Did you know that SIA Executive Director Louise Misztal started out as a volunteer? As part of our 35th anniversary celebrations/retrospectives, Louise has shared a reflection on how she first got involved with the organization more than 20 years ago: ow.ly/4AHA50YolJ1
Join us March 24 at 9:30am for our next virtual Coffee Break to learn more about the Rincon Mountains’ rich and dynamic plant diversity. Our speaker is SIA Botanist Dan Beckman, who recently joined us after 12 years with Saguaro National Park: ow.ly/M3jB50Ye5js
Good news from our campaign to rescue nine Tucson desert springs: Over 18 months, SIA volunteers and staff hauled out 300+ tons of invasive arundo from Rock Ledge Spring. Thanks to our volunteers, it’s gone now and the ecosystem is on the mend: ow.ly/vSjG50Yne7f
Who’s ready for some camping in the Catalinas? We have two volunteer weekends coming up. On March 13-15, we’ll be surveying several springs we haven't been to before. And on March 20-22, we'll be continuing our erosion control work post Bighorn Fire: ow.ly/Sx4h50Ymbtn
FotoFauna highlights are in from this past month, and we have a few favorites. But what are yours? Let us know in the comments! — and if you live where the wild things are, consider joining our community science project: ow.ly/5C3o50TTLT7
Want to help restore desert springs for wildlife? We have several volunteer opportunities coming up in the Tucson area. Come out for a single day or make it a thing and get to know each of these unique oases. We’ll be removing invasive plants at each site: ow.ly/p9ZY50Ykm1V
This winter, Sky Island Alliance and allies have been back out in the field monitoring migratory birds in northern Sonora’s grasslands. As a group, these birds are some of the most threatened in the world.
Do you know the story of how the Arizona Trail got started? A new film called “Trailblazers” tracks the 1982 adventure of two brothers who set out from Mexico with two mules and a mission to reach Utah, 800 miles away. The movie premiers in Tucson on March 10: ow.ly/9WOQ50Yj4Je
We just put the final touches on our winter newsletter: ow.ly/71mr50Y5Im9. Inside, you’ll find highlights from our recent work, as well as a feature on our springs rescue efforts over the years. Big thanks to all who contributed your time and energy to make this possible.
More tough news from the Trump administration: 5 of 27 miles of steel border wall are now up in the San Rafael Valley, blocking this wildlife corridor, as you can see in this before/after. Just awful. To learn more about our study and how we're responding, visit: ow.ly/Cz0c50YfseN
ICYMI: The Trump administration has repealed the EPA’s 2009 Endangerment Finding, in which the agency acknowledged decades of science showing how greenhouse gases harm the climate and our health. Bad news for reining in emissions on factories, power plants, and cars. ow.ly/HA0c50YfjNf
Save the date! On March 26 from 5-7 p.m., we're hosting an open house at our Tucson office for volunteers past, present, and future. Come celebrate the year’s milestones, socialize with the Sky Island community, and learn about upcoming volunteer trips: ow.ly/lTT950YcUA8
This is our first video of a desert tortoise since we put up our Border Wildlife Study wall cameras, here at Buenos Aires NWR in November 2025. Since then, new razor wire has gone up along the border road, posing yet another threat to this protected species. ow.ly/6q3a50Yeos2
Another great job opportunity, this time with the Arizona Trail Association. They’re looking for a Volunteer Program Manager to lead efforts statewide, including where the trail runs through the Huachucas, Canelo Hills, Patagonias, Santa Ritas, Rincons, and Catalinas: ow.ly/jt9U50YbLpo
Photo of Mexican wolf by MTSOfan/Flickr.
New legislation targeting Mexican wolves is moving to the U.S. House for a full vote, and we need your help to speak up for this endangered Sky Island species: ow.ly/NGNP50Y9vix. This industry-backed move isn't supported by science and would effectively end decades-long recovery efforts.
Photo of mountain lion at Las Cienegas National Conservation Area courtesy SIA.
Our allies at Wild Arizona are hiring for a new executive director, so if you know of someone who’d be a good fit, please share! They do great work across the state stewarding wilderness and restoring habitat. To learn more and apply by Feb. 17, visit: ow.ly/CwBX50Y7L3Q
Some bad news for wildlife at Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge: The Trump admin has installed new razor wire on the road, as we found out while checking our Border Wildlife Study cameras. SIA has sent Border Patrol a letter calling for the wire's removal. ow.ly/s7yM50Y5Enb
This year we're celebrating our 35th anniversary with events, blogs, retrospectives and more. Stay tuned for highlights from this history, and in the meantime tell us your own Sky Island story! We’d love to hear about your connection to this special place: ow.ly/venU50Y40Wh
Want to help restore three desert springs? Next month, we’ve got three volunteer day trips in the Tucson area at Mescal Spring (Feb. 3), Barrel Spring (Feb. 19), and McGrew Spring (Feb. 24). This is a great chance to help protect important wildlife oases: ow.ly/gYTf50Y1Vmy
In collaboration with the Bureau of Land Management, we recently helped install five new water troughs for wildlife along often-dry sections of the San Pedro River without other surface water. Learn more in this blog from SIA's Emily Burns: ow.ly/lXeA50Y1jfV
Join us in welcoming two seasonal field techs to our team! Andres Martinez and Karuna Bhat will help us expand our work throughout southern AZ. Andres is a Tucson native and Karuna is from Wisconsin. Both have experience working in the field with plants: ow.ly/UzQ050Y0jai
In case you've ever wondered why your friends sometimes refer to javelinas as skunk pigs or musk hogs, it's because they have a scent gland on their nethers. One of our Border Wildlife Study cameras got a good shot of one recently. To learn more: ow.ly/7ZNg50XU7mP
Back by popular demand: On Feb. 5, at 6:30 p.m., we're hosting another free workshop at our Tucson office for folks who want to learn how to find and survey off-trail springs in the Sky Islands. Join us and learn how to help protect these wildlife oases: ow.ly/8bqT50XVQyr
Photo of lake at Danny Lopez Park by Warrior Squirrel/Flickr; Las Milpitas by Guy Shovlin/Flickr; "A" Mountain from near Verdugo Park courtesy SIA.
Looking for some family-friendly fun outdoors? Join us and our allies for the Santa Cruz Watershed Days of Connection (Jan. 17, Feb. 28, and March 21). There will be food, music, and fun at each event, as well as a chance to help clean up along the river. ow.ly/kxQW50XSaXi
Photo of Willcox Playa by E Burk/Flickr.
ICYMI: AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes recently announced a first-of-its-kind groundwater settlement with a Willcox Basin megadairy. Following years of falling groundwater levels, 2,000 acres of irrigated farmland is being forced to transition land use: ow.ly/jW2e50XVHOp
Photo of sandhill cranes at Willcox Playa by Tom Talbott/Flickr.
If you’re free this weekend, Jan. 15-18, it’s not too late to join the Wings Over Willcox Birding & Nature Festival. So many cool field trips and a chance to witness one of our region’s phenomena: the sandhill cranes at Whitewater Draw. To learn more: ow.ly/UhIA50XU8pE
As an expression of our gratitude for all the many ways y’all helped support our work last year, today we have a special reflection to share from SIA Executive Director Louise Misztal: ow.ly/GNBw50XTCKG. Onward in 2026!
Calling all weekday warriors: On Jan. 13 and Jan. 20, we’re hosting volunteer events as part of our Tucson spring cleaning campaign to restore desert wildlife oases. We’ll be at Barrel Spring on the northeast side of town removing invasive arundo. Join us! skyislandalliance.org/calendar
We made it through the wild ride that was 2025 and find ourselves looking ahead as Sky Island winter settles around us. What's next in our work? For a sneak peek, check out this blog from SIA’s Emily Burns: ow.ly/JBQT50XSIUH
Quick update on our Tucson spring cleaning campaign. In November, students from Sedona’s Verde Valley School helped us remove invasive plants at Mescal Spring. And on Jan. 13 and Jan. 20, we’re back with more volunteer day trips at Barrel Spring. Join us! ow.ly/B2m650XSc3U
