Mark your calendars for the 2012 High Country Hummers Festival.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is again offering a unique opportunity for people to learn more about Arizona’s hummingbirds at the 9th annual High Country Hummers event. On Saturday, July 28, beginning at 8:00 a.m., a hummingbird banding team from the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory will conduct a capture and bird-banding event that is free and open to the public at the department’s Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area in eastern Arizona.
This is a fantastic opportunity for people to get up close and personal with these flying jewels. Observers will be able to interact with the team as they capture, measure, weigh and band broad-tailed, rufous, black-chinned and calliope hummingbirds.
Other fun programs will be offered at the wildlife area that day. There will be educational activities for youth and exhibits featuring the White Mountain Audubon Society, butterflies, and live hawks, owls and an eagle. Have your photo taken with a live great horned owl.
Visitors can also participate in presentations on hummingbird natural history and beginning birding basics. Plus, people are welcome to explore the visitor center’s interpretive displays on wildlife, habitats, prehistoric culture and conservation. Come prepared to spend most of the morning outdoors, with potential of monsoon rains. It’s a good idea to bring binoculars and a camera, as there will be plenty of great, close-up photo opportunities.
The Springerville-Eagar Regional Chamber of Commerce will provide a hot breakfast and lunch concession with food and beverages. There is a nominal parking fee of $5.
The Sipe Wildlife Area is located southeast of Eagar and Springerville. From Eagar, take Highway 191 toward Alpine for two miles to the signed turnoff at the top of the first mesa. Drive about five miles, on a dirt road suitable for passenger cars, to the Sipe property. For more information on this special event, contact the Pinetop Game and Fish office at (928) 367-4281.
July 2012
