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Birds of the San Pedro
Introduction
• San Pedro River Drainage
North running river Located mostly in SE Arizona
Only river that has not been dammed in SE US
Provides riparian habitat for many species
• The river basin provides food, shelter and water to 389
species of birds which adds up to about half of bird
species found in North America (Steinitz et al. 2003)
• The San Pedro River basin is listed as the
number one birding site in the United States
by Wild Bird Digest Magazine
Important Species of Birds
• Willow FlycatcherEndangered Species
Dependent on riparian habitat, which makes the San Pedro river a prime site for habitat.
Northern Goshawk
• Accipiter species
• Feeds on small mammals
• White stripe over eye
• Black bars on tail
• Lives in mountainous habitat
Summer Tanager• bright red plumage for males and
a bright yellow plumage for females
• found in wooded areas in Arizona
• The numbers in populations of this species have decreased
significantly due to land clearing (Tekiela, 2003).
Black Crowned Night Heron
• Aquatic species
• Eats fish and insects
• Black crown
• White belly
• Populations have decreased
In past 100 years
Red Winged Black Bird
• Males of this species are jet black
all over and have red and yellow
stripes located on the wings • females of this species are striped
and brown in coloration
• visits the San Pedro every spring • one of the most numerous species in Arizona• Associated with aquatic environments
Migrant Species
• Wilson’s Warbler
• Yellow Rumped Warbler
Problems
• Cattle GrazingDecreases vegetation for
food and habitat of bird species
• San Pedro National Conservation Area
Cattle were removed Bird surveys conducted Bird species and
populations increased due to removal
Brood Parasites
• Parasitize nests of other birds
• Brown headed and Bronzed Cowbirds
• Known to parasitize over 200 species of birds
Problems
• Three hundred years ago wetlands comprised about 5% of the state, whereas now they are less than 1% of the states landmass (Krueper et al. 2003)
• lowering of the water table in the basin
• about 80% of Arizona vertebrate species rely on wetlands at some
point in their life cycles
Conservation
• In 1988, the U.S. congress set aside the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area
• corridor for migrating birds
• a refuge for native species
Willow Flycatcher Program
• Arizona Game and Fish Department
• Management operatives include:
• bird surveys
• nest monitoring
• brood parasite trapping.
• The agency also monitors areas of riparian regeneration, and works to minimize land use impacts
The End