A Farewell Field Trip With UniSierra Volunteers
July 9, 2024Earlier this summer, in May, SIA visited Rancho Nuevo in Moctezuma, Sonora, where we were accompanied by students from the Universidad de la Sierra. On this occasion, we said goodbye…
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Bats of the Moctezuma Lava Tube
In 2016, I had the opportunity to visit one of the most iconic volcanic landscapes in Sonora: El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve. The invitation came from…
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A Spring Seeking Adventure in Sierra Los Ajos
July 8, 2024From June 12-14, Sky Island Alliance’s Mexico team and interns, along with staff from the Bavispe Flora and Fauna Protection Area, carried out a field trip in Sierra Los Ajos,…
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Sky Island Hikes: An Amble-Scramble Among Mount Graham’s Aspens
June 27, 2024Guest Blog by Wynne Brown The following is part of a series of recommended Sky Island hikes. Be safe, have fun, and leave no trace. One hundred-and-hot. Yup, that phrase pretty well…
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FotoFauna Lending Library Kickoff in Douglas
June 26, 2024During this presentation, participants will learn about SIA’s FotoFauna program and how they can participate in this community science project through the Douglas Public Library. Patrons can check out a wildlife camera kit from the library and submit an online monthly checklist of species they observe. This data will help SIA and partners study when and where wildlife is present so we can better protect their habitats and pathways.
Coffee Break: Searching for the Southwest Spring Firefly
June 24, 2024Join us for our next virtual Coffee Break to learn more about the Southwest spring firefly, a nocturnal species associated with permanent streams and marshy areas in the Sky Islands and surrounding foothills of southern Arizona and New Mexico. This rare and imperiled firefly is currently under review for Endangered Species Act listing. For this talk, we’ll be joined by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Rachel Laura and Xerces Society biologist Candace Fallon. They’ll discuss this firefly’s life history and the threats it faces, efforts to map its distribution, current research and conservation needs, and the ESA listing process.
‘Spring Cleaning’ Weed Removal at Tucson Springs
June 21, 2024Join our campaign to remove invasive species at nine priority springs in the Tucson area. Together, we can restore these crucial wildlife oases! We’ll meet every Tuesday morning and be working mostly in the Sabino Canyon area on the northeast side of town and near Vail and Davidson Canyon on the southeast side. Stay as long as you like, and leave for work if you need to. This is a great way to create an impact, get in a workout, and meet other volunteers.
Coffee Break: Porcupines in the Sky Island Borderlands
June 20, 2024In this virtual Coffee Break, SIA Wildlife Specialist Meagan Bethel presents on an often overlooked species in the Sky Islands: porcupines. North American porcupines are found across Arizona, but little…
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Erosion Control in the Catalinas
June 7, 2024Join us up on Mt. Lemmon for a weekend of camping at Spencer Canyon and help build erosion-control structures. Our goal is to slow down precious water, so it can…
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Coffee Break: Porcupines in the Sky Island Borderlands
June 5, 2024North American porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum) are found across Arizona, but little is known about their distribution in the Sky Island region, and public perception is that porcupines do not live in the borderlands at all. Join SIA Wildlife Specialist Meagan Bethel for our next virtual Coffee Break to learn more about these fascinating creatures, surprising detections on our Border Wildlife Study cameras, and their documented crossing of the U.S.-Mexico border.