There is one thing that nearly everyone visiting the Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch (AWRR) share – curiosity. From the academic researchers who come to us looking to test hypotheses in our expansive outdoor laboratory, to our neighbors looking to improve their lands for birds and other wildlife, to visiting birders wonder where they might catch a glimpse of a Botteri’s Sparrow, everyone comes to us with questions.

That’s why, from January through May of each year, we offer a series of monthly potluck presentations during which we invite the community to gather at AWRR Headquarters for a meal and a presentation delivered by local science and conservation professionals, community leaders, Audubon staff, and more. These events are your chance to connect with the local conservation community, learn about our region's flora, fauna, and conservation challenges, and discover how you can help build a positive future for people and wildlife in Southeastern Arizona.

Each event will begin at 5pm with the potluck dinner beginning at about 5:30 (please wait for all the guest to arrive - we'll announce when it's time to eat!). The presentation will immediately follow the meal. Come join us, invite a friend, and bring your questions and dish to share. Also, don't forget to bring some food items to donate to the Santa Cruz food bank!

(RSVP required - stay tuned for registration links!)
 

2025 Presentation Schedule

• Friday, January 10, 5-7pm: Jaguars in Southeastern Arizona
  Presented by: Mark Hart (Arizona Game and Fish Department)
  
  RSVP Required! Registration link coming soon.
  
  Eight jaguars have been sighted in southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico since the 1990s, the only locations where they have been present in the United States during recent history. Three of the four seen since 2011 are believed to have used the Huachuca Mountains as a corridor of movement, with two ultimately returning to Mexico where the closest breeding population exists in Sonora. During this presentation, Mark Hart, a Public Information Officer with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, will examine how the presence of this endangered species in the region poses unique challenges for land and wildlife managers and how Jaguar’s existence here offers a case study in the politics of wildlife management.
   
• Friday February 7, 5-7pm: A Taste of the Great Plains
  Presented by: Jason “the Birdnerd” St. Sauver (Audubon Great Plains)
  
  RSVP Required! Registration link coming soon.
  
  Join Jason “the Birdnerd” St. Sauver, Senior Education Manager for Audubon Great Plains at Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center in Nebraska, to learn about and engage with grassland birds of the Great Plains and Audubon’s efforts to keep their populations from declining. During this presentation, Jason will discuss several priority grassland bird species, explore how they connect across the country’s grasslands and compare to grassland species of the southwest, and share tools & techniques used for current management and tracking – from fire to bird banding (with some entertaining bird songs and calls thrown in for good measure!).
  
  Event will begin at 5pm with the potluck dinner beginning at about 5:30 (please wait for all the guest to arrive - we'll announce when it's time to eat!). The presentation will immediately follow the meal. Come join us, invite a friend, and bring a dish to share. Also, don't forget to bring some food items to donate to the Santa Cruz food bank!
   
• Friday March 7, 5-7pm: The Nurturing Nature of Rattlesnakes
  Presented by: Melissa Amarello (Advocates for Snake Preservation)
  
  RSVP Required! Registration link coming soon.
  
  Join Melissa Amarello, co-founder and Executive Director of Advocates for Snake Preservation (ASP), a local charity changing how people view and treat snakes, for an exploration of the surprising world of rattlesnake families through a series of vignettes and videos. Experience a day in the life of a rattlesnake family to discover how they care for and defend their babies. Learn about babysitting, drinking, and other lesser-known aspects of rattlesnake behavior too. Let's take a journey into the unique and exciting realm of our scaley neighbors!
  
  Event will begin at 5pm with the potluck dinner beginning at about 5:30 (please wait for all the guest to arrive - we'll announce when it's time to eat!). The presentation will immediately follow the meal. Come join us, invite a friend, and bring a dish to share. Also, don't forget to bring some food items to donate to the Santa Cruz food bank!
   
• Friday April 4, 5-7pm: Conserving Southwestern Grasslands
  Presented by: Jonathan Hayes (Audubon Southwest)
  
  RSVP Required! Registration link coming soon.
  
  Grassland birds are declining faster than any other group of birds in North America. In the Southwest our grasslands play an outsized role in supporting continental bird populations by providing crucial overwintering habitat. During this presentation, Audubon Southwest Executive Director, Jonathan Hayes, will discuss the challenges grassland birds face and what we can do in the Southwest to support them.
  
  Event will begin at 5pm with the potluck dinner beginning at about 5:30 (please wait for all the guest to arrive - we'll announce when it's time to eat!). The presentation will immediately follow the meal. Come join us, invite a friend, and bring a dish to share. Also, don't forget to bring some food items to donate to the Santa Cruz food bank!
   
• Friday May 9, 5-7pm: Fireflies in Peril: The Southwest's Hidden Gems and How You Can Help
  Presented by: Rachel Laura (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Northern Arizona University)
  
  RSVP Required! Registration link coming soon.
  
  Fireflies, renowned for their enchanting glow, are facing a global decline due to habitat loss and light pollution. In October 2024, the first firefly species was listed under the Endangered Species Act, underscoring the urgency of their conservation. While fireflies are often associated with the eastern U.S., the Southwest is home to two unique species found nowhere else on Earth: the Southwest spring firefly (Bicellonycha wickershamorum) and the Southwest synchronous firefly (Photinus knulli).
  
  Join Rachel Laura, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and PhD student dedicated to studying these elusive creatures, as she introduces these fascinating firefly species. Learn about their unique behaviors, the challenges they face, and how you can contribute to vital research and conservation efforts to help protect these glowing wonders.