Buenos Aires NWR

Buenos Aires NWR

First a little history of this area, the following is a summary, directly from the Buenos Aires website:

In the 1800's, the Altar Valley was an open grassland teeming with large herds of pronghorn. Masked bobwhite quail calls filled the early morning summer air. The grasslands blanketed the landscape, uninterrupted as far as the eye could see.

Pedro Aguirre, Jr. came to this location and started a stagecoach and freight line that would connect Tucson and the mining towns of Arivaca, Arizona, and the town of Altar in Sonora, Mexico. He built a homestead here in 1864 and named it Buenos Ayres, or "good air," because of the constant winds found there.  Aguirre was the first person to develop artificial sources. He began by constructing a large reservoir near the head of the watershed at the confluence of the Lopez and Compartidero washes. With water in place, cattle industry exploded.  But the cattle industry suffered a setback. A severe drought in the region lasted from 1885-1892 and it would result in the loss of 50 to 70 percent of the cattle herds. Bones of the dead cattle lay dead on the range, their bones littering the landscape. The cattle that remained stripped the land bare. When the rains returned, there was no vegetation left to absorb the water and the rain eroded the landscape creating the washes and gullies we see today.

Between 1909 and 1985, Buenos Aires Ranch changed ownership several times. It became one of the most prominent and successful livestock operations in Arizona.

During the 1970s and 80s, the Victorio Land and Cattle Company specialized in purebred Brangus cattle, which are well suited to hot, dry climates.

On February 20, 1985, the Secretary of the Interior Donald Hodel announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would purchase the Buenos Aires Ranch as a national wildlife refuge.  The quail was hunted and almost became extinct with the changes in their habitat.   

Located in southern Arizona, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge was established for the reintroduction of masked bobwhite quail and to restore the natural landscapes and native wildlife.  The refuge was purchased under the authority of the Endangered Species Act. Open to the public, visitors can enjoy wildlife watching and photography, hunting, fishing, wildlife photography and special wildlife-related events. It is one of 565 refuges that comprise the National Wildlife Refuge System, a national network of public lands and waters set aside for the benefit of wildlife and you!  Today, Buenos Aires NWR consists of more than 118,000 acres.

Heading south on AZ 286, from AZ 86 out of Tucson, the views are unreal.

Baboquivari Mountains on the background.  Refuge property on both sides of the road for many, many miles down to the Mexican Border.

Baboquivari Peak seen from just about everywhere in the valley.

The following pictures are from the Visitor Center Parking lot taken in clockwise direction:

A couple of the many residents of the Visitor Center:

With a keen eye, you can see the Great Horned Owl, at the base of the tree on the right. 

Cane Cholla Cactus & Bendire's Thrasher

Until next time.  Merry Christmas & Happy Hannukah to ALL!