by Ricardo Small Mark and Lorry McConnell are from Renton, WA. near Seattle. Lorry worked in banking and Mark in manufacturing. They both retired in May 2018 and starting traveling mostly in the winters throughout the western US and Canada. They’ve been in Arizona the last three winters to visit family and to enjoy pleasant winter weather while hiking and backpacking. Lorry and Mark have a history of volunteering prior to retirement through their children’s interests, their work and even in an unorganized way. When they stayed in campgrounds during their travels, they cleaned campsites and fire pits to make […]

by Ricardo Small On the 1st of March 2021, a team of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Altar Valley Conservation Alliance personnel and volunteers planted native seedlings in an area that experienced a human caused wildfire three years ago in 2018 on the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge (BANWR). Morgan Walter and Geoff Bland, leaders of the Burned Area Recovery Project with the USFWS and Altar Valley Conservation Alliance, organized the group with the help of Reta Rutledge, vice president of the Friends of BANWR. This was the fourth planting in the same burned area. The previous three […]

Bonnie Swarbrick, President of the Friends, coordinates the Christmas Bird Count on Buenos Aires NWR. She has coordinated it since 1999! Here is the final tally for 2020 on Buenos Aires. Bonnie’s highlights: A total of 97 species! This is very good, considering that birds were sparse this year, due probably to dry conditions. A great day for Black-throated Sparrows (335) HYBRID SAPSUCKER!  Red-naped x Red-breasted Seen by David Griffin in area 2 (Arivaca Creek)   CLAY-COLORED SPARROW  Seen by Jim Ambrose and Barry Stevenson in area 9 (mixed habitat south of Arivaca Road) Other Highlights: 1 White-tailed Kite (area 10S) – only […]

Tucson Audubon Society tells about the significant connections between Buenos Aires NWR and Tucson Audubon in this story from Vermillion Flycatcher, Winter 2020.Tucson Audubon and Friends of BANWR have worked on projects together for many years! Thank you, Tucson Audubon!

Wildlife Updates The HPC grant money did create corridors for wildlife to enter and exit the water at Cordova Tank. We knew mule deer were using the tank but hoped that pronghorn might use it once there was a clearing. Below is our happy result. Four pregnant does were relocated from northern Arizona to the Refuge. Their young added to the fawns from our resident herd. It was great to see so many fawns survive. Quail reintroduction is increasing the numbers on the ground. Quail techs tracked 80-100 quail that overwintered nine months after their release. Thanks to Volunteers Friends […]

Friends of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge 2018 Annual Report This is our second Annual Report and we hope it finds you well!  We had some big accomplishments this past year, thanks to the generosity of our funders, donors and the tireless commitment of our volunteers. FUNDER HIGHLIGHTS Thanks to LUSH Cosmetics we received a grant that paid for:  Yellow-billed Cuckoo survey with supplies and mileage reimbursement for the volunteer field help.  Six miles of wildlife friendly fence materials. Consultant, Kyle Thompson to survey the easiest five eroded washes to repair with mesquite matts.  Kyle trained and led a crew of 20 volunteers […]

*|MC:SUBJECT|* *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* WINTER 2019 UPDATE REALLY COOL FUNDRAISER GOING ON NOW!! This is your opportunity to receive a beautiful gift and support Friends of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge.  While supply lasts, you will receive your choice of bracelet, earrings, or necklace/lanyard free with a donation of $50 or more – (the more you give, the more the Friends can do) as much as you can afford to give.  All donations will be used for Friends of BANWR projects. One of our Friends, Rosa Panchyshyn – ArtisanJewelryoftheWest.com, has designed and handcrafted jewelry using authentic bird bands from our endangered Masked Bobwhite Quail.  […]

Lush Cosmetics, owner of the Lush bath products and skincare boutique at La Encantada Mall in Tucson, has awarded a grant to the Friends of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge. The Friends is an all-volunteer, nonprofitorganization which supports the 118,000 acre U.S. Fish & Wildlife Refuge near Arivaca along the US/Mexico Border. Quote from Lush Charitable Giving Communication Liaison and Regional Ambassador West, Hilary Pickles: “I saw a brochure for Friends of the BANWR and got on the phone with Reta Rutledge to learn more. I wasimpressed with their projects and the drive of the community to address the safety […]