley	Mary Lou Cole	520-578-0114	birdingnana@msn.com
19-Dec		Sa	8	Martinez Lake-Yuma	Henry Detwiler	928-210-6474	henrydetwiler@earthlink.net
19-Dec		Sa	9	Mormon Lake	Elaine Morrall	928-526-1022	elaimorr@npgcable.com
19-Dec		Sa	10	Nogales	Michael Bissontz	520-577-8778	seetrogon@comcast.net
19-Dec		Sa	2	Pipe Spring Natl. Monument	Andrea Bornemeier	928-643-7105	andrea_bornemeier@nps.gov
19-Dec		Sa	17	Ramsey Canyon	Ted Mouras	520-803-0221	tedmouras@mindspring.com
19-Dec		Sa	11	Santa Catalina Mountains	Bob Bates	520-296-5629	batesd@cox.net
20-Dec		Su	26	Chino Valley	Russell Duerksen	928-636-4916	russell.duerksen@azbar.org
20-Dec		Su		Hassayampa River	Vanessa Montgomery	623-465-0012	hassayampacbc@hotmail.com
20-Dec		Su	13	Jerome-Cottonwood	Betsy Feinberg	928-203-0676 x11	azbirder@gmail.com
20-Dec		Su	14	Tucson Valley	Larry Liese	520-743-3520	larryliese@prodigy.net
21-Dec		Mo	28	Elfrida	Tom Wood	520-432-1388	tom@sabo.org
21-Dec		Mo	3	Phoenix-Tres Rios	David Powell	602-441-5508	vireo@vireos.com
26-Dec		Sa	16	Flagstaff-Mount Elden	Terry Blows	928-774-8028	terence.blows@nau.edu
26-Dec		Sa	23	Superior	Cynthia Donald	480-283-4515	planres@earthlink.net
27-Dec		Su	34	Patagonia	Abbie Zeltzer	520-604-6320	amindajar@gmail.com
28-Dec		Mo	19	Gila River	Troy Corman	602-482-6187	aplomado@cox.net
28-Dec		Mo	29	Green Valley-Madera Canyon	Michael Marsden	520-269-6240	birdanza@cox.net
29-Dec		Tu	20	Havasu NWR	DeeDee DeLorenzo	928-758-2707	poncho@citlink.net
30-Dec		We	22	Bill Williams River NWR	Kathleen Blair	928-667-4144	kathleen_blair@fws.gov
30-Dec		We	31	Carefree	Walter Thurber	480-483-6450	wathurber@cox.net
2-Jan		Sa	37	Appleton-Whittell	Robert Weissler	520-803-0794	weissler@aves.org
2-Jan		Sa	27	Dudleyville	Doug Jenness	520-909-1529	d_jenness@hotmail.com
2-Jan		Sa	24	Portal	Jackie Lewis	520-558-2287	winjac12@vtc.net
2-Jan		Sa	30	Sedona	Dottie Hook	928-204-1894	dottiehook1@aol.com
2-Jan		Sa		Sierra Pinta-Cabeza Prieta NWR	Curt McCasland	520-387-4992	curtis_mccasland@fws.gov
3-Jan		Su	39	Atascosa Highlands	Rich Hoyer	520-325-5310	birdernaturalist@me.com
3-Jan		Su	18	Camp Verde	Anita MacFarlane	928-282-4063	ajmac@macfarlanes.us
5-Jan		Tu	32	Glen Canyon	John Spence	928-608-6267	john_spence@nps.gov
		Unknown	36	Payson	Dave Hallock	303-258-3672	eldoradh@rmi.net
		Unknown	12	Timber Mesa	Unknown
Other		Nearby Counts
19-Dec		Sa	A	Puerto Penasco, Sonora, MX	Steve Ganley	480-830-5538	sganley@cox.net
3-Jan		Su	C	Peloncillo Mountains, NM	Unknown

 

PHOENIX AREA CBC DESCRIPTIONS

 

Carefree Christmas Bird Count.  This count circle is centered three miles north of the SkyRanch at Carefree Airport. The count includes the towns of Carefree and Cave Creek as well as the north end of the City of Scottsdale. This upland desert count is situated in northeast Maricopa County and it was organized in 1992. 

The largest drainages are Cave Creek and Camp Creek, both of which are flowing streams in their northerly reaches near Seven Springs. The Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, Cave Creek Recreation Area and several Desert Foothills Land Trust preserves are found here, and roughly 40 percent of the circle lies within the Tonto National Forest. Elevations range from approximately 1800-5000 feet. This count typically records about 100 species.

 Call compiler for information 

 

Gila River Christmas Bird Count.  The Gila River circle is centered three miles east of Powers Butte and about the same distance south of Palo Verde. The count encompasses unincorporated Arlington and Palo Verde as well as part of the Town of Buckeye. This western Maricopa County count dates from 1981. 

The Gila River winds through the middle of the count circle and provides excellent birding habitat. The Hassayampa River empties into the Gila upstream from Powers Butte. An added feature is the presence of the Robbins Butte Wildlife Area. Elevations range from approximately 700-1900 feet. This count typically records about 140 species. 

Call compiler for information 

 

Hassayampa River Christmas Bird Count.  This northwest Maricopa County count reaches into Yavapai County as well. The count circle is centered five miles northeast of Wickenburg on Constellation Road. There is considerable public land here and little urban development; the only significant population center is the Town of Wickenburg. This upland desert count has been held annually since 1989. 

The Hassayampa River affords good birding opportunities, especially south of town at the Hassayampa River Preserve. This property is owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy. The Hassayampa River Canyon Wilderness can be birded as well. Elevations range from approximately 2000-4400 feet. This count typically records about 100 species. 

Call compiler for information 

 

Phoenix-Tres Rios Christmas Bird Count.  The center of this count circle lies about one mile south of the confluence of the Gila and Agua Fria rivers in central Maricopa County. Portions of the City of Avondale and the City of Goodyear are included.  The count was held continuously from 1954-1984 during which time it was known as the Phoenix Christmas Bird Count. The count was reinstated in 2001. 

This count takes the second part of its name from the three major rivers found here—the Gila, the Salt and the Agua Fria. Excellent birding is available along the rivers as well as at the Estrella Mountain Regional Park, Tres Rios Wetlands, Cobble Ponds, Buckeye canals and Jackie Meck Lake. Elevations range from approximately 900-3200 feet. This count typically records about 140 species.

 Call compiler for information 

 

Salt-Verde Rivers Christmas Bird Count.  This count circle is centered at Adams Mesa in eastern Maricopa County. The count encompasses the Town of Fountain Hills and portions of the City of Mesa, Fort McDowell Yavapai Indian Nation, Phon D. Sutton, the confluence of the Salt and Verder Rivers and Saguaro Lake. The first count was held in 1950, followed by a second count in 1954 and annual counts since 1985. 

The Verde River empties into the Salt River here and the mature riparian habitat along both waterways appeals to a wide range of birds. Public lands include the Tonto National Forest, McDowell Mountain Regional Park and Usery Mountain Recreation Area. Elevations range from approximately 1200-4000 feet. This count typically records about 140 species. 

Call compiler for information or see the Salt Verde CBC Website at http://www.mexicobirding.com/AZbirds/CBC/