Difficulty: Easy (paved pathways)
Join keepers at the Reid Park Zoo for a tour of the South American and Flight Connection Aviaries and get a sneak peek at some of the birds that will be featured in the zoo’s upcoming expansion. Please be prepared for moderate walking in the heat. Face masks are optional. Participants will meet keepers at the Zoo’s main entrance at 8am. Includes zoo entry fee. Limited to 20 participants.
Difficulty: Easy (Mostly flat walking on grass or concrete pathways)
The tall aleppo pines and eucalyptus, along with two large ponds, create great bird habitat right next to the festival venue. We’ll look for Black-crowned Night Herons, Neotropic Cormorants, Cassin’s Kingbirds, Vermilion Flycatchers, and more. This is a great opportunity if you’re just getting into birding. Drive time to the meeting location from festival venue is about 2 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.
Vermilion Flycatcher by Greg Lavaty
Difficulty: Easy (1.75 mile round trip on concrete and paved surfaces. Restrooms are available)
Lakeside Park in southeast Tucson is a great place to get to know your urban birds. We’ll be at the front end of the possibility of migrating shorebirds, wading birds, gulls or terns, so while unlikely, we’ll be sure to keep our eyes peeled for unusual birds as well. Osprey is a possibility. We’ll explore the lake and the adjacent lawns and ball fields. Likely sightings include Black-crowned Night-heron, hummingbirds (Anna’s, Black-chinned, & Broad-billed), Cassin’s Kingbird, Vermillion Flycatcher, Cooper’s Hawk, swallows, Abert’s Towhee, and more! Drive time to park and meeting location is about 15 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.
Osprey by David Kreidler
Difficulty: Moderate (Some mild slopes, but still on excellent surfaces.)
This state park on the northwest side of Tucson sits adjacent to the western slopes of the Coronado National Forest’s Santa Catalina Mountains and contains a good mixture of desert scrub, mesquite bosque, and riparian vegetation. These habitats support a varied mix of bird species including Brown-crested Flycatcher, Rufous-winged Sparrow, and Northern Cardinals. We will explore the Birding Trail which crosses a seasonal wash and depending on monsoon storms you may get your boots wet. $7 parking fee. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is about 40 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.
Rufous-winged Sparrow by Jim Burns
Are you a birder and would like to learn more about your camera and how to capture your own photos? Join professional Nature Photographer Krisztina with KS Nature Photography for a casual session of birding with the added bonus of photography. This program is open to all ages, birders, photographers, and anyone who would like to learn more about the birds and about basic camera techniques for bird photography. Bring your binoculars and any camera, if you like (point and shoot, DSLR, Mirrorless – and any lens). To read more about Krisztina, please visit www.KSNaturePhotography.com. Specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 12 participants.
Verdin by Krisztina Scheeff
Difficulty: Moderate (May include walking along mostly level trail but with uneven surfaces for around 2 miles, one area with steep stairs. Drive time to location about 80 minutes)
Patagonia Lake is the top eBird hotspot in the state thanks to its mix of waterbirds and great riparian habitat. Mexican Duck, Ruddy Duck, and Neotropic and Double-crested Cormorants should be readily seen on the lake along with raptors, flycatchers, and tanagers along the Birding Trail. As one of the few “large” bodies of water in SE Arizona you never know what could show up. Limited to 9 participants.
Difficulty: Hard (Steeper slopes or more rocky/rooted trails. Drive time to locations approximately 2 hours on very rough road.)
We’ll get an early start from Tucson to explore the Madrean oak woodland and open pine forests of Carr Canyon. This scenic canyon on the east flank of the Huachucas supports species such as Arizona Woodpecker and Painted Redstart on its lower slopes, and species such as Olive Warbler, Buff-breasted Flycatcher and Greater Pewee along the upper stretches of the road. We’ll spend a few hours exploring along the main road that winds up to near the peaks of the Huachucas before taking our picnic lunch and then descending to nearby Ash Canyon, where a private bank of hummingbird feeders at Mary Jo’s B&B should be buzzing with activity, including perhaps the range-restricted and very attractive Lucifer Hummingbird. We will be walking slowly along nearly level dirt roads at up to about 7000 feet in elevation. Lunch included. Limited to 8 participants.
Join Tucson Audubon and Feminist Birding Club for a big sit! We will be doing some slow, passive birding in one spot for the full duration of our time. Observing birds and enjoying nature can take many forms so in addition to providing binoculars and field guides, we will also be providing art supplies (feel free to bring your own as well). Participants are welcome to join or leave us at any time. BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled and beginner birders are welcome!! Accessibility notes: There is wheelchair accessible parking. Bathrooms are available on site. Please bring a chair or blanket to sit on, plenty of water, snacks, and sun protection. Art supplies optional! Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is about 15 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand.
Curve-billed Thrasher, Martin Molina