VISIT Earle Robinson's Photos of the Public Viewing Area for looks at its pre 2007 glory.
The GRAPE, our only general public area, has been in use since May 1998 and is no longer a must see.
In 2007 the number of Hummingbird dropped by 90%, due to the drought of 2006. Most birders now
bypass this site and go directly to the CAS.
The main EAST area is now furnished with 2 only benches and doe not get feeders until Hummingbird
numbers increase, usually by 15 April.
The WEST area is covered by a 7 x 13 foot Ramada and has a bench, sitting blocks and a picnic table.
The GAZEBO area, just North of Handicapped Parking, has easy access for the Handicapped and has
great views of butterfly/hummingbird wildflower gardens, a running stream and 2 ponds with Chiricahua
Leopard Frogs.
The first documented sighting of a SHORT-TAILED HAWK in the Western US was the result of an flyover
of the GRAPE in July 1999. For several weeks, two of the Hawks were seen over the Orchard and in the
Miller Peak Wilderness Area. They are now seen yearly in SEAZ.
VISIT Earle Robinson's Photos of the Controlled Access Site before the bleacher change.
The CAS is ONLY open to our Guests or non-Guest Birders that pay a Required $5 Access Fee. It is where
the WHITE-EARED is usually seen and is the viewing site that
is famous world-wide.
The CAS is across Miller Creek and inside the Orchard fence for security and looks into the tops of the
Sycamores. This give good views of Sulphur-bellied flycatchers etc. and in the Spring of 1999 a Cooper's
Hawk nested in one of the Sycamores and raised four young.
The site now contains a 15 foot 3 row bleacher that seats 30 and will have a new flat metal roof shaded area
for 2010. The Site has been enlarged, so that a picnic table will be behind the bleacher and flower beds were
added to the SE. In front there is a small pond that is good at attracting Warblers etc. and two small flower
gardens. The bleacher is closer to the feeders than the benches for a more surround Hummingbird feeling.
This viewing site is south and uphill from the CAS and East of the Landscaped ATV Turnaround and our
two "Handyhome" cabins. It was called the Hawk Watch because of the great views of Carr Peak, the Reef,
Miller Canyon and the San Pedro River Valley.
The area inside the Turnaround has a pond, tree and a flower bed. The HW has a shaded bench, 2 other
benches, a picnic table and several sitting blocks in a tree shaded area. Much liked by Photographers.
The SOL is ONLY open to our Guests.
This 1 or 2 person bench site overlooks a pond and is located at the NW corner of our property. This
area is shaded by noon on and is nice for just one birder or Hummingbird Photographer.
14 HUMMINGBIRD species were seen in 2006/2004/2003, 13/2005 and 15/2002 when 14 species were banded.
The 15 seen in 2002 were: Allen's, Anna's, Berylline, Black-chinned, Blue-throated, Broad-billed, Broad-tailed,
Calliope, Costa's, Lucifer, Magnificent, Plain-capped Starthroat, Rufous, Violet-crowned and White-eared.
The US SAME DAY RECORD for Hummingbirds species (14) seen at one location, was first set at BEATTY'S
when the Plain-capped Starthroat was here 30 June 2002. Missed the Berylline, but it was seen that day at
TNC Ramsey and other 2002 days at Beatty's. In 2006, when we matched the record again, the Plain-capped
Starthroat was replaced by the Berylline.
1025# of sugar were fed for 2006 vs 775# for 2005, 855#/2004, 920#/2003 and 1300#/2002. In 2001 with good
summer wildflowers, 745# of sugar were used. 1361#/2000 and 1093#/1999.
The Maximum number of 8 hole Best1 quart feeders was 43 for 2006. This was the same number as 2005/2004
when we used 6 hole Perky Pet feeders. Other year numbers are 47/2003, 62/2002, 35/2001, 40/2000 and 33/1999.
Note: Because Best1 feeders have 2 more holes than the 6 hole Perky Pet feeders, the Hummers take Best 1
feeders a third faster and therefore fewer are needed for the same number of Hummers.
During Mid August 2002 with 62 feeders, the hummers took over 45 quarts of sugar water/day. This estimates to
between 4500 and 9675 hummers.
For those of you that might enjoy Hummingbird banding, VISIT: The Hummingbird Monitoring Network (HMN)
(headquartered in Patagonia, Arizona) to find out why it is an important organization for the conservation of hummingbirds.
Also checkout their current projects and how you can join them as volunteers. The second half of this site is going to be an
information Guide that will give readers and birders more information about hummingbird ecology, biology and identification.
There will be detailed illustrated species accounts for those species that occur regularly in the US with information for birders
and banders.
BEATTY'S GUEST RANCH was a banding location for HMN during 2000-2003, but stopped when we decided that
banding was not compatible with our Public Hummingbird Viewing Site.
During this 4 year 2000-2003 period, 5425 Hummingbirds of 15 species were banded at Beatty's. For more information
VISIT Dr. George West's website
Return to BEATTY'S GUEST RANCH Information