Difficulty: Easy (Mostly flat, groomed trails)
Finish out your birding day by walking around Sweetwater Wetlands looking for Cinnamon Teal, Tropical Kingbirds, and Common Yellowthroats. We’ll follow up our birding heading to Brother John’s BBQ for some great food (lots of appetizers!) and drinks. Drink ticket included. Limited to 9 participants.
Difficulty: Easy (Mostly flat, groomed trails)
Finish out your birding day by walking the grounds of Reid Park looking for early migrants, Vermilion Flycatchers, Black-crowned Night Herons, and possibly Lesser Nighthawks. We’ll follow up our birding heading to Brother John’s BBQ for some great food (lots of appetizers!) and drinks. Drink ticket included. Limited to 9 participants.
Difficulty: 1 (Very short walks from vehicle at night, good hearing required)
This is a unique opportunity to try out the latest in thermal imaging optics with festival sponsors and friends, ZEISS. During this outing you’ll see the amazing capabilities these optics provide and enjoy the beauty of Southeast Arizona’s sky islands in Madera Canyon. We’ll try to find nocturnal birds like Elf Owl, Whiskered Screech-Owl, and Mexican Whip-Poor-Will along with a selection of mammals. This is a great time of year to see all sorts of wildlife activity in the evening. Limited to 8 participants.
Elf Owl by Jeremy Hayes
Difficulty: Easy (Mostly birding around vehicle, possible short walks over dirt trail or on road)
We’ll travel up towards the small town of Marana just northwest of Tucson with hopes of finding Burrowing Owls. Once we find them, we’ll spend some time at a respectful distance admiring these unique long-legged owls. The surrounding agricultural fields and nearby water treatment facility will offer us the opportunity for a variety of other birds, including possible Lesser Nighthawks at dusk. Leaves from festival venue in 15-passenger van. Limited to 9 participants.
Difficulty: Easy (Very short walks from vehicle)
For a different kind of ‘birding’, take a tour of a number of beautiful outdoor tile murals depicting hummingbirds, created by artists of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. According to Louis D. Valenzuela, an accomplished Yaqui artist, the hummingbird “represents the Yoeme culture. The hummingbird is considered to be a spiritual bird that comes from the ‘Sewa Ania’ Flower World and is a messenger with powerful blessing and protection.” Limited to 9 participants.
Difficulty: Easy (Flat walking trails. Drive time to location approximately 75 minutes.)
The famous Paton Center for Hummingbirds is known for its backyard birds and scenic location dating back to 1973. Wally and Marion Paton first began inviting birders into their yard shortly after moving to Patagonia, and after their passing, the center was acquired by the Tucson Audubon Society. Since then we’ve worked to improve the habitat by removing invasive plants, installing native gardens, and much more. Explore the area with Mitigation Program Manager, Cally Wilken, for a first-hand tour of how the center is being re-invigorated and you’re also sure to find Violet-crowned Hummingbirds amidst the array of riparian specialty birds. Limited to 9 participants.
Difficulty: Easy (Flat walking trails. Drive time to location approximately one hour.)
A stroll through this lush riparian corridor along the Santa Cruz provides many opportunities for migrants, Gray Hawks, flycatchers, and hordes of Yellow-breasted Chats. Rose-throated Becard, whose nests look like a large football hanging from the end of a branch, have nested along this trail the past few years. Monsoon rains will dictate the portions of the trail we walk. Time permitting, a stop at the Amado Wastewater Treatment plant on the way back could be good for Black-bellied Whistling-Duck. Limited to 9 participants.
Summer Tanager by Hemant Kishan
Difficulty: Moderate (some walking on mild slopes, drive time to location about 50 minutes on paved roads)
Enjoy birding where Tucson residents escape the summer heat in the small mountain hamlet of Summerhaven. We’ll look for mixed warbler flocks which may include Red-faced, Orange-crowned, Virginia’s, Townsend’s, Hermit, Wilson’s, and Grace’s Warblers. Birding in the conifer forests of Mt. Lemmon can also produce species like Hairy Woodpecker, Stellar’s Jay, Mountain Chickadee, and Western Flycatcher. Sponsored by Natural Selections Tours. Limited to 9 participants.
Painted Redstart by Matthew Studebaker
Difficulty: Moderate (steeper slopes or more rocky/rooted trails)
We’ll start in grassland habitat around Proctor Road looking and listening for singing sparrows first thing in the morning. Along with sparrows we will be looking for birds of upland riparian habitat including 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 nature trail and investigating the hummingbird feeders at the Santa Rita Lodge that make Madera one of the best spots for hummingbird diversity in the country. Maybe we’ll find an Elegant Trogon! Sponsored by Naturalist Journeys. Limited to 9 participants.
Arizona Woodpecker by Mick Thompson
Difficulty: Moderate (Some walking on mild slopes, but still on excellent surfaces.)
Southeast Arizona is a fabulous region to study flycatchers with three common types of Myiarchus (Ash-throated, Brown-crested, and Dusky-capped) and four species of kingbirds (Western, Cassin’s, Tropical, and Thick-billed) all along with phoebes, Empids, and of course Vermilion Flycatchers. Join flycatcher fan and expert, Chris Benesh, on this outing to enjoy and learn about our favorite flycatchers. Limited to 9 participants.