Tucson Audubon Society

PROTECT BIRDS THROUGH RECREATION, EDUCATION, CONVERSATION, RESTORATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

NATIVE HABITAT & ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION - PRIMARY ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2022 INCLUDE:INTENSIVE INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES MAPPING AND TREATMENT; WILDFIRE PREVENTION PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION; WILDLAND AND URBAN HABITAT MAINTENANCE, MANAGEMENT, AND CREATION ACROSS 1000+ ACRES. ONGOING MASTER AGREEMENTS FOR VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE MONITORING AND MAPPING TO FUTHER ONGOING RESEARCH ON THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE; ONGOING AGREEMENTS AND CONTRACTS FOR THE CONTROL OF NON-NATIVE INVASIVE PLANTS THROUGHOUT THE DESERT SOUTHWEST. CREATION OF HABITAT REFUGIA FOR THREATENED/ENDANGERED/SENSITIVE SPECIES INCLUDING MANAGED WETLANDS, PONDS, STREAMS, AND POLLINATOR GARDENS. CLIMATE ADAPTATION PROJECTS FOR KEYSTONE SPECIES, ESPECIALLY GIANT SAGUARO CACTUS, WHICH INCLUDES POST-FIRE RESTORATION, FACILITATED MIGRATION, AND HABITAT FUNCTION REPLACEMENT ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS LOSS PREVENTION. LOCAL-SCALE HABITAT CONSULTATIONS, MAINTENANCE, AND ENGAGEMENT THROUGH HABITAT @ HOME' PROGRAM AND CITY GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE CONTRACTS.

AVIAN CONSERVATION: INCLUDING COMMUNITY SCIENCE AND PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY: PRIMARY ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2022 INCLUDE:ONGOING MONITORING OF SPECIES LISTED AS THREATENED, ENDANGERED, AND SENSITIVE WITH FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL-MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS AND NGO PARTNERS ESPECIALLY FOCUSED ON DESIGNATED IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS. BROADENING IMPLEMENTATION AND ROLL-OUT OF REMOTE SENSING MONITORINGTECHNOLOGIES INCLUDING MOTUS, GEOLOCATORS, AND ACOUSTIC RECORDERS. EXPANDED SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDING ON BLUEBIRDS, DESERT PURPLE MARTINS, BATS, NUMEROUS PLANTS - ESPECIALLY SAGUAROS, AND LUCY'S WARBLERS. ONGOING DIRECT COMMUNITY-CONSERVATION EFFORTS INCLUDING INSTALLATION OF NESTBOXES FOR LUCY'S WARBLERS AND OTHER CAVITY NESTERS, INSTALLATION OF BAT HOUSES AND BEEKEEPS, AND CITIZEN-SCIENCE TRACKING OF AVIAN NESTING.

NATURE CENTERS: PATON CENTER FOR HUMMINGBIRDS / MASON CENTER FOR IRONWOOD PRESERVATION - 15,000+ ANNUAL VISITORS, COMING FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, VISIT THE PATON CENTER IN PATAGONIA, ARIZONA. THE PATON CENTER COMPLEX SPANS 13 ACRES OF WHICH 10 ARE UNDERGOING SIGNIFICANT HABITAT RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT ACTIVITIES FUNDED THROUGH A VARIETY OF GRANTS AND PRIVATE DONATIONS. THE WORK INCLUDES INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL, NATIVE PLANT PLANTINGS, AND FUNCTIONAL RESTORATION ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS CREATION AND MAINTENANCE OF VISITOR AMENITIES. NUMEROUS VISITORS ALSO VISIT THE MASON CENTER, 20 ACRES, WHICH IS SEEING A DE FACTO EXPANSION THROUGH A JOINT MANAGEMENT PARTNERSHIP WITH PIMA COUNTY WHO OWN THE ADJACENT 36 ACRE DESERT PARCEL. ON SITE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, RAINWATER HARVESTING, DESERT LANDSCAPING, PERMEABLE PARKING, AND BIRD-SAFE-BUILDINGS DEMONSTRATION AREAS, AS WELL AS AN EXPERIMENTAL GROWOUT SITE FOR THE SAGUARO CLIMATE ADAPTATION PROJECT.