DESCRIPTION
An area of mature cottonwoods, willows, farm fields, cat tails,
and flowing water. The Gila River runs south of the grove,
and a farmer's drain runs through the grove into the Gila
River. Within the grove, the drain is used by numerous
warblers, tanagers, and sparrows as bathing and drinking
location. The fields to the north of the grove are used by
buntings, sparrows, shorebirds, raptors, and owls. One of
the canals which feeds the drain is frequented by waders and
Cinnamon Teal.
Bathing area in the
grove
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DRIVING
DIRECTIONS
Site #4 on Yuma
East Overview Map
Getting there from the intersection of I-8 and 16th Street takes
15-20 minutes:
- Drive east on 16th Street (Highway 95) 5.1
miles to Ave 7E (Circle K and Chevron stations).
- Turn left on Ave 7E and drive north for 1.7 miles.
- Turn right on the levee dirt/gravel road just after crossing the
Gila River.
- Drive east about 1.4 miles
- Park on the wide spot of the levee
- There will be a trail leading down from the levee into and through the
Gila River Grove (it does get overgrown and cottony at times)
- If you'd rather bird from the levee, that's also provides great views!
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BIRDING
SUGGESTIONS
(Numbered
spots correspond with the map on the right.)
1) The
bridge over the Gila River has breeding Cliff Swallows under
it. The large trees on both sides attract woodpeckers.
This is the only spot you will actually see the Gila River.
2) As
you drive along the levee in summer, watch for Blue Grosbeaks
perched in the trees. During the winter look for Cooper's
and Sharp-shinned Hawks.
3) The
fields north of the levee will have a variety of birds,
depending on the season. Flooded fields during migration
can bring 15 species of shorebirds. Burrowing owls nest
along some of the berms.
4) Yellow-headed
Blackbirds nest along the river--listen for their squeaky, rusty
door-hinge call. Listen also for Clappers and Soras. 5) This
is the heart of the grove, which has warblers, flycatchers,
grosbeaks, tanagers, and finches during migration. Cuckoos
visit in late summer. |
Gila
River Grove
(Click
on the map for aerial photo)
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Red numbers
correspond to
the birding suggestions on the left.
Blue areas are water (canals, rivers, ponds, marshes, etc.)
Green
dots are areas with trees. |
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POSSIBLE
SIGHTINGS
-
unusual birds
highlighted in dark red
Migrants:
Warblers
-Hermit, Black-throated Gray,
MacGillivray's, Townsend's, Yellow-rumped, Wilson's, Nashville
-Yellow Warbler (breeds)
-Common Yellowthroat (breeds)
-Yellow-breasted Chat (breeds)
Flycatchers
-Western Kingbird (breeds)
-Ash-throated Flycatcher (breeds)
-Western Wood Pewee
-Willow Flycatcher
(might breed)
-Olive-sided Flycatcher
-Greater Pewee
(rare)
-Phoebes
-watch for rarities - see Bird
List
Other Passerines
-thrushes
-Blue Grosbeak (breeds)
-gnatcatchers
-Yellow-billed
Cuckoo
-finches
-Pine Siskin
-Bullock's Oriole (breeds)
-sparrows
Year-round
Residents:
-American Coot
-Greater Roadrunner
-Turkey Vulture
-Gambel's Quail
-Burrowing Owl
-Ladder-backed Woodpecker
-Verdin
-Song Sparrow
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GILA
GROVE TRIP REPORTS
(Web Pages)
These pages give you some
idea of the birds that you can find in this location during the different
seasons.
Dave Taylor, Jeff Coker, & Henry Detwiler's List
(this is a comprehensive bird list from the area, 1988-2002)
May 12, 2002
(several days of excellent warbler & tanager watching)
Male Western Tanager
Gila River Grove
Female Western Tanager
Gila River Grove
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