News

Birding in Wickenburg

By Richard Fredrickson, Resident Naturalist at Rancho de los Caballeros

Wickenburg is becoming a not-so-well-kept secret area for birding in Arizona – with over 280 species of birds confirmed! The jewel in our birding crown is undoubtedly the Hassayampa River Preserve, owned by The Nature Conservancy, and stretching five miles along the Hassayampa River. For most of it’s course through the desert, the Hassayampa runs beneath the surface and is invisible except for the cottonwoods and willows tracing it’s flow; however through the Preserve, the water is forced above ground by the granite bed rock.

There are also natural springs and a small man-made lake at the Hassayampa River Preserve. Water in the midst of the Sonoran Desert is the draw for many of those 280 species: bitterns and herons (7); geese and ducks (19); raptors (20), with probably 7 species nesting including the first ever recorded nesting of red-shouldered Hawks in the state; hummingbirds (6); “flycatchers” (17); warblers (21); sparrows (21) blackbirds and orioles (11).

A short trip up the Hassayampa River puts you in Box Canyon, often showing surface water to draw many species, including Peregrine Falcons.

Wickenburg’s two golf courses have become oasis for many species of desert wildlife, certainly for many birds. The Wickenburg Country Club and Los Caballeros Golf Club course are both home to resident Harris’ Hawks, the Los Caballeros course also is blessed with resident Vermilion Flycatchers. Late spring and summer bring Orioles and Zone-tailed Hawks to the courses.

Last, but certainly not least, Wickenburg is surrounded by thousands of acres of Arizona Uplands sub-division of the Sonoran desert. Gila Woodpeckers and Gilded Flickers nest in the saguaros, and their abandoned nests provide homes for at least a dozen species of secondary cavity nesters, including Kestrels, Elf Owls, and Ash-throated Flycatchers. Phainopeplas are abundant, with plenty of Canyon and Abert’s Towhees.

With more and more people birding, sightings of “rare” birds are on the increase, the last couple of years have brought us Ruddy Ground Doves, a Rufous-backed Robin, and Lawrence’s Goldfinches.

Bring your binoculars and enjoy the beautiful outdoors birding “Out Wickenburg Way!”

HOWDY! BIENVENIDOS! WILLKOMMEN! BIENVENUE! WELCOME!

Experience the Old West - "Out Wickenburg Way!

Our old west ambience will bring you through the passage of time. The historic district has unique shopping and dining experiences, and offers you a glimpse of Wickenburg as it did at the beginning of the 1900's. Many of the local businesses have specialty gifts and services, some of the merchants you'll find personal gift & shopping service, western wear apparel and tack, art galleries, antique stores, old time photography, Mexican furniture and gifts, jewelry designs and Southwestern items, Native American jewelry and handcrafts, women's apparel & designers who can create your own sense of style right in their store.

Walk around the historic district, feel the experience of true western hospitality as you stop for refreshments or a bite to eat at one of our local eating establishments. You'll find treats such as sweet fruit smoothies, Café Mocha & Espresso, delicious pastries & homemade ice cream, sandwiches & wraps, Mexican Food, Steaks & Chops, Chicken Fried Steak, Hamburgers, Seafood, Italian, Chinese & German cuisine. And of course all of the brand name fast food restaurants. Leaving the historic district will take you out west along Wickenburg Way, for more shopping and dining pleasures, and leading you many other attractions.

Take an adventure back in time, while exploring the area's attractions. Visit the 45-year old Desert Caballeros Western Museum, featuring Native American and 19 th century decorative arts, as well as 19 th & 20 th century Western American paintings and sculptures, including many Remington and Russell. Period rooms give you a glimpse to the early 1900's of what Wickenburg was, including an exhibit of living out on the ranch!

The Historic Vulture Mine and Robson's Arizona Mining World offer you an outdoor experience from the early gold mining era. Other outdoor adventures include: Hot Air Balloon Rides, Jeep Tours, Hiking, Horseback Riding, or scheduling tee times to hit golf balls at Los Caballeros Golf Club and Wickenburg Country Club. ( Summer hours change, please call The Chamber for updates! )

To get your bearings in Wickenburg, it's helpful to make the stop at the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce, housed in the restored 109-year old Santa Fe Depot, located on Frontier Street. You'll find pleasant and helpful employees who will answer your questions, assist you with dining reservations, and provide you local information on the area attractions and business services. The Chamber also keeps an updated Calendar of Events list, along with other seasonal activity information and contacts. We can be contacted seven days a week - 24 hours a day online at: www.wickenburgchamber.com