Sabino Canyon, 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 Elissa at:esquared@qwestoffice.net.  

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.

Sabino Canyon Info

The entrance to Sabino Canyon is just north of Sunrise Dr. on Sabino Canyon Rd.  Remember you’ll need a Forest Service pass to park at the Visitor Center ($5 for a daily pass or $20 for an annual pass.)

Feeder Maintenance

We need volunteers to maintain the 5 feeders at the Sabino Canyon.  You’ll carry in 2 quart feeders with the sugar water concentrate, 3 empty quart bottles, an empty gallon jug and a funnel.  We change the feeders every other day and you will be given a set of feeders for the change out plus directions on how to mix the sugar water concentrate.  You’ll need a backpack and will supply your own sugar.  We have enough volunteers so that each person would be responsible for feeder changing 2 days a month.  Or you could volunteer to be a sub when a “regular” goes on vacation.  If you’re available to help, please contact Elissa at: esquared@qwestoffice.net or call 869-6385(C).

Species you may see:

• Broad Billed
• Black Chinned
• Costa’s
• Anna’s
• Rufous and Broad Tailed during migration

What to bring:
Water, snacks, hat, sunscreen and layered clothing are essential.  At this site, during March, April, and October, it will be very cool to downright cold at the start of the session and then will warm up as the day goes on.  During May, June, July, August and September it will be cool at the start and then warm up quite a bit by the end of the session.

Contact

For the latest information on volunteer opportunities at Sabino Canyon, contact Elissa at esquared@qwestoffice.net or call her at 869-6385 (C).

Even if the schedule indicates that no more volunteers are needed, you are always welcome to come to the session to simply observe or train on the different jobs.

Sabino Canyon
2012 Volunteer Schedule – Saturday – AM
(first picnic table past the dam in Lower Sabino)

Location and Directions to the Sabino Canyon Hummingbird Banding Site

To get to the banding site: (just over 2 miles - about a 20-25 minute walk):
The site is located at the first picnic table just past the dam in Lower Sabino Canyon.  At the east end of the parking lot at the Sabino Canyon Visitor's Center (the end opposite the entrance) follow the dirt trail that heads east.  The trail is marked by 2 large, stone pillars. After a bit, the trail intersects with a paved road marked by a large rock. Turn right onto the road. When you reach a junction, head left up the hill (not right down the hill and over a bridge). The pavement ends in a circle with a restroom on the right. Continue past the restroom onto a dirt trail at the back of the circle. After a short distance you'll see Sabino Creek and Dam on your right and a restroom uphill on your left. Continue down the trail until you've reached a concrete picnic table – you found it!