Gerald Tietje Butterflies flutter by, especially after strong monsoon rains like we had last summer. My wife, Claire, and I moved to SaddleBrooke Ranch in June 2021, and shortly thereafter the welcome rains began, producing a plethora of flowers in our yard. Rains begat flowers and flowers begat butterflies. They were everywhere! As our Little-leaf…
Jim Hoagland I am always amazed at the support of the SaddleBrooke Ranch (SBR) community, and the Birdathon was no exception. The SaddleBrooke Ranch Cuckoos—Laurie Mccoy, Jim Bradford, Deb Sandin, and Jim Hoagland—started the 24-hour Freestyle Birdathon in the evening of May 5 at the Ranch. Before turning in for a short night, we had…
Jim Hoagland Residents have asked about feeding the birds in their backyard. I would like to discuss feeding wild mammals and birds, and nature in general. Starting with the least controversial of all feedings in the wild, hummingbirds. Who does not like to watch the hummingbirds buzz around our feeders? What is important is to use…
Gerald Tietje If an icon is a person or thing widely admired for having great influence or significance in a particular sphere, the saguaro cactus is certainly an icon of the Sonoran Desert that surrounds us. What would an Arizona sunset photo be without this iconic symbol in the foreground? Having moved to our home…
Jim Hoagland The SaddleBrooke Ranch Cuckoos team’s participation in the 2021 Tucson Audubon’s Birdathon was such a success that the Cuckoos are back this year. They have a big task ahead of them to top last year’s event since they were crowned Grand Champion of the 2021 Tucson Audubon Society (TAS) Birdathon. The team of…
Jim Hoagland Every March, hundreds of birders converge on Ron Morris County Park in Tubac for the annual “Hawk Watch,” a free event. Hawks, vultures, eagles, accipiters, and other raptors migrate north every March along the Santa Cruz River. Ron Morris County Park is the Hawk Watch central. Peter Collins from Hawk Watch International is a…
Jim Hoagland Have you been wondering where all the birds are this year? Many at the Ranch have asked this question, as well as, “Why haven’t I seen as many birds in my backyard?” Or, “Where are the American wigeons, normally on the pond by the Ranch House?” There is no one single answer, but…
Jim Hoagland January is one of the best months to go and see sandhill cranes in Arizona, especially at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area, an ephemeral lake. Once a former 1,500-acre cattle ranch, it was acquired by the Arizona Game and Fish Department in 1997. It is located 55 miles south of Willcox in the southern…
Jim Hoagland This year, more than 80,000 volunteers will participate in the Audubon’s 122nd Christmas Bird Count (CBC) starting on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021, through Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. It is the longest-running citizen science census survey in the world, starting back in 1900. What is the history of the CBC? Up through the 19th…
Jim Hoagland On our monthly bird surveys on the SaddleBrooke Ranch nature trail, I am often asked, “What binoculars should I get for birding?” Binoculars are the go-to optical tool for most serious birders. Compared to spotting scopes or long-lens cameras, binoculars are more portable and convenient. To answer the question, let’s start by understanding…