At 11:02 AM 11/18/98 -0800, sanjer at televar.com wrote:
>We are flying to Arizona this evening (last minute decision). We will
>have two days to go birding. Anyone know of any "hotspots" between
>Phoenix and Madera Canyon- Patagonia area--which is our primary
>destination.

Yes, spend some time in the western half of Saguaro National Park.
You'll pass through other saguaro habitat, but you might as well
just go to the Park which is only a short distance off the interstate
you'll be travelling. Swinging west, then south to the park, then
back through Tucson Mtn Park and south towards Xavier Mission (I think
that's the right name) allows you to not only get in some good
desert birding and cactus looks, but means you don't have to drive
the freeway stretch through Tucson. Though Tucson is sprawling
rapidly, phew, you won't miss it all any more. Check out the mission,
too, it's been around awhile.

With just two days, I'd scoot towards the Saguaro NP ASAP, bird
there - you'll find all of the common resident and wintering
desert species - then on to Madera and Patagonia. The latter two
don't include classic Sonoran desert habitat. Patagonia's up in
the grasslands, while Madera Canyon is up in the mountains.

The dirt/gravel road that heads east from the mouth of Madera
Canyon to the grasslands north of Patagonia is usually not too bad,
but I'd check anyway in case they've been having road-messing rains
recently. I was just through there about 6 weeks ago and experienced
a month of sunshine in the SW so am doubtful that road conditions
will be bad. But check anyway. Santa Rita lodge has a little
nature store/info center with nice folks in it.


- Don Baccus, Portland OR <dhogaza at pacifier.com>
Nature photos, on-line guides, and other goodies at
http://donb.photo.net