It Started with a Mural

By Nancy Peterson

The mural in Carbondale, CO

I was a backyard birdwatcher in Maryland before retiring to Carbondale, Colorado, population 6,900, and becoming an avid birder. During COVID, I curated a mural in my new hometown, which features native birds and plants, beautiful, 12,965’ Mt. Sopris, and Jenny, my cat. She’s gazing through the window at the scene, which includes a Yellow Warbler carrying a banner proclaiming, “Birds ❤️ Indoor Cats.”

I’m passionate about protecting birds and cats and promoted the idea of similar murals to 450 Audubon chapters. I received a handful of responses. Thus began my love affair with Tucson Audubon.

If you’re reading this, you’re already a fan of Tucson Audubon. I want to tell you it’s an awesome organization. I began attending webinars and getting to know the staff and members. I even drove to Tucson in January 2022, went on field trips, birded with members, and bought a scope in the Nature Shop.

I visited Tucson again for a week in April, and 2 days before I left, a friend gave me a 2004 edition of Tucson Audubon’s Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona. Kenn Kaufman’s foreword rang true. He wrote, “I was amazed and impressed by the Tucson Audubon Society…the society provides an intensive year-round schedule of field trips, tours, workshops, classes, and programs for all ages…it has become a clear and powerful voice for the protection of birds and nature in this region.”

Wood Duck at Reid Park by Nancy Peterson

During my trips to Arizona, I’ve added 37 species to my life list, made new friends, experienced beautiful landscapes, and encountered javelinas, bobcats, and a coyote. Highlights of my trips include seeing my first Wood Duck thanks to Matt Griffiths. He’s Tucson Audubon’s Communications Coordinator and editor-in-chief of the Vermilion Flycatcher. On the way to Tanque Verde Wash, we stopped at Reid Park, where Matt located the duck hanging out with his Mallard pals. The drake’s beauty was breathtaking.

I also birded with Ethan Myerson, Director of Development and Communications. He took me to Canoa Ranch, hoping to see his first Osprey. I see them frequently where I live, but it was thrilling to be with Ethan when the Osprey appeared and circled above us for several minutes.

David Robinson, Tucson Audubon’s Conservation Advocate, took me birding in his neighborhood patch. While admiring a Cooper’s Hawk perched on a pole tearing apart a meal, another Cooper’s flew in, and mated with her. Wow!

Louie Dombroski, Birder-in-Residence at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds, helped me find my first Inca and Ruddy Ground-Doves, despite the many other visitors, human and avian, vying for Louie’s attention.

Board member Cynthia Pruett took me to Whitewater Draw, where we saw 40,000 Sandhill Cranes (according to USFWS). The most I’d seen in Colorado was 11. What an amazing experience.

I’m excited about the wonderful birds, people, and places yet to be discovered in and around Tucson. In the meantime, Matt visited me in Carbondale in June, when he participated in the Ride the Rockies bicycle ride. It was great to share my local birds and places with him!

Osprey by Matt Griffiths

And it continued with birding in Colorado—Postscript from Matt

After another wonderful day of bicycling through the beautiful mountain scenery of Colorado, I met up with Nancy for a tour of some of her favorite local birding hotspots. Little did I know that we’d find multiple Gray Catbirds, lock down what Tree Swallows sound like, visit a Great Blue Heron rookery, and see Osprey nests all over! Of course, none of this could have happened without the connections that can form when the birding community brings people together.

Get involved with Tucson Audubon in any capacity—go birding with us, attend an event, advocate for birds, volunteer, make new friends. Who knows where it could lead you?

Nancy and Matt and Mt. Sopris in Colorado

Nancy Peterson is an avid birder and proud member of the Tucson Audubon Society.