They’ve Been Sighted: Magnificent Bird Sculptures Point the Way to Treasures in Southern Arizona’s Santa Cruz Valley.

Everyone knows that Chicago has its cows, Baltimore has its fish, and Santa Fe has its ponies, but did you know that Santa Cruz Valley in Southern Arizona has Birds? Soon everyone will.

A new program sponsored by the Santa Cruz Tourism Council called “As the Birds Fly South” has been launched to guide travelers to the Santa Cruz Valley’s many historical, cultural and natural treasures. The program’s centerpiece, a series of ten original fine art bird sculptures, have been placed throughout the Valley in key destinations adjacent to visitor information in five Santa Cruz County communities. The sculptures point the way to hiking and biking trails, championship golf courses, fishing, horseback riding, world-renowned birding, historic sites and much more.

Lisa Harrison, president and CEO of the Santa Cruz Tourism Council DBA Tubac-Santa Cruz Visitor Center explains, “The bird sculptures serve as a directory that informs visitors and residents alike of the many natural, historical, cultural and artistic resources that are all part of the Santa Cruz Valley. The “As the Birds Fly South” program reveals to others what we already know: our rich valley is a paradise for birds, birders and travelers alike.”

The Santa Cruz Valley is a renowned birder’s paradise. Opportunities to view abundant, diverse, and exotic species exist throughout the area and draw thousands of visitors year round. Popular bird-watching areas include the historic Anza Trail, Tumacácori National Historic Park, The Nature Conservancy’s Preserves in Patagonia and Canelo, Audubon’s Research Ranch in Elgin, San Rafael Valley, the Empire Ranch, Patagonia Lake State Park, Madera Canyon, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, and many more.

Visitors to the region are encouraged to find paradise here. Paula Schaper, Marketing Director for the “As the Birds Fly South” program explains: “The Santa Cruz Valley is one of North America’s premier flyways and nesting areas because of our open space, lush, diverse and plentiful habitat, and moderate climate. It is an ideal home for over 300 species of birds, many of which are at the southern- and northern-most edge of their distribution. “As the Birds Fly South” highlights our natural attractions as well as our many recreational, historical and cultural treasures of the Valley, enhancing our reputation not just among birders but travelers in general. Those who may not be birders will learn what residents, birders and birds alike already know: the Santa Cruz Valley is paradise.”

For those wanting to catch site of the fine art sculptures, they can be seen at the following locations:

•"Raptor-ous” at the Nogales-Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce in Nogales
•“The Birdwatcher” at the Amado Territory Inn in Amado
•“Roadrunners,” at the historic Tubac Golf Resort in Tubac
•The “Magnificent Turkey Vulture” at Esplendor Resort at Rio Rico
•“Grey Hawk” at the the Mountain Empire’s Visitor Center in Patagonia
•“Screech Owls: Sightings” at Estancia Yerba Buena/Kino Springs Golf Course in Kino Springs outside of Nogales
•“Two Ravens” at La Entrada de Tubac at the Tubac-Santa Cruz Visitor Center in Tubac
•“Long Eared Owls” at the Rio Rico Nature Center (future site of an Arizona State Park at the Anza national historic trail) in Rio Rico
•“Owl Totem” at the historic La Mision de San Miguel in Patagonia
•“Desert Feathers” at the historic Rex Ranch Resort in Amado

The “As the Birds Fly South” program, developed in partnership with the Tubac-Santa Cruz Visitor Center, the Nogales-Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce and the Tubac Center of the Arts, celebrates the area as a premier destination for bird-watchers as well as other visitors who want to head for southern Arizona’s year-round perfect climate for relaxation and adventure. The program is supported in part through a United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant.

For more information about the “As the Birds Fly South” program or to receive your guide to the bird-beaded Santa Cruz Valley in Southern Arizona, contact the Tubac-Santa Cruz Visitor Center’s at 520-398-0007 or visit www.toursantacruz.com.