Birding
the Flagstaff Area
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BIRDING
THE FLAGSTAFF AREA UPDATE
From time to time the authors will update sections of the book to
keep information current.
Update
11/08/01 :
P.
12, Specialties of the Region, and pp. 49 and 50, Three-toed Woodpecker
This
species appears to have abandoned the Hochderffer and Horseshoe Fire
tracts. However, they have quickly moved in to exploit the Leroux
Fire of June 2001 on the south flank of the San Francisco Peaks.
Directions:
From downtown Flagstaff go north on Humphreys Street/US 180 2.7 miles
to the Museum of Northern Arizona and continue 4.3 miles to Snowbowl
Road. Turn right and go 2.4 miles turning right onto Freidlein Prairie
Road/FR 522. You will reach the burned area in .3 mile. This is near
the accidental origin of the fire. The Forest Service has charged
three car campers for failing to properly extinguish their campfire.
Oct
29, 2001 Frank Brandt located a pair of Three-toed about 20 yards
from this point and another pair 300 yards up slope. Two days later,
Chuck La Rue drove another .2 mile farther and walked the contour
line 200-300 yards into the burn area. He observed six Three-toed,
10 Hairy, and three Downy Woodpeckers, and a Williamson's Sapsucker
within an area of one to two acres.
Of
note, the bunch grasses and bracken ferns have come back nicely, and
in late October there were still a few lupine in bloom. The aspen
have not fared as well probably because of elk herbivory.
P.
32, Map, East and Northeast of Flagstaff, and p. 40, Lockett Meadow,
"Directions":
The
Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and the Forest Service
have closed and/or consolidated several roads. The turnoff to Lockett
Meadow is now opposite the turnoff to Sunset Crater instead of .7
mile north. From US 89, turn left at the sign "Forest Access,"
and drive west .5 mile and turn right following the signs to the meadow.
P.
47, Shultz Pass Road, "Directions":
ADOT
has moved Shultz Pass Road .1 mile farther north to what is now a
right angle intersection. Go .3 mile past the museum instead of .2
mile.
Frank and Linda
Brandt
Acknowledgements
The Making of Finding Birds in the Flagstaff Area
An
amazing number of Northern Arizona Audubon Society members and friends
contributed to Finding Birds in the Flagstaff Area. Although their
efforts were briefly acknowledged in the book, Frank and I thought
that chapter members might like to know more exactly who did what.
They should be credited with the best the book has to offer. Any omissions
or mistakes are the authors' alone.
The Destinations
Before we even started to write we were loaned existing drafts for
three destinations. A group of Flagstaff birders had planned to write
a guide together, and although no one had been found to pull it together,
Elaine Morrall had written a draft for a south Kaibab National Forest
excursion and John Grahame shared his drafts for the South Rim of
the Grand Canyon and Lees Ferry. These drafts informed the chapters
we wrote and Elaine (along with Rick Miller and Susi McVean of Arizona
Game and Fish) and John (along with Chuck LaRue) later reviewed our
draft versions of these destinations.
Chuck was also our expert on the Navajo and Hopi Reservations, contributing
the ideas and substantial content for the Tuba City and Cameron areas
and Keams Canyon. He later reviewed these and the rest of the Indian
Country destinations for us. Chuck is the recognized expert on the
Reservations and we hope that he will someday write a book that covers
this area in greater depth.
Jodi Griffith birds Schultz Pass Road regularly. She contributed ideas,
birds, maps, and shared her personal find, Weatherford Canyon. Also,
as a member of the exhibits staff at the Museum of Arizona, she helped
flesh out our unusual museum visit, one of Linda's favorites.
For the remaining destinations we hammered out drafts and submitted
those to other area birders, mostly chapter members, for comment.
The responses varied from minor clarifications to major content. Here's
a brief rundown.
Phyllis Kegley drove Upper Oak Creek Canyon, correcting our draft
mileages. Dave and Marcia Lamkin reviewed Kachina Wetlands making
certain we were on track. Heather Green of the US Forest Service and
Elaine Morrall went over Mormon Lake: this was a big section and they
both made substantive suggestions. Steve Yoder, Education Director
at the Arboretum, reviewed this section for us.
Mike and Diane Miller's best suggestion for Walnut Canyon was the
addition of a mile of the Arizona Trail going to the edge of the canyon.
Tricia Hurley, at that time a chapter board member, added great details
to the Sunset/Wupatki destination. She had recently done fieldwork
out there and was really up on the feature attractions. And John Coons
has birded Lockett Meadow over a long period. Thanks for adding the
Olive Warbler, John, as well as other suggestions.
Again, there's no substitute for birding experience. Celia Holm took
our draft of the Lamar Haines Memorial Wildlife Area and refined the
likely bird sightings. Tammy Randall Parker and Sandy Nagiller, both
with the US Forest Service, reviewed the sections on the Kendrick
Park Watchable Wildlife Trail and the Red Mountain Geologic Area and
consulted as needed.
Bird Specialties List and Checklist
Frank has birded the Flagstaff area pretty extensively, considering
that we've lived here only about nine years. But he called on two
recognized experts, John Coons and Chuck LaRue, to work with him in
constructing the bird lists. They worked long hours at our kitchen
table. Then John Hildebrand reviewed the drafts. Among them we figure
they have about 80 years experience in birding the Flagstaff area.
We think the specialties list came out particularly well, highlighting
a few of the birds that locals consider notable and that visitors
would go out of their way to see.
Behind
the Scenes
We knew that we needed to ask some highly qualified, patient and generous
people to proofread our draft. We called on Sue Ordway, Jodi Griffith
and Celia Holm for a role we called the "superproofers"
and divided the destination chapters among them. We asked them to
look for not only typical spelling, grammar and punctuation errors
but to check the telephone numbers for accuracy and the directions
for clarity. They fact checked where they could. And since we were
likely to introduce errors as we made refinements, they did this checking
repeatedly. Jodi wins the Superproofer Award of Merit (no prize, unfortunately)
for finding that we had the Pueblo Colorado Wash in Ganado flowing
uphill. Believe me, these folks did a wonderful job. After all was
"finished" Frank asked ornithology professor Russ Balda
and Bryce Marshall, a new friend and head of Russ's banding crew,
to review the draft. Any mistakes that got past them were due only
to the authors' thick-headedness.
Herb Henderson got us lined up on getting a standard book number,
necessary in the book trade, and put us in contact with the Library
of Congress for cataloging. And Tony Croce, our brilliant knight,
volunteered at the perfect moment to construct the book's index, no
small task even for a professional.
Illustrations and Maps
You've seen Gary Romig's work in Virginia Gilmore's Birding Sedona
and the Verde Valley and in the Blackhawk Watch. But for the few of
you whom we have not already told, he was a dream to work with. We
especially enjoyed watching the cover evolve, a labor of creativity,
skill, patience and dedication. Gary also consulted with Sue and Bob
Clemenz about choosing a printer. And the Clemenz also contributed
professional photography. Everybody agrees the book looks fantastic.
The Business End
Lyman Brainerd was chapter president when we started this project
and treasurer when we brought it to a close. He served as not only
banker, but also as advisor and project champion. And without the
Radds this book would never have gotten off the ground. Webmaster
Roger promoted the book long before it was finished. (And well he
should, because it was his suggestion, which we finally accepted,
that we undertake writing the Flagstaff area book.) Judi serves as
the chapter distributor, not only taking and filling orders but actively
marketing the to any book outlet willing to listen. She even arranged
for Los Angeles Audubon's large retail outlet to carry us. Look out
world.
The Authors
We both researched and wrote extensively. Frank also communicated
with most of the volunteers and supplied most of the birding information.
Linda did more editing and project coordination and applied for a
small grant awarded by the Flagstaff Arts and Science Commission.
Co-authoring a book is a test for a relationship surpassed only by
remodeling a kitchen. Frank and I did both in one year and our marriage
survived, quite an accomplishment.
And to Virginia…
Without the model Virginia Gilmore set with her very successful book,
Frank and I would never have had the nerve to accept such a challenge.
Of course Virginia is a lot more literate and has buckets more birding
experience. Frank and I compensated by asking for help from our friends
and fellow NAAS members. They really came through, don't you think?
Everybody
who worked on this project did it for the Northern Arizona Audubon
Society. Proceeds from book sales help to support the chapter's education
and conservation efforts. We also hope that the book will bring more
people to enjoy the pleasures of birding the Flagstaff area as we
do.
Linda
Brandt 11-01
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The turnoff for Cave Springs Forest Service Campground is about 4 miles beyond Oak Creek Viewpoint down the switchbacks. Park in the parking area immediately on your right and, if you don't already have one, purchase a Red Rock Pass from the self-pay machine. Then walk down the gravel road to the campground. First walk the campground's loop road starting on the creek side. Then check the shaded base of the red sandstone cliffs just to the west. Look especially for Warbling Vireo, Painted Redstart, Lucy's, Grace's, and Red-faced Warblers, Bullock's Oriole, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Hepatic Tanager. In spring 2000 a vagrant singing male Kentucky Warbler remained near the low water crossing for several weeks.
