Kayak Birding Trip
On May 20th the Northern Arizona Audubon Society did a kayak trip with Doug VanGausig from the Verde River Institute. Birding on the river is different because you have to do most of your birding by ear. If your kayak flips, and you are in the water, your binocs risk getting flooded. (Okay, yeah, we proved that. Still drying out a pair of binocs with condensation in the inner workings. Bummer.) We learned so much about the river, and how the Verde is a unique and intact environment for a HUGE portion of the biodiversity in AZ. Nearly 3/4 of the species (birds, bugs, plants, animals) in AZ need this habitat, and are dependent upon it. And there are only 34,000 acres of it in the State. Compare this to the 1.6 million acres of the Kaibab National Forest, or the 1.8 million acres of the Coconino National Forest. The riparian areas with the Cottonwoods and Willows harbor many migratory bird species, and the Mesquite Bosques, associated with flooding events of the river are critical for Common Black-Hawks, Verdin, Lucy's Warbler, Phainopepla, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, and innumerable migrating birds. And all the plants and bugs that support them.
On this trip we learned so much about the river, how unique it is in the greater environment, and how precious it is to wildlife. We also learned most of us are bad sailors! Ha ha! And I learned how important it is to learn birds by ear, and how much I appreciate my binoculars! Leave your binocs at home. Bring your ears, and your enthusiasm for saving the Verde River for the birds and bugs and your children.
This was a really fun trip. If it is offered next year, I highly recommend doing it, if only to download all of the info Doug VanGausig has to offer on the Verde River. I am now more informed, and realize more fully that this tiny habitat is critical for SO many species. Best birds all. Remember to report all of your sightings to eBird so your birding counts. Best birds all. hpk