San Pedro River

The San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area was today's focus.  It's just a few miles east of Sierra Vista although it runs along the San Pedro River for some 40 miles.  Established in 1988 it conserves the river environment and has replaced the agricultural land use along the river.  It now has 82 species of mammals and 350 species of birds that either inhabit or visit the area during migration.  We took a hike with Cal around a 3 mile loop checking out a lot of birds.  Maybe Carlene will fill in some details.  I checked out a few with my binoculars, but talked with the real birders about what I might have seen.  So I observed a Black Phoebe down by the San Pedro River and Pyrrhuloxia feeding in the Cottonwood trees.  Then I noticed a Gila Woodpecker feeding along a limb.  I watched it checking out an opening in the limb and disappear inside it.  To my surprise there were wood chips coming from the opening.  Perhaps this is the beginning to nest building.  Andy  just saw some pretty birds!  It was an area that allowed Cal off leash when away from the developed site.  He had a blast.  it was actual flowing water.  We have not seen much of that.

Flowing water!  This is the San Pedro River.