Birding with a Purpose: Birding the Border with Myles Traphagen & Wesley Homoya of Natural Selections Tours

Difficulty: Moderate (moderately difficult walk over a worn but occasionally rocky trail, covering 3-4 miles round trip with the turn-around point depending on our pace. Drive time to locations approximately 75 minutes.)

On this outing, we’ll combine the joy of birding with the meaningfulness of learning about the ecological and human impacts of U.S. border policy in our region, including the border wall. We’ll spend several hours birding at Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge (BANWR), starting and ending near Arivaca Cienega. We’ll then drive to the BANWR Visitor Center where, over a picnic lunch, we’ll hear from guest speakers about the impacts of current conditions at the border on birds, other animals, wildlife habitat, ecosystems, and human beings, and how local organizations are working to protect life along the border. We’ll then take a short drive further south to see the border wall itself, before heading back to Tucson, with a stop along the way for some additional birding to end the field trip on a joyful note. Wildlife highlights of previous trips include Botteri’s Sparrow, Lazuli Bunting, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Tropical Kingbird, a Hooded Oriole nest with young, an Arizona Blond Tarantula, and a herd of Pronghorn. Sponsored by Natural Selections Tours. Lunch included. Limited to 8 participants.

Tropical Kingbird by Jim Burns

Moths: A Nocturnal Exploration with Jeff Babson

Difficulty: Easy (Easily accessible location with a short drive)

On this trip, we will shine a light into the hidden diversity that exists in the Sonoran Desert! Pima County Naturalist, Jeff Babson will set up a UV light and see what treasures the night produces.  UV lights, also known as black lights, emit wavelengths that attract many insects, including moths and beetles.  Many of these insects are common, but live their lives in darkness and many people are unaware of their existence. Feel free to arrive anytime during the allotted timeframe. Great for families! Location will be at Sabino Canyon. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is approximately 25 minutes, and specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. $8 parking fee. Limited to 15 participants.

Going Batty with Karen Krebbs

Difficulty: Easy (Easy watching from pathway/parking area and short drive.)

Join Karen Krebbs on an adventure to watch thousands of bats come out of their roost at dusk. Karen has studied bats for more than 30 years and will share her vast knowledge of these misunderstood night creatures. This nightly Tucson spectacle even brings in a Cooper’s Hawk or Peregrine Falcon on occasion. You will meet Karen on-site on the east side of Tucson near Pantano and Broadway. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is approximately 15 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 15 participants.

Sabino Canyon Evening Hike with Jim Rorabaugh

Lesser Nighthawk by Dan Weisz

Difficulty: Moderate (Will include walking in the dark, some uphill on dirt trails and some paved road. Total distance about 3 miles.)

Sabino Canyon night hikes during monsoon season are a local favorite past-time. Bring your flashlight as we walk up in the light and walk down in the dark in search of birds, toads, snakes, bugs, and more! Good possibilities for Lesser Nighthawk and Common Poorwill at sunset and we’ll hope for monsoon rains so we can see and hear Spadefoots and giant Sonoran Desert Toads. Lizards, scorpions, and tarantulas are crowd favorites and maybe we’ll run into a Gila Monster. We will go at a slow pace and be sure to bring a water bottle and be prepared for hot weather. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is approximately 25 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.

Tucson Botanical Gardens with TBG Docent

Difficulty: Easy (mostly flat ground and good surfaces)

Located on the site of the historic Porter property, Tucson Botanical Gardens (TBG) is a five and a half acre collection of 20 gardens in the heart of Tucson, Arizona.  A true urban oasis, Tucson Botanical Gardens was selected #4 in USA Today’s 10Best Botanical Gardens Readers’ Choice Awards, 2 years in a row. 20 curated gardens including the Cactus & Succulent Garden, Barrio Garden, Zen Garden, Bird Garden, and many more, showcase a diversity of plants both native and those you wouldn’t expect to see in the Sonoran Desert. Drive time to the meeting location from festival venue is 10 minutes. Limited to 15 participants.

Mission Gardens—Tucson’s Birthplace with Michael Sadat

Difficulty: Easy (some mild slopes–mostly flat ground and good surfaces)

We’ll visit Mission Garden (at the base of “A” Mountain) which revives Tucson’s history through garden plots representing four millennia of multicultural and gastronomic history. Find some of the same birds that have been visiting Tucson gardens for 4,000 years! Drive time to the meeting location from festival venue is about 15 minutes. Limited to 10 participants.

Abert’s Towhee by Greg Lavaty

Bird Banding with Aya Pickett of Tucson Audubon

Learn what bird banding is all about, why it is important, and how it is done by professionals. Aya Pickett, Tucson Audubon’s Restoration Project Manager, will lead this informative and exciting workshop in the grasslands of Las Cienegas. We’ll meet near the Empire Ranch and walk out to our mist nest station. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is about 50 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.

Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve with a Nature Conservancy Volunteer

Difficulty: Moderate (mostly flat walking trails on some uneven and rocky terrain)

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. Please bring $8 per person for Nature Conservancy fees. Be prepared to wear chigger protection. Drive time to the meeting location from the festival venue is about 70 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand.  Limited to 10 participants.

Sabino Canyon with Sabino Canyon Naturalists Jean & Mark Hengesbaugh

Difficulty: Moderate (mostly flat walking trails on some uneven and rocky terrain)

We’ll bird Sabino Canyon Recreation Area walking a loop that includes both Sonoran desert upland and Sabino Creek riparian area. Gila Woodpeckers, Purple Martins, Cactus Wrens, and Phainopeplas should be readily seen with other desert and riparian birds. Meet at the ramada by the Visitor’s Center at 5700 N Sabino Canyon Road. $8 parking fee. Return to car by 9am. Sunhat, water and walking shoes always recommended. Leaders are Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is about 25 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.

Phainopepla by David Quanrud

Isabella Lee Natural Preserve with Holly Kleindienst

Difficulty: Moderate (Two mile loop over level, but often soft, uneven and dusty terrain. No restrooms are available)

Isabella Lee Natural Preserve, at the confluence of Agua Caliente and Tanque Verde wash in northeast Tucson, is a dry mesquite bosque providing year-round habitat for resident and migrant birds. Summer hosts Lucy’s Warblers, Bell’s Vireos, and Ash-throated Flycatchers. One or two pairs of Blue Grosbeaks are also possible along with many other Sonoran Desert loving bird species. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is about 25 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.

Blue Grosbeak by Matthew Studebaker