National Wildlife Refuges

Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona, 1985

The Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge has a landscape of rippling grassland and riparian zones rich in bird life. Established in 1985, the 118,000 acres is flanked by the Boboquivari Mountains to the West, the Mexican Border to the South, and the Sierrita Mountains to the East.  It provides habitat for threatened and endangered plants and animals. Part of BANWR's plan has been the reintroduction of the endangered masked bobwhite quail and pronghorn to the area where they once were abundant. Riparian (wetland) areas along Arivaca Cienega and Creek attract a wide variety of birds (320 species have been reported). Brown Canyon is nestled in the Baboquivari Mountains, where a sycamore-lined stream meanders through oak woodland. It is one of the few areas in the US where Jaguars have been seen (albeit very rarely). I rarely leave without finding something interesting, if not wonderful to photograph. Here are a few of my photos from BANWR.

Checkered White

Young Great Horned Owl

Mule Deer

Pipevine Swallowtail

Pronghorn with Juvenile

Pronghorn in Wildflowers

Red Tailed Hawk

Swainson's Hawk

Turkey Vulture