The Morning Blend
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Commentary by Alan Blixt
Special to the Herald/Review
Park at the San Pedro House and you will find a map of the local trails on the porch. Follow the trail to Green Kingfisher Pond. As you arrive at Green Kingfisher Pond note the large cottonwood at the north end of the pond. This is an “apartment building” for nesting birds in the summer. Vermilion flycatchers, yellow warblers, and yellow-billed cuckoos have nested here. These birds feed insects to their young, thus playing a valuable role in insect control.
Green Kingfishers are seen on occasion. Check our sightings board and book on the porch of San Pedro House to see what’s around. More than 350 species of birds have been recorded on the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area. Mexican mallards and other waterfowl frequent the pond, particularly in winter. In summer, watch for garter snakes and the Texas spiny-softshell turtle. More than 40 species of reptiles and amphibians have been seen here. Listen for the calls of the beautiful common yellowthroat and our native song sparrow. It is not uncommon to see as many as five species of swallows catching flying insects. Tropical kingbirds and Say’s and black phoebes often flycatch above the pond. And don’t forget to look for the beautiful queen and pipevine swallowtail butterflies in season.
Just south of the pond you will see a non-native invasive species — the salt cedar or tamarisk. Other bushes you see are the native four-winged saltbush. These plants love alkaline soils. Lick a leaf and taste the salt. Also nearby, find a large green plant with huge white flowers, the sacred datura. Don’t handle this plant since it is toxic to humans. This is a beautiful plant that blooms at night and is pollinated by sphynx moths. Look for a regal ring-necked snake that lives here. There are also rattlesnakes throughout the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area. Always give snakes a wide berth and watch where you step.
 A view of the Green Kingfisher Pond near the San Pedro House. (Courtesy of Ted White) |
Walk back along the river. The Fremont Cottonwood/Gooding’s Willow riparian habitat is a haven for migrating birds who find food, water and cover here. Approximately 2 percent of Arizona is riparian habitat and 90 to 95 percent of the lowland riparian habitat has been degraded or destroyed.
The Nature Conservancy has designated this area as one of the last great places on planet Earth. Eighty-two species of mammals have been recorded here. They depend on the riparian corridor and surrounding semi-arid grasslands and desert scrub for their survival. Great blue Herons often hunt fish and bullfrogs along the river. The great blue Heron is one of the few birds that uses tools to hunt. It will pick up dry grass from the bank and drop it into the river. When small fish rise to investigate, the heron eats them! Prior to the 1890s, there were 13 species of native fish in the river. We now have two species: the longfin dace and the desert sucker, the consequence of a variety of natural and manmade factors that have transformed our river.
Look for the scat and/or tracks of raccoons, coatimundi or grey fox in the mud at the water’s edge. Last summer we found a beaver pelt with mountain lion hair on it so look for predator tracks and beaver dams. Bobcats have been seen as well. Great horned owls nest in the cottonwoods. These predators have no sense of smell. Thus one of their favorite foods is skunk. We have four species of skunk here — spotted, striped, hog-nosed and hooded.
Look in the trees for the beautiful Bullock’s oriole and summer tanager. These colorful birds breed here in the summer. Watch the tree bark for tree lizards and Clark’s spiny lizards hunting for insects. Woodhouse’s toads are out in the spring and spadefoot toads come out after the start of our summer rains. Then, the Mexican hog-nosed snake shows up to eat the spadefoots.
As you leave the river on the way back to San Pedro House, notice the increase in heat and the decrease in humidity. What an incredible place.
Every time you visit you will see something new and different. Come during different seasons and see different things. Come take a walk with us.
Events
Join us on a Hike from the San Pedro House at 8 a.m. on Feb. 16. We will locate and measure what may be the largest Cottonwood tree in Arizona. Check out our Web site at sanpedroriver.org for other guided bird and interpretive walk schedules.
ALAN BLIXT is a member of the Board of Directors and a docent for the Friends of the San Pedro River. He can be reached at fspr@sanpedroriver.org or FSPR, 1763 Paseo San Luis, Sierra Vista AZ 85635. Water Wonderland is a column by the Friends of the San Pedro River that runs the second Friday of each month.
