Saturday, April 18, 2026

7:30 AM to 12 Noon

Place: Horseshoe Ranch

Address: 22600 E. Bloody Basin Rd. Mayer, AZ 86333

Dear SASers and Friends! Please join us for a Picnic and fabulous Bird Walks with Bob McCormick (“McBob”) who knows the area well and can find a very good number of birds, some migrating, some building nests and some are just “residents”. Bring your Bag Lunch, water, etc. and enjoy spring at the Ranch!

The SAS ANNUAL SPRING BIRD WALKS AND PICNIC AT HORSESHOE RANCH is Saturday April 18, 2026 from 7:30 AM to about 12 noon. We’ll be on the lovely campus of the Horseshoe Ranch complex near one of the houses—the Cook Shack —on site. HORSESHOE RANCH is an inholding owned by the AZ Game & Fish Dept in the Agua Fria National Monument about

60 miles north of Phoenix Metro. The SAS gathering will be RAIN or SHINE!

RSVP to sonoranaudubon@gmail.com by Thursday, April 16, 2026 end of business. Knowing who is attending helps us prepare for morning coffee & donuts (yes, & orange juice!) and the bird walks. We already have a number of folks who have RSVP’d—no need to e

mail us again.

ON YOUR WAY TO THE RANCH: The road from Route 17 is dirt and well-maintained; just don’t go crazy with the speed because there are hair-pin turns on this “desert mountain” road. See directions to the Ranch below.

AT THE RANCH: Parking is across the Agua Fria River on the ranch property.

WHAT TO BRING: Bring your bag lunch, snacks and water for your group and of course, your lawn chairs and binoculars. SAS will provide, thanks to Andree’ Tarby, coffee, decaf coffee and donuts (and orange juice!) for your arrival!

Plants for Birds: There will be “Plants for Birds” to plant in your yard or on your balcony courtesy of SAS with guidance from Jim Consolloy—former Chapter President and horticulturalist extraordinaire— and SAS’ Board Member, Kaylee Del Cid former Plants for Birds intern, now SAS’ Coordinator for bird walks.

THANKS to GAME & FISH: SAS is always grateful to the AZ Game & Fish—to ranch manager, Trevor Kerin and his team for their hospitality.

The Bird Watching: Start time: 8:00-8:30 AM

“McBob’s Almost a Boot-Buster Bird Search” could be just the ticket! This walk is for INTREPID BIRDERS with Bob McCormick as your guide. Yes, it’s a hike…. For this walk, you must wear your boots or comfy walking shoes, hats, sun screen, water, cameras and binocs!…Says McBob: “We may go on Silver Creek to the Agua Fria River or we may go to another site up-canyon from the Ranch. We should be having a two mile round trip.” NOTE: Two years ago, McBob found 7 different kinds of warblers on his guided walk at the Ranch!!

“Around the Ranch Big Easy Walk.” You’ll be able to meander around the property with Karen and Jim Consolloy. Sometimes we get a GREAT bird list that way.

The Ford and Cottonwood Canopy Walk: There may be an easy and short walk to the ford over the Agua Fria River (likely dry or showing a tricle) or down and up the river a bit. We‘ll look for spring migrants and a white-breasted nuthatch.

Finally, you can do “The Big Sit” on the lawn at the Cook Shack. There you have access to trees, at least one or two BIG trees usually full of birds… A Golden Eagle flew right over a few years ago! And recently we had the Long-Billed Curlew in the field next to the picnic area lawn…it was there all day for Vera Markham to get some great photos. So, from your catbirds’ seats with little exertion required, there should be “good birds.”

Directions to Horseshoe Ranch: Drive north toward Flagstaff on Route 17 out of Phoenix to the Bloody Basin Road exit #259 about 50-60 miles from Phoenix. Drive EAST on BB Road for six miles. The dirt road is OK for regular cars; just go slow as there may be places with rough spots. As you come over the rise at about Mile 6 and see the Upper Agua Fria River/big trees below in the valley you will also see the Ranch complex across the river. The road takes you down toward the falley. Turn LEFT into the Ranch Road, drive OVER (through!) the stream (yes, it is the river) and up into the Ranch yard to park at the “Cook Shack” or in other sites on the property.