Nearby Birding Meccas
By Gail Cochrane
Liberty Wildlife Volunteer
Whether you are working on your life list or just want to get the kiddos out in nature, you are in luck here in the Valley of the Sun. A number of terrific birdwatching hotspots can be found within and near Phoenix. The Gilbert Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch is a centrally located wildlife sanctuary with 110 acres of wetlands. More than 300 species of birds have been sighted here since the preserve was developed by the City of Gilbert in 1999. Wander among the ponds and see water birds, raptors and songbirds, both resident and migratory. You can bring along your children and leashed dogs are welcome.
A bit further east, Boyce Thompson Arboretum offers lush habitats and resources for birds throughout the year. This Audubon Important Bird Area has recorded 275 species of birds. Plus, it is a lovely setting to wander through and linger over.
Still hungry for more birding? Drive south a couple of hours to SE Arizona. This ecological meeting place of mountain ranges and deserts provides rich habitat for resident and migratory species. Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains is among the most famous of our birding areas. The north facing valley is a riparian woodland with an intermittent stream surrounded by mesquites, juniper-oak woods and pine forests. Over 250 species of birds have been seen here, including 15 species of hummingbirds.
In Patagonia find the Paton Center for Hummingbirds. Wally and Marion Paton began planting native plants on their riparian property in the early ‘70s. They installed feeding stations for the birds and then a shade canopy and benches for the birders who came to see them. The Paton Center is now run by Tucson Audubon and 252 bird species have been sighted on location. Just down the road is the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve, a Nature Conservancy project where 873 acres of rare riparian flood plain lands nurture a rich biodiversity of both birds and mammals. Here you will experience walking among some of the last remaining Fremont 
cottonwood – Goodding willow riparian forests in Arizona.
Another Nature Conservancy property that offers great birding is Ramsey Canyon Preserve south of Sierra Vista. A spring fed stream and high canyon walls provide a moist cool environment for visitors, both birds and mammals. Riparian plant species flourish along the stream while cactus and agaves grow just adjacent. The semi-desert grasslands of the region wrap the canyon in a warm embrace. Ramsey Canyon also features a visitor center, bookstore, hummingbird feeders and hiking. Be aware that there is limited parking and dogs are not allowed.
Kid Stuff
Nurturing Nature
By: Carol Suits
Liberty Wildlife Volunteer
Find out what birds like to eat, then scroll to see what the Liberty Wildlife Superheroes did this month!
First: Some birds MIGRATE to find food and they’re starting to MIGRATE now!
To MIGRATE is to move from one place to another. If you’re not sure what MIGRATION means, watch this video!
https://az.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/idptv11.sci.life.reg.d4kbrd/bird-migration/
Watch how birds migrate!
Other critters migrate. These are the Superheroes of Migration!
file://lw-dc/RedirectedFolders/carolsuits/Desktop/Migration%20Superheroes.pdf
Second: We can feed birds.
- Do we know what birds live in our area?
- Do we know what to feed them?
This is a cool chart you can use to find out what to feed backyard birds where you live!
- Click on your region to see the birds that live there.
- Next find out what food they like to eat.
- Finally, check out the bird feeders they like best.
This is “Feeder Watch” which shows birds flying to the feeders to eat. I counted 5 different bird feeders. Watch to see if some birds like one feeder more than another.
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/cams/cornell-lab-feederwatch/# (Reminder: Cornell is in Ithaca, NY, which is 2 hours ahead of Arizona. Bird feeders are generally busy during daylight hours.)
Liberty Wildlife Superheroes
February Fun
Guess who came to visit!
Morgan brought Ambassador Great Horned Owl, Lucien, to the club meeting. Superheroes asked questions about Lucien and drew pictures.
“Starter” outline drawings let everyone add Lucien’s details.
Get paper and pencil and draw these raptors in easy steps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8yxCGzNcI8 hawk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmomUodBoO0 falcon
Superheroes In Search of a Partner Pal!
Next, everyone searched the Education Trail enclosures to pick an Ambassador to be a Partner Pal.
Each Superhero, equipped with clipboards, pencils, and a list of LW Ambassadors, gets ready to go!
Everyone chose a Partner Pal. The next time the club meets they will each find their name next to the enclosure of the Ambassador they chose!
At the next Superhero Club meeting, March 16th, Superheroes will be helping nature by making birdhouses to put up at home. After the meeting all are invited to stay for the Orphan Care Baby Shower during open hours. Details may be found on the website under events. https://old.libertywildlife.org/events/baby-shower/
Puzzles!
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=39eaa7697543 Morgan’s visit!
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=0ff9b5619163 A Superhero at work!
A New Vocabulary
By Claudia Kirscher
Liberty Wildlife Contributor
While walking around the Liberty campus during public hours, you may hear the Educators using words or terms that might be unfamiliar to you:
Sexually dimorphic – Birds, of the same species, with differences in size and plumage. Male plumage can be brighter and
more colorful than the female. This is used for display in courting and territorial behaviors. The female is more muted in colors to remain concealed on the nest. For example: American Kestrel and Northern Harrier. Also, in raptors, the female is generally up to 30% larger.
Crop – A pouch in the esophagus used for quick, temporary storage of food where it is softened and digestables are separated out. Food then moves on to the stomach (or gizzard in some birds) where food is broken into smaller digestible pieces. All raptors (except owls) have crops.
Imprint – Raptors imprint during the first 3 weeks after birth. This is a form of learning in which an animal gains it sense of species identification. Birds imprint on their parents during this critical period and identify as such for life. They will identify with humans if raised by hand during this time. This cannot be reversed. They do not survive well if released into the wild.
Habituation – A birds no longer fears humans, usually due to close and repeated exposure. They do not identify with humans as an imprint would.
Egg pipping – 2 stages of hatching: Internal occurs up to 48 hours before hatching when the chick makes sounds “announcing” it’s on its way. External is the process of the chick breaking through the shell of the egg.
Branching: Young birds not fully flighted will fly-hop with very short jumps and short practice flights out of the nest prior to fledgling.
Fledging – The bird is now capable of flight, feet can grab a branch, it has fully developed feathers, and ventures out of the nest. Depending on the species, the parents will continue to support it for days or weeks while it learns how to survive on its own.
Anting – Birds will lie on ant hills with spread wings. They will crush ants in their bills or allow the ants to crawl on them, wiping the formic acid on their feathers. This is thought to help with parasites.
Sunning – A bird will lie on the ground or flat surface with wings spread exposing its preening gland to UV light and vitamin D. Again, this helps to rid them of parasites
Kiting – A bird, while in the air, will turn its body towards the wind flapping as it hovers over the ground while hunting for prey.
If you don’t know or understand a term, please ask an Educator….we are happy to help make your visit enjoyable and informed !
Ref: Wikipedia, Cornell labs, wildlifecenter.org, Audubon, guardian animal.