Bringing Wild Birds to Your Backyard!

Eric Moore, the owner of Jay's Bird Barn, publishes an article about bringing wild birds to your backyard in The Daily Courier every Saturday. Sign up to receive our weekly article in your email.

Birding in the Gila Valley

I made a quick trip down to the Safford/Thatcher area last week and saw some awesome birds! One place I visited was Cluff Ranch Wildlife Area, a 788-acre property managed by Arizona Game and Fish. The property sits at 3,000 feet in elevation and is nestled on the northern base of the Pinaleno Mountains.

When I arrived at Cluff Ranch and was greeted by a stunning male Vermilion Flycatcher, I knew it was going to be a good birding day! Within minutes, I saw other equally gorgeous birds such as Summer Tanager, Hooded Oriole and Northern Cardinal.

The area surrounding Cluff Ranch is desert scrub, and there was an abundance of Black-throated Sparrows in this habitat. At one point I saw an adult Black-throated Sparrow desperately searching for food to feed a fledgling Brown-headed Cowbird that it had raised!

Ash Creek, a perennial stream, runs right through the property, creating a lush riparian habitat with old-growth cottonwood trees. I enjoyed an unusual bird sighting by seeing several rare Gray Hawks—a summer resident that occurs only in southeastern Arizona—not as far north as Prescott.

I spent quite a bit of time at Roper Lake State Park which is also managed by Arizona Game and Fish. This relatively small lake (32 acres,) which is just south of Safford, sits at 3,130 feet in elevation, and the birding was great.

I saw Spotted Sandpiper, Great-blue Heron, Green Heron, Great Egret, and Snowy Egret. However, the real thrill for me was seeing a Least Bittern—it was only the second time in my life to see this species. There were also a lot of Forester’s Terns and a few Black Terns. Terns are often associated with salt water habitats. When you think ‘Arizona,’ terns don’t come to mind, but several tern species actually occur in freshwater habitats.

My last birding destination was a quick drive up Mount Graham. I didn’t have time to drive the full way, but I went about 22 miles, to an elevation of about 8,800 feet. I got out and hiked around at three different spots—Wet Canyon, Cluff Dairy, and Ladybug Trailhead.

At one of the stops, almost immediately after getting out of the car, I heard a hawk vocalizing off in the distance. I cautiously hiked toward the source of the sound, and to my absolute surprise I stumbled across several Northern Goshawks—I think I happened upon a nesting site. A juvenile Goshawk took flight, landing only a short distance away in a Ponderosa Pine. Within minutes there was another Goshawk flying high overhead, while yet another was vocalizing further down the draw.




The summit of Ladybug Peak provided amazing 360 degree views of the surrounding valleys. What was fascinating was to see both a Red-tailed Hawk and a Turkey Vulture soaring at that elevation—it was like being eye to eye with them instead of straining my neck to look up at them.

The Gila Valley is about a four and a half hour drive from Prescott—well worth the drive as there are a lot of wildlife viewing areas to be explored. I brought back several brochures and pamphlets on the different nature destinations in that area. If you would like to check out any of these materials from our lending library, I invite you to come by the store.

Happy Birding!

If you have specific questions or issues related to wild birds which you would like discussed in future articles, you can submit them to Jay’s Bird Barn, 1046 Willow Creek Road, Suite 105, Prescott, AZ 86301 or log onto www.JaysBirdBarn.com and click on Ask Eric, which will link you with my e-mail address Eric@JaysBirdBarn.com.

Eric M. Moore is the owner of Jay’s Bird Barn and has been an avid birder for over 40 years.

My interest in birds began when I was very young. By the time I was five years old I was fascinated with birds and watched them at feeders in my parents' yard in Massachusetts.

At the age of 13 I joined the Tucson chapter of the National Audubon Society. When I lived in Utah I participated in the Utah County Birders Club (there was not an Audubon chapter in Provo). I have been associated with the Prescott chapter of the National Audubon Society for the past eleven years and have served on the board of directors and as the publicity chair.

I have led bird walks, been in charge of the Spring Migratory Bird Count, and I have participated in the Christmas Bird Count in Tucson, Provo, and Prescott for a time period spanning 30 years. I consider myself to be an excellent birder. Birding is more than a hobby for me--it is a passion.

-- Eric Moore
Owner, Jay's Bird Barn