Purpose
The Yuma Audubon Society is dedicated to conserving natural resources,
educating members on conservation issues, and increasing awareness about
the diversity of nature in the Yuma, AZ, area. Our constitution is here:
YAS
Constitution
In the recent past, Yuma
Audubon has sponsored Audubon Adventures, the Yuma Birding & Nature
Festival, and Audubon Christmas Bird Counts.
Common Poorwill
Meetings
Meetings are held during the fall, winter, and spring on the second Tuesday of of the month
at 7:00 p.m., at the Arizona Game and Fish Office, located at the corner of 9E and 28th Street.
2014-2015 Meetings:
Tuesday, Oct 14 at 7:00 p.m. - "Enhance to Conserve" by Fred Haggerson. A DIY approach for home owners to save water and to utilize those savings to enhance habitats for birds and other wildlife.
Tuesday, Nov 11 at 7:00 p.m. - "Cuyamaca Rancho State Park" by Michele Hernandez.
State Park Naturalist Michele will share her photos of common birds in the mountain park.
Tuesday, Dec 9 at 7:00 p.m. - "Member Showcase"
Bring your favorite bird and nature photos on a thumb drive or CD to share with other members at our holiday meeting.
Tuesday, Jan 13 at 7:00 p.m. - "Sonoran Invertebrates" by Nancy Matteson, USDA Entomologist
Following the presentation we'll hold the election of Audubon officers for 2015-2017.
Tuesday, Feb 10 at 7:00 p.m. - "Multi-Species Conservation Projects on the Colorado" by Terence Murphy, biologist with the Bureau of Reclamation’s Multi-Species Conservation Projects (MSCP) office.
Terry will share information on current environmental projects in the Colorado River Valley.
Tuesday, Mar 10 at 7:00 p.m. - "Reforestation of Eastern Deciduous Trees" by Pat Kenyon.
Presentation on reforestation, including the American chestnut.
Tuesday, Apr 14 at 7:00 p.m. - Mark Brown, large game biologist with Arizona Game and Fish, will update up us on the Big Horn Sheep and Pronghorn Antelope Projects
Tuesday, May 12 Annual potluck at the Yuma West Wetlands
A typical meeting agenda is:
- Short business meeting
- Conservation news
- Break with refreshments
- Feature presentation
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Greater Roadrunner |
Field Trips
Yuma is
surrounded by many natural features, including the Colorado & Gila Rivers,
deserts, mountains, the Imperial Dunes, and the Salton Sea. Join us
as we explore these areas in search of diverse birds, reptiles, mammals,
and plants.
Field trips are usually held
the Saturday following the monthly meeting. We carpool from
the "Big Lots" parking lot at the corner of 16th Str & 4th Ave.
Past trips have visited the Salton Sea NWR, Cibola NWR, Cienega de Santa
Clara, and Palm Canyon.
2014-2015 Field
Trips will include:
Saturday, Oct 18 Visit the East Wetlands to see migrants, newly-arriving waterfowl, and other winter residents.
Saturday, Nov 15 Michele will lead a field trip at Rancho Cuyamaca State Park in the Laguna Mountains of California.
Saturday, Dec 13 Hawk watch to the south of Yuma, where dozens of Ferruginous and Red-tailed Hawks, falcons, and harriers feed on gophers and other rodents.
Saturday, Jan 3 Christmas Bird Count in a 15-mile circle centered at Imperial Dam
Wednesday, Feb 11 Terence Murphy will guide members around the new Laguna Division Conservation Area, south of Imperial Dam
Saturday, Mar 14 Search for wintering birds and early migrants at Mittry Lake and the newly constructed Betty's Kitchen area.
Saturday, Apr 18 Field trip to either Kofa or Imperial NWR to search for migrants.
Saturday, May 9 Help count birds in Yuma County during the North American Migratory Bird Count
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Christmas Bird
Count
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Birdcage Primrose |
Close to Christmas we hold our annual
Christmas Bird Count (CBC) and Birdathon. We count and monitor the status of birds around Imperial NWR, Laguna Dam, and Mittry Lake. In 2010, we recorded 131 species for count day; most years we find about 120 species.
The 2014 CBC will be held on Saturday, January 3rd. Please contact Henry Detwiler if you'd like to participate in the next CBC. E-mail him at henrydetwiler@earthlink.net
To view the results of past bird counts please visit the National Audubon Society CBC website: http://birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count
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Here are some of our better count-day sightings from the 2010 count:
- 4 Barrow's Goldeneyes at Senator Wash, CA
- Red-throated Loon at Ferguson Lake
- Horned Grebe at Senator Wash
- Immature male Surf Scoter at Senator Wash
- Female Black Scoter at Senator Wash
- Varied Thrush at YPG
- American Redstart and Northern Parula at Imperial NWR
- Black & White Warbler at Betty's Kitchen
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak at Hidden Shores RV Park
- Lawrence's Goldfinches in a desert wash west of Senator Wash |
Library Presentations
Join us at one of our Yuma County Libraries for presentations on a variety of bird and evironmental topics on the following dates:
- Jan 22 (Heritage Library)
- Feb 24 (Main Library)
- Mar 17 (Wellton Library)
- Apr 2 (Foothills Library)
Membership
Membership can be at the national or chapter level, or both. Fee
structures and benefits are as follows:
$10 for local
(chapter) members
- Local members receive e-mail birding and meeting alerts, and are welcome to join us for monthly meetings and field
trips (Oct-May).
$20 for national members
- National members receive
Audubon Magazine and automatically become members of our local
chapter. Enroll at www.audubon.org |
Black-necked Stilt chick |
Contacts
Links
National Audubon
Society
www.audubon.org
Imperial NWR www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=22560
Cibola NWR
www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/arizona/cibola.html
Local & National Rare Bird Reports American Birding Association
Southwest Birders
www.southwestbirders.com
Yuma-area Bird Guide
www.southwestbirders.com
Salton Sea Bird Guide
www.southwestbirders.com/swb_Imperial_County_Book.htm
ASU - AZ bird songs
http://askabiologist.asu.edu/expstuff/experiments/birdsongs/
Thick-billed Kingbird - Yuma Main Drain
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