 Annual Meeting
Saturday, January 14th, 8:00 AM
See old friends, meet new ones and learn what's happening at the Friends of Madera Canyon Annual Meeting, Saturday, January 14th, 8:00 AM in Studio B of the Community Performing Arts Center, 1250 W. Continental Road.
This year's speaker is Cathy Hufault, author of Death Clouds on Mt. Baldy, the acclaimed story of heroism and tragedy with Boy Scouts trapped in a huge 1958 blizzard on the mountain above Madera Canyon.
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25th Anniversary Photo Contest
As part of of the Friends of Madera Canyon 25th Anniversary celebration we are sponsoring a photo contest. Please send us some of your best photographs taken of or in the canyon. Even if you don't consider them contest winning material, we'd like to see them and potentially use them to introduce others to a great public resource. Click here for contest details. The contest will award first through third places and honorable mentions in four categories: - Wildlife
- Botanical
- Landscapes/Scenery
- Young (age twelve and under) Photographer (any subject)
In a separate category, Historical, pictures will be featured and appreciated but not judged. This category seeks pictures taken at least twenty years ago. It invites up to twenty submissions from the same person and offers scanning assistance if needed. Again, photographers of all levels of experience are encouraged to enter. One of your pictures, prize winning or not, could be the inspiration for a first visit or a long involvement with Madera Canyon. For contest details click here. |
Membership Renewals
Those of you who are annual members should have received a letter with a return envelope to renew your dues for 2012. About one-half of you have already renewed your membership with the Friends and we sincerely thank you. We ask the rest of you to follow suit and send in your renewal. We were pleased that several members "upgraded" membership to a higher level and we greatly appreciate your commitment to the organization by doing this. If you haven't, please take the time now to renew. We would miss you as a member and your support of the Friends.Membership can also be renewed online.
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What Bird Is This
Welcome to the first of a continuing series designed to test experienced birders and provide some less strenuous challenges for the rest of us.
First, the tough one.
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Birds do not always cooperate when you see them in the field. Often they seem to realize that you are looking at them and they like to hide behind branches or sit where they are not obvious. Or you may see a bird fly up to a tree and quickly disappear from view in the brush or around behind the tree trunk. All you get is a quick glance and they are gone.
Ornithologist George West says this month's identification challenge should not be too difficult. The newsletter publisher, completely stumped, would disagree. Can you do better?
This bird is in Madera Canyon during the winter and migrates north to nest. Click here to see a better photo of the bird on the Friends web site along with some interesting information.
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Not So Tough
For those of us who are not advanced birders, but who would like to learn more about our local birds, here is a distant cousin of the unknown bird. This one looks like it is in a clown costume and with its pattern of red, black, and white, is a very conspicuous and noisy resident of Madera Canyon. Click here to test your answer.
Pictures and descriptions compliments of George West.
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Polo Shirts on SaleWhile supplies last, Friends of Madera Canyon polo shirts are available at a member price of $20.00 each, a four dollar saving. They can be ordered at the Friends Nature Shop.
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Board Members
Tom Purdon (President), Willem Van Kempen, (Vice-President), Eileen Buckel (Secretary), Louise Gibbenson (Treasurer, Special Events), George Cottay (VP Marketing, Newsletter Publisher, Web Master), Dita-Erika Hagen (Archives, Preservation, Nominating), Tamara Kahrimanis (Adult Education Programs), Wally Lamb (Visitor Information Station, Storage and Inventory), Jerry Popham (Bat House Research, Special Projects, Mailing), Judy Thoreson (Miles and Hours, Annual Meeting), Judy Maury (Marketing Group), Larry Johnson (roles pending).
Others
Doug Moore (Director of Education), Carol Lambert (Fund Raising, Special Projects, Finance/Audit), Phil English (Boy Scouts), Ruth Maloblocki (Retail Sales), Sondra Dexter (Scholarships), Mike Staples (Canyon Clean-up), Ellen and George West (Membership and Dues Administration), George West (Newsletter Editor), Debora Nehls (Information Distribution in the Canyon), Rozanne Roman (Accessible Trails).
Thank You for Your Support
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In This Issue
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Upcoming Events This Saturday, January 7th, Friends of Madera Canyon are participating in BEYOND events at the La Posada campus commemorating the anniversary of the January 8, 2011 shooting in Tucson, celebrating the spirit of togetherness felt in the days and months afterward, and recommitting ourselves to working together to build a stronger community every day. The day will begin with a community walk to the La Posada Meditation Garden at 9:00 am. A group will be leaving La Posada at about 10:30 AM for an 11:00 AM Gabe Zimmerman memorial and tribute in Madera Canyon at the Proctor Ramada. Friends volunteers will be at La Posada from 8:15 to 2:30 and invite you to say hello and perhaps join them. Thursday, February 23rd at 2:00 PM the Nature Series continues. Doug Moore, FoMC Education Director, will give a presentation on The Flowers of Madera Canyon at the Community Performing Arts Center,1250 W Continental. Tickets $5.00 399-1750. Sign up for an optional Field Trip after the lecture. More events listed on the Friends of Madera Canyon website.
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TAS RARE BIRD ALERTClick here for the Tucson Audubon Society rare bird alert list. Madera Canyon sightings are often included. 
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