The Work
Sky Island Alliance is teaming up with N-Gen, Wildlands Network, and numerous other nonprofits for the 2024 Border BioBlitz. This project will take place throughout May with the aim of observing as many species as possible within 15 kilometers of the U.S.-Mexico border.
During this trip we invite all to join us for a day of biodiversity surveying. We'll be working within the San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge on the Arizona side, while our partners and friends in Mexico survey on the Cuenca Los Ojos ranch just across the fence. (If you would like to join us instead in Sonora, fill out this form.)
The work will be as hard as you want to make it and could include anything from birding by car to bushwacking through mesquite in search of rare plants. If you enjoy searching out plants and wildlife for a good cause, please join us!
What to Expect/Bring
We will be spending most of the day outside.
Bring your food and snacks for the day.
- SIA will provide potable water, and folks are welcome to bring their own as well.
- Be prepared to unplug — there is limited or no cellphone or internet service where we'll be working.
- Bring work clothes and appropriate close-toed shoes that you don't mind getting dirty and potentially torn.
- Bring sun protection: sunscreen, long sleeves, hat, etc.
- Bring a refillable water bottle and a daypack for snacks and gear.
- Bring whatever gear or tools you need for your survey work: Binoculars, butterfly nets, snake hooks, field guides, etc.
- Bring your smartphone or tablet with the iNaturalist app downloaded and make sure to join the "Border BioBlitz 2024" project before you leave home!
Location
We will be working on the San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge east of Douglas, Arizona. Important note: Navigate to the coordinates of the main refuge entrance on Geronimo Trail Rd (31.345649, -109.282991) and not the refuge name in the Google/Apple maps. These services will direct you incorrectly to the center of the refuge and will suggest a route that passes into Mexico. The refuge gate is off Geronimo Trail Rd (more details below).
Getting There
The refuge and the roads are not paved, but they are accessible for regular cars. And there will be opportunities to carpool to any locations visited throughout the day.
Option 1
Meet at the SIA office at 3127 N. Cherry Ave. at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, and either carpool or caravan to the refuge (~3 hr drive).
Option 2
Meet us at the San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge gates at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning (coordinates: 31.345649, -109.282991).
Option 3
Camp with us at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge headquarters on Highway 191 north of Douglas, Arizona, on Friday, May 17. This will be dry camping in a grassy field, but we will have access to a refuge building for bathrooms and kitchen use. Space is limited to 10 people for this camping option, so if you are interested in camping at the refuge headquarters, select the camping ticket option, let us know ASAP, and plan to arrive at 5 p.m. or later. The refuge headquarters are located west of Highway 191 near mile marker 11 (see map).
If you do not get space at the refuge facility, Friday evening camping options exist at Whitewater Draw (~1 hr from the refuge) and dispersed camping on BLM lands along Geronimo Trail Rd (~20 mins from the refuge).
From Tucson to San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge: (~140 miles) Take I-10 east to Benson exit 303 toward Tombstone and AZ-80E. Take AZ-80 to Davis Rd and turn left. Take Davis Rd to US-191 and turn right to head south toward Douglas. Turn left at the intersection with AZ-80 to stay on US-191/AZ-80. In Douglas at the intersection of US-191/80 and Pan American Ave. turn left and then immediately right onto 16th St. At F Ave. turn right, and at 15th St. turn left. Take 15th St. out of town where it becomes Geronimo Trail and continue to the refuge entrance.
Trip Logistics
- Friday, 5 p.m. (for the 10 camping tickets) — meet with SIA staff at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Refuge Headquarters to camp with us.
- Saturday, 5:30 a.m. — meet with SIA staff at our office to carpool/caravan to the San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge.
- Saturday, 9 a.m. — be prepared to head out and start blitzing. We will work throughout the day with breaks for meals.
- Saturday, 4 p.m. (or earlier) — we will finish up in the afternoon and then head back to Tucson.
- Saturday, 7 p.m. — we will be back to our Tucson office by this time.
Unfortunately, pets are not allowed on this trip.
If you have further questions, please email Eamon Harrity at eamon@skyislandalliance.org.
