Arizona hosts one of the richest bird populations in North America. Over many years, photographer Francis Morgan set out to photograph every regularly occurring species in the state, a project that became the book Arizona Birds: A Complete Photographic Record of the State’s Avifauna. This talk shares the challenges, field stories, and surprising encounters behind that effort, illustrated with photographs from across Arizona. (Limit of 100)
Costa’s Hummingbird by Francis Morgan
Doors Open at 7:00pm. Concert begins at 8:00pm
$30/person – Purchase Tickets HERE
Join us at nearby 191 Toole for a concert you won’t want to miss! Bonner Black is a songwriter and birder from Nashville, whose birding videos have over 15 million views and gained momentum in 2024 releasing her highly awaited debut album, “Hopeless RomANTICS.” Check out her website here. Purchase tickets directly through 191 Toole.
Author of more than 100 books for children and adults, acclaimed author Sneed B. Collard III traces his path from budding biologist to book author to passionate Boomer Birder. After sharing how his son, Braden, and he first fell in love with birds, he’ll share some of the joys and challenges of being a “birder of a certain age,” and how all birders can overcome obstacles to enjoy the world’s most rewarding and frustrating activity. Along the way, Collard will highlight recent birding adventures to the Middle East, Japan, Spain, Colombia and across the US. He’ll also describe his current project researching and writing about grassland birds, one of North America’s most fascinating—and imperiled—bird groups. Book signing before and after the presentation. (Limit of 100)
Join Rob Ripma of Sabrewing Nature Tours for an introduction to the remarkable birding and wildlife opportunities of Vietnam, one of Southeast Asia’s most exciting birding destinations. This program explores the country’s diverse habitats, from misty highland forests to lowland tropical reserves, home to an impressive array of endemic and range-restricted species. Discover specialties such as Gray-crowned Crocias and Vietnamese Greenfinch, along with notoriously elusive birds that are often easiest to observe in Vietnam, including Germain’s Peacock-Pheasant, Blue-rumped Pitta, and Siamese Fireback. Rob will highlight key birding areas, target species, and what makes Vietnam uniquely rewarding for birders. Beyond the birds, Vietnam offers exceptional wildlife encounters, outstanding cuisine, welcoming culture, and breathtaking landscapes. Whether you are planning a future trip or simply want to learn more about this emerging birding hotspot, this program will showcase why Vietnam deserves a place high on every birder’s travel list. (Limit of 60)
Bar-bellied Pitta, Sabrewing
The term raptor is derived from the Latin word rapere, meaning “to seize or take by force.” These birds are characterized by their keen vision that allows them to detect their prey during flight, as well as powerful talons and beaks. The size, speed, and variety of the species have impressed birdwatchers all over the world. Yet, the ability to successfully ID raptors is a challenge, especially among the species that can be found here in southeast Arizona. Homer Hansen will demonstrate how raptors can be identified through their behavior, wing shape, and flight influence. (Limit of 100)
Harris’s Hawk, Dan Weisz
Birding is often described as one of the most accessible ways to connect with nature, but field experiences can unintentionally center a narrow “default” participant. In this interactive workshop, we’ll examine how field trip design choices shape who feels welcome, prepared, and able to participate. We will also work through realistic birding scenarios that surface common barriers related to mobility, sensory processing, communication styles, stamina, and other barriers to access. Together, we’ll explore practical, field-tested adjustments that trip leaders can implement without needing specialized equipment or major structural changes. This session is designed for field trip leaders, volunteer guides, and anyone who would like to plan birding outings. Participants will leave with a simple planning lens they can apply immediately when writing trip descriptions or preparing for outings. Accessibility Information: This workshop will be held indoors in a seated format with small-group discussion. No outdoor walking is required. Printed materials will use large, high-contrast fonts, and digital copies can be provided. Participants may engage through speaking, listening, or writing. We aim to model flexible participation and encourage attendees to care for their own access needs. For specific accommodation requests, please contact the festival organizer in advance. (Limit of 60)
In Owl, award-winning photographer Paul Bannick uses his intimate yet dramatic images to illustrate four different nesting owl species—Northern Pygmy, Burrowing, Great Gray, and Snowy—throughout the course of the year in four distinct habitats. Each stage in an owl’s life is chronicled: courtship, mating, and nesting in spring; fledging and feeding of young in summer; dispersal and learning independence in fall; and, finally, winter’s migration. Unusual irruptions and the everyday struggle to survive are also covered. In addition to the four featured owls, the fifteen other species of North American owls are generously depicted throughout the book; Bannick’s startling images reflect their shared behaviors as well as some surprising exceptions and adaptations. More than just a backdrop, the four featured owl habitats—forest, grassland and steppe, boreal, and Arctic—reveal wildly rich stories of their own. Owl is a stunning follow-up to Bannick’s bestselling title, The Owl and the Woodpecker, giving bird lovers yet another gorgeous photographic tribute, engaging natural history, and a compelling call to preserve the habitats that sustain these most iconic of birds. (Limit of 100)
Burrowing Owl by Paul Bannick.
Colombia is the bird capital of the world, but for its ancient civilizations, our feathered friends were more than mere flying wonders. They were messengers, guardians, and even deities. This presentation explores the deep-rooted relationship between Colombia’s avian diversity and its rich indigenous folklore through the eyes of 5 iconic species and where we can find them. Sponsored by Icaro Birding. (Limit of 60)
Golden-fronted Whitestart by Greg Lavaty
The Desert Purple Martin (Progne subis hesperia) is a distinct subspecies that is very different from the familiar Purple Martins of the eastern USA. The Desert Purple Martin times its nesting to monsoon abundance and nests exclusively in saguaros in Arizona and cardons in Mexico. Learn about recent discoveries in their nesting, migration and wintering grounds in Brazil. We’ll talk about the technology that revealed the previously unknown details of their yearly cycle with lots of photos, videos and amusing stories of field research mishaps. (Limit of 100)
Image by Henry T McLin
Most photographers edit their images and Adobe Lightroom Mobile is a great platform to tastefully bring your bird photography to life. Whether you’re simply sharing your work on social media or selling your photos at your online shop, we’ll touch on some practical tools anyone can quickly master. We’ll walk through cropping, basic editing, storage and how to use masks to recover the color and light that might have been lost between your subject and your gear. We’ll also talk about workflow and I’ll even guide you from a RAW image to a gently-processed photo in just a few simple steps. (Limit of 60)
Crested Caracaras by Mike Henry