Wildlife Highlights
A. Birds
Important Birding Area - The Agua Fria National Monument (AFNM) has been designated as an Important Birding Area. Being located so near the AFNM and providing a premier riparian habitat, the Black Canyon Heritage Park bird population attracts many birds.
Note: The Audubon network, in coordination with partner organizations, is fighting to minimize and reverse the effects of human activities and climate change on birds and their habitat through programs like the Important Bird Areas Program, a global initiative of BirdLife International. Across the country, volunteers and organizations are involved with conservation activities at Important Bird Areas
Ebird - eBird is the world’s largest biodiversity-related citizen science project, with more than 100 million bird sightings contributed each year by eBirders around the world. A collaborative enterprise with hundreds of partner organizations, thousands of regional experts, and hundreds of thousands of users, eBird is managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Note: See what people have recorded at BCHP - https://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L3604678
Audubon Bird Guide Ap - The Audubon Bird Guide is a free and complete field guide to over 800 species of North American birds, right in your pocket. Built for all experience levels, it will help you identify the birds around you, keep track of the birds you’ve seen, and get outside to find new birds near you.
B. Mammals
The goal of planning for wildlife at both the landscape and community scale is to support Arizona’s growth, and economic development while ensuring sustainability, diversity, and safe movement of Arizona’s wildlife populations.
Arizona Game and Fish tools
C. Invertebrates (do not have backbones)
Common invertebrates in our area include scorpions, spiders, butterflies, moths, termites, bees, and termites.
Desert Museum Web Page for Invertebrates - This page has links and information on some common Arizona invertibrates. The mission of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is to inspire people to live in harmony with the natural world by fostering love, appreciation, and understanding of the Sonoran Desert.
Insects Decline and Why if Matters - Report on insect decline for the UK Wildlife Trusts by Dave Goulson, a professor of biology at the University of Sussex in the UK. It's being called the unnoticed apocalypse: The number of insects is declining rapidly and 41% of bug species face extinction, scientists say. "Three quarters of our crops depend on insect pollinators. Crops will begin to fail. We won't have things like strawberries," he told CNN. It's being called the unnoticed apocalypse: The number of insects is declining rapidly and 41% of bug species face extinction, scientists say.
Note: Black Canyon Heritage Park is a Monarch Butterfly Waystation. As of 28 November 2019, there have been 26,970 Monarch Waystation habitats registered with Monarch Watch. The entire BCHP is butterfly friendly but we also have 4 areas Desert Botanical Garden has help us populate with specific plants to attract Monarchs (and therefor many other butterflies and pollinators).
Fun Fact: Arizona is also home to 20 varieties of native and pesticide-free milkweed, he said, a crucial element in monarch butterfly habitat restoration.
D. Reptiles & Amphibians
Common species include snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, toads, and salamanders of Arizona.
Threat:
Arizona has become home to four types of exotic (non-native) amphibians: bullfrogs, Rio Grande leopard frogs, African clawed frogs and barred tiger salamanders. Bullfrogs have become so numerous and widespread that they are now seriously threatening native aquatic wildlife populations, particularly amphibians and reptiles.
Resources:
Online Field Guide to The Reptiles and Amphibians of Arizona
Arizona Game and Fish web page
Species we may loose
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Endangered - Endangered species are species that are in danger of extinction right now throughout all or at least a significant portion of their range within the United States or even globally.
- Threatened - Threatened species are species that are considered likely to become an endangered species in the foreseeable future. Many
Note: There are two main differences between federal and state threatened and endangered species lists: geography and legal penalties. Species listed on state endangered and threatened lists are in danger of disappearing completely from that particular state and not the species’ entire range. A state wildlife agency—not the federal government—has the authority of enforcement for state listed species. The penalties or violations for harming the species on state lists are usually less severe than those under federal law.
Arizona Game and Fish (AGF) efully distinguishes its listing from the federal list of threatened and endangered species. AGF's listing once was titled "Threatened Native Wildlife in Arizona," with categories of "state threatened" and "state endangered." AGF discovered, however, that using the words "threatened" and "endangered" led people to believe that state categories were identical with the federal listing, which was not true. The state listing serves to promote prompt and early management actions, thus at times precluding the need for a federal listing of a particular species.
Federal listing of Endangered and Threatened species that occur in ARIZONA
General Resources
Arizona Game and Fish Department - Wildlife - This page of the Arizona Game and Fish Department provides information on everything from wildlife viewing opportunities and tips for living with wildlife, to how the Arizona Game and Fish Department conducts wildlife research and manages game, nongame and endangered wildlife.
Note: Arizona Game and Fish Commission establishes policy for the management, preservation, and harvest of wildlife. The Commission makes rules and regulations for managing, conserving, and protecting wildlife and fisheries resources, and safe and regulated watercraft and off-highway vehicle operations for the benefit of the citizens of Arizona. Arizona ranks amount the top five states in the nation when it comes to the total number of native bird, reptile and mammal species – more than 800.
Southwest Wildlife - Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center (SWCC) rescues and rehabilitates wildlife that has been injured, displaced, and orphaned. Once rehabilitated, they are returned to the wild. Sanctuary is provided to animals that cannot be released back to the wild.
US Fish and Wildlife -This page shows the offices and resources of the Arizona offices for US Fish and Wildlife.
Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary - The Sanctuary’s motto is “Conservation through Education,” and it is a mission that this facility services with pride.
Article on the invasive Tamarisk - Colorado Public Radio: Tamarisk Tree-Eating Beetles Evolve Heat-Proof Abilities, Continue Their March Across The Southwest
Specific Species Resources
Rabbits vs Jackrabbits - check out the differences at https://petkeen.com/jackrabbit-vs-cottontail/