Protect Birds & Their Habitats
Birding
Protect Birds & Their Habitats
Birding
All 2024 Tours are FULL
Upcoming 2025 Tours (More Info to Come)
June 21–30, 2023 with Tucson Audubon host Jennie MacFarland
Experience Trinidad and Tobago, the best introduction to tropical birding possible, with Naturalist Journeys and Tucson Audubon’s Conservation Biologist, Jennie McFarland. Trinidad, with its proximity to Venezuela, offers a number of South American species, while Tobago feels entirely different―classic Caribbean. Combined, these islands provide a variety of habitats that yield dramatic diversity. In many ways it feels like two vacations in one!
Spend time with toucans, trogons, manakins, honeycreepers, colorful tanagers, elegant seabirds, the iconic Bearded Bellbird, Oilbird, Trinidad Motmot, Rufous-vented Chachalaca, and Orange-winged Parrot, and so much more! See over a dozen species of dazzling hummingbirds including the tiny Tufted Coquette and the brilliant Ruby Topaz. In Trinidad’s northeastern corner at Grand Riviere, witness the spectacle of nesting Leatherback Turtles and a chance to see endemic Trinidad Piping Guan.
Tour Summary
Your participation supports conservation, and a portion will be donated to Tucson Audubon! For registration contact our partner company for this tour, Naturalist Journeys at travel@naturalistjourneys.com or by phone at 520-558-1146 or 866-900-1146.
October 21–November 3, 2024 with Tucson Audubon host Executive Director Melissa Fratello
3 SPOTS REMAIN
Panama offers some of the most exciting birding in all of North America. Our tour will take us first to the incredible Canopy Camp in the Darién. This is one of the least explored parts of Central America and the birding is fantastic. Then, we’ll move on to the extremely unique Canopy Tower, a former US Air Force radar tower in the midst of Soberanía National Park. This area has a huge diversity of species and many new birds. We’ll end the trip in El Valle at the Canopy Lodge about two hours west of the Panama Canal. This is the highest elevation we will visit on the tour and we will spend our time looking for all the special species that call this area home.
On this tour, you can expect to see some incredible wildlife in addition to a huge bird list all while exploring one of the best countries for birding in Central America. You don’t want to miss out on this incredible tour!
Tour Summary
Your participation supports conservation, and a portion will be donated to Tucson Audubon! For registration contact our partner company for this tour, Sabrewing Nature Tours from the registration link on this page, or email info@SabrewingNatureTours.com.
January 7–17, 2024 with Brian Gibbons and Tucson Audubon host Luke Safford
Western Mexico possesses one of the highest rates of avian endemism in North America, and the foothills and mountains of the Sierra Madre Occidental are an outstanding area to observe a superb cross-section of Mexican species.
On this trip, arranged exclusively for members of Tucson Audubon Society, participants will experience the exceptional richness of birds and habitats of the mountains, foothills, and coastal lowlands of western Mexico’s Nayarit and Jalisco states. Based in two choice locations, we will seek the specialty birds of this region—including many endemics—and a wonderful panoply of more widely occurring species.
Very comfortable accommodations and great food; easy to moderate terrain; mostly birding from dirt roads, but some uneven rocky terrain will be encountered; elevations up to 8,000 feet on a few days and lodging at 4,500 feet; midday breaks some days; dusty and bumpy van rides to reach birding areas; mostly dry conditions expected, but very chilly mornings with mild to hot days; rain possible in the mountains.
Tour Summary
Your participation supports conservation, and a portion will be donated to Tucson Audubon! For registration contact our partner company for this tour, Victor Emanuel Nature Tours from the registration link on this page, or call the VENT Operations Manager at 800.328.8368 or 512.328.5221.
February 27 – March 9, 2024 with Tucson Audubon host Jennie MacFarland
ONLY ONE SPOT AVAILABLE
Few places rival Costa Rica’s ecological diversity. Over a quarter of the country is protected lands, boasting 850 bird species and 200+ mammals. Costa Rica has remained at the top of the list for traveler satisfaction, with talented guides, superb nature lodges, and fabulous birds and mammals.
On this custom journey for the Tucson Audubon Society, hosted by Jennie MacFarland, search pristine forests at La Selva Biological Station for Neotropical specialties. Traverse the Continental Divide, from lowland rainforest to cloud forest. Glide down a river looking for secretive birds such as Sunbittern and Green Ibis, several species of kingfisher, Green Iguana, and Mantled Howler Monkey. Relax at a mountain lodge and witness Northern Emerald-Toucanet and Collared Redstart in the wild Savegre Valley, a special place where Resplendent Quetzal nests and American Dipper feed in the rushing stream.
This is a moderate-paced tour with some full field days and walks of 1-2 miles over uneven terrain. The walks are at a birder’s pace but do require standing and waiting at times to fully observe species. Multiple nights at hotels allows you to choose how much you do on those field days. We travel in a comfortable air-conditioned bus and stay at lovely nature-oriented hotels with dining services and private bath in room. Some of the lodges have stairs and rooms may be situated away from the main dining area. Special diets can usually be accommodated, please ask.
Tour Summary
Your participation supports conservation, and a portion will be donated to Tucson Audubon! For registration, please contact Naturalist Journeys, let them know you wish to travel on the custom Costa Rica journey set up for Tucson Audubon and they will help you with forms, payment and tour information. travel@naturalistjourneys.com / 866-900-1146. Naturalist Journeys is located in Portal, AZ.