Beatty's Guest Ranch is known for the most SEAZ Species and the WHITE-EARED and is featured in the
"Legend of the Southwest" article in Birds & Blooms June/July
2008 issue, as a prelude to the SEAZ 17-21 Aug
Birds & Bloom Hummingbird Tour
Join Editor Heather Lamb during the height of Hummingbird migration as she will lead this SEAZ Tour.
The following was taken from the tour schedule:
Day 5—Sierra Vista/Hereford/Tucson: This morning we’ll hear from Sheri Williamson, author of Peterson’s Field
Guide to Hummingbirds of North America. We’ll observe hummingbirds at the yard feeders at Tom and Edith
Beatty’s Miller Canyon Guest Ranch, "America's Premier Hummingbird Viewing Spot," and at Ash Canyon Bed &
Breakfast nearby. Fifteen different species of hummingbirds frequent the Beatty’s feeding station and garden, as
well as a wide variety of naturally-occurring hybrid species.
click here to view Charles Melton's great WHITE-EARED video clip, plus see how the
hummers here in Miller Canyon take to the 8 hole "Best-1" Hummingbird Feeders. His Hummingbird photos
will be in the above "Birds and Bloom" article.
This "America's Premier Hummingbird Viewing Spot" holds the US 1 day Hummingbird Species record of 14,
set 30 June 2002 and tied 18 & 19 July 2006.
During the 4 year 2000-2003 period, 5425 Hummingbirds of 15 species were banded at Beatty's. For more
information VISIT
Dr. George West's website
PATONS in Patagonia for VIOLET-CROWNED.
CAVE CREEK Ranch for BLUE-THROATED and the best number of species in the Portal area.
"At least 12 species of Hummingbirds are seen yearly, with ten being the average seen daily during
spring/fall migration." Also VISIT The Hummingbird Web Site of former Cave Creek Ranch managers:
Larry/Terrie Gates, for lots of Hummingbird info.
NOTE: The following was taken from a 25 Feb 2008 email of CAVE CREEK RANCH Manager, Tony Godfrey.
"The grounds are open daily to non-guests from 10 am to 4 pm. Groups must call in advance 520-558-2334"
ASH CANYON Bed and Breakfast for LUCIFERS, 3.7 miles South of BEATTY'S GUEST RANCH.
Also a good place to view and photography birds during the Fall/Winter off season.
Casual records: The species has been recorded a number of times from southeastern Arizona as follows: The first VISIT Earle Robinson's Photos of Public Viewing Area
The GRAPE, our only general public area, has been in use since May 1998 and is already a must see for guided The main EAST area seats 12 or more and is furnished with benches, chairs, sitting blocks and a picnic table. The GRAPE is also a favorite with the Handicapped, since they can view 8 or more species within a half-hour The GAZEBO area, just North of Handicapped Parking, has easy access for the Handicapped and has great The first documented sighting of a SHORT-TAILED HAWK in the Western US was the result of an flyover VISIT Earle Robinson's Photos of the Controlled Access Site
The CAS is ONLY open to our Guests or non-Guest Birders who pay a Required $5 Access Fee of $5/person. The CAS is across Miller Creek and inside the Orchard fence for security and looks into the tops of the This site contains: a shaded bench area, several sitting blocks and a small pond that is good at attracting This viewing site is south and uphill from the CAS and East of the Landscaped ATV Turnaround and our The area inside the Turnaround has a pond, tree and a flower bed. The HW has a shaded bench, 2 other The SOL is ONLY open to our Guests.
This 1 or 2 person bench site overlooks a pond and is located at the NW corner of our property. This 14 HUMMINGBIRD species were seen in 2006/2004/2003, 13/2005 and 15/2002 when 14 species were banded. The US SAME DAY RECORD for Hummingbirds species (14) seen at one location, was first set at BEATTY'S 475# of sugar were fed for 2007 vs 1025# for 2006, 775#/2005, 855#/2004, 920#/2003 and 1300#/2002. In 2001 Note: The reason for the lower 475# amount fed for 2007 was that the Hummingbird numbers declined. My The Maximum number of 8 hole Best1 quart feeders was 43 for 2006. This was the same number as 2005/2004 Note: Because Best1 feeders have 2 more holes than the 6 hole Perky Pet feeders, the Hummers take Best 1 During Mid August 2002 with 62 feeders, the hummers took over 45 quarts of sugar water/day. This estimates to For those of you that might enjoy Hummingbird banding, VISIT: The Hummingbird Monitoring Network (HMN) The second half of this site is going to be an Information Guide that will give readers and birders more information about NOTE: BEATTY'S GUEST RANCH was a banding location for HMN during 2000-2003, but stopped when we decided that Return to BEATTY'S GUEST RANCH HOME Page
United States specimen was collected on June 9, 1894, at Fly Park, in the Chiricahua Mountains; one was taken in
the Santa Rita Mountains on June 24, 1903; in 1915 a specimen was taken in the Santa Catalina Mountains; during
the period from June 10 to December 31, 1919, 12 specimens were obtained in the Huachuca Mountains; and on
August 11, 1933, an adult male was captured in MILLER CANYON, of the Huachucas.
Here at BEATTY'S we have the following 4 Hummingbird viewing sites:
Guest Receiving and Parking Entrance/GRAPE Viewing Areas
tours. The numbered hummingbird feeders can be viewed from EAST and WEST viewing areas.
The WEST area is covered by a 7 x 13 foot Ramada and has a bench, sitting blocks and a picnic table.
from their car.
views of butterfly/hummingbird wildflower gardens, a running stream and two ponds with Ramsey Canyon
Leopard Frogs.
of the GRAPE in July 1999. For several weeks, two of the Hawks were seen over the Orchard and in the
Miller Peak Wilderness Area. They have been seen yearly since.
Controlled Access Site/CAS Viewing Area
Groups of 5-10 people pay $20 plus $2/person over 10. It is wherebthe White-eared is usually seen and is the
viewing site that all Birders like best.
Sycamores. This give good views of Sulphur-bellied flycatchers etc. and in the Spring of 1999 a Cooper's
Hawk nested in one of the Sycamores and raised four young.
Warblers etc. plus two small flower gardens.
Hawk Watch Site/HW Viewing Area
two "Handyhome" cabins. It was called the Hawk Watch because of the great views of Carr Peak, the Reef,
Miller Canyon and the San Pedro River Valley.
benches, a picnic table and several sitting blocks in a tree shaded area. Much liked by Photographers.
The Solitude Site/SOL Viewing Area
area is shaded by noon on and is nice for just one birder or Hummingbird Photographer.
The 15 seen in 2002 were: Allen's, Anna's, Berylline, Black-chinned, Blue-throated, Broad-billed, Broad-tailed,
Calliope, Costa's, Lucifer, Magnificent, Plain-capped Starthroat, Rufous, Violet-crowned and White-eared.
when the Plain-capped Starthroat was here 30 June 2002. Missed the Berylline, but it was seen that day at
TNC Ramsey and other 2002 days at Beatty's. In 2006, when we matched the record again, the Plain-capped
Starthroat was replaced by the Berylline.
with good Summer wildflowers, 745# of sugar were used. 1361#/2000(BEST YEAR) and 1093#/1999.
estimate is a 90% decline from 2006, when 1025# were fed. Because of this we closed down, from Mid-Summer
on, all sites but the CAS.
when we used 6 hole Perky Pet feeders. Other year numbers are 47/2003, 62/2002, 35/2001, 40/2000 and 33/1999.
feeders a third faster and therefore fewer are needed for the same number of Hummers.
between 4500 and 9675 hummers.
(headquartered in Patagonia, Arizona) to find out why it is an important organization for the conservation of hummingbirds.
Also checkout their current projects and how you can join them as volunteers.
hummingbird ecology, biology and identification. There will be detailed illustrated species accounts for those species that
occur regularly in the US with information for birders and banders.
banding was not compatible with our Public Hummingbird Viewing Site.
Last Update:
05/15/2008
Web Author: Thomas L. Beatty Sr./Jr.
Copyright ©2006 by BEATTY'S Miller Canyon GUEST RANCH & Orchard - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED