News

A number of people have expressed frustration at having to go through the event registration process once for each person and activity. The company that provides our event registration capability is working on solutions to this issue, but in the meantime we have added an additional participant option to the registration form.

This approach is less than ideal in that:

• the additional space will not be automatically deducted from the number of remaining spaces on the activity, which could lead to overbooking
• multiple activities will still require multiple registrations

However, this temporary work-around will cut the number of registrations and PayPal transactions in half for parties of two, four, or six.

SABO's staff appreciates your patience and perseverance as we work to make the registration process more user friendly.

Cancellation of the Institute for Field Ornithology Owls, Trogons, & Hummingbirds workshop allowed SABO to offer another week of public activities, including a River Walk on May 5 and a Canyon Walk and Huachuca Mountain Owl Prowl on May 7. Registration is now open for these activities - please visit the Calendar of Events for details and registration.

We've just confirmed the last activities on the Fiesta de las Aves schedule, including the new Cienega and Grasslands Tour. Activities will begin Monday, May 11 and continue through Saturday, May 16.

To review the schedule or register, please visit the new Fiesta de las Aves page.

Conflicts with other events and the impending loss of access to our banding site in Carr Canyon have forced revisions to this spring's hummingbird banding schedule. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please check the Calendar of Events for the revised dates.

SABO now has a profile on Facebook. Though we won't duplicate all the information from www.sabo.org to the profile, we'll be posting selected photos, videos, links, and events to share with our Facebook friends.

We have also posted a fundraising challenge to Facebook Causes: Raise $5000 by May 16, 2009 to fund a half-time coordinator and information manager for the Arizona Hummingbird Survey for six months. We would like to have a coordinator on the job by early June in preparation for fall migration. Facebook members can help by joining this cause, making donations, and spreading the word to their network of friends.

This article from Science News reports on research at the University of Arizona on how climate change is affecting the distribution and flowering seasons of native plants of the Sonoran Desert region.

A Blue Mockingbird at the Slaughter Ranch historic site east of Douglas has been the most exciting bird of the winter. SABO directors Tom Wood, Sheri Williamson, and Mark Newstrom visited the site and were able to get a short high-definition video of this avian celebrity.

Our thanks to renewing business member Fred Miller of Copper City Inn, located here in SABO's home town of Bisbee. If you're planning a visit to southeastern Arizona, please stop by the Business Member Directory for birder-friendly lodging, dining, and other opportunities.