It has long been noted that wintering aquatic birds concentrate in large numbers in several highly urban water sources in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The greater Phoenix area is one of the fastest growing regions of the United States and each year additional lakes and ponds are created in new residential neighborhoods and golf courses throughout the area attracting even more wintering aquatic birds. To clarify, aquatic birds are noted as wild waterfowl, cormorants, grebes, coots, rails, egrets, herons, bitterns, shorebirds and several fish-eating birds such as Bald Eagles, Ospreys, and Belted Kingfishers.

It became apparent during the past few years that only a small sampling of these urban water bodies are regularly visited by birders and fewer still are included in local Christmas Bird Count circles to document annual numbers. As part of the implementation of the recently established and evolving Arizona Coordinated Bird Monitoring Program sponsored by the Arizona Bird Conservation Initiative, a preliminary survey of some key urban areas was conducted by seven surveyors on 21 January 2006 (see summary of data and effort). Even with this limited efforts, it was determined that this extensive urban area likely held the highest density of wintering aquatic birds than any place else of its size in Arizona. These encouraging findings led to nearly full coverage surveys of the metro Phoenix area by 52 surveyors (mostly volunteers) on 20 January 2007. These results will not only assist in monitoring annual winter populations, but will also determine high concentration areas for certain species which may lead to identifying potential urban conflict areas. These include urban fishing areas stocked with fish and turf damaged and soiling caused by grazing species on golf courses and in parks.

This survey will become an annual event on the third Saturday of January. For more information, please contact the survey coordinator, Troy Corman, tcorman@azgfd.gov.

NOTE - There are many factors that likely contribute to the tremendous density and diversity of wintering aquatic birds to the highly urbanized Phoenix area. These include the abundant supply of unfrozen water bodies in this otherwise dry, southwest desert location and a safe haven from hunting pressure. Many lakes and ponds are located within manicured parks and golf coursed readily providing fresh green grass throughout the winter for abundant grazing species such as American Coots and American Wigeons. Many additional aquatic birds are attracted to the locally high concentration of fish, mollusks, and crustaceans. Adjacent agricultural lands also provide foraging areas for flocks of geese and Cattle Egrets which roost and loaf at urban lakes and ponds.