9. RIO RICO - SE
GENERAL: Most of this large sector is low-density residential, spread over extensive foothills. There are many desert washes and plenty of vacant desert grassland. Mostly by car, but the opportunity to walk on quiet roads and along washes. High-clearance vehicle helpful, but not essential.
NOTES: Follow various roads around, going east as far as you can. Many of the roads are gated off, padlocked, marked ‘no trespassing’, or just in pretty bad shape. If possible, contact the Sonoita Creek Ranch to see if we could go onto their property, which leads up into the hills towards Patagonia Lake. Also, it seems best to do the area with 2 people if possible, and even better if one of them had a high clearance vehicle that could traverse those little unmaintained dirt roads that weren’t closed off.
Be sure to check Calabasas Park and as far down the north side of the river as possible. Perhaps seek permission to enter Sonoita Creek Ranch? If permission has been obtained, check the former Guevavi Ranch property which is now a school (Hacienda Monarca LLC - 348 S. River Rd) The area around the bridge on Ruby Road can have some birds, particularly around the corral.
The remaining time, explore residential areas for bird that may be seeking food in exotic plantings.
TARGET SPECIES: Without compromising residents privacy, check residential shrubs with potential food for birds. Use Botteri's Sparrow playback in higher grassy hills for these and other grassland sparrows.
