BIRDING ON YOUR OWN:
Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary
We are pleased to let you know that the Ash Canyon property has been purchased and donated to the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory. The operations of the bird sanctuary will continue under the guidance of Tom Wood and Sheri Williamson with a lot of help from local volunteers and donations from near and far. This very special habitat is a perfect location for bird watchers of all types. Visit the open yard, sit in comfortable chairs, and the birds come to feast at the many feeders around the yard. Tom and Sheri and volunteers will assist you in identifying the many types of birds that attend daily!
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Visit the SABO website to make donations that will help to continue the hard work that make this incredible nature site possible.
Beatty's Miller Canyon
About:Mountain meadow. Hummingbirds and montaine birds.
Location:
Located 8 miles south of Fry Blvd./Hwy 92 to Miller Canyon Road. The Beatty’s Guest Ranch is 2.6 miles west on Miller Canyon Road. The last 1.8 miles are dirt and rough in spots.
Fee:
$5 donation per person
Website:
beattysguestranch.comMinutes from Casa:
20 minutes
Carr Canyon and Peak
About:One of the most reliable localities for Buff-breasted Flycatcher as well as other high altitude birds such as Red-faced Warbler, Red Crossbill, Yelloweyed Junco, Olive Warbler, Pygmy Nuthatch and Steller’s Jay.
Location:
7 miles south of Fry Blvd./Hwy 92 to Carr Canyon Road – 8.5 miles to the campgrounds. Unpaved, switchback road.
Website:
fs.usda.govMinutes from Casa:
35 minutes
Patagonia Sonoita Creek Preserve
About:Owned and operated by the Nature Conservancy. On Pennsylvania Ave north of Hwy 82 in Patagonia.
Location:
One hour west of Sierra Vista, this lush riparian area provides habitat for over 200 species of birds. Fee required at preserve. The nearby Roadside Rest Area on Hwy 82 is another spot to visit. Carefully cross the highway and walk along the fence marking private land along Sonoita Creek. Rose-throated Becards have nested in the sycamores here in recent years. High desert and riparian habitats. High desert resident birds and migrants.
Fee:
$6 per person
Website:
nature.orgMinutes from Casa:
1 hour
Patagonia Lake State Park
About:Recently added the Sonoita Creek Natural area to its attractions. The area boasts shorebirds, flycatchers , and even a trogon or two. You can rent a boat to see the area, take the trail around the lake, or take advantage of a guided pontoon boat trip. Overnight full-hookup camping is available.
Location:
Located 13 miles southwest of Patagonia. Easy access by car.
Fee:
Park entrance fee is $7 per car up to 4 people.
Website:
azstateparks.comMinutes from Casa:
1.5 hours
Patagonia Butterfly Garden
About:Of the 700 butterfly species you can see in North America, over 200 can be seen in Patagonia. August is an excellent time to visit.
Location:
The open butterfly garden is in the Patagonia Town Park.
Fee:
N/A
Website:
patagoniaaz.comMinutes from Casa:
1 hour 13 minutes
Paton's of Patagonia
About:This is definitely the place to see hummingbirds in Pataonia. Marian Paton’s yard is open 7 days a week from dawn to dusk; it borders the Patagonia sewer ponds and the preserve property. A heron rookery is easy to watch from the viewing area.
Location:
Located 1 ¼ miles southeast of the Preserve Visitor Center on Blue Haven Road; 477 Pennsylvania Ave., Patagonia, AZ 85624
Fee:
Donations accepted.
Website:
tusconaudubon.orgMinutes from Casa:
1 hour 15 minutes
Ramsey Canyon Preserve
About:Owned and operated by the Nature Conservancy, this 300 – acre preserve in the middle elevations of the canyon provides excellent birding opportunities. Famous for its hummingbirds (including Magnificent, Blue-throated and White-eared), but offers even more. Look for Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Duskycapped Flycatchre, Painted Redstart, Elegant Trogon, Arizona woodpecker, and Spotted Towhee.
Location:
Hwy 92 – 6 miles south of Fry Blvd/Hwy 90 in Sierra Vista, 4 miles to the end of Ramsey Canyon Road.
Fee:
$3 for Cochise County residents and members, $5 for nonresident.
Website:
nature.orgMinutes from Casa:
30 minutes
San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area
About:Riparian birds, Gray Hawk, Black Hawk, Belted and Green Kingfisher, Painted Redstart, Hummingbirds, and lots of field and river birds.
Location:
San Pedro House Visitor Center on Hwy 90, east of Sierra Vista on the west bank of the San Pedro River. Ponds, bookstore, tours. Watch for the Green Kingfisher. The SPRNCA stretches 40 miles from Casa de San Pedro (Waters Rd) on the south all the way to St. David. Various access points include Casa de San Pedro, Hereford Road bridge, San Pedro House, Charleston Road, and the Holy Trinity Monastery in St. David.
Fee:
Day use is free
Website:
blm.gov Minutes from Casa:
15 minutes
Coronado National Memorial
About:All of the common oak woodland birds such as Acorn Woodpecker, Mexican Jay, Bridled Titmouse and Montezuma Quail are found here along with mammals such as White-tailed Deer, White-nosed Coati and Javelina.
Location:
Coronado Memorial Road off Hwy 92, 16 miles south of Sierra Vista and 21 miles west of Bisbee.
Fee:
Free
Website:
nps.govMinutes from Casa:
30 minutes
Casa de San Pedro
About:Mesquite grasslands and riparian (river) habitat. Resident and migrant birds.
Location:
Easy to moderate hiking from inn.
Fee:
Free - For non-resident guests we do ask for a $5 per person donation to help us pay for bird seed!
Website:
You're on it!
Minutes from Casa:
You're here!
Cave Creek/Portal, AZ
About:Riparian habitat. Resident and migrant birds.
Location:
Easy access by car. Easy to moderate hikes from parking area.
Fee:
Free
Website:
portalarizona.comMinutes from Casa:
2 hours 30 minutes
Empire Cienega
About:High desert grasslands and some riparian areas. High desert residents and migrant birds. Unique and rare vegetative communities including five of the rarest habitat types in the American Southwest: cienegas (marshlands), cottonwood-willow riparian forests, sacaton grasslands, mesquite bosques, and semi-desert grasslands.
Location:
Easy access by car when dirt roads are dry. Easy hikes.
Fee:
Free
Website:
blm.govMinutes from Casa:
45 minutes
Garden/Shelite Canyons at Fort Huachuca
About:Mountain canyon habitat. Montane birds and Spotted Owl.
Location:
Moderate to difficult access by car. Four wheel drive advisable beyond picnic areas. Strenuous hike in Shelite Canyon. Easy to moderate hiking in Garden Canyon
Fee:
Unknown
Website:
wildlifeviewingareas.comMinutes from Casa:
45 minutes
Kartchner Caverns
About:High desert habitat. Hummingbird garden and resident desert birds.
Location:
Fee area. Easy access by car.
Fee:
Cave tours: adults $23.00
Website:
azstateparks.comMinutes from Casa:
45 minutes
Kino Springs
About:High desert and riparian habitats. High desert resident birds and migrants.
Location:
Easy access by car. Easy walks around parking areas. Trip includes stops at 2 spring fed ponds and golf course.
Fee:
Unknown
Website:
kinospringsgc.comMinutes from Casa:
1 hour 30 minutes
Madera Canyon
About:High desert and mountain canyon habitats. High desert, montaine and migrant birds.
Location:
Easy access by car. Easy, moderate and strenuous hikes.
Fee:
Varies
Website:
friendsofmaderacanyon.orgMinutes from Casa:
2 hours 30 minutes
Whitewater Draw
About:Man made lake. Water fowl and riparian birds. Sandhill Cranes Nov-March.
Location:
Easy access by car. Easy hikes from parking area.
Fee:
Unknown
Website:
azgfd.comMinutes from Casa:
45 minutes
Fort Huachuca Army Base
About:
Huachuca and Garden Canyons on the Fort. LIMITED ACCESS
Location:
Adjoins the west side of Sierra Vista. Access through the Main or East Gates. Ask for detailed map directions and advice about permitted hours, road closures, etc when you enter the base. Access is very limited due to security concerns (think terrorist shootings on military bases by persons who were already permitted to be on those bases....)
NOTICE:
Homeland Security Regulations limit access to military bases. Day passes for US Citizens with government issued IDs require applying for access, submitting to background checks, and filling out a lot of paperwork (plan on at least 1 hour for processing - and only go at non-busy times... whatever they are.) No foreign nationals permitted.
Why go?
Good canyon birding (Mexican Spotted Owl, Elegant Trogons, Montezuma Quail, Antelope, etc, etc.) Worth the effort if you can put up with the long lines to get day permits AND are a US citizen with proper ID and willing to submit to a background check.
Minutes from Casa:
30 minutes