THE AUDUBON BULLETIN 
Published Quarterly by the 
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2001 NorTH CLARK STREET, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 
Number 48 December, 1943 
The Birds of Baboquivari 
By CorRA CLARKE MCELROY 
MOST LOVERS OF BIRDS probably retain in their memories vivid pictures of 
the settings where they first saw new species. Only a few were learned so 
early that no knowledge of the circumstances remains. Almost no one can 
say where he saw his first robin, but who does not recall the place where he 
saw less common birds and learned their names, perhaps a fox sparrow or 
a buffie-head? Some eight or nine years ago I spent the winter in Tucson, 
Arizona. It was the first time I had ever been in the Southwest and of 
course there was scarcely a familiar bird there. Not even an English 
sparrow was listed in the bird guide and the robins were said to be larger 
and seldom seen or heard. And so for the forty or more species I learned 
there are nearly as many well-remembered bits of that strange landscape. 
When I first arrived I knew no one. I had no books on birds, and was 
equipped with only a small pair of Miracles and a great eagerness to learn 
CHICAGO ACADEMY OF SCIENCES PHOTO 
Young Gambel’s quail 
the name of anything I saw on wings. I had no more than unpacked my 
suitcases when I was aware of the great number of delightful, rosy spar- 
rows flying about the house and singing as they flew. My landlady said 
they were house finches, which was quite right. Not so accurate was the 
name she gave the small. doves that were constantly walking about in my 
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