GENERAL: The northern third of the sector lies within private gated communities of Morning Star Ranch and Salero Ranch. Current ranch residents have access to all roads and many hiking areas (with permission from lot owners), but special permission is needed for non-residents to enter and hike. The southern two-thirds lies within Sonoita Creek State Natural Area, including the Coal Mine Spring property (owned by AZ Game & Fish). Access to the state land from any direction is difficult and requires hiking along drainages or cattle trails or bushwhacking through rocky grassland. A large pond on Grosvenor Rd in Salero Ranch holds water year-round (fed by a private well). Fresno Canyon south to Fresno Spring is a 3-mile hike one way through rocky grassland habitat with occasional oaks. Fresno Spring and Coal Mine Spring have permanent pools and mature trees, though it is unlikely a single team could access both on one day. Two houses within the circle on Morning Star may have feeders or water features; permission needed.
TARGET SPECIES: Golden Eagles seen year-round. Wintering waterfowl including Hooded Merganser on Grosvenor Rd pond. Rocky grassland species such as Black-chinned Sparrow, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Rufous-winged Sparrow, Montezuma Quail, Crissal Thrasher, Northern-beardless Tyrannulet. Five-striped Sparrows were documented (Sep 2019, Aug 2021) in two locations within the circle on Salero Ranch.
