Archives: Festival Events

Many of us take pride in creating welcoming spaces for birds: hanging feeders, planting native vegetation, and adding water features to help wildlife thrive in our desert environment. These are all vital components of a bird-friendly yard, but true stewardship goes beyond providing food and water. With more birds navigating human-altered landscapes, ensuring safe passage has become an essential part of habitat. Join Olya Weekley, Applied Conservation Program Manager at Tucson Bird Alliance, for an eye-opening look at the hidden hazards birds face: from deadly window collisions and toxic rodenticides to open “death pipes” that silently trap wildlife. Discover how everyday choices can have a lasting impact on local birds and learn simple, effective ways to make your home and community safer for them. Drawing from her hands-on conservation work across southern Arizona, Olya will share practical steps we can all take to protect the birds we love. (Limit of 100)

In southern Mexico, Oaxaca unfolds like a great story—one that refuses to sit still. It begins thousands of years ago with the Zapotec and Mixtec civilizations, whose influence still echoes across the valleys and mountains today. Ancient cities like Monte Albán don’t just sit quietly on the hills—they seem to watch over the region, as if making sure nothing important gets forgotten. And clearly, nothing has: traditions, languages, and ways of life remain very much alive. Then come the birds—and in Oaxaca, they come in spectacular fashion. This is the most biodiverse regions in Mexico, where landscapes shift quickly from misty cloud forests to sun-drenched coasts. Nearly 790 bird species can be found here, including a dazzling number of endemics that exist nowhere else on Earth. But the real show happens in the sky: migratory birds from across North America arrive after epic journeys, turning Oaxaca into a seasonal reunion spot. Thanks to its geography—just 218 kilometers between the Pacific and the Atlantic watershed—the region acts like a natural funnel, packing an astonishing variety of species into one place. For bird lovers, it’s less a destination and more a grand festival with feathers. And just when it feels like Oaxaca couldn’t offer more, the food arrives. Rich, bold, and unapologetically complex, Oaxacan cuisine is a celebration in itself. Moles with layers of flavor, heirloom corn in countless forms, and ingredients that tell stories of land and tradition—every meal feels like an event you didn’t know you were invited to, but are very glad you attended. In Oaxaca, history speaks, birds gather, and food delights. It’s not just a place—it’s an experience, full of color, flavor, and a touch of magic.

Orange-breasted Bunting by Greg Lavaty

Have you ever wanted to draw birds, but found it difficult to know how to start? Or maybe you already love drawing birds, but want to learn some new tips and tricks to enhance your practice? This bird drawing workshop is designed to break through the trepidation of the “white page” and get you drawing birds right away. We will learn simple but effective techniques to improve drawing and observation skills that can be easily practiced even alongside hectic daily schedules. Most importantly, this workshop is designed to convince you that drawing is fun and can be a practice to look forward to in order to improve your skills as an artist AND as a birder. While this workshop is geared toward beginners, all skill levels are welcome! Basic art materials will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own favorites. Hosted at The Drawing Studio, 2760 N Tucson Blvd. Limited to 15 participants.