Amid the apple and willow trees along the bank of Rudd Creek, a large number of migratory hummingbirds flitted and danced around the trees and feeders as 973 people came to the 15th Annual Hummingbird Festival at Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area outside of Springerville hosted by Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD).
According to Diane Tilton, Information and Education Program Manager for the Pinetop Region of AZGFD, the event actually started 15 years ago in the back yard of one of the employees of AZDGF. “It started with a group of people with a love of hummingbirds and over the years it has grown.”
Members of the Southwest Bird Observatory were also at the event, banding the birds. Tilton said that the banding process has enabled them to track the migratory patterns. “Sometimes we have had birds show up in Central America.”
This year the weather was perfect for the event, with warm sun, cooling breezes and no rain. After fighting through a wet, rainy season last year, Tilton said they were able leave up the hummingbird feeders for the visitors because of the large number of birds. “Most of the time, a lot of the feeders are taken down to enable the banding process to go more efficiently.”
Among the breeds of hummingbirds that attended the event were the Rufous, the Black-Chinned, the Broad-Tailed and the Calliope. Besides hummingbirds, the Sipes Wildlife Area has a total of 1,362 acres of grasslands, hills and valleys that offer recreational opportunities that include wildlife viewing and photography, picnicking and hiking to historic and prehistoric sites.
During the festival, the Visitor Center provided a wealth of information on the animals and vegetation in the area, while classes were held on everything from Hummingbird 101 to photographing the shy, little creatures.
Live wild raptors, including a Great Horned Owl, a Peregrine Falcon and a Red-Tail Hawk, were displayed as well as Black-Crowned Night Heron.
The area is open to the public year round, with the visitor center open from mid-May to early October. Originally, a working cattle ranch, the site was purchased through a partnership of public and private funds in 1993 as way to preserve a portion of Arizona’s wildlife heritage while educating and encouraging future generations in their love of the outdoors.
The hummingbird festival is held on the last Saturday of July every year. Located a few miles outside of Springerville, it is well worth the drive. For more information, visit www.azgfd.com/wildlife/viewing/wheretogo/sipe.
