Reprinted by permission of the Tucson Audubon Society
Join us in celebrating two ambitious projects and the Tucson Audubon field crew and volunteers who did the work! As 2024 comes to an end, so do two of our major projects at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds, both focused on riparian restoration along the Sonoita Creek corridor.
Two years ago, we created a cottonwood tree seedling nursery, filling it with 500 seedlings collected from Sonoita Creek. After a year and half of care, we planted the surviving 300+ cottonwood seedlings back along the bank along with nearly 1,000 new native trees, shrubs and forbs as well as 1,250 Giant Sacaton bunchgrass plants. We constructed three new robust irrigation systems to water 10 acres of our active restoration sites and completed two years of Johnsongrass treatment on a previously unmanaged five acre parcel. On this parcel we installed a new birding trail complete with two creek overlook viewing areas with benches.
Now, we need your help to support the ongoing care and maintenance of these vulnerable young plants, the new trail, and extensive irrigation.
Support a thriving Paton habitat by donating online at https://tucsonaudubon.org/appeal/