Archives: Festival Events

Wrap up your festival experience with us as we celebrate more than just the new birds we’ve seen, but also the movement that birding is becoming—all over the world, and right here in Tucson. You’ll enjoy a delicious meal, receive a drink ticket, visit with friends, and hear from special guest, Kenn Kaufman and his presentation “Discovery, Rediscovery, and the Sense of Wonder.” Graciously sponsored by ZEISS.

Two centuries ago, a handful of European-American naturalists trekked around the eastern United States, competing to find the last few bird species that were still unknown to science. What was that experience like for them? When Kenn Kaufman began delving into that period in ornithological history, as research for his newest book, he found surprising connections to our own time. Despite all the changes in the world, the adventures of those pioneers have many parallels in the experience of birding today. In this program, built upon that research, Kenn will celebrate discovery and rediscovery, the lure of the unknown, the complexity of nature, and the endless power of birds to delight and amaze us.  (Limit of 120)

Sarah T. Dubb’s debut romantic comedy novel Birding with Benefits (Gallery Books; on sale 6/4/24) follows a pair of birders (one experienced and one brand new) as they take part in a bird count contest in the Tucson area. The book, which NPR named one of the best romances to read in 2024, celebrates the joys of birding while introducing many readers to the hobby. Join Sarah and Jessica Vaughan, editor of BWD magazine, to discuss the book, how it portrays birding, and some of their favorite bird-related books (Limit of 100)

Arizona’s Sky Islands mark the northern extreme of Mexico’s Sierra Madre Occidental, which stretches 1,000 miles southward before reaching Mexico’s central volcanic belt. At the southern end of these rugged mountains is a region of unassuming ecological diversity known as Cabo Corrientes. Just 60 minutes south of Puerto Vallarta’s bustling tourism scene—in the Mexican state of Jalisco—this dynamic region packs a lot of habitat into a small area. From the thorn forest and beaches on the Pacific shores to the pine-oak woodland at over 1,000 meters, the region is generally rugged and undeveloped, offering some of the best birding in Mexico. More than two dozen west Mexican endemics are scattered across the jungles of Cabo Corrientes. The Red-breasted Chat and Orange-breasted Bunting prefer the lower elevations, with the Flammulated Flycatcher and Citreoline Trogon most common in the upslope transition. Black-throated Magpie-Jay, Blue Mockingbird, and Yellow-winged Cacique come to the bird feeders at the idyllic Rancho Primavera, just outside the sleepy 16th-century pueblo of El Tuito. Gringo birding guide, Steve Shunk, moved to Rancho Primavera earlier this year with his partner, Lizzy Martinez, and the two now serve as resident naturalists on the property. Steve will take you on a virtual tour of the ranch and across Cabo Corrientes, sharing some of Western Mexico’s most iconic birds and habitats … and a birding experience that will have you booking your flight to Vallarta. Sponsored by Naturalist Journeys. (Limit of 60)

There is a thrill in capturing the exciting moment of a Grebe running across the water’s surface, or that split-second shot of a baby bird poking its head from its nest. Renowned nature photographer Krisztina Scheeff of KS Nature Photography expertly photographs these moments. In this talk, Krisztina will delve into the stories of her favorite birds, such as the sweet Atlantic Puffins in Scotland and the explosive flight of the Sandhill Cranes in Bosque del Apache and the colorful birds of Costa Rica and Ecuador and more. Each photo has a story, come join her on a photographic journey in the amazing world of birds! (Limit of 100)

Southeastern Arizona is one of the most biologically diverse parts of the US. Doubters need look no further than the presence of two tropical cats in the wild here: jaguar and ocelot. This presentation examines these magnificent felines. Here and southwest New Mexico are the only locations in the United States where jaguars have been sighted in the past twenty years. A jaguar was caught on a wildlife camera in the Whetstone Mountains in early 2024. Likewise, ocelots have also had their photos taken in the Huachuca Mountains. Join us for a look at these elusive and magnificent felines. (Limit of 60)

What does it take to develop more skill at bird ID, and to be able to recognize more of the birds that we find? Well, for starters, it’s not simply a matter of learning field marks. Often we can memorize all the field marks for a species and still have trouble identifying it, while in other cases we may recognize a bird without seeing any traditional field marks at all. In this program, based on a section from his Kaufman Field Guide to Advanced Birding, Kenn will talk about some basic principles that apply to all birds—principles that make it possible to name birds with more accuracy and confidence. He’ll also discuss some surprising pitfalls of ID, and how to avoid being tripped up by them. (Limit of 100)

After almost 30 years leading birding, natural history trips and photo safaris we have witnessed and confirmed the best way to expand conservation, and guarantee the protection of native forest and habitats, is to work with local people and include them on the benefits of eco-tourism. BIRDING was the beginning, but now it is much more than that. Join us in our presentation to witness many real examples in Ecuador and all South America. You will enjoy not just great pictures of colorful birds and mammals or unique landscapes, but more importantly have conversations with local people who are converts and guardians of conservation. (Limit of 60)

Plate-billed Toucan by Xavier Munoz