Nestled at the bottom of Miller Peak just south of Sierra Vista, Arizona, and not far from the Coronado National Memorial is this not-so-hidden secret, Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary. We learned about it from a fellow RVer in Benson, AZ, and decided to check it out for our 36th wedding anniversary.
Neither of us are “birders,” but we enjoy seeing and listening to them, and Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary did not disappoint. It began in 2002 when Mary Jo Ballator, a birder, invited others to her home for a birding festival. She continued inviting fellow birders to her house every year until her sudden passing in 2019. Friends and volunteers took up the fundraising mantle. They turned her home into a sanctuary with water features, plenty of chairs and benches for people to sit and observe, feeders of various types, a photo blind, and more.
A chart on its website indicates it serves as a temporary home for over 100 different types of birds throughout the year. We saw many different ones, and accept my apologies ahead of time if I label my pictures with the wrong name of the bird! Although I love taking photos with my camera, it is an ordinary camera yielding amateurish results. But I enjoyed taking them nonetheless!
If you are a birder or love watching birds, take an excursion to Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary in southeastern Arizona. Some notes: 1) Large groups tend to come every other Tuesday afternoon, so you should avoid Tuesdays if you want a quieter experience (more people, more noise!). 2) It is closed on Thursday mornings but open in the afternoon. 3) When we went, they requested a $10 donation per person, which we were happy to pay to help maintain this lovely place. 4) Plan to spend time there – sit, wait, and watch. You might be pleasantly surprised by what you see. Of course, be sure to visit their website for additional information.
For another spectacular location in southeastern Arizona, read our blog, Chiricahua National Monument – A Hidden Gem!
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