Travel Log...
 Ramsey Canyon Preserve
Hereford, Arizona
Summer of Hummers in Arizona
Ramsey Canyon Nature Preserve in Arizona sees
more air traffic than Chicago’s O’Hare International—it’s just that the
traffic here is all less than five inches long. The native plant gardens and
feeders at this Nature Conservancy sanctuary have attracted 14 species of
hummingbirds, including the Magnificent, Berylline, and White-eared. Most
birders can double or triple their hummer life list without ever moving from
one of the preserve’s benches!
 The
gardens at Ramsey Canyon got a real boost, thanks to Wild Birds Unlimited
and its customers. A $31,500 grant through the Pathways To Nature program
helped the Conservancy rebuild their gardens and update their education
outreach on hummingbirds and other native pollinators. A new boardwalk and
deck constructed of recycled milk bottles was also added to make viewing of
gardens easier and to minimize impact on the environment.
A visit to this international birding mecca is
sure to inspire you to landscape your yard to benefit birds and other
wildlife. But if you visit Ramsey Canyon, take time to look beyond the
gardens and visitor’s center. This 380 acre preserve is home to more than
400 species of plants and 170 species of birds.
Hike up the canyon, following Ramsey Creek, and you’ll get a glimpse of the
natural habitats of the Huachuca Mountains. This area, which is part of the
San Pedro River Watershed, is considered by The Nature Conservancy as one of
its “Last Great Places.” Bring your binoculars, wear your hiking boots, and
keep your head low—those hummers are fast!
For more information on the Ramsay Canyon
Preserve, visit:
http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/arizona/preserves.
The
Pathways To Nature Conservation
Fund is a partnership between Wild Birds Unlimited stores and the
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to
fund environmental education and wildlife viewing projects. We encourage all
of our customers to visit these incredible places. Your patronage helped
make these projects possible!
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