Patagonia Lake and Patagonia Hotspots with Louie Dombroski and Janice Travis

Difficulty: Moderate (Some walking on mild slopes, and possibly rocky/uneven surfaces. Drive time to location approximately one hour on mostly paved roads)

Some of the most well-known birding locations in Southeast Arizona, and the United States, occur in the riparian area that runs along the Sonoita Creek and around the small mining town of Patagonia. We’ll start at Patagonia Lake SP and look for waterbirds and riparian stalwarts like Gray Hawk and Summer Tanagers. After the lake we’ll check out hotspots around town before having lunch at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds courtesy of local favorite, Gathering Grounds, while we look for the star of the trip, the Violet-crowned Hummingbird. Limited to 8 participants.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo by Greg Lavaty

Hummingbird Safari with Karen Krebbs

Difficulty: Moderate (Some mild slopes, but still on excellent surfaces. Drive time to location approximately two hours.)

This small-group excursion is a “can’t miss” for beginner birders interested in getting to know some of the area’s most dazzling birds and a few popular hummingbird locales around Southeast Arizona. Peak hummingbird diversity is happening and you’ll have the chance to see anywhere from 7 – 10 species. Beatty’s Guest Ranch and Ash Canyon are preliminary destinations but locations are up to the discretion of the leader and based on current observations. Lunch included. Limited to 8 participants.

Violet-crowned Hummingbird by Mick Thompson

Saguaros to Summits with Ken Blankenship

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (Drive-stop-birding, with some short hikes on uneven ground, generally low-impact birding.)
Experience the equivalent of driving from the Sonoran Desert to the Rocky Mountains — in a single day! We will start extra early to enjoy desert species at Saguaro National Park before it starts to sizzle: Cactus Wren, Gilded Flicker, Pyrrhuloxia, Rufous-winged Sparrow, Black-throated Sparrow, Verdin, and more. We will also bird nearby Agua Caliente Park for Vermilion Flycatcher, Hooded Oriole, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Bell’s Vireo, etc. Finally, we will ascend the Santa Catalina Highway to the high peaks of Mount Lemmon, featuring towering conifers and birds like Olive Warbler, Yellow-eyed Junco, Buff-breasted Flycatcher, Rivoli’s Hummingbird, and much more! Lunch included. Limited to 8 participants.

Yellow-eyed Junco

Ramsey Canyon with Kristy Gallo and Julie Michael

Difficulty: Moderate to Hard (Some steeper slopes or more rocky/rooted trails. Drive time to location approximately 90 minutes)

One of the most beautiful areas in all of Southeast Arizona, Ramsey Canyon is full of giant Sycamores and amazing biodiversity. Hummingbird feeders at the Nature Conservancy could attract Rivoli’s, Black-chinned, Broad-billed, and Rufous Hummingbirds as well as possible Violet-crowned or Blue-throated. We’ll walk the preserve trails and look for birds of the madrean evergreen forest including Elegant Trogon, Greater Pewee, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, and Painted Redstart. Lunch included. Limited to 8 participants.

Rivoli’s Hummingbird by Fred Mitchell

Sycamore Canyon with Scott Olmstead

Elegant Trogon by Shawn Cooper

Difficulty: Hard (Round-trip hiking distance of about 2.5 hot miles, over very uneven tread and multiple, wet stream crossings. About two hour drive on some rough road. We will be away from the vehicle for at least 4 hours.)

Rugged, remote Sycamore Canyon is legendary among birders for the rarities it has harbored over the years, as well as for its scenic terrain.  This steep-sided canyon is in the Pajarito Wilderness Area of Coronado National Forest.  It drains southward into Mexico, crossing the international border 5.6 miles from the trailhead off Ruby Road, west of Nogales.  Along the way we’ll encounter species typical of Oak-Juniper and Riparian habitats, with the potential to see Elegant Trogon, Mexican Jay, and Montezuma Quail. Lunch included. Limited to 8 participants.

Elegant Trogon by Shawn Cooper

Parker Canyon Lake Area with Jake Mohlmann

Difficulty: Hard (Steeper slopes or more rocky/rooted trails. Drive time to final location approximately two hours on some rough and curvy road.)

This 130-acre, deep water lake is tucked back on the west slopes of the Huachuca Mountains and because of its location is under-birded but holds great potential. Grassy hillsides dotted with oaks may hold Montezuma Quail, Western or Eastern Bluebirds, Bushtits, flycatchers, and early migrants. Western Grebes and Ospreys have been seen catching fish out of the lake during summer and Cassin’s Kingbirds are quite common. Lunch included. Limited to 8 participants.

Montezuma Quail by John Hoffman

Moths: A Nocturnal Exploration

Difficulty: Easy (Easily accessible location with a short drive)

On this trip, we will shine a light into the hidden diversity that exists in the Sonoran Desert! Pima County Naturalist, Jeff Babson will set up a UV light and see what treasures the night produces.  UV lights, also known as black lights, emit wavelengths that attract many insects, including moths and beetles.  Many of these insects are common, but live their lives in darkness and many people are unaware of their existence. Feel free to arrive anytime during the allotted timeframe. Great for families! Location will be at Sabino Canyon. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is approximately 25 minutes, and specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. $8 parking fee. Limited to 15 participants.

White-lined sphinx moth by Doris Evans

Going Batty with Addison Lander, Mary Reed-Weston, and Genavieve Sandoval

Difficulty: Easy (Easy watching from pathway/parking area and short drive.)

Join bat researchers from the University of Arizona on an adventure to watch thousands of bats come out of their roost at dusk. This nightly Tucson spectacle is a must-see for all ages and could even bring out a raptor or two preying on the bats. You will meet on-site in mid-town Tucson near the River/Campbell intersection. Drive time to the meeting location from the festival venue is approximately 15 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 20 participants.

Lesser Long-nosed bat by Dan Weisz

Sabino Canyon Evening Hike with Bob Orenstein & Cedar Stanistreet

Lesser Nighthawk by Dan Weisz

Difficulty: Moderate (Will include walking in the dark, some uphill on dirt trails and some paved road. Total distance about 3 miles.)

Sabino Canyon night hikes during monsoon season are a local favorite past-time. Bring your flashlight as we walk up in the light and walk down in the dark in search of birds, toads, snakes, bugs, and more! Good possibilities for Lesser Nighthawk and Common Poorwill at sunset and we’ll hope for monsoon rains so we can see and hear Spadefoots and giant Sonoran Desert Toads. Lizards, scorpions, and tarantulas are crowd favorites and maybe we’ll run into a Gila Monster. We will go at a slow pace and be sure to bring a water bottle and be prepared for hot weather. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is approximately 25 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 20 participants.

Lesser Nighthawk by Dan Weisz

Museum Birding: From the Specimen Drawer to the Field with Rick Wright

Difficulty: Easy (A/C indoors at the U of A)

How do we birders know the things we think we know? Where do “field marks” come from? And what on earth do all those dead birds on their backs in wooden drawers have to do with our hobby as we practice it in the 21st century? Join Rick Wright for a two-hour workshop exploring the intimate connections between museum specimens and conservation, research, and, yes, recreational birding. We will discover how collections are formed and maintained, and learn about the sometimes surprising results when old specimens are brought to bear on new problems. After this introduction to the enduring value of natural history collections, Rick will discuss a number of the Southwest’s rarest and most challenging birds, illustrating his remarks with representative specimens from among the more than 18,000 held by the University of Arizona. Along with stories of collecting adventure, daring, and even foolishness, workshop participants will come away with new knowledge they can use in the field—and a new respect for the sources of that knowledge, sources that lie on their backs in wooden drawers. Drive time to the meeting location from the festival venue is about 10 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.

Abert’s Towhee by Greg Lavaty