The Ranch is open to day visitors from 8 AM to 4 PM.   $5 per person.   Groups of more than four people must call in advance.

 MAY 7 2012 NEWS 

Spring migration is in full swing, and I’m happy to report that there seem to be as many species of birds and individuals as in the past, before last year’s fire.  Trogons are pairing up in South Fork, Mexican Chickadees are nesting in their usual spots, and other warblers are in the same places as prior years.  Last year’s nearly fifteen inches of rain in the July to December months encouraged plant growth in many of the burned areas, and the deer seem to be doing well.  

The common refrain from many guests in the past months has been how little of the fire’s effects they can see.  In this part of the drainage there was no fire at all, and even where the backburns took place a few miles from here, you have to look closely to see the traces.  In South Fork things have bounced back, and the Herb Martyr Road past the Research Station, and most of the mountains visible from it, show little sign of fire.

Rustler Park had fire, and there are dead stands of trees, but much remains.  The Forest Service has reopened Rustler Park to walkers, but requests that you stay off the hill with the campsites and picnic tables, as many of those trees are dead.  Barfoot Park is amazing – there was fire in it, but very little loss of trees, and it is as refreshing as ever.

Tomorrow is the anniversary of the start of last year’s fire, and we’re all dreading another fire season.  The forest is much less dry, however, than it was at this time last year, so that encourages hope that even if a fire starts, it won’t race out of control in a matter of hours.

Hummingbird numbers have been good, and tanagers, orioles, grosbeaks, and warblers are all arriving as well.

About 8 elf owls have arrived at the Ranch, and call at twilight.  Western screech owls are also calling here, and whiskered up the canyon.  Poorwills add their plaintive calls to the evening hours, and the skies have been lovely at night.  Temperatures have been in the high seventies to low eighties during the day, and low fifties at night, cool enough for an extra blanket!

The creek is about dry now until the monsoon begins at the end of June or early July, although there is still plenty of water upstream.  The Ranch is as beautiful as ever, so please consider a return visit to this magical place.

Maybe we’ll see you here soon!

Reed Peters

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