Birds in Rackensack Canyon to Lower Camp Creek

Rackensack Canyon and Camp Creek is a stretch of riparian habitat located a short distance northeast of Carefree, Maricopa Co., Arizona. Rackensack Wash crosses the Seven Springs Road (FR-24) about 8 km north of the Bartlet Dam Road turnoff.

Motor vehicle access to upper Camp Creek is limited to lease holders in the cottage enclave along the wooded creek. Foot access along Rackensack Canyon from Seven Springs Road is easy and offers several kilometers up and down canyon to explore. Upper Camp Creek is a gallery riparian woods dominated by willows, cottonwoods and sycamores and is the main area for migrant and riparian birds.

View looking southeast from Seven Springs Road above Rackensack Canyon. Verdant green trees are mostly Red Willow (Salix laevigata). Ash and cottonwood are also present.

Map of Rackensack and Camp Creek, Maricopa Co., Arizona

Camp Creek flows southeast and eventually joins the Verde River. For most of its stretch it is dry most of the year - on the surface that is. Mesquite, Desert Willow and Fremont Cottonwood are indicators of the more-or-less reliable subsurface flow of water.

Birds

Not a complete list, but rather a list of birds likely to be seen. Many uncommon migrants and strays have been seen along Camp Creek over the years. Common species listed first.

1. Bell's Vireo -- Vireo bellii -- very common from mid spring through early autumn
2. Gambel's Quail -- common year-round
3. Gila Woodpecker -- common year-round
4. Canyon Towhee -- common year round
5. Black Phoebe -- Sayornis nigricans - Spring through Autumn
6. House Finch -- Carpodacus mexicanus - year round resident
7. Mourning Dove -- Zenaida macroura -- year-round
8. White-winged Dove -- Zenaida asiatica - Late Spring and Summer
9. Yellow Warbler -- Dendroica petechia - Spring through early Autumn
10. Verdin -- Auriparus flaviceps -- Year-round
11. Brown-headed Cowbird -- Molothrus ater -- year-round, more common spring-summer
12. Common Raven -- fairly common year-round
13. Northern Mockingbird -- Mimus polyglottos -- year-round resident
14. Cassin's Kingbird -- Late Spring and Summer
15. Curve-billed Thrasher -- Toxostoma curvirostre -- year-round resident
16. Black-tailed Gnatcatcher -- Polioptila melanura -- year-round
17. Hooded Oriole -- Icterus cucullatus -- Mid Spring and Summer
18. Lucy's Warbler -- Vermivora luciae -- Spring and Summer
19. Lesser Goldfinch -- Year-round resident
20. Ruby-crowned Kinglet -- Regulus calendula - Autumn, Winter, and Spring
21. Phainopepla -- Phainopepla nitens -- Autumn, Winter and Spring
22. Ash-throated Flycatcher -- Myiarchus cinerascens Spring and Fall
23. Cactus Wren -- Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus -- year-round
24. Greater Roadrunner -- Geococcyx californianus -- year-round
25. Zone-tailed Hawk -- Late Spring and Summer
26. Cooper's Hawk -- Year-round resident
27. Canyon Wren -- a few present year round
28. Scrub Jay -- year round, but sporadic

Greater Roadrunners are common along the open stretches of Camp Creek where they dart after lizards and other prey.

White-winged Doves time their nesting to the fruiting of the saguaro cactus in late June.

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