{"id":638,"date":"2012-01-03T23:47:28","date_gmt":"2012-01-03T23:47:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/aziba.org\/?page_id=638"},"modified":"2025-10-31T14:52:00","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T21:52:00","slug":"tuzigoot-iba","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/aziba.org\/?page_id=638","title":{"rendered":"Tuzigoot IBA"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Dead<\/a>Location<\/strong>: Lat: 34.7807\u00b0N Long: 112.0284\u00b0W<\/p>\n

County<\/strong>: Yavapai<\/p>\n

Site Status<\/strong>: Identified 07\/2002<\/p>\n

Ownership<\/strong>: Arizona State Parks, National Park Service, Coconino National Forest, Private<\/p>\n

Area<\/strong>: 3.5 square miles, 2,267 acres<\/p>\n

Criteria<\/strong>: D1: State: Species of Conservation Concern<\/p>\n

D3: State: Species in rare\/unique habitat: Marsh<\/p>\n

Visiting the Important Bird Area: Dead Horse Ranch State Park \u2013 Arizona Birding Trail<\/a>, Jail Trail \u2013 Arizona Birding Trail<\/a>, Lower Tapco \u2013 Arizona Birding Trail<\/a>, Tavasci Marsh \u2013 Arizona Birding Trail<\/a>, Tuzigoot Bridge \u2013 Arizona Birding Trail<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Site Description<\/span><\/strong>:\"Tuzigoot<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

This IBA consists of three distinct and inter-related water-based systems: 1) The Verde River Greenway riparian corridor, 2) Peck\u2019s Lake and associated riparian and upland habitats, and 3) Tavasci marsh, a spring-fed marsh of approximately 70 acres, presently with influx of Verde River water from Peck’s Lake. Peck’s Lake, Tavasci marsh, and Peck’s Lake is supplied water from a tunnel (flume) from the Verde River, and its overflow passes into and through Tavasci marsh back to the Verde River downstream. Tuzigoot National Monument is a National Park Service unit in the middle of the IBA and is all upland habitat. Northern Arizona Audubon Society is the steward for this site. More information about Northern Arizona Audubon Society and how you can help as a volunteer can be found at http:\/\/www.northernarizonaaudubon.org\/.
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Dead<\/a>The marsh, composed of emergent vegetation, sedge, bulrush, cattail, comprises about 12% of the IBA.\u00a0 Riparian gallery forest of Fremont cottonwood, Goodding willow, and mesquite borders the Verde River and the east side of Tavasci marsh (15%).\u00a0 Mesquite bosque (20%) borders the south and north side of Tavasci marsh, and around Peck\u2019s Lake, with the greatest tree height on the north side of Tavasci marsh, and well developed around Peck\u2019s Lake.\u00a0 Chaparral habitat is present on the uplands (30%).\u00a0 Open water of Peck\u2019s Lake comprises about 10% of the IBA.\u00a0 The remaining habitats consist of grassland and cliff\/rock.\u00a0 The marsh is managed for habitat\/wildlife conservation, Peck\u2019s Lake remains open to hunting, and 5% of the area is the National Park Service owned and managed Tuzigoot National Monument.<\/p>\n

Mini Conservation Plan<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Tuzigoot | Arizona Wildlife Conservation Strategy<\/a><\/p>\n

Bar Charts – eBird<\/a><\/p>\n

For an interactive map and habitat and land ownership analysis of this IBA visit the <\/strong>National Audubon IBA Map<\/strong><\/a> and select \u201cArizona” and then select this IBA<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ornithological Summary<\/span><\/strong>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Osprey<\/a>

Osprey by Jim Sedgwick<\/p><\/div>\n

This ecosystem provides high quality wetland, lake, and riparian habitat for migrating, breeding, and over-wintering birds. The marsh habitat stands out for its uniqueness in Arizona, and its populations of Least Bittern <\/strong>and Virginia’s Rail, Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron<\/strong> (in winter), with rare Yuma<\/strong> Clapper Rail<\/strong> detections. The riparian area including the mesquite bosque stand out for the conservation status birds using the habitat both during the breeding and migration passage periods. The over-wintering waterfowl numbers can exceed 1000 birds at Peck’s Lake<\/strong>, species in notable numbers include Canada Goose, Gadwall, Mallard<\/strong>, Northern Shoveler<\/strong>, Green-winged Teal<\/strong>, Canvasback<\/strong>, and Ring-necked Duck<\/strong>. Bald Eagles<\/strong> and Osprey<\/strong> are known to winter along the Verde River, both also use the IBA during the migration periods. Yellow-billed Cuckoo<\/strong> have been found to nest within the IBA (1 pair), a conservation status species. The mesquite bosque supports an abundant Lucy’s Warbler<\/strong> population, a conservation status species. Species using the area in migration include: Southwestern Willow, Gray, <\/strong>and Cordilleran Flycatchers<\/strong>, and Virginia’s<\/strong> and MacGillivray’s Warblers<\/strong>, all of which are species of conservation status. In winter the surrounding sedge and grassland habitat support hundreds of over-wintering sparrows, notably the Brewer’s Sparrow<\/strong> in huge numbers (>200 ind.), and the riparian area hosts the Red-naped Sapsucker<\/strong> (uncommon), both species of conservation status.<\/p>\n

Audubon Arizona WatchList 2004 Species<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Red listed: (1) Bell\u2019s Vireo,\u00a0 Yellow listed: (3) Lucy\u2019s Warbler, Southwester Willow Flycatcher, Virginia\u2019s Warbler<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Criteria<\/strong><\/td>\nKey Criteria Bird Data<\/strong><\/td>\nSource<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SCS<\/td>\nLeast Bittern (Breeding Period), 10 individuals (avg.)<\/td>\nD. GausigUnpubl. data 90-02.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SCS<\/td>\nCommon Black-Hawk (Breeding Period), 2 pairs (avg.)<\/td>\nD. GausigUnpubl.. data 90-02.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SCS<\/td>\nBelted Kingfisher (Breeding Period), 3 pairs<\/td>\nD. GausigUnpubl. data 90-02.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SCS<\/td>\nBald Eagle (Winter Period), 3 individuals (avg.)Bald Eagle (Fall Passage), 10 individuals (max.)<\/td>\nCBC 76-02.NAMC 02.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SCS<\/td>\nBrewer\u2019s Sparrow (Winter Period), 200 individuals (avg.)<\/td>\nCBC 76-02. D. Gausig Unpubl. data 90-02.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marsh Habitat<\/td>\n2 SCS Species (Breeding Period):\u00a0 Least Bittern, Belted King Fisher, and Yuma Clapper Rail (rare).\u00a0 Non-SCS: Virginia\u2019s Rail.2 SCS (Winter Period):\u00a0 Least Bittern and Belted Kingfisher.<\/td>\nD. GausigUnpubl. data 90-02.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Riparian Habitat<\/td>\n4 SCS Species (Breeding Period):\u00a0 Lucy\u2019s Warbler, Bell\u2019s Vireo, Common Black-Hawk, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo.5 SCS Species (Spring Passage):\u00a0 Southwester Willow Flycatcher (4 max.), Gray Flycatcher (25 max.), Cordilleran Flycatcher (10 max.), Virginia\u2019s Warbler (10 max.), and MacGillivray\u2019s Warbler (20 max.).<\/td>\nD. GausigUnpubl. data 90-02<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

SCS = Species of Conservation Concern<\/p>\n

\"Virginia<\/a>

Virginia Rail by Mike Baird<\/p><\/div>\n

Conservation Issues<\/span><\/strong>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Water quality of Peck\u2019s Lake is not meeting Arizona Department of Water Quality standards, past mining activities is believed to be the cause.\u00a0 In an attempt to meet water quality\u00a0 standards, the Verde<\/p>\n

\"Virginia's<\/a>

Virginia’s Warbler by Jerry Oldenettel<\/p><\/div>\n

River water is diverted into Peck\u2019s Lake.\u00a0 The water over-flow moves into and through Tavasci marsh, altering its natural spring-fed hydrology.\u00a0 The marsh is deeper and warmer, causing changes to the riparian vegetation, and the aquatic community of the marsh.\u00a0 The Verde River riparian area is subject to free-range cattle in the area, and has experienced severe grazing impacts to the under-story and mid-story riparian vegetation.\u00a0 The bosque habitat around the marsh and lake do not experience this grazing impact.\u00a0 The IBA includes a mine tailings area adjacent to Peck\u2019s Lake that has been proposed for various types of development by the PD Corporation.\u00a0 These development plans remain on hold, and negotiations with various conservation interest groups and the National Park Service is on going with PD to acquire PD lands by the National Park Service or the State of Arizona.\u00a0 Another threat is the Cottonwood Ditch Association\u2019s diversion of some of the Verde River into its ditch within the IBA near the foot of the Tuzigoot NM.\u00a0 Lastly, 26 miles upstream, a proposed home development (proposed at 25,000 homes), threatens the source waters of the Verde River.<\/p>\n

\"IBA25\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Tuzigoot<\/a>

Tuzigoot IBA GIS Map – zoomed out<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Tuzigoot<\/a>

Tuzigoot IBA GIS Map<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Location: Lat: 34.7807\u00b0N Long: 112.0284\u00b0W County: Yavapai Site Status: Identified 07\/2002 Ownership: Arizona State Parks, National Park Service, Coconino National Forest, Private Area: 3.5 square miles, 2,267 acres Criteria: D1: State: Species of Conservation Concern D3: State: Species in rare\/unique habitat: Marsh Visiting the Important Bird Area: Dead Horse Ranch State Park \u2013 Arizona Birding … <\/p>\n

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