Birding with a Purpose: Birding the Border

Trip difficulty: Moderate, 2-3 miles on uneven, unpaved terrain, little to no elevation gain, bathrooms and water available.

Join Tucson Audubon for our first “Birding with a Purpose” field trip of 2023: Birding the Border!

Birders travel from across Arizona, the U.S., and even the globe to marvel at southeast Arizona’s bird life, including the extraordinary diversity of birds that migrate across the U.S./Mexico border twice a year. On this field trip, we’ll combine the joy of birding with the meaningfulness of learning about the ecological and human impacts of U.S. border policy and the border wall in our region.

After a van ride of about an hour and a quarter (departing Tucson Audubon’s offices at the Historic Y at 6:30am), we’ll spend several hours birding at Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge (BANWR), starting at Arivaca Cienaga and finishing near the Headquarters Area. We’ll then take a short drive further south to the town of Sasabe, less than a half mile from the border. There, over lunch, we’ll hear from staff members of local organizations working to protect life along the border. Each organization will focus on a different aspect of how U.S. border policy and the border wall affect life in the region. Collectively, they’ll teach us about impacts on birds, other animals, habitats, ecosystems, and human beings. After lunch and the presentations, we’ll head back to Tucson, with a stop along the way (location TBD) for some additional birding to end the field trip on a joyful note. A wide variety of species are possible, including some early spring migrants.

Limited to 15 participants. Bring your own lunch. Beverages will be provided.

Leaders: Tucson Audubon’s Bird Conservation Biologist, Jennie MacFarland (jmacfarland@tucsonaudubon.org), and Director of Conservation Advocacy and Interim Executive Director, David Robinson (drobinson@tucsonaudubon.org).

Register here beginning Feb 11, 7:00 AM.

Header Image: Northern Harrier by Dan Weisz