U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has restored protection for the Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy Owl based on accumulating evidence it is struggling to maintain its nesting range in the Tucson area. Once listed as endangered that status was set aside in the face of pressure from developers. Bird of the episode: the Downy Woodpecker. Birding hotspot: the remote Vekol Wash in the south-central Arizona borderlands region. Friend of wildlife organization: Navajo Nation Fish and Wildlife Service. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.
