A dry riverbed through parts of Tucson, it is watered by effluent in the sections here in Marana. Did you know that the Santa Cruz headwaters are in Arizona, but the river winds down into Mexico and then heads north back into the U.S.? So downstream is north in our section of the Santa Cruz River.
Where there is water, there will usually be plenty of birds, even if the water is treated effluent. Pima County upgraded their water treatment system recently so the water quality is much better than it has been in the past, and the Santa Cruz River has a wide variety of birds as it flows through Marana. You can also find raccoon, bobcat, and other tracks in the sand along the shoreline. Bats also inhabit the Ina Rd. Bridge and can be seen at dusk. Marana is fortunate to have the Santa Cruz River running through, and the birds don’t mind the presence of effluent.
Year-round Resident Birds
In the portions of the Santa Cruz River that have surface water running through Marana, thick riparian habitat is home to a variety of warblers in the summer, and to many resident birds throughout the year. Bird rarities have been reported in this section of the river. Thick vegetation creates cool summer shade from willow, cottonwood, mesquite, and paloverde trees, interspersed with invasive tamarisk species.
You are likely to hear the high-pitched single note or chattering calls of Abert’s towhees. They love the underbrush, and are more often heard than seen. They’re about robin-sized, brown birds with black around their beak and eyes.
![](https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/aberts_towhee.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=dc6e8dd8129d098d34736ddebe09fb15 320w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/aberts_towhee.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=786d21b8edb3512d46c598b9bfbd8a38 540w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/aberts_towhee.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=e1fb77e2872639042961d819984ca87b 700w)
Gila and ladder-backed woodpeckers are also common year-round. Anna’s hummingbirds buzz by; pugnacious little birds that guard their food sources from other hummers. Killdeer are alarmists, skittering along shorelines giving anxious calls; they have long legs, a brown back, white breast, and a black necklace. Male vermilion flycatchers are ruby-red jewels with black markings, but their wives are plain brownish birds. Stately great blue herons stand at the water’s edge, looking very meditative as they watch for the movement of prey items, while the smaller green herons are camouflaged in vegetation on the banks. Cooper’s hawks patrol the air, or perch and look for unsuspecting small mammals and birds to pounce on, but after shift change at dusk, the great-horned owls take over the predatory role in this riparian area.
![](https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/vermilion_flycatcher_by_dave_hassell.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=4b63da62619c2849144e91deb7cb77eb 320w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/vermilion_flycatcher_by_dave_hassell.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=c183f7c15de46438e5561e17c5513495 540w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/vermilion_flycatcher_by_dave_hassell.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=aa4bed55098211cd3da5e03098f3f6ef 600w)
Summer Birds
Warblers begin arriving along the river corridor as early as March and their songs fill the air. (The ducks mostly leave for northern climes to escape the heat of summer.) Wilson’s warblers are yellow, with a perky black cap.
![](https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/wilsons_warbler_by_donna_dewhurst.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=f4bf83907fd860ceca0fd74f8e92a0f2 320w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/wilsons_warbler_by_donna_dewhurst.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=9f2b6012039707e71943abdb475ee228 512w)
Yellow-breasted chats are loquacious, with varied songs and whistles. They have a yellow chest and white “spectacles” around their eyes. Common yellowthroats sing “wichity, wichity, wichity” and the males have a black mask like the Lone Ranger. Large white-winged doves return – the scourge of some people who feed birds, but who’s to say – they have a right to be here too; singing “who cooks for you?” Yellow warblers are beautiful, bright yellow and they sing a sweet, high-pitched song.
![](https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/yellow_warbler_by_katherine_whittemore.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=62d2c05db107b82576dca3fd9651bfc1 320w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/yellow_warbler_by_katherine_whittemore.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=105d03c5d96ba0b64dd11fefc0500522 512w)
Bell’s vireos sound argumentative, and to me they seem to say “Why didn’t you tell me where to meet you? I told you to meet me right here!” Western tanager males are flashy little models, with a yellow body, black wings and a red head. Other warblers that may be seen along the Santa Cruz River include Virginia’s warbler, Lucy’s warbler, orange-crowned warblers, and black-throated grey warblers. So take a walk along the Santa Cruz River Path and enjoy nature close to home! Book your stay today.
Janine Spencer,Environmental Projects Manager
Town of Marana
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