 Remembering Raúl Grijalva, who helped
preserve Historic Canoa Ranch
Everyone at the Raúl M. Grijalva Canoa Ranch Conservation Park is mourning the passing of Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva, who died March 13 at the age of 77 after battling cancer. He spent more than 50 years working in public service to the people of Pima County, Southern Arizona, and the nation.
Raúl’s ties to our beloved ranch ran deep. He spent his early childhood at the ranch, where his father worked as a bracero. He lived at the ranch until he was about five years old. The house where he lived — seen above — was built in 1915, and it is still carefully preserved so that visitors to the ranch can see it.
Later, Raúl played a key role in working with County Administration to preserve the majority of Canoa’s 6,000-acre parcel for conservation. His accomplishments will last for many generations, and he will always be part of the legacy we continue work to uphold and celebrate at Historic Canoa Ranch.
Bird of the Month: Least Bittern
Every birding adventure provides the opportunity to see something unexpected, no matter where you do it. Historic Canoa Ranch is no exception. As proof, a Least Bittern was seen and photographed in late January at the bottom of the spillway!
The Least Bittern is the smallest heron in the world, measuring 13 inches from the tip of the bill to the tip of the tail. By comparison, Great Blue Herons are 46 inches long. It is almost six inches smaller than the Green Heron, which it is often confused for.
Shy, secretive dwellers of marshes with abundant cattails, Least Bitterns are not observed very often, even where they are common — which is not the case anywhere in southeastern Arizona. There are records from summer and winter seasons, but the Least Bittern is always rare in the region. Their diet consists of small fish, tadpoles, frogs, and insects and their larvae.
Grab your binoculars and your field guide and get out there. You never know what you will see!
Question of the Month: Which native Arizona bird was known in the cagebird industry as Hollywood Finch? Check next month's newsletter for the answer!
Photo courtesy of Fran Meyerson
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Wrapping up CLR's speaker series
Pima County Conservation Lands & Resources concludes its winter speaker series this month with two fascinating looks at life in the desert.
First up is "Nature Has No Borders," a talk with Sergio Avila, seen at left. From obtaining a graduate degree in desert ecosystems to living in remote areas studying jaguars and mountain lions, Sergio has built up extensive knowledge about our beautiful lands. In this presentation, he'll share some of his most memorable stories.
The presentation takes place at Historic Canoa Ranch on Saturday, March 22, from 1-2:30 p.m.
Next, local artist, writer and folklorist Kimi Eisele will share art practices that can help us expand our definition of family and community to include plants, animals and landscapes. Her presentation, "Reimagining Family and Community in the Sonoran Desert," takes place at Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E. Roger Road, on Sunday, March 23, from 2-3:30 p.m.
All presentations are free to the public, but donations are gratefully accepted.
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Calling all artists: Display your art at
Agua Caliente Park
Help support our sister ranch across town! Pima County’s Agua Caliente Park is accepting applications from artists to display their original work at the park's Ranch House Art Gallery for a five-week period in 2026. The deadline has been extended until March 31.
All work should reflect nature, wildlife, landscapes, Southwestern themes, or local cultures in keeping with the park setting.
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March programs and events
 Please visit our website to register for any of these upcoming events!
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Friday, March 21 • 8 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
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Anza Trail Hike
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Friday, March 21 • 9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
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Anza Tour
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Saturday, March 22 • 9:30 a.m.–11 a.m.
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Historic Canoa Ranch Tour
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Saturday, March 22 • 1 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
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CLR Speaker Series: Nature Has No Borders
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Saturday, March 29 • 9:30 a.m.–11 a.m.
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Historic Canoa Ranch Tour
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Sunday, March 30 • 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
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Walk-a-Thon (More information here.)
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And don't miss these upcoming volunteer opportunities! See here for more details.
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Tuesday, March 25 • Starts at 7:30 a.m.
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Green Valley Gardeners Volunteer Days
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Wednesday, March 26 • 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
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Canoa Hills Trails Park Volunteer Days
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