Left to right: Laurie McCoy, Deb Sandin, and Jim Hoagland planning the locations to visit for the Birdathon. Photo by Adam Mancha.
Jim Hoagland
In April, the SaddleBrooke Ranch (SBR) Cuckoos will be conducting the annual Birdathon to raise funds to support the work of the Tucson Bird Alliance (TBA), formerly Tucson Audubon Society. TBA’s mission is “inspiring people to enjoy and protect birds through recreation, education, and restoration of our environment.” In the previous four Birdathons, the Cuckoos have raised over $30,000 to support the efforts of the Tucson Bird Alliance for their field trips, zoom programs, habitat restoration, and many other programs. This year is extremely critical to the Alliance since they have lost access to more than $1.4 million in habitat restoration funding due to the Federal funding freeze.
SaddleBrooke Ranch will field a team of birders to participate in the Birdathon Fundraiser. The team is called the Cuckoos to honor one of the rare bird species of our area, the Yellow-billed Cuckoo. This year the Cuckoos are dedicating their Birdathon to one of its team members, Rick Gillespie, who has been an inspiration to us all as he bravely battles brain cancer.
The Cuckoos team this year includes Laurie McCoy, Deb and Gary Sandin, Gerry and Claire Tietje, Sheree and Rick Gillespie, Ben and Nancy Eisenstein, Tim DeJonghe, and Carrie Gelsey. It will be led by Birdman of SBR, Jim Hoagland.
The SBR Cuckoos have chosen to continue the format of “The Big Day, Free Style” where we attempt to identify as many bird species as possible in a 24-hour timespan. This year they will be visiting various hot-spots in the area and not necessarily in Pinal County. Breaking up into three or four teams, they will visit such sites at Sweetwater Wetlands, Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Mount Lemmon, and—not forgetting their roots here at the Ranch—the Nature Trail, pond, and surrounding area.
The Cuckoos will begin their Birdathon in the evening before looking at and listening for owls in Peppersauce Campground area and finishing 24 hours later on April 30. Their goal is to exceed last year’s count of 127 species.
We are honored to help support such a great organization as Tucson Birding alliance and hope you will join us with your pledges. There are two ways to donate, and no amount is too small to help us achieve our goal of $5,000. The first is to donate a fixed dollar amount. The second, which is more fun, is to make a pledge that challenges the team. It could be something like $1 per bird species, or $5 for each soaring raptor species, or $25 for each owl species. Let your imagination run wild! Please make your donations and pledges on or before April 29 at Tucsonaudubon.org/Birdathon. Look for the 2025 teams and the SBR Cuckoos. Or you can scan the QR code.
As an incentive for everyone who makes a pledge of $25 or more, you will receive Jim’s 2026 bird desk calendar with the wonderful photos you have come to know and enjoy.
Thanks to everyone in advance for helping the SBR Cuckoos achieve their goal and supporting the work of the Tucson Birding Alliance.