Frances Short Pond just got a major makeover!

Have you been out to Frances Short Pond lately?

Thanks to the City of Flagstaff, working closely with the AWWE partnership and Arizona Game & Fish Department, the Thorpe Park Duck Pond (as it's affectionately known among locals) provides even better opportunities for wildlife viewing in downtown Flagstaff. By removing overgrown vegetation, the City has provided more habitat diversity for the many bird species that frequent the pond, including waterfowl, red-winged black birds, swallows, and osprey. This also means improved water quality and increased dissolved oxygen to support the community fishery. Visitors will find it much easier to access the shoreline for birding, fishing, and other activities at the pond. If you haven't seen these improvements - take a trip to Frances Short Pond!

And don't forget to check out our location page and audio guide with plenty more fun facts about the pond.

2015 Wildlife Viewing Events

Wildlife Watchers of all ages and experience

Join us throughout the summer for expert-guided wildlife watching events. Each evening, wildlife biologists will highlight a different AWWE site, pointing out the unique habitat features and wildlife species you’re likely to see. With any luck, and some very high powered viewing scopes, you’ll have an opportunity to watch wildlife at dusk, one of the busiest times for animal activity. Come prepared with appropriate clothing and plenty of questions for our experts.

 Each Saturday event begins at 5pm and continues until sunset. You are invited to stay as long as you’d like – dress warmly and feel free to bring along binoculars, hot cocoa, or camp chairs.

 

May 23 Pumphouse Watchable Wildlife Platform – Park at Raymond County Park in Kachina Village

June 20 Rogers Lake County Natural Area - Meet near the first large County Natural Area sign on Woody Mountain Road, approx. 3 miles past the Arboretum

July 18 Mormon Lake southern overlook - On the west side of Lake Mary Road

August 15 Annual Elk Workshop – Mormon Lake Lodge. Viewing will be held after the day of workshops. More information to come.

Join the Friends of the Rio de Flag for their Walk Series!

The Friends of the Rio de Flag are a local nonprofit organization committed to protecting and improving the Rio de Flag as a community resource.

Jack Welch will lead a series of walks throughout the year along the Rio de Flag, which connects twelve of our AWWE sites through town.


Visit their website for a schedule of walks and further information.

Audio AWWE Tours

Get the insider scoop on our sites with AWWE's audio guides. Each recording highlights the unique habitats, species, and landscapes of a particular watchable wildlife site or topic. Featuring interviews with local experts and wildlife recordings, we guarantee you'll learn something new about Flagstaff's amazing wildlife. There are several options for listening - play directly from your computer to get inspired for a weekend adventure or download the mp3 files to take on the road or on the trail.

Click here for more information about our Audio Guides.

These AWWE audio guides are narrated by Rose Houk, and were recorded and produced by Diane Hope with funding from AZGFD Heritage Fund grant #U13001.