Friends of the San Pedro River – July 2016 Events

San Pedro River Bird Walks  

Birders of all levels are invited to participate in upcoming bird walks sponsored by the Friends of the San Pedro River. The walks are scheduled for Wednesday, July 13, and Saturday, July 23, at 7:00 am.  Bird walks depart from the San Pedro House, 9800 E. Highway 90, east of Sierra Vista at the river.

There is no charge for the walks; however, donations are accepted to support the docent programs. Dress appropriately for the weather, bring drinking water, a snack, wear trail shoes, a hat, and use sun protection. For more information, call (520) 459-2555 or visit www.sanpedroriver.org. 

San Pedro River Interpretive Walks  

The Friends of the San Pedro River will conduct interpretive walks along the river every Saturday at 8:00 am. All walks depart from the San Pedro House, 9800 E. Highway 90, east of Sierra Vista at the river. The San Pedro River features some of the richest wildlife habitat in the United States. Here you'll find 82 species of mammals, dozens of reptiles and amphibians and nearly 350 species of birds. The river has been designated one of the Last Great Places by the Nature Conservancy. 

There is no charge for the walks; however, donations are accepted to support the docent programs. Dress appropriately for the weather, bring drinking water, wear trail shoes, a hat, and use sun protection. For more information, call (520) 459-2555 or visit www.sanpedroriver.org. 

Bird Walks at the Sierra Vista Environmental Operations Park 

The Sierra Vista Environmental Operations Park (EOP), also known as the waste water treatment plant, is open for bird walks each Sunday morning. The walks take about 2 hours and are led by docents from Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory (SABO), Huachuca Audubon Society (HAS), and the Friends of the San Pedro River (FSPR).  The EOP is a 50-acre wetlands planted with aquatic plants, including cattails, and grasses that attract migrating and nesting birds.

Tours are restricted to 22 persons (including docents) on a first-come, first-served basis. The walks begin Sundays at 7:00 am and depart from the viewing platform inside the EOP. The entrance is located on Highway 90 between mileage markers 324 and 325 on the north side of the highway. All tours are FREE, although donations are accepted. Dress appropriately for the weather, bring drinking water, wear trail shoes, a hat, and use sun protection. For more information, call (520) 459-2555 or visit www.sanpedroriver.org.

Hummingbird Banding at San Pedro House

Up to 10 species of hummingbirds use the green corridor of the San Pedro River as a freeway between their tropical winter retreats and their northern nesting grounds. The public is invited to get a close-up look at these tiny travelers as staff and volunteers from the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory capture, band, weigh, measure, and release them as part of long-term studies of the bird life of this vital migration route. 

Banding sessions will be held on Saturdays, July 2, 9 and 16, Friday, July 22, and Thursday, July 28, from 4 pm to 6 pm at San Pedro House, 9800 E. Highway 90 (7 miles east of Sierra Vista at the San Pedro River).  The public is welcome to observe banding sessions at no charge, but donations are gratefully accepted.

For more information contact the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory at (520) 432-1388 or visit www.sabo.org.