Alert: Hummingbird Haven Facing Uncertain Future - Act Now

From Rita Fenwick, American Bird Conservancy

Several months ago, American Bird Conservancy board member Victor Emanuel made an impassioned request that American Bird Conservancy help acquire an American birding landmark that had recently come on the market: Paton’s Birder Haven.

This property, located in Patagonia, Arizona, is the loving project of Wally and Marion Paton, who for more than 35 years built their property into a premier Arizona birding site and opened their home to thousands of local, American, and international birders to see Arizona’s outstanding hummingbird diversity. Many visited the site for a chance to get a “life” Plain-capped Starthroat, Violet-crowned Hummingbird, or Magnificent Hummingbird for their North American list.  The property has passed on to the Paton’s children, who would like to honor their parents’ labor of love in making the property a memorable, welcoming stop for birders visiting Arizona.

In partnership with Tucson Audubon Society and Victor Emanuel Nature Tours, American Bird Conservancy has entered into a contract with the Paton family to acquire the property and to maintain the property in perpetuity as a hummingbird sanctuary open to visitors. We have raised $100,000 of the needed funding, but urgently need to raise by October 15th the remaining $200,000. Once acquired, Tucson Audubon Society will assume long-term ownership and management of the property.

Can you please help by making a donation at http://www.abcbirds.org/paton/ and by FORWARDING this email to as many birders as you can, encouraging them to click on the link provided and make a donation today? Please post this request for help on blogs, Facebook, Twitter, websites, and any other outlet you think will reach birders who have visited Paton’s or plan to in the future.  One hundred percent of each tax-deductible donation will be applied to the acquisition and management needs of this historic property. We truly need every dollar to succeed.  

Thank you very much for your support and help!  Please let me know if you have any questions or you have a favorite picture from Paton’s Birder Haven you would like to share.


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