2020 CONSERVATION FOCUS

The Sonoita Creek Watershed

The 2020 Virtual Southeast Arizona Birding Festival introduced a new component: an intentional focus on a critical area of conservation in Southeast Arizona. We chose the Sonoita Creek Watershed which originates in the Patagonia Mountains and flows down through Patagonia into the Santa Cruz River and has suffered habitat degradation due to a history of mining activity, cattle ranching, and poor land use. The Sonoita Creek Watershed, as all parts of the Sky Island region, hosts an amazing abundance of biodiversity, critical habitats and feeds many important areas for conservation including our own Paton Center for Hummingbirds in Patagonia.

Watch our “Birding with a Purpose” sessions to learn more about Sonoita Creek birds and conservation issues:

• The Cuckoo Corridor is an active restoration site near the Paton Center for Hummingbirds that hosts a wide array of bird species including the threatened Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo.
• Harshaw Creek & Mining takes a look at the special birds of the Patagonia Mountains and Harshaw Creek which is part of the Sonoita Creek Watershed and is threatened by active mining operations.

Together we raised over $9,000 for conservation work in the Sonoita Creek Watershed and Southeast Arizona.

Thank you for your participation with us in taking care of our precious natural resources and wildlife. Be looking soon for our 2021 Conservation Focus.