Sonoran Audubon Society

The purpose of Sonoran Audubon Society is to educate its members and the community about birds, other wildlife, and their habitats, and about the beauty and importance of the complex interactions that make for a healthy environment for everyone. Sonoran Audubon encourages and supports community involvement in the conservation, preservation and restoration of natural ecosystems in support of biological diversity.  The Chapter is raising funds for the 5th year of internships for college grads and upperclassmen studying biology and the conservation sciences to learn about and count an endangered bird species in AZ--the Western Yellow-Billed Cuckoo.  The counts occur between mid-June and mid-August each summer, timed to the birds return to our waterways to mate and raise their chicks.

Sonoran Audubon Society (SAS) is a separate nonprofit affiliate (or chapter) of National Audubon Society that is geographically focused on the West Valley of the PHX Metro. and environs. The Chapter has 500 members. SAS brings information, education and resources about birds and birds' habitat to its communities' residents. SAS' welcomes volunteers several of whom are available for talks with groups in schools, universities, libraries, assisted living communities, community centers, etc., year round. Towns and cities in the West suburbs partner with SAS--Glendale, Peoria, Avondale, Sun City, etc. To find upcoming events, SAS has a website (sonoranaudubon.org), Facebook page & Instagram that provide information about the Chapter along with members' good photos of birds taken on birding trips. On the website, folks can check out the SAS' calendar to locate and sign up for guided Birding Trips and Hikes at AZ birding "hot spots" like the "Glendale Re-Charge Ponds," Tres Rios near PHX International Raceway and the Gilbert Riparian Preserve. All ages are welcome on most hikes especially the Family Walks and Talks at the Maricopa County Regional Parks on Saturdays. Reports from these walks are also on the website so everyone can see what birds are likely to show up at each Park. In recent years, the Chapter has focused on building the membership and the cadre of contributors; encouraging younger folks and families to become "Auduboners" is a priority. The Western Yellow Billed Cuckoo Internships, it is hoped, will encourage graduates of this program to stay with Audubon AND advance their career objectives. Now with four years completed, funded by National Audubon grants and individuals' contributions, results are promising.  Several former interns have landed FT paid jobs counting Cuckoos in other areas of AZ and NM. Several former interns volunteer on the boards of Sonoran Audubon & the other two Chapters in Central PHX and the East Suburbs. Finally, several former interns are now certified guides and trainers for new interns.