Tubac HawkWatch with Tubac Nature Center

Experience the magic of the annual Tubac Hawk Watch, organized by the Tubac Nature Center. Witness the breathtaking migration of raptors like Gray Hawks, Common Black Hawks, and Zone-tailed Hawks soaring along the Santa Cruz River corridor. Expert spotters will be on-site, counting these majestic birds as they journey north. Join us for this unforgettable event celebrating nature’s beauty and the wonders of bird migration in Arizona’s stunning landscape.

The Tubac Nature Center, along with HawkWatch International and Tucson Bird Alliance, is hosting a large variety of activities March 13 – 17. Here is a rundown of events:

• Friday, March 13 – Tuesday, March 17
  • Daily Bird Walks led by Tucson Bird Alliance and Tubac Nature Center at 8am and 11am. Register from our field trip page here.
  • 9am – 12pm each day. Tubac Nature Center, HawkWatch International, and Tucson Bird Alliance will have booths open at Ron Morriss Park.
• Friday, March 13 – Non-Profit Organizations Day
  • Local environmental non-profit organizations will have booths open at Ron Morriss Park from 9am – 12pm. Come and learn about the interesting and important work these groups are doing. See the list of organizations and more here.
  • 12pm – 2pm: Raptor Ambassadors Meet & Greet – Live Raptors at Ron Morriss Park
• Saturday, March 14 – Tuesday, March 17 – Optic Vendors
  • 9am – 12pm each day. Kowa, Vortex, ZEISS, and Land Sea & Sky will display their products at Ron Morriss Park. Come try them out!
•  Saturday, March 14 – Family Day
  • 8am – 12:30pm: Family Day at the Tubac Community Center (50 Bridge Rd.) Bring the kids to participate in a nature scavenger hunt, various hands-on activities, and experience raptors up close.
  • 1pm – 2pm: Digiscoping Workshop with Jeff Bouton of Kowa Optics. Meet at the Kowa Booth.
  • 2pm – 3pm: “Conservation of Santa Cruz River Habitats in Tubac” with Seth Ausubel, Vice President of the Tubac Nature Center, and Kari Hackney, Tucson Bird Alliance’s Director of Habitat Stewardship. At the Tubac Community Center.
• Sunday, March 15
  • 11:30am: Tubac HawkWatch founder, Peter Collins, will talk about the history and joy of hawkwatching in Tubac. Gather at Ron Morriss Park.
  • 12pm – 2pm: Raptor Ambassadors Meet & Greet – Live Raptors at Ron Morriss Park
  • 2pm – 3pm: “Hawkwatching 101” with Dave Oleyar of HawkWatch International at the Tubac Community Center.
• Monday, March 16
  • 10am – 12pm: Raptor Ambassadors Meet & Greet – Live Raptors at Ron Morriss Park
  • 2pm – 3pm: “Buteo Basics: Natural History and Identification” with naturalist Jeff Babson of Pima County Conservation, Lands and Resources at the Tubac Community Center.
• Tuesday, March 17
  • 10am – 12pm: Raptor Ambassadors Meet & Greet – Live Raptors at Ron Morriss Park
  • 12pm: Raffle Drawing (winners need not be present)
  • 2pm – 3pm: “The Interesting World of Ravens” with Jennie MacFarland, Tucson Bird Alliance’s Director of Bird Conservation at the Tubac Community Center.

You do not need to register to attend the Tubac Hawk Watch, just come out and join the fun any of the days. For more information visit the Tubac Nature Center page here.

Location: Ron Morriss County Park, 31 Calle Iglesia, Tubac, AZ 85646

Header Image: Common Black Hawk by Nick Pulcinella