Accessible Birding “Big Sit” at Madera Canyon’s Santa Rita Lodge with Kim Aikins

Difficulty: Easy. This trip is designed to be intentionally inclusive and accessible for beginner and advanced birders who experience accessibility challenges as a result of a disability or other health concern. No bathrooms at the lodge feeders.

Join Kim and Marcia for a 90 minute “Big Sit” at the Santa Rita Lodge feeders. We will enjoy the variety of birds at the feeder station, where benches are available. Possible birds include Rivoli’s Hummingbird, Acorn Woodpecker, Mexican Jay, and Hepatic Tanager. Drive time to the meeting location from festival venue is about 55 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 8 participants.

Rivoli’s Hummingbird by Fred Mitchell

Mt. Lemmon Area with Holly Kleindienst

Difficulty: Moderate (possibly some steeper slopes or more rocky/rooted trails)

We’ll start at the Gordon Hirabayashi Campground to search for birds of oak woodland such as Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay, Bushtit, and Scott’s Oriole before heading up to higher elevations and new habitats. A stop in Bear Canyon puts us in a beautiful canyon where we’ll search for Mexican Jay, Plumbeous Vireo, and Grace’s Warbler among others in the sycamores and pines. Depending on timing and activity we may visit other locations as well. Drive time to initial meeting location from festival venue is about 40 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand.  Limited to 8 participants.

Mexican Jay by John Hoffman

De Anza Trail at Santa Gertrudis with Alex Patia and Catherine Hamilton of ZEISS

Difficulty: Moderate (Flat walking for about 2 miles on some sandy/gravel trails)

We’ll take a leisurely stroll through the riparian forest along the Santa Cruz River following the historic De Anza Trail. This is a fantastic location for three types of kingbirds (Cassin’s, Tropical, and noisy Thick-billed) along with a wide variety of other desert riparian species like Inca Dove, Gray Hawk, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bell’s Vireo, and Blue Grosbeak. Sponsored by ZEISS. Drive time to the meeting location from the festival venue is about 50 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.

Thick-billed Kingbird by Martin Molina

Beginning Birding at Sweetwater Wetlands and Agua Nueva Park with Rick Wright

Difficulty: Easy (Around a mile walking on easy, mostly flat trails.)

Join Rick Wright, author of the American Birding Association’s Field Guide to Birds of Arizona, on a beginning birding tour of the most visited birding location in the state. We’ll look for returning Cinnamon Teal, breeding Tropical Kingbirds, and singing Common Yellowthroats while discussing the best habits we can develop as birders. Specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.

Tropical Kingbird by Jim Burns

The Secret Lives of Desert Purple Martins with Jennie MacFarland

Difficulty: Moderate (walking over uneven, rocky terrain and off trails relatively short distances)

Be a part of the Desert Purple Martin Project research crew for a morning! Tucson Audubon is using technology and a network of volunteers to learn more about these little known birds that nest in saguaro cavities during the monsoon abundance. We will visit several saguaros with active nests and use an endoscope camera and telescoping pole to peek inside the nests. We will be gathering real data points of what stage each nest has reached as specific timing of nests is still not completely known to science. Participants must wear sturdy shoes, long pants and sleeves, binoculars, hat and other sun protection. Bring water and snacks, it heats up quickly in the desert! Specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.

Image by Henry T McLin

Bird and Bike with Matt Griffiths and Wesley Homoya of Natural Selections Tours

Difficulty: Easy

Join us for a leisurely bike ride on a dedicated path around Reid Park in search of its varied bird life. Located right across from the DoubleTree hotel Festival site, the park is one of the best places in Tucson to see Vermilion Flycatchers! We’ll check the lakes of the park for any lingering ducks, cormorants, herons and egrets, and maybe even a Mexican Duck. The many species of large, native and exotic trees are good places to find early migrating warblers, vireos, orioles, and grosbeaks. We’ll take a trip to the nearby Hardesty pond for more marshy conditions and the chance at seeing Black Phoebe, Spotted Sandpiper, Song Sparrow, Abert’s Towhee, and other desert riparian species. Sponsored by Natural Selections Tours. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED A BIKE RENTAL. Limited to 8 participants, meet at the DoubleTree hotel.

Vermilion Flycatcher by Greg Lavaty

Photo Walk: Morning Light Bird Photography with Alyce Bender of Tamron

Join Tamron Ambassador Alyce Bender in the field for an early morning photo walk that will focus on how to use natural light in bird photography. We will target trickier lighting situations such as low light and backlit subjects. Additionally, Tamron Tech Marc Morris will be on hand to loan out an assortment of Tamron lenses for participants to try while on this photo walk. This is an ideal photo walk for those who want hands-on instruction and/or to trial a new birding lens! Limited to 10 participants.

Gambel’s Quail by Alyce Bender

Madera Canyon with Janice Travis

Elegant Trogon by Shawn Cooper

Iconic Madera Canyon is one of the top destinations for any birder. We’ll start in grassland habitat around Proctor Road looking and listening for singing sparrows first thing in the morning along with walking the nature trail and looking for Bell’s Vireo, Blue Grosbeak, Summer Tanager, and Varied Bunting. Next we’ll head into the mid-elevation oak-juniper habitat, looking for desirable southeast Arizona species like Arizona Woodpecker, Painted Redstart, and Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher. After this we’ll spend some time walking along the riparian trail and investigating the hummingbird feeders that make Madera one of the best spots for hummingbird diversity in the country. Maybe we’ll find an Elegant Trogon! Limited to 9 participants.

Elegant Trogon by Shawn Cooper

Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve with Cedar Stanistreet and Aaron Mrotek, Manager of the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve

Difficulty: Moderate (Some walking on mild slopes, but still on excellent surfaces. Drive time to location approximately one hour on mostly paved roads)

The preserve is one of the best known U.S. birding hotspots with tall cottonwoods and willows lining a perennial stream. Open fields, mesquite bosque and a cienega compound the habitat diversity that make it a birding paradise. Listen for the Gray Hawk’s whistle in the cottonwoods while looking for Common Ground Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Thick-billed Kingbird, and more. Nature Conservancy fees are included in the price. Be prepared to wear chigger protection. Limited to 9 participants.

Thick-billed Kingbird by Martin Molina

Shorebirds at Cochise Lake with Homer Hansen

Difficulty: Easy (Not a lot of walking on dirt road/trail. Bring a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, water bottle, and be prepared for hot and sunny weather)

Visit Cochise Lake to observe a wide variety of shorebirds.  This inland water body is a globally Important Bird Area in part for its concentration of shorebirds and importance for special status avian species.  We will concentrate on studying notable behaviors and structural clues for shorebird identification.  Our late summer/early fall migrants also provide a variety of plumages to study and compare.  American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Semipalmated Plover, Long-billed Curlew, Long-billed Dowitcher, Wilson’s Phalarope, Spotted Sandpiper, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, and Least, Western and Baird’s Sandpipers are all likely with other shorebirds possible.  Swainson’s Hawk, Scaled Quail, Bendire’s Thrasher, and Chihuahuan Meadowlark are also seen in the area.  Bring a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, water bottle, and spotting scope (if you have one) and be prepared for hot and sunny weather. Limited to 9 participants.

Black-necked Stilt by Shawn Cooper