Patagonia in Santa Cruz County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)

It's a rare couple who open their backyard to strangers in search of rare birds.

Photographed by Daniel Barriball, May 24, 2026

1. It's a rare couple who open their backyard to strangers in search of rare birds. Marker

Inscription.

It's a rare couple who open their backyard to strangers in search of rare birds.. . , Long before Facebook, Wally and Marion Paton created a universal following in their Patagonia backyard based upon a shade canopy, a few chairs, and some amazing hummingbirds. People came from all corners o enjoy the beautiful birds frequenting their feeders. Over time, Wally and Marion added a chalkboard to track daily sightings, a guest book for visitors, and a tin can called the "sugar fund" for donations. Although they never realized just how famous their backyard had become, the Patons' homespun hospitality drew thousands of birders annually., Wally and Marion grew up on small New England farms during the Great Depression. Marion told stories of making clothing from grain sacks and Wally recalled rising at 3:00 am to milk the neighbors' cows before catching his morning school bus. Shortly after they met, the attack on Pearl Harbor separated them. During the war, Wally flew 31 bombing missions in "The Knock-out Dropper," his B-17, recording each mission on the back of his sweetheart Marion's picture. They were married in August of 1944., For the next eighteen years Wally and Marion operated a small dairy farm with milk cows, chickens, rabbits, sheep, pigs, a collie named Brigadoon, and four children: Wallace Jr., Bonnie, George and Jackie. When industrial development, and the spread of the Boston suburbs, brought an end to their farming, Wally went to work as a machinist for Microwave Development Labs where he managed the operations of precision castings for guided missile systems and the Lunar Space Module. In 1974 his career brought him to Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, where he opened and managed a plant. This was the birth of the Patons' home in Patagonia, Arizona.,

"When my parents moved into the house at 477 Pennsylvania Avenue in the early 70's, there was little growing in the yard. As Dad tells it 'there was an old junk sitting over there with some ivy growing in it and that's about the only thing that was growing around here.', Avid gardeners, they set out to change this barren landscape. Dad bought a rototiller and dug up large areas of the backyard for a vegetable garden. He planted pecan trees and a mini orchard of fruit trees in the front yard. Mom planted flowers and bushes, especially rose bushes. As my mom noted, 'the more I planted, the more hummingbirds came.' Birds flying down the Sonoita Creek in search of food changed their flight path to check out this new oasis that my parents had created. And they came by the hundreds. Shortly, birders followed., While others were erecting fences and hedges to afford their space privacy, my parents were opening their gate and welcoming anyone in to sit in their backyard for as long as they wanted. Our home became "home" to thousands. Feeding the birds was a constant not unlike the feeding and milking of cows of our New England farming days. Sometimes I would awaken to the whispers of birders passing my bedroom window, excited to be there, yet always respectful of the family's privacy. I loved looking through the guestbook pages to see who had been visiting and from what corner of the globe they had traveled to get to this tiny piece of birding paradise., It was all magical, a sanctuary for sure.", ∼Bonnie Paton Moon, daughter of Wally and Marion Paton

Long before Facebook, Wally and Marion Paton created a universal following in their Patagonia backyard based upon a shade canopy, a few chairs, and some amazing hummingbirds. People came from all corners o enjoy the beautiful birds frequenting their feeders. Over time, Wally and Marion added a chalkboard to track daily sightings, a guest book for visitors, and a tin can called the "sugar fund" for donations. Although they never realized just how famous their backyard had become, the Patons' homespun hospitality drew thousands of birders annually.

Wally and Marion grew up on small New England farms during the Great Depression. Marion told stories of making clothing from grain sacks and Wally recalled rising at 3:00 am to milk the neighbors' cows before catching his morning school bus. Shortly after they met, the attack on Pearl Harbor separated them. During the war, Wally flew 31 bombing missions in "The Knock-out Dropper," his B-17, recording each mission on the back of his sweetheart Marion's picture. They were married in August of 1944.

For the next eighteen years Wally and Marion operated a small dairy farm with milk cows, chickens, rabbits, sheep, pigs, a collie named Brigadoon—and four children: Wallace Jr., Bonnie, George and Jackie. When industrial development—and the spread of the Boston suburbs—brought an

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end to their farming, Wally went to work as a machinist for Microwave Development Labs where he managed the operations of precision castings for guided missile systems and the Lunar Space Module. In 1974 his career brought him to Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, where he opened and managed a plant. This was the birth of the Patons' home in Patagonia, Arizona.

"When my parents moved into the house at 477 Pennsylvania Avenue in the early 70's, there was little growing in the yard. As Dad tells it 'there was an old junk sitting over there with some ivy growing in it and that's about the only thing that was growing around here.'

Avid gardeners, they set out to change this barren landscape. Dad bought a rototiller and dug up large areas of the backyard for a vegetable garden. He planted pecan trees and a mini orchard of fruit trees in the front yard. Mom planted flowers and bushes, especially rose bushes. As my mom noted, 'the more I planted, the more hummingbirds came.' Birds flying down the Sonoita Creek in search of food changed their flight path to check out this new oasis that my parents had created. And they came by the hundreds. Shortly, birders followed.

While others were erecting fences and hedges to afford their space privacy, my parents were opening their gate and welcoming anyone in to sit in their backyard for as long as they wanted. Our
Photographed by Daniel Barriball, May 24, 2026

2. It's a rare couple who open their backyard to strangers in search of rare birds marker in context
The left panel is the marker.
home became "home" to thousands. Feeding the birds was a constant not unlike the feeding and milking of cows of our New England farming days. Sometimes I would awaken to the whispers of birders passing my bedroom window, excited to be there, yet always respectful of the family's privacy. I loved looking through the guestbook pages to see who had been visiting and from what corner of the globe they had traveled to get to this tiny piece of birding paradise.

It was all magical, a sanctuary for sure."

∼Bonnie Paton Moon, daughter of Wally & Marion Paton

Erected by Tucson Audubon Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Horticulture & Forestry • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical month for this entry is August 1944.

Location. 31° 32.361′ N, 110° 45.62′ W. Marker is in Patagonia, Arizona, in Santa Cruz County. It is on Pennsylvania Avenue near Gray Hawk Trail, on the left when traveling west. This marker stands next to the parking lot at the entrance to the Paton Center for Hummingbirds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 477 Pennsylvania Ave, Patagonia AZ 85624, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Arizona’s Sky Islands,

in the Sonoran Desert,

in Southeastern Arizona,

in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area,

and specifically in the Tucson Metro Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also the Gadsden Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Cady Hall (approx. 0.4 miles away); Patagonia Depot

About the Tucson Audubon Society image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Daniel Barriball, May 24, 2026

3. About the Tucson Audubon Society

This panel is on the same structure as the marker.

(approx. 0.4 miles away); Mowry Mine (approx. 0.4 miles away); John Ward's Ranch (approx. 3 miles away); Camp Crittenden (approx. 9.1 miles away); Sonoita Quarter Horse Show and Races (approx. 11.3 miles away); Little Outfit School (approx. 11.4 miles away); Mission Guevavi (approx. 12.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Patagonia.

More about this marker. The Tucson Audubon Society changed its name to the Tucson Bird Alliance in 2024.

Also see . . . History of the Paton Center. Official website

The Paton Center was acquired by Tucson Bird Alliance in 2014 but was established as an international birding destination several decades earlier by Wally and Marion Paton...Many people and events conspired to bring the Patons’ home safely under the direction of Tucson Bird Alliance...To make that feasible, Tucson Bird Alliance needed additional funds. Dorothy Fitch and John Munier were the first to donate to begin that process, with many generous donors following suit. Marcia Grand sealed the deal with a significant donation
Photographed by Daniel Barriball, May 24, 2026

4. Tucson Audubon Society In Action
This panel is on the same structure as the marker.
made in the nick of time.

(Submitted on June 3, 2026, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana.)

Birds of the Paton Yard image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Daniel Barriball, May 24, 2026

5. Birds of the Paton Yard

This panel is on the same structure as the marker.

The Patagonia Mosaic image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Daniel Barriball, May 24, 2026

6. The Patagonia Mosaic

The mosaic stands across the small parking lot from the marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 3, 2026, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 3, 2026, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.