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Our April 20-21 Avra Valley adventure was a combined expedition and eBird Gaps Project outing. Avra Valley is primarily within Ironwood National Monument, where fifteen participants set out to collect critical avian presence data missing from this part of Arizona. On the night of April 20th, we surveyed four sites for nocturnal species, with a main focus on Elf Owls. And we saw or heard all of the probable nocturnal species, including elf owl, western screech-owl, great horned owl, common poorwill, and lesser nighthawk.
Most leaders and participants camped out at the Silverbell Group Campsite of Ironwood National Monument that night, surrounded by towering saguaros and a view of Ragged Top Mountain.
The following morning, we birded another four sites for migrating and resident desert species. We submitted our checklists to eBird to help fill in data gaps as part of AZFO’s eBird Gaps program in Avra Valley. Notable sightings of migrants included Cassin’s kingbird, plumbeous vireo, Townsend’s warbler, Nashville warbler, Virginia’s warbler, Bullock’s oriole, lazuli bunting, dusky flycatcher, Hammond’s flycatcher, and gray flycatcher.
Another meaningful and rewarding AZFO expedition - done! We will post more and a full trip list on our website, AZFO.org, soon. Photos by Robert Carter.
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