The best birding opportunities in the
Southwestern states are found in the southeastern corner of
Arizona, along the San Pedro and Santa Cruz rivers and their
tributaries. This is an amazing happenstance, considering
the arid nature of the desert which surrounds the riparian
habitats. Whichever location you choose, you'll know that
the wildlife viewing will be exceptional.
San Pedro Riparian National
Conservation Area
Covering more than 56,000 acres on both sides of the
San Pedro in Cochise County, the conservation area
extends about 40 miles from the Mexican border north to
the little town of St. David, a few miles south of Benson
and Interstate 10. It is the most extensive protected
riparian ecosystem in the basin and range area of the
Southwest.
Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the
conservation area provides habitat to more than 100
species of breeding birds as well as providing a
terporary resting place for another 250 species of
migratory and wintering birds.
What is most unusual about the bird population here is
that they come from an amazingly different group of
biotic zones -- from Alaska to the southern tip of South
America, and from high mountain regions to the low desert
regions of Mexico. More than 370 bird species have been
identified along the river, including many species of
shorebirds, 28 varieties of raptors, plus herons, loons,
geese and ducks, cuckoos, owls, swifts, woodpeckers,
flycatchers, grosbeaks, and hummingbirds.
This convergence of flyway routes makes the Upper San
Pedro valley a special place indeed. The river manages to
feed water to the riverside marshes throughout the year,
although summertime flows are often reduced to a trickle.
The river is augmented by a number of springs within the
area which serve to keep the marshes wet
The Ecosystem
The uplands on both sides of the river are spread with
a typical Chichuahan desert scrub, including creosote
bush, acacia and tarbush. The areas closer to the river,
the bottomland, is a mesquite bosque with large amounts
of sacaton grass. The riverside is a cottonwood-willow
woodland (Fremont cottonwood and Goodding willow). You'll
also find other trees, including Arizona ash, hackberry,
walnut and soapberry.
One should not forget the wildlife, beside the bird
species which inhabit this ripe ecosystem. More than 80
species of mammals and some very special fish inhabit the
conservation area. The collard peccary is found in herds,
roaming through the area. Javalina are joined by many
species of rodents, bobcats, a few mountain lions,
white-tailed deer, mule deer, jack rabbits and
cottontails.
Long before the development of the riparian
conservation area, the San Pedro was home to fourteen
species of fish. Only two remain: the longfin dace and
desert sucker. Other species now found in the river are
introduced species such as the mosquitofish, common carp
and yellow bullhead.
One would think that the availability of a year-round
water supply would attract amphibians. The area features
a large number of lizards including the Gila monster and
desert grassland whiptail lizard. You'll probably see the
Sonoran box turtle and Couch's spadefoot toad, along with
many species of snakes of which the most common is the
western diamondback rattlesnake. Other snakes to be found
(or maybe avoided) include the (seldom seen) Mojave green
rattlesnake. Visitors should beware of rattlesnakes
during the summer months. The resident Mexican
gartersnake is not as ominous a companion while walking
along the riverside trails.
Getting Information
The conservation area office is located at the old
townsite of Fairbank, where only a couple of buildings
remain from the mining days. Largely staffed by
volunteers, the headquarters provides trail maps and
other valuable information for nature lovers. A useful
place to look for more information is San Pedro House,
operated by the Friends of the San Pedro, located to the
south on Highway 90, just 7 miles east of the town of
Sierra Vista. This 1930s ranch house has been recently
restored and serves as a bookstore and visitor center, It
is open Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm and on Sundays from
noon to 3 pm. It is also open on a variable schedule
throghout the rest of the week when volunteers provide
information and assistance.
The conservation area is a prime area for birders,
hikers, horseback riders and photographers. Most of the
trails are open to hikers and riders. Overnight camping
is permitted in backcountry areas, with permits required
for overnight stays. There are self-service "pay"
stations at all visitor parking areas. Camping is limited
to seven consecutive days in any one location, unless
otherwise posted. The area is free for day visitors. For
more information, call the BLM at (520) 457-2265, Monday
through Friday from 7:45 am to 4:15 pm, Arizona Standard
Time (throughout the year).
Trails
To put it simply, trails lead from the parking areas
along the riverbanks. From north to south these are: at
the Cienaga-Land Corral, at the village of St. David, at
the north end of the conservation area; Fairbank (BLM
headquarters), beside Highway 82, west of Tombstone;
Charleston Bridge, via Charleston Road which leads west
from Tombstone and Highway 80, and east from the town of
Sierra Vista; at San Pedro House, on Highway 90, east of
Sierra Vista and west of Highway 80, between Tombstone
and Bisbee; Hereford, accessed by taking Hereford Road
north from Hwy. 92 west of Bisbee or east from Highway 92
south of Sierra Vista; Palominas, on Highway 92, west of
Bisbee and south of Sierra Vista. This is the most
southerly section of the conservation area, touching the
Mexican border.
Terrenate Presidio
This is a historic site which is reached by a separate
trail, found by driving 2 miles west of Fairbank on
Highway 82 and then 2 miles north on Kellar Road. The
Presidio Santa Cruz de Terrenate was built in 1775 to
protect Spanish farmlands in the area. It had a very
brief existence, about five years. Continual Apache raids
convinced the Spanish to desert the fort in 1780. More
than 80 residents lost their lives during the Indian
raids. It is not known how many Apache were killed.
The Presidio Trail leaves the parking lot on Kellar
Road, leading 1.2 miles to the ruins of the Spanish
community. A stone foundation and several adobe walls are
all that remain of the fort. Interpretive signs are found
along the trail which leads through the presidio area.
Boquillas Land &
Cattle Company Site
The old headquarters of this sizeable ranching
operation is located two miles south of Fairbank. A
bustling operation in its day, it included a railroad
depot, houses, two barns, a smoke house and blacksmith
shop. The area is now used for private residences.
Southeastern Arizona
Birding Observatory
Located in Bisbee, the observatory offers guided
birding walks in Carr Canyon and the San Pedro Riparian
NCA, hummingbird banding sessions, and a lot more
including winter birding tours from Bisbee. For
information, visit the observatory's
website.
