Tohono Chul with Ray Deeney and Carol Massanari

Difficulty: Easy (some mild slopes–mostly flat ground and good surfaces)

For visitors and those new to the Sonoran Desert, Tohono Chul’s easy-walking trails and gardens provide close-up looks at many of the desert specialties. Of the more than 500 bird species that spend time in Arizona during the year, 140 are known to have visited Tohono Chul, and on any given morning you might see up to 15 species here. All year long you can watch our state bird, the Cactus Wren, flit from cactus to tree and back again, chattering as he goes. Observe the Curved-billed Thrasher, with its saucy two-part whistle, scrabbling on the ground or nesting in cholla cactus. Enjoy our two year-round resident hummingbird species, Anna’s and Costa’s, as they dart about, feeding among the many colorful flowers. And be sure to look upward for a glance of our majestic Cooper’s Hawks, a pair of which has nested in the gardens for each of the last four years. Meet at the Tohono Chul Admission Window. Limited to 10 participants.

Costa’s Hummingbird by Mick Thompson

Tanque Verde Wash at Wentworth Road with Ken Blankenship of East West Birding Tours

Difficulty: Moderate (2-mile hiking round trip on soft sand surface. No restrooms or drinking water available.  If there has been recent rain the wash may have standing, or flowing water.)

This major wash flows west from creeks that drain from the northern side of the Rincon Mountains and provides diverse riparian vegetation for a variety of bird species. We will head downstream along the north side of the wash, first checking the brush for Lark Sparrow, Abert’s Towhee, Lazuli Bunting and more, then continuing to the large cottonwoods for woodpeckers, flycatchers, and warblers. Sunhat, water and good walking shoes are recommended. Drive time to the meeting location from the festival venue is about 30 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.

Summer Tanager by Lois Manowtiz

Birding with a Camera at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds with Krisztina Scheeff of KS Nature Photography

Costa's Hummingbird by Krisztina Scheeff

Difficulty: Easy (Flat walking on groomed trails)

Are you a birder and would like to learn more about your camera and how to capture your own photos? Join professional Nature Photographer Krisztina with KS Nature Photography for a casual session of birding with the added bonus of photography. This program is open to all ages, birders, photographers, and anyone who would like to learn more about the birds and about basic camera techniques for bird photography. Bring your binoculars and any camera, if you like (point and shoot, DSLR, Mirrorless – and any lens). To read more about Krisztina, please visit www.KSNaturePhotography.com. Limited to 8 participants.

Costa’s Hummingbird by Krisztina Scheeff

Montosa Canyon with Brian Gibbons

Difficulty: Hard (Steeper slopes or more rocky/rooted trails. Drive time to location approximately one hour with some gravel roads.)

While Madera Canyon has long been the most visited spot in the Santa Rita Mountains, this adjacent canyon to the south is deserving of more birders’ attention. Join us on a half-day exploration of Montosa Canyon, which supports some hackberry thornscrub habitat as well as a nice drainage with scattered oaks and mesquites. Some more common species we can expect to encounter include Bell’s Vireo, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Canyon Wren, and Ladder-backed Woodpecker. We’ll also target rare species which have nested in the canyon in past years, including Five-striped Sparrow and Black-capped Gnatcatcher. We’ll also keep our eyes out for dazzling Varied Buntings on territory. Limited to 9 participants.

Five-striped Sparrow by Richard Fray

Birding with a Camera at Sweetwater Wetlands with Krisztina Scheeff of KS Nature Photography

American Kestrel by Krisztina Scheeff

Are you a birder and would like to learn more about your camera and how to capture your own photos? Join professional Nature Photographer Krisztina with KS Nature Photography for a casual session of birding with the added bonus of photography. This program is open to all ages, birders, photographers, and anyone who would like to learn more about the birds and about basic camera techniques for bird photography. Bring your binoculars and any camera, if you like (point and shoot, DSLR, Mirrorless – and any lens). To read more about Krisztina, please visit www.KSNaturePhotography.com. Specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 12 participants.

American Kestrel by Krisztina Scheeff

Madera Canyon with Janice Travis

Difficulty: Moderate (steeper slopes or more rocky/rooted trails)

We’ll start in grassland habitat around Proctor Road looking and listening for singing sparrows first thing in the morning. Along with sparrows we will be looking for birds of upland riparian habitat including Bell’s Vireo, Blue Grosbeak, Summer Tanager, and Varied Bunting. Next we’ll head into the mid-elevation oak-juniper habitat, looking for desirable southeast Arizona species like Arizona Woodpecker, Painted Redstart, and Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher. After this we’ll spend some time walking along the nature trail and investigating the hummingbird feeders at the Santa Rita Lodge that make Madera one of the best spots for hummingbird diversity in the country. Maybe we’ll find an Elegant Trogon! Limited to 9 participants.

Painted Redstart by Matthew Studebaker

Ramsey/Carr & Ash Canyons with Kristy Gallo, David Simpson, & Cedar Stanistreet

Difficulty: Hard (Steeper slopes or more rocky/rooted trails. Drive time to locations approximately 2 hours and includes some time on a very rough road.)

We’ll get an early start from Tucson to explore the east flank of the Huachuca Mountains. Depending on road conditions we’ll either go up into the Madrean oak woodland and open pine forests of Carr Canyon, or walk underneath the towering sycamores in Ramsey Canyon, both of which offer a wide variety of Arizona specialty birds. After our picnic lunch we’ll head over to nearby Ash Canyon, where a bank of hummingbird feeders at the Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary should be buzzing with activity, including perhaps the range-restricted and very attractive Lucifer Hummingbird. We will be walking slowly along nearly level dirt roads at up to about 7000 feet in elevation. Lunch included. Limited to 15 participants.

Lucifer Hummingbird by Peter-Hawrylyshyn

Catalinas in the Evening with Kendall Kroesen

Difficulty: Moderate (some walking on mild slopes, drive time to location about 50 minutes on paved roads)
We’ll try to escape the afternoon/evening heat by heading up to higher elevation and the Catalina Mountains. Depending on weather conditions and bird reports we’ll explore a few hotspots such as Bear Wallow, Incinerator Ridge, Summerhaven, or Mt. Bigelow Road looking for mixed warbler flocks. Warblers we might see include Red-faced, Orange-crowned, Virginia’s, Townsend’s, Hermit, Wilson’s, and Grace’s Warblers. Birding in the conifer forests of Mt. Lemmon can also produce species like Hairy Woodpecker, Steller’s Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Western Tanager, and Western Flycatcher. We’ll head back to the festival headquarters about sunset, so we’ll have about 2 1/2 hours of birding time. Limited to 9 participants.

Pygmy Nuthatch by Shawn Cooper