2014 Arizona Official State Visitor Guide - (Page 68)
DIANE DROBKA, WINGS OVER WILLCOX
Southern Arizona is a
renowned birding destination.
LOOK TO THE SKIES
P I M A * S A F F O R D * T H ATC H E R
Life
the way it ought to be...
Graham County
ARIZONA
Roper Lake State Park
Home of Arizona's Salsa Trail
Graham County Chamber of Commerce
(888) 837-1841 * www.VisitGrahamCounty.com
68 Arizona 2014 Official State Visitor's Guide
Professional astronomers love the dark
and clear skies of Southern Arizona.
You can tour complexes housing their
super-powered telescopes at the Fred
Lawrence Whipple Observatory (August-
December) on Mt. Hopkins near Amado,
the Mt. Graham International Observatory (May-November) south of Safford
and Kitt Peak National Observatory west
of Sells (year-round). Turn your eyes to the
skies at year-round nighttime viewing programs on Kitt Peak (nightly with a limited
summer schedule), the San Pedro Valley
Observatory in Benson and the Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter above Tucson. Gov Aker
Observatory at the Discovery Park Campus
in Safford conducts daytime viewing.
The stars aren't the only stars of the
skies here. Southeast Arizona is a worldrenowned year-round birding destination
because it lies within a major migration
corridor. Birders flock to places like Ramsey
Canyon and the rest of the Huachuca
Mountains near Sierra Vista, PatagoniaSonoita Creek Preserve and Madera Canyon
near Rio Rico.
If you strike out on your own, get the
Southeast Arizona Birding Trail Map, which
identifies 52 top birding locations. It's
put out by the Southeastern Arizona Bird
Observatory, which operates programs
that seek out hawks, owls, hummingbirds
and wetland birds.
Places rich with observation opportunities include the birding platform at
Bonita Creek Watchable Wildlife Area near
Safford, wetlands at Sierra Vista's Environmental Operations Park, Whitewater
Draw Wildlife Area outside McNeal and the
Willcox Playa Wildlife Area.
For seasonal guided field trips, attend
Wings Over Willcox in January to see
thousands of wintering sandhill cranes,
the May Fiesta de las Aves in Sierra Vista
for hummingbirds and the summer Southwest Wings festival in Sierra Vista and
the Tucson Bird & Wildlife Festival for
hummingbird, resident and southbound
migrant sightings.
http://AZStateParks.com
http://AZStateParks.com
http://AZStateParks.com
http://www.VisitGrahamCounty.com
http://www.VisitGrahamCounty.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2014 Arizona Official State Visitor Guide
2014 Arizona Official State Visitor Guide
Arizona State Map
Contents
Tribal Land Adventures
The Margarita Menu
The Skies Have It
Presidential Arizona
A State of Culture
Statewide Calendar of Events
Phoenix & Central Arizona
• Regional Map
• Resource Guide
• Activities & Attractions Listings
• Accommodations
• RV Parks
• Golf Courses
Tucson & Southern Arizona
• Regional Map
• Resource Guide
• Activities & Attractions Listings
• Golf Courses
• RV Parks
• Accommodations
Northern Arizona
• Regional Map
• Resource Guide
• Activities & Attractions Listings
• RV Parks
• Accommodations
Arizona’s West Coast
• Regional Map
• Resource Guide
• Activities & Attractions Listings
• Accommodations
• RV Parks
North Central Arizona
• Regional Map
• Resource Guide
• Activities & Attractions Listings
• Accommodations
• Golf Courses
Arizona Visitor Centers
Smart Traveler
Arizona Mileage Ironwood Map
2014 Arizona Official State Visitor Guide
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