San Pedro Wildlife Conservation Area - Birder's Delight

The San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (NCA) is about 57,000 acres along the San Pedro River between the international border and St. David, Arizona.  The primary purpose for the special designation (by Congress) is to protect and enhance the desert riparian ecosystem, a rare remnant of what was once an extensive network of similar riparian systems throughout the American Southwest. It is home to 84 species of mammals, 14 species of fish, 41 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 100 species of breeding birds. It also provides invaluable habitat for 250 species of migrant and wintering birds and contains archaeological sites representing the remains of human occupation from 13,000 years ago. The photos are of three of the birds that breed there.  The first is a juvenile Summer Tanager, which will turn bright red as an adult. The second photo is the Brown Crested Flycatcher. And, the last which is familiar to Southern Arizonians, the Vermillion Flycatcher.