Paton’s Birder Haven Lives On!

The Paton/Morgan interview is now rescheduled for airtime on

Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 10:00am EST. 

Bonnie Paton Moon and Larry Morgan are our next special guests coming on BirdCallsRadio WORLDWIDE, Internet Streaming & BCR iTunes. Come join us for Part 1 of this extraordinary interview.

In 1974, Wally and Marion Paton, life-long gardeners, naturalists bird-lovers began to plant flowers and install water features on their property in Patagonia Arizona. They put up hummingbird feeders and had great success, attracting Violet-crowned Hummingbirds along with even rarer species like the Cinnamon Hummingbird and Plain-Capped Star-throat.

When the couple realized birders were crowding outside their fence to get a better view, the Paton’s opened the gate and welcomed them inside. So began this conservation story of two dedicated naturalist that lives on as a testament to their vision. With their passing, the fate of the sanctuary was an open question.

Fortunately, this past summer of 2013, a partnership was formed between the American Bird Conservancy, Victor Emanuel Nature Tours and Tucson Audubon to lead a campaign to “Help Save Paton’s Birder Haven”. The initial fund drive was very successful with contributions totaling $300,000 received. This piece of heaven has been visited and enjoyed by literally millions of birders and nature enthusiasts from around the world for over 40 years ago. As a result of these efforts, the property is now in the custody of Tucson Audubon and the future of this treasured property has been secured forever!

Bonnie Paton Moon is a daughter of the late Wally and Marion Paton of Paton’s Birder Haven. After her mother’s passing in 2009, Bonnie embarked on a 4 and 1/2 year odyssey, to preserve and protect her parent’s internationally renowned birding Mecca known as Paton’s Birder Haven in Patagonia, AZ. Due to the foresight of the Paton family, and the partnership of the American Bird Conservancy, Victor Emanuel Nature Tours and Tucson Audubon Society supported by over a thousand generous supporters, this little gem of birding paradise has now been saved in perpetuity. Saved not only for the birds that have come to depend on the Paton’s habitat for food and water, but also for the future generations of birders and nature enthusiast can share this delightful oasis in the desert.

Larry Morgan, the current “Ambassador For The Birds,” for Paton’s Birder Haven, learned to appreciate nature at an early age, he grew up on a farm in south Mississippi. Larry has traveled to all 50 states and Canada, Mexico, Belize and Honduras to further his knowledge of the natural world. Larry says, “Being the “Ambassador to the Birds” at the Paton’s Birder Haven has allowed me to meet birders from around the world. It is a most fantastic “job”, I treasure my time spent at the Paton House in Patagonia Arizona. I love showing beginning birders new birds and help them to be able to identify them.”

The fund raising does go on still, Tucson Audubon continues to seek donations to make enhancements to the property and set up an endowment for future needs. Please consider helping in this worthwhile endeavor for the next generation.  Tucson Audubon

We thank the American Bird Conservancy, Tucson Audubon Society, Victor Emanuel Nature Tours, many of BirdCallsRadio guests and thousand of others who have donated so generously to save this slice of heaven.

Join us and listen to this incredible story told by two extraordinary participants. There is much to share and it will be told in two installments. Here is Part 1 Interview with BirdCallsRadio: Bonnie Paton Moon & Larry Morgan