Arizona Wildlife Views Magazine

"Where to Watch Wildlife? A new guide has all the answers," by Julie Hammonds

By the time I moved to Arizona, I knew the state fairly well. My father had lived in the Phoenix area for many years. Whenever I visited, we went exploring together, traveling to the Chiricahua Mountains, Monument Valley, the Verde Valley, Flagstaff and Madera Canyon. We hiked and watched birds together, enjoying the grand scenery that draws so many to this beautiful Western state.

I had covered a fair amount of ground as a tourist, but did I really know where to watch wildlife in Arizona? No, I didn’t have a clue.

I would be lost without the “Arizona Wildlife Viewing Guide.” I bought the original version, first published in 1992 and reprinted in 1998, when I settled in the Grand Canyon State. I quickly learned to rely on this printed version of a wildlife-watching travel agency when planning trips.

That helpful tome now has been replaced on my bookshelf by the new “Arizona Wildlife Viewing Guide.” Both books are organized in roughly the same way, breaking the state down into regions, then naming and describing specific sites in each region. But this slick and heavy new version is not just a minor revision; a major new publication, it describes many more sites in richer detail than the previous book did.

The new guide divides the state into five viewing regions: Canyonlands, Central Mountains, River and Desert, Sky Islands and White Mountains. Within each region, sites are ranked according to the level of watchable wildlife experience they may provide. The “Premier Sites” are the crown jewels of Arizona, places where wildlife viewing and scenic or recreational values can be spectacular. If you’re planning a special trip to Arizona specifically to watch wildlife and enjoy the state’s amazing scenery, or putting together a route for a big vacation, these are the places to start.

The “Great Sites” are the second tier. These locations are well worth time and effort to visit, but are not the showpieces listed as Premier Sites.

Don’t overlook the “Other Sites.” These are not as grand as sites in the top two tiers, but there are more of them, so if you live in Arizona, perhaps only a short drive, walk or bicycle ride is all that’s needed to reach the nearest “Other Site.”

Each entry describes a site fully, and also lists wildlife to watch for and trails to walk. You won’t get lost along the way: The book explains how to reach each site, what amenities you might expect to find nearby, and whom to contact for more information. It shines the spotlight on specific kinds of wildlife special or unique to Arizona, and offers guidelines to help people arrive prepared and have a great time outdoors. The book also includes a useful index, regional maps and lots of wildlife photos to whet your appetite.

Newcomers to Arizona will find the new “Arizona Wildlife Viewing Guide” especially helpful, because it covers the entire state and offers many different possibilities to suit anyone’s interests and time available. Longtime residents are sure to discover new places to explore as they peruse these pages, as well. And for anyone interested in wildlife who plans to visit Arizona, the book would make a great investment. Skim through its pages and dream of places to go and creatures to see.

As a general introduction to spectacular Arizona and the varied habitats that make it such a great place to watch wildlife, the new “Arizona Wildlife Viewing Guide” has no peer. Consider adding this book to your collection: Next time you’re listening to a bugling elk, watching a soaring condor or enjoying any other of Arizona’s many wildlife-watching opportunities, you’ll be very glad you did.

Arizona Wildlife Viewing Guide

The new guide is published by Adventure Publications, Inc. and produced by Watchable Wildlife Incorporated as part of its Watchable Wildlife Series.

The book is available for $14.95 at any Arizona Game and Fish Department office, in bookstores and through online booksellers. It can also be purchased from www.watchablewildlife.org or www.adventurepublications.net.

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