ARIZONA STATE PARKS: For Immediate Release
Managing and conserving Arizona’s natural, cultural and recreational resources for the benefit of the people, both in our Parks and through our Partners. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Bilbrey at (602) 542-1996 or (602) 228-8518, or Monica Enriquez at (602) 542-6997. Contact by Email: pio(at)azstateparks.gov
(Phoenix, AZ - August 28, 2009) The Arizona State Parks department, Audubon Arizona 
and the Hummingbird Monitoring Network (HMN) are launching an effort to collect scientific information about hummingbird species in Arizona. The project is funded by a grant provided by TogetherGreen.org, an Audubon conservation initiative made possible by funding and assistance from Toyota.
The project includes regional biodiversity studies and investigation about the distribution and migration of hummingbirds. (see hummonnet.org ) The diversity and abundance of hummingbirds in the SW United States, southern Canada, and northern Mexico will provide land managers with information that will help protect natural habitats.
The grant partners hope the program will inspire more conservation support as these citizen scientists collect important scientific results for this transamerican research program.
Utilizing State Parks in Arizona for scientific study, where professional staff can oversee intense programs, is common for researchers and nonprofits as well as Arizona's universities. The State Parks system includes natural areas that are highly protected, managed, and critical biomes in Arizona.
Several years ago, Dr. Bob Casavant, the Research and Science Manager for State Parks, teamed up with Dr. Susan Wethington of the Hummingbird Network to increase our knowledge about hummingbirds. They realized that State Parks/Natural Areas are perfect settings for conducting three and four-dimensional scientific research in outdoor laboratories while also educating children and adults about science.
Sonoita Creek Natural Area near Patagonia has been monitoring birds since January and Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park will be a feeder-watch opportunity for new volunteers this fall. The Verde River Greenway Natural Area near Cottonwood, has also been designated by Audubon as an "Important Bird Area" and will be the next Park looking for citizen scientists. These State Parks will all offer high profile hummingbird conservation education events to engage the public in this volunteer research opportunity.
Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, just an hour east of Phoenix, will launch its program on September 5th with a one-hour guided walk to learn about hummingbirds, a lecture and a slideshow. The event will be from 8:30 to 11 am. The presentation and program is free but park day use entrance fees will apply. (call 520-689-2723 for more information.)
Arizona State Parks Resource Ecologist, Joanne Roberts, will introduce the hummingbird project. "I'll cover the ecology, life history and the science involved with migratory conservation. In the future we will be asking volunteers to help by observing birds for an hour or two, identifying them and taking field notes once-a-week. Hmm … watching hummingbirds in the gardens at Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park … sounds like a great way to get involved with volunteering, right?"
link to this page:
http://azstateparks.com/press/2009/PR_08-28-09.html
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