Cattails are aquatic plants that provide habitat for wildlife. As they increase in abundance around the pond at Historic Canoa Ranch, the opportunity to see some birds increases. In practice, this means watching the cattails for extended periods for a glimpse of something moving furtively among all those stems.

These skulkers of the wetlands are a type of bird known as rails. Some, like American Coots, are out in the open most of the time, often cavorting with ducks. They are the exception that proves the rule in the rail family. More typical is the Virginia Rail. They are reddish brown with gray cheeks and black and white barring on the belly. The red bill is long and slightly down-curved.

Virginia Rails scour the mud along the shoreline and shallow water in search of invertebrates. They are permanent residents in southern Arizona and are usually found in wetlands with extensive vegetation.

Most rails are elusive birds that spend most of their time hidden among aquatic plants, so patience is a nice trait to have when trying to observe them. If the birding gods are smiling, however, it is possible to get a lengthy unobstructed view of them. It is almost as if the birds think they are invisible. Then something startles them and they dash back into cover.

Virginia Rails can be seen along the shoreline of the pond at Historic Canoa Ranch. They can also be seen at the spillway and in the cienega if sufficient water is present.

The next time you are at Canoa Ranch, be on the lookout for Virginia Rail. They will likely not be out in the open, but if you spend some time carefully observing, you may be rewarded with a good look at these fascinating birds!

Last Month's Trivia Question: What medicinal compound used by humans for a very long time comes from willows? 

Answer: The medicinal product humans obtain from willows is salicylic acid, the precursor of aspirin, obtained from the bark. It is used topically for skin conditions and internally as an analgesic. 

This Month’s Trivia Question: What trait that is odd for birds has evolved numerous times in rails? 

Photo by Ian Davies. 

For the last 25 years, the dedicated volunteers of the Sonoran Desert Weedwackers have been removing buffelgrass and other invasive plants from Tucson Mountain Park and other natural spaces in Pima County. Their hard work helps to protect our beautiful desert and our precious natural resources. In recognition of their work, the Southwest Vegetation Management Association named the Sonoran Desert Weedwackers and Pima County Restoration Program staff as the 2025 Weed Manager of the Year. 

Click on the link below to learn more about the program and register for an upcoming Weedwackers event. 

LEARN MORE

Pima County will sell more than 400 acres of vacant land to the National Park Service, allowing it to become part of Saguaro National Park. The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 Dec. 16, 2025, to approve selling 400.82 acres of desert property west of Tucson. The proposed sale includes about 240 acres of land in Tucson Mountain Park and 160 acres of property that the County purchased in 2009, both of which lie adjacent to Saguaro National Park’s Tucson Mountain District.

READ MORE

If you have leftover cooking grease after the holidays, don't pour it down the drain -- it can clog your pipes, cause sanitary sewer overflows, and contaminate our beautiful environment.

Instead, bring it to the Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department's annual grease collection event Jan. 10, 2026. Six locations will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., including at Sahuarita Town Hall. You'll be protecting both your pipes and the planet! 

LEARN MORE