![]() ![]() Grassland habitat of Whitewater Draw (mostly non-native dominated) hosts breeding Scaled Quail (Nat. Blackbirds, Yellow-headed and Red-winged, occur in very large numbers (in the hundreds) in the winter. Swallows, Tree and Violet-green, occur in large numbers in migration. Both the Sora and Virginia?s Rail are present in migration, and may breed. Summer nesting species, when conditions are favorable include: Mexican Ducks (subspecies diazi), Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Pied-billed Grebes, and Cinnamon Teal. The diversity of waterfowl present in winter at the Wildlife Area, is also noteworthy, including Northern Shovelor, Green-winged Teal, Mallard, American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Cinnamon Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Gadwall, Mexican Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, and Canada Goose, and rarely White-fronted Goose. Sulphur Springs Valley, a raptor hotspot in the winter (including for owls), brings numerous raptor species into Whitewater Draw, they include (in approximate relative abundance) Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Harrier, Barn Owl (+30 on site 2008), Cooper?s Hawk, American Kestrel, Ferruginous Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Bald Eagle, and Golden Eagle. ![]() Many species of relatively small populations (in Arizona in the winter) also are known to occur regularly at the Wildlife Area in small numbers, they include Bald Eagle (1-2), Golden Eagle (1-2), Ferruginous Hawk (1-5), Prairie Falcon (1-2), and occasionally Peregrine and Merlin (all of these species are of ?conservation status? in AZ, except Merlin). Two other species of conservation status occur in the winter and migration periods at Whitewater Draw, but no quantitative surveys for these species have occurred, they include: Mountain Plover (winter), rare, 0 to 40 individuals occasionally (IUCN: Vulnerable, Audubon/ABC WatchList 07- Red) and Long-billed Curlew (spring & fall migration), ?teens? to 40+ birds, (IUCN: Near Threatened, Audubon/ABC WatchList 07- Yellow). The Greater subspecies breeds in the northern states of the continental U.S., and the Lesser subspecies, breeds from Alaska and eastern Siberia. Counts of Sandhill Cranes in early January have steadily climbed from 4,000 in 1991 to over 22,000 in 2008 at Whitewater Draw, with another 13,000 present 36 miles north in the Willcox Playa area, and another 600 present in the far north of Sulphur Springs Valley at Bonita, AZ, and 400 present in the Safford Valley near Duncan. ![]() The area also supports wintering Snow Geese (80-200) and a few Ross?s Geese (occasional to 40). Whitewater Draw is in the southern Sulphur Springs Valley and cranes are coming from both the Rocky Mountain population and Mid-Continental population. This Arizona Game and Fish Wildlife Area is of state and regional significance as the primary wintering area for Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) in Arizona, and includes both the Lesser (most numerous) and Greater subspecies. It was acquired by Arizona Game and Fish Department in 1997 Ornithological Summary There are two small patches of riparian habitat. Approximately 600 acres (1448 hectares) are the wetland. This Important Bird Area, is dominated by a ephemeral lake, patchy marshlands, and semi-arid grasslands. ![]()
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