To some, introducing legislation to designate a hummingbird capital of Arizona may seem frivolous given the problems currently facing the state. But Rep. Gail Griffin believes the one-sentence addition to state law will provide a positive boost to tourism for one city in her district.
Griffin (R-LD14) has introduced HB2806, which simply reads “Sierra Vista is the Official Hummingbird Capital of This State.” If passed, Sierra Vista and its 15 species of hummingbirds would join several other official state emblems, including the state dinosaur (Sonorasaurus), the state firearm (the Colt Single Action Army revolver), and the state gemstone (turquoise).
The designation, however, is not a lark, nor a rufous hummingbird.
Sierra Vista is home of the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory, which tracks hummingbirds along the San Pedro River corridor. Some species remain in the area year-round while others arrive during migration between tropical winter homes and northern nesting grounds.
The result is a growing tourist industry specializing in hummingbird watching based out of Sierra Vista, which prompted city officials in December to unanimously approve a resolution adopting the longtime unofficial “Hummingbird Capital” nickname.
Now Griffin has introduced HB2806 in hopes of drawing even more attention to the area, but first she needs House Speaker Russell Bowers to assign the bill to a committee. Comments about HB2806 can be emailed to Bowers via rbowers@azleg.gov or calling 602-926-3128.
There are several other hummingbird hot spots in the Sierra Vista area, including the Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary. And the historic San Pedro House at the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area has a hummingbird banding station which is open to the public at various times of the year.
Arizona also has a state bird (cactus wren), flower (pure white waxy flower of the Saguaro cactus), tree (Palo Verde), butterfly (two-tailed swallowtail), and metal (copper). Not to mention Arizona’s official nickname (The Grand Canyon State), mineral (Wulfenite), fossil (Araucarioxylon Arizonicum aka petrified wood), neckwear (the Bola tie), and drink (lemonade).
State law also includes four state co-animals: the ringtail (mammal), the Arizona ridgenose rattlesnake (reptile), the Apache trout (fish), and the Arizona tree frog (amphibian).