The Five-striped Sparrow is THE target bird for a trek into the wilderness of South Central Arizona. According to professional birders it is fairly reliably seen in a single location--California Gulch in a remote area near the Mexican border.

Once again Andrée Tarby led the Sonoran Audubon group on this foray which also included birding along Ruby Road. south of Arvada, fields on Madera Canyon Road. and the Sweetwater Ponds at Tucson. At California Gulch four or five Five-striped Sparrows were found singing beside the stream and a Varied Bunting was close enough for a very good look.

Despite the typical Sonoran desert weather--HOT--the bird species list was impressive. In addition to those mentioned the other Southeast Arizona specialties seen were: Cassin's Sparrow and Botteri's Sparrow (although at a distance.) Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Bewick's Wren, Band-tailed Pigeon, Western Tanager, Hooded Oriole, Black Phoebe, House Sparrow, Summer Tanager, Golden Eagle, Harris's Hawk, Mexican Jay, Greater Roadrunner, Canyon Wren, Bronzed Cowbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Say's Phoebe, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Common Black- Hawk, Gray Hawk, and Common Ground-Dove were observed in the Ruby Road.-California Gulch area.

Other sites revealed: Song Sparrow, Rock Dove, Mourning Dove, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Common Yellowthroat, Warbling Vireo, Verdin, American Coot, Moorhen, Cinnamon Teal, Lesser Goldfinch, Redwinged Blackbird, Barn Swallow, Great-tailed Grackle, Ruddy Duck, Mallard, Abert's Towhee, Yellow Warbler, White-winged Dove, House Finch, Gambel's Quail, Black-necked Stilt, Killdeer, Least Sandpiper, Cactus Wren, Western Kingbird, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Northern Cardinal, Curve-billed Thrasher, Common Raven, Anna's Hummingbird, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Northern Mockingbird, Phainopepla, Bell's Vireo, Cassin's Kingbird, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Swanson’s Hawk, American Kestrel and Blue Grosbeak.

Participants were: Chuck Kangas, Tom Lazzelle, Bob McCormick, Marjorie Eckman, Vera Markham, and the leader Andrée Tarby.