Madera Canyon – Arizona, USA

About

Madera Canyon is located and nestled in the northern slopes of the Santa Rita Mountain range. It is South of Tucson, Arizona. It was originally named White House Canyon, after a prominent white adobe house was built there in the late 19th century. Locals still call it White House Canyon. It is part of the Coronado National Forest, which includes 1.78 million acres spread throughout mountain ranges in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. In the early 1900’s, the mountains had over a dozen mines operating in Madera Canyon. But in 1905, Madera Canyon and the Santa Rita Mountains became part of the New National Forest systems, which are protected and managed federal lands in the United States. Madera Canyon is a bowl-shaped Watershed. Side-canyons funnel water from springs and run off into seasonal streams that feed Madera Creek and form a riparian corridor that descends into the canyon’s four life zones that create beautiful wildlife habitats. It offers as a resting place for migrating bird species. Madera Canyon is recognized as a birding location in the United States and it is home to over 250 species of birds, including 15 hummingbird species. The best time to visit, to catch a variety of species, is during migration season in the spring. But several other species can still be spotted through the summer and well into the fall and winter seasons. A variety of owls can be spotted during a night bird watching hike in the canyon, one can spot Screech Owls, Elf Owls, and Barn Owls. Other animals that can be found in the canyon include mountain lions, black bears, ring-tailed cats, bobcats, 16 species of bats and many others. Owen traveled to the Madera Canyon in June 2003.