The Phoenix area annual winter water bird survey is back after a one-year hiatus. Information on how to contribute. A report from Tucson Audubon on winter towhees now present at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds. A report on research that some scientists say supports the idea that drought is the new normal in Arizona, that the future will be characterized by permanent aridification. Bird of the week: the Hermit Warbler. Birding hotspot: Rawhide Mountains Wilderness. Friend of Wildlife: Natural History Institute, Prescott. Calendar of bird-friendly events coming up in Arizona.