Birdathon Fundraiser Field Trip: Tanque Verde Wash at Wentworth Rd with Karen Howe

Birdathon Fundraiser Field Trip: Tanque Verde Wash at Wentworth Rd, Apr. 19, 7am – 10am

In conjunction with the Watershed Management Group.

Optional coffee and pastries at Le Buzz on Tanque Verde afterward.

Team: All Washed Up

$25 (minimum) donation

Join us for a special field trip to support the Birdathon fundraiser! Enjoy a fun and educational birding experience, all while supporting bird conservation.

All registration fees will go directly to the Birdathon fundraiser, helping protect habitats and support critical bird conservation efforts. Let’s come together to celebrate birds and make a difference!

Whether you’re a seasoned birder or a curious beginner, your participation will leave a lasting impact.

Trip difficulty: Moderate. 2-mile hiking (round trip) in soft sand. No restrooms or drinking water.

We will visit a portion of the Tanque Verde Wash on the east side of town. The wash is lined with native vegetation, providing excellent habitat for native riparian birds and an oasis for migratory birds and other wildlife.

An invasive species, Arundo donax (giant reed), has taken over portions of the wash. It drinks up to 3-4 times more water than native plants, crowds out native species, and increases the risk of flooding and wildfire. Jace Lankow of the Watershed Management Group will show us the work they are doing, with the help of volunteers, to free the wash of Arundo and restore groundwater levels and surface flows in the wash.

We should see a wide variety of birds (raptors, towhees, finches, warblers, and woodpeckers) and we’ll pause along the way to learn about groundwater issues and improvements in the wash. We’ll walk in the wash for about a mile, checking the brush for towhees, sparrows, and finches. Then, we’ll continue through a large stand of cottonwoods, scanning for raptors, woodpeckers, warblers, and kinglets.

Bring sun protection and water, and wear sturdy walking shoes (we’ll be walking is soft sand).

Driving directions: Take Tanque Verde Road east, about 8 miles past the intersection with the Catalina Highway. After the Forty Niners Country Club estates, turn right on Wentworth Road. Park on the north side of the road just before it crosses the wash. Please consider carpooling, as parking is limited.

Leader: Karen Howe