Date: 5/15/26 6:57 am From: greentailedtowhee (via aznmbirds Mailing List) <aznmbirds...> Subject: Re: [AZNMbirds] Locked Gate at Reay Lane WTP
Thank you Diane for communicating with the authorities on this matter. I
love birding here as do many others I know. You may want to cite the Green
Valley WFR in Pima county as a reference in which birders currently have
permission to enter a walk through gate during a set schedule. It seems to
be working well so far.
Yes, fingers crossed.
Janine McCabe
On Fri, May 15, 2026, 12:00 AM Diane Drobka <aznmbirds...>
wrote:
> For those of you who bird in Graham County, be aware that the Town of
> Thatcher has just started locking their new gate into the Reay Lane
> Wastewater Treatment Plant. Unfortunately this occurred a couple days
> before GBD, limiting our access to SORA, VIRA, WISN, et al. that we often
> see or hear there. Luckily the WFIB in the NE basin were visible through
> the fence.
>
> I am going to talk to the plant manager and see if we can arrange to have
> a double lock on the walk-through gate. If allowed, I will purchase one and
> share the access numbers with you all.
>
> With three ponds, several cattail marshes, two ephemeral basins, and 195
> species documented, Reay Lane is #7 of Graham County's 83 eBird Hotspots.
>
> Sure hope we can continue to enjoy it. Cross your fingers.
>
> Diane Drobka
> Pima, AZ
>
