Canoa Ranch: Restoration Brings Bountiful Birds

By Brian Nicholas

 

Historic Canoa Ranch is a restoration success story located in Green Valley, AZ. In November of 2017, Pima County restored the Canoa pond which had dried up in the 1980’s. Native trees and plants, including cottonwood and desert willow, were added around the pond. In the first year of restoration (2018), birders using eBird reported 37 new bird species for Canoa’s overall list, bringing its total to 202 species.

Subsequently, 2019 proved to be another bountiful year at Canoa Ranch as 36 new species were recorded in eBird. Some of the new additions included Elegant, Caspian, Black and Forster’s Terns, Bonaparte’s Gull, California and Heermann’s Gulls as well as Sandhill Crane, Ferruginous Hawk, Common Black Hawk, White-tailed Kite, Black-chinned Sparrow, Chestnut-collared Longspur, and Mexican Jay.

Heerman's Gull by Brian Nicholas

According to eBird, Canoa’s yearly total of 213 species recorded in 2019 was the second best yearly record for a hotspot in Pima County. The newly restored pond along with a combination of diverse habitats contribute greatly to Canoa’s bird diversity. Also crucial to its success is its strategic location along the Santa Cruz River, a major flyway for many bird species. Canoa’s popularity with birders exploded in 2019 with around 2000 eBird lists being submitted. It became the go-to place for many unusual species, including Dickcissel, Lawrence’s Goldfinch, Sage Thrasher, White-tailed Kite, and sparrows such as Clay-colored, Grasshopper, and Cassin’s. It also had a reputation for attracting rare one-day-wonders including a few gulls and terns as well as Magnificent Frigatebird and a Wood Stork!

Lawrence's Goldfinch by Lois Manowitz

So what’s in store for Canoa Ranch in 2020? The cienega is currently under construction which will add marsh-like habitat. This could attract rails, sandpipers, and bitterns to the ranch. The original plantings have grown considerably since 2017, which will be more attractive to vireos and warblers. Birders are present almost every daylight hour at Canoa to log those rare one-day-wonders. While we can’t expect over 30 new species added every year, I’m forecasting 20 new species to be added in 2020. I’m thankful to Pima County for restoring not just the pond at Canoa Ranch, but for the incredible bird and wildlife supporting habitat of trees and understory plants. The future looks bright indeed for this unique hotspot!

Good birding!


Brian Nicholas is a birding enthusiast who has lived in Tucson for about 20 years. His primary focus has been birding his neighborhood in Northeast Tucson, where he has seen around 250 species. Brian is a long-time volunteer for Tucson Audubon as an Important Bird Areas bird surveyor and field trip leader.