Hummingbird Banding at Fort Huachuca Public Affairs Office (PAO), Arizona

Volunteers needed for monitoring and feeder maintenance!

Get close-up views of hummingbirds while assisting in a regional biodiversity study of hummingbirds in the USA, Canada and Mexico. 2012 is the 11th year of the Hummingbird Monitoring Network’s multi-year investigation of the distribution, migration and diversity of hummingbirds. Information collected during the study will be used to assist in the preservation and protection of hummingbirds.

General information about monitoring
We always need trapping, recording, and feeder maintenance assistance at the monitoring stations. If you would like to sign up to help out on one of the dates listed send an e-mail to ldavis@theriver.com.  

The 2012 schedule will be posted in early 2012. You should have an interesting time learning a bit more about hummingbirds, but you must realize that this is a scientific research program with nearly 30 associated sites in AZ, CA, CO, UT, British Columbia and Mexico.

The positions for volunteers on monitoring dates are:

• Recorder - which requires legible handwriting and the ability to transcribe spoken data accurately,
• Trapper - which requires good hand-eye coordination to know when to drop the trap curtain and the manual dexterity to remove the bird from the trap and place it in a mesh bag without harming it or allowing it to escape,
• Feeder/releaser - on busy days, this person feeds each bird and releases it after it has been processed, which again, requires manual dexterity and bird handling confidence.

You will be given a brief training at the start of the session.

From approximately half an hour before sunrise, you should expect to be at the site for 5.75 hours including equipment set-up, 5 hours of trapping, and equipment break-down.

Feeder Maintenance
We also need volunteers to maintain the 5 hummingbird feeders at the Fort Huachuca PAO and 5 feeders at nearby Garden Canyon. From March through October, feeders are cleaned and refilled between twice a week to daily during Fall Migration. If you're available to help at least once a week, please contact ldavis@theriver.com.

Species you may see:

• Anna’s
• Broad-billed
• Black-chinned
• Lucifer
• Magnificent
• Violet-crowned
• during migration---Rufous, Broad-tailed, and Calliope
• and on occasion---Blue-throated, Costa’s, Allen’s, and Berylline.

What to bring?

Water, snacks, hat, sunscreen, and warm clothes. It’s best to dress in layers as it may be cold to start and warm by the end of the morning.

Contact

For the latest information on volunteer opportunities at the Fort Huachuca PAO, contact ldavis@theriver.com.

Even if the schedule indicates no additional volunteers are needed, you’re always welcome to observe and train on the different jobs.

Fort Huachuca Public Affairs Office (PAO), Arizona
2012 Volunteer Schedule---Sunday---AM

Location and Directions

Fort Huachuca is an active military installation and specific entrance requirements are enforced. US citizens may drive on the post after getting logged in as visitors. To get logged in as a visitor, drive to the Main Gate of Ft. Huachuca in the right lane, approach the gate guards, present your driver's license, and inform the guard that you're a visitor headed to the Public Affairs Office for hummingbird banding. You will be directed to pull over to the right and present required documentation: valid driver's license, proof of insurance, and vehicle registration or car rental agreement. The driver and all passengers 18 and older must have a valid photo ID issued from a Federal or State governmental agency (e.g., Dept. of Motor Vehicles) to show as they pass through the checkpoint. Driving directions are provided below. If you are meeting the bander at the Main Gate, be sure to get there 10 minutes early to get logged in.

Banding at Fort Huachuca takes place outside of the Public Affairs Office, Building 21115, Brayton Hall, across from the gazebo at the upper end of Brown Parade Field. From the intersection of Arizona Highways 90 and 92 in Sierra Vista, drive west on Fry Boulevard about 3 miles to the Fort Huachuca Main Gate.  After getting registered as a visitor, if needed, proceed through the Main Gate and continue straight on Winrow Rd. This road splits into 2 lanes each way (and your westbound lanes change their name to Squire Ave). In 2 miles, be in the right hand lane as it merges back into Winrow Rd. once again. At the first TRAFFIC CIRCLE, take the third exit which returns you to Winrow Rd. The second TRAFFIC CIRCLE is approximately 3.3 miles from the Main Gate. You will enter the traffic circle at the 6 o'clock position and exit at the 9 o'clock position on to Smith Ave. Follow Smith Ave. 0.15 mi to a 4-way stop light. Turn left at the light on to Christy Ave. Continue on Christy Ave. for 0.6 miles to Adair Rd on the left. Turn left on Adair, drive up to the second building on the right (the Public Affairs Office) and park parallel to the curb on either side of the street. 

Because detours are common, please check with guards at the Main Gate to find out if detours to the PAO are in place.