In 2019, AZGFD’s International and Borderlands Program implemented the first phase of a binational wildlife inventory project at two private properties located within the Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion in Sonora, Mexico. This project was conceived during binational committee discussions, facilitated by the Arizona-Mexico Commission (AMC), with the purpose of surveying the biodiversity of vertebrate species in the Sky Islands. The successful implementation of the binational project is a result of the landowners’ cooperation and willingness to participate in such a project, as well as early collaborations with the Unión Ganadera Regional de Sonora (Sonora’s Regional Cattle Growers Association) and the Arizona Center for Nature Conservation/Phoenix Zoo.
Sixty trail cameras were deployed for one year, thirty at each property. The trail cameras were initially deployed in late February and early March of 2019, and they were recovered at different time intervals in 2020 due to the public health contingency caused by COVID-19. Thus far, a combined total of 43 mammal and bird species have been captured by the trail cameras. Ocelots are a noteworthy capture since the species is listed as Endangered in both the United States and Mexico. Additionally in 2019, avian species surveys were conducted at each property, as well as amphibian, reptile, and fish reconnaissance surveys. Out of all the taxa identified at both properties, 62 are listed as Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) in Arizona.
By the numbers:
144 avian species were observed at one property and 64 avian species were observed at the other property.
Thus far, the combined total in terms of wild terrestrial mammals captured by trail cameras is 23 species, which represent 6 orders, 12 families, and 21 genera.