Thanks for posting this. I remember going here on a trip to AZ with my dad, who got me interested in birds. I've made a donation and I hope they raise the money to preserve this great spot! Julie Keefer North Stonington > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2013 14:37:29 -0400 > From: Audubon Bent <bentoftheriver@gmail.com> > To: CT Birds <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> > Subject: [CT Birds] OT: Popular AZ Birding Site Endangered > Message-ID: > <CADWjTQouHoK=rLJXp=G6NJCVT7ZA9xn+8zrVW= > pEHzeWF+4jdA@mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252 > > *Many CT birders will have special memories of experiencing the array of > hummingbirds at Paton's Birding Haven in Patagonia, Arizona. The Patons > have passed on, but with enough timely support the site can be saved. > Recalling wonderful things lost is bittersweet at best; how much better to > know you helped protect such a special place?* > ** > To: All Birders > From: Rita Fenwick, American Bird Conservancy > Date: August 14, 2013 > > *Alert: Hummingbird Haven Facing Uncertain Future - Act Now* > > 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 15**th** 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. > > Learn more ? please give now! <http://www.abcbirds.org/paton/> > > > Ken Elkins > Education Program Manager > Audubon Center at Bent of the River > Southbury, CT >