Sunset Birding at Sweetwater Wetlands with Bruce Webb & Clay Taylor of Swarovski Optik

Difficulty: Easy (Just over a mile walking on excellent surfaces.)
This artificial wetland is the premier birding hotspot in the Tucson Valley, offering a stunning variety of species that can be found here at any time during the season. Green Heron, Common Gallinule, Tropical Kingbird, Common Yellowthroat, and Abert’s Towhees are some of our prime targets. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is about 20 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 12 participants.

Tropical Kingbird by JBurns

Desert Birds in Pastel Workshop with Laura Milkins hosted at The Drawing Studio

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Capture the colors of Sonoran desert birds, from the vibrant red of a vermillion flycatcher to the subtle browns and tans of a cactus wren. Since the days of Audubon, art has been a way to understand birds on an intimate and detailed level. In this workshop, we will focus on the color found on birds of the Sonoran desert. First we will enjoy some colorful bird images from art history. Next we will use pastel to create color patches to match the colors of several desert birds. Step by step, I will walk you through pastel techniques that make this process of color matching fun and accessible to beginners as well as more advanced participants. Finally, working from a photo, we will create a vermillion flycatcher using these simple pastel techniques. Materials provided by The Drawing Studio, 2760 N. Tucson Blvd. Limited to 12 participants.

Invitation-to-Appreciation-Ode-to-My-Mothers-Wisdom-pastel-on-paper by Laura Milkins

Sabino Canyon with Clay Taylor & Bruce Webb of Swarovski Optik

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, and Cactus Wrens 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. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is about 25 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.

Cactus Wren by John Kennedy

Sunset Birding at Reid Park with Steve Valasek and David Lindo

Difficulty: Easy (Mostly flat, groomed trails at a city park. Bathrooms available.)

The tall aleppo pines and eucalyptus, along with two large ponds, create great bird habitat right next to the festival venue. We’ll look for Black-crowned Night Herons, Neotropic Cormorants, Cassin’s Kingbirds, Vermilion Flycatchers, and more. Drive time to the meeting location from the festival venue is less than 5 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 12 participants.

Black-crowned Night Heron by David Kreidler

Sunset Birding at Sweetwater Wetlands with Alex Patia

Difficulty: Easy (Just over a mile walking on excellent surfaces.)

This artificial wetland is the premier birding hotspot in the Tucson Valley, offering a stunning variety of species that can be found here at any time during the season. Green Heron, Common Gallinule, Tropical Kingbird, Common Yellowthroat, and Abert’s Towhees are some of our prime targets. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is about 20 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 12 participants.

Abert’s Towhee by Greg Lavaty

Southeast Arizona Birding Festival Banquet & Culmination with special guest, David Lindo

Wrap up your festival experience with us as we celebrate more than just the new birds we’ve seen, but also the movement that birding is becoming—all over the world, and right here in Tucson. You’ll enjoy a delicious meal, receive a drink ticket, visit with friends, and hear from special guest, David Lindo and his presentation “A World of Urban Birds.”

Celebrated Urban Birder, David Lindo, takes us around the urban world of birds. Over 20% of the globe’s bird species have been recorded within our towns and cities, sometimes without us noticing. You will be surprised as to some of the variety of species David will be featuring. To see some of these great birds all you have to do is open your hearts, minds and importantly, look up! (Limit of 120)

Want Birds? Ecuador! Smaller than Arizona but over 1700 Species – and don’t forget the Gaudy Tanagers! with Francisco Munoz of Neblina Forest

Glistening-green Tanager by Francisco Munoz

When considering a South American birding destination, Ecuador should come first to your mind. This little Country packs a whopping 1700 plus species into an area less than the size of Arizona. There are numerous habitats, including Mountain coastal and rain-forest climates. Over half the Global total amount of Tanagers – 143 are found in Ecuador! Ecuador also holds the world record for the amount of Hummingbirds at over 132 Species! In this presentation we will discuss the numerous types of birds present, where you can see them and the efforts underway to conserve their habitats. Ecuador is an easy destination for US-based travelers as they use the American dollar as currency, no Visa requirements and the same electrical standards as the USA, and we will offer tips for first time travelers. (Limit of 60)

Glistening-green Tanager by Francisco Munoz

The Paton Center for Hummingbirds: Past Present and Future with Tom Brown, Paton Center Site Manager

This presentation will begin with a discussion about Wally and Marion Paton, and how their hard work and willingness to open their yard to public was the beginning of a truly amazing birding location. We will discuss the current Paton Center, as it is under to ownership of Tucson Bird Alliance with a description of the property, its features and a short coverage of the birds that can found there. Then we will cover the future plans for the Paton Center, repairs, remodels, additions and our expanded property and trail system. (Limit of 100)

BABITA TOURS India’s Wild Guardians: Birding, Wildlife, and Community Conservation with Vinod Goswami

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After spending over 30 years exploring India’s forests, grasslands, wetlands, and high-altitude habitats, I’ve come to believe that the heart of conservation beats strongest when people are involved—and when you experience wildlife firsthand. From tiger safaris in Central India to birding tours across the country, I’ve witnessed how empowering local communities—through eco-tourism, education, and shared passion—not only transforms them into protectors of their land, but also creates deeply fulfilling experiences for travelers. What started as a love for wildlife slowly turned into a mission: to blend storytelling, photography, and local voices to build awareness and appreciation for India’s wild spaces. Join me for a visual and conversational journey through some of India’s most biodiverse corners. Expect colorful birds, elusive mammals, stunning landscapes—and, more importantly, stories of the incredible people behind the conservation efforts. (Limit of 60)

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