Migratory season gives reason to celebrate

Audubon Arizona celebrates migration and shows how to help migratory species each spring with our annual Migration Celebration.  This fun and festive event features four of Arizona’s most noteworthy migrants : the Rufous Hummingbird, Lesser Long-Nosed Bat, White-Winged Dove and Monarch Butterfly.

Late summer finds hummingbird feeders abuzz with activity as a new copper-colored visitor makes an appearance. The Rufous Hummingbird, one of Arizona’s smallest birds and an amazing long-distance migrant, moves through our state in a conspicuous manner by aggressively ousting resident hummers from favorite feeding spots for a few days or weeks. These glittery gems then disappear as suddenly as they arrive…off to winter in Mexico, an amazing 2,000 miles from their nesting grounds.

Migration, the seemingly orchestrated seasonal movements of millions of animals over thousands of miles, has long inspired people to ponder the complexity of our natural world and their place in it. As part of the Central Flyway, Arizona attracts hundreds of migratory birds enroute to their winter and summer residences, including the Swainsons Hawk, Western Tanager, and Brewer's Sparrow. Urbanization and loss of natural places puts stress on all animals, but the Rufous Hummingbird and other migratory animals, are most at risk. It is up to people to be wise landscape stewards so that our migrants can make safe passage from their winter havens to their summer homes.

During Migration Celebration visitors learn about these amazing creatures, all of which are important pollinators, through games, crafts, presentations and more! Attendees are treated to a day outdoors at the beautiful Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center and are invited to visit the Center’s pollinator garden. This garden models many things that can be done in outdoor spaces to benefit migratory animals such as landscaping with native plants, providing fresh water, and avoiding pesticides and herbicides. 

Migration Celebration 2013 takes place April 13 & 14 from 10 am to 2 pm. We hope to see you there!