Robbins Butte

On March 3rd, a Sonoran Audubon group visited the Robbins Butte Wildlife Area. This are is located just south of the Gila River about eight miles south of I-10 on SR 85. Phil Smith, the Wildlife Area Manager, met the group and gave us an overview of this well established wildlife area and once again accompanied us with his fuzzy dog Chewbacca.

It was a beautiful, sunny morning, but windy. The group started the day observing the usual suspects around the feeders at the manager's house. The first birds of note of the day were WESTERN BLUEBIRDS. We then proceeded to the various fields which are maintained to provide forage for the wildlife of the area. These fields are lined with Cottonwood trees and are surrounded by desert scrub and Mesquite Bosque habitats providing the opportunity for a wide variety of birds.

The wind was playing havoc with the birding as sustained winds of 15 mph and gusts up to 30 mph were recorded on the wind gauge. We stopped at the first of several small ponds maintained as watering sources. Last year this pond produced several species of sparrows but this year only WHITE CROWNED SPARROWS and a fleeting glimpse of a SAGE SPARROW.

Traveling around the fields produced hundreds and maybe thousands of WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS and many, many ABERT'S TOWHEES but little else. The next pond had a BLACK PHOEBE who appeared to be acquainted with CHEWBACCA as he swam in the pond. The road to the river produced additional SAGE SPARROWS and a few BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS. The wind blowing up Robbins Butte created ideal conditions for soaring hawks. Two red-tailed hawks soared effortlessly on the updrafts. It was enjoyable watching them soar in the same spot without having to move a muscle. About this time a 2nd year BALD EAGLE showed up soaring on the same updrafts. The hawks appeared dwarfed by the eagle as they tried to chase it away without success to our benefit. A quick trip to the river did not produce much due to the abundant growth of Salt Cedar. The only bird glimpsed here was a fleet PIED-BILLED GREBE.

Taking a different route back to the parking area VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS and WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS were sporadic companions. As we approached the parking area we were surprised to see an adult BALD EAGLE fly over us to where the younger bird was still soaring on the updrafts. The image of the adult bird against the blue sky was striking.

Several volunteers have erected several Kestrel and Barn Owl nest boxes around the preserve. Two of the boxes have had WESTERN SCREECH OWLS move in. Standing at the entrance on one of theses large structures we could barely make out a part of one of the owls. Several owl pellets were found on the ground under the box.

The following list of 31 species was compiled on the trip: Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Western Screech Owl, Barn Owl, Gamble's Quail, Mourning Dove, Gila Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Western Bluebird, Black Phoebe, Say's Phoebe, White-throated Swift, Violet-green Swallow, Loggerhead Shrike, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Curve-billed Thrasher, Verdin, White-crowned Sparrow, Black-throated Sparrow, Sage Sparrow, Abert's Towhee, Yellow-rumped Warbler, House Finch, House Sparrow, Northern Mockingbird, Phainopepla, Northern Cardinal.

The following people participated in the trip: Phil Smith, Arizona Fish and Game Wildlife Manager, Barbara Meding, Marge Popp, Marilyn McMahon, Betty Roberts, Bob Cirillo, Carol Maroney, Clara Mae Ryder, Tom Lazzelle, Chuck Kangas, Carolyn Modeen, George Wall, Vera Markham, Andree Tarby, George Wall, Marcia Johnson, Donna Smith, Pat Scott and Bob McCormick, Trip Leader.