News

With the federal budget crisis averted (at least for now), the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area is scheduled to reopen on Sunday, April 10.

SABO's weekly hummingbird banding session at the San Pedro House has been rescheduled for Monday, April 11, from 4 to 6 p.m. Barring unforeseen circumstances, the rest of the spring season will go on as scheduled. Please see SABO's Calendar of Events for the complete schedule.

A weekend closure of the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area has forced the cancellation of this week's banding session.

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Activities for Fiesta de las Aves, May 2-7, are now up on the Calendar of Events and ready for registration. This year's schedule includes an additional walk on the San Pedro River, departing from the San Pedro House, in additon to favorites such as the Hummingbird Field Clinic (Thursday), Huachuca Canyon Walk (Friday), and Cienega & Grasslands Tour (Saturday). Join us for a great week celebrating migration!

If Congress is unable to reach an agreement on the federal budget, forcing a government shutdown, SABO's weekly hummingbird banding sessions on the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (San Pedro House) will be canceled for the duration of the shutdown.

Please contact your Senators and Representatives to encourage them to come to an agreement that will head off the pending government shutdown and keep all of our public agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and Forest Service, working for the American people.

Like most Americans, we were devastated by the tragedy that took the lives of six fellow Arizonans and harmed so many others.

May the families and friends of the lost find peace and comfort in their memories and the caring of the community.

May the skill of some of Arizona's finest physicians, nurses, and technicians speed the healing of the wounded, and bring them back to us whole in body and mind.

May the heroes who risked their own lives to save others become an example for our nation and the world.

And may the investigation lead to understanding and prevention of such heinous acts, that no more innocent lives will be lost or shattered.

Many thanks to renewing business member Cafe ROKA in Bisbee, Arizona, one of SABO's earliest business members, for its continuing support of our efforts on behalf of southeastern Arizona's birds and their habitats!

Also a belated welcome to SABO's newest business member, the Yuma Visitors Bureau and Information Center. If you're looking for assistance in planning a trip to southwestern Arizona, the folks at the YVB are there to help.

SABO's winter birding activities begin in less than six weeks, and we are still in need of a replacement for our old angled-eyepiece spotting scope and tripod.

If you have a gently used angled-eyepiece scope and/or heavy-duty tripod that you'd be willing to donate or connections with an optics manufacturer or retailer who would be willing to help, please let us know.

SABO's winter calendar of events is beginning to take shape, with Hawk Stalks, Whitewater Wetlands Walks, and Sandhill Crane Watches. The latter two activities have moved to Sunday to encourage more family participation. Weekday walks and bus tours will still be available to groups. We've tentatively scheduled two longer events this winter: a "Sparrow-phobics Anonymous" mini-workshop February 12-13, and a week-long winter birding tour February 20-26. If you're interested in either of these, please drop us a note at sabo@sabo.org.

The next few weeks are traditionally the most challenging of the year for SABO from an economic standpoint. If you're planning on joining us for one or more activities this winter, your prepaid advance reservations will be much appreciated to help us get through this lean season.

A video of a pair of Mexican Spotted Owls preening each other is available for viewing on SABO's YouTube channel and Facebook page. The video was taken on last Thursday's Canyon Walk in Miller Canyon.

For a schedule of upcoming walks and other activities, please visit the Calendar of Events.