National Drought Mitigation Center
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National Drought Mitigation Center
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Fewer trogons in southeast Arizona
7/20/2021 7:30:13 PM



CATEGORIES:
Plants & Wildlife
AFFECTED AREAS:
Santa Cruz County, AZ

Start Date: 5/1/2021 - End Date: 5/31/2021
The Tucson Audubon Society’s annual trogon survey uncovered just 68 birds in May, or about one-third of the number found last year. The precipitous drop in the bird count was thought to be due to extreme drought and poor food supply, according to the Tucson Audubon’s bird conservation biologist who coordinates the trogon surveys. It is possible that drought in Mexico prevented some of the trogons from migrating north to Arizona to breed. Another theory is that the population of trogons was quieter and were not detected in the survey because the birds were not calling to attract mates. Sycamore trees that the birds nest in had brown leaves and were limp or withering. Numerous other trees, notably oaks, had bare branches or yellow or yellow-green leaves. Some silver leaf oaks were dead. There were fewer painted redstarts and sulphur-bellied flycatchers. Black oaks were not producing acorns this year. Even bears were munching at suet bird feeders for lack of food in the wild. Tucson (Ariz.), July 5, 2021
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