Archives: Festival Events

Drawing is about looking deeply. 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 patterns found on birds of the Sonoran desert. First we will enjoy some bird images from art history with a focus on charcoal drawing. Next we will draw sample patterns using charcoal, a fun and forgiving medium that allows you to quickly render an image. Step by step, I will walk you through drawing techniques that make this process of creating patterns fun and accessible to beginners as well as more advanced participants. Finally, working from a photo, we will draw an Elf Owl using these simple techniques to create a charming charcoal drawing. Materials provided by The Drawing Studio, 2760 N. Tucson Blvd. Limited to 12 participants.

Charcoal Drawing by Laura Milkins

It can be incredibly rewarding to photograph birds in flight. Equally, however, there can be nothing more frustrating than the very same thing. In this classroom & field workshop professional photographer Krisztina Scheeff with KS Nature Photography will teach you lots of tips and tricks, camera settings and more to help you get those fantastic in flight bird shots. (Limit of 100)

Mountain Bluebird by Krisztina Scheeff

Hawaii is tragically known as the endangered species capital of the world and the archipelago is home to approximately one third of all endangered species in the United States. We will introduce you to Hawaii’s rare endemic birds, from petrels to honeycreepers, share the threats they face, and highlight the conservation initiatives in place to help save them from the brink of extinction.

Can you help bird conservation by simply enjoying your morning cup of coffee each day? Is there a difference between Bird Friendly and shade-grown coffee? How do they even roast coffee anyway? Join Kelly Smith of the American Birding Association to follow the journey those little beans take from the fincas in Central and South America to your kitchen, and how they support coffee farmers, the efforts of the ABA, and the protection of countless birds through community outreach and conservation along the way. Of course, coffee will be served!

Migrating songbirds need a place to rest on their long journeys and bird friendly shade-grown coffee is one way to ensure that their precious habitats are being preserved. Shade-grown coffee farms not only produce the best tasting coffees, they also support a wide variety of natural habitats and ecosystems. These conditions allow for a higher diversity of birds, plants, pollinators, mammals, and other species vs. the monoculture of full-sun coffee plantations. Purchasing Bird Friendly coffee is not only good for the habitats and ecosystems they create, it is also great for people, too! Rich and flavorful tasting coffee produced by certified organic coffee farmers protects water sources for the communities they live in and makes stronger local economies.

The American Birding Association is proud to work with our longtime partner Thanksgiving Coffee Company to bring you Song Bird Coffee. Song Bird is grown on small farms that have been certified Bird Friendly by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, the gold standard for shade-grown, organic coffees. (Limit of 60)

Coffee photo by Kendra K

Do you love nature? Do you own a camera? Then this class is for you! Join professional wildlife photography Jamie Cunningham of Sabrewing Nature Tours for tips and tricks to capturing great images, no matter what type of camera you are using! This class covers the basics from do’s and don’ts, when is the best time to shoot, composition, recommended gear, beginning editing and more! (Limit of 100)

Costa’s Hummingbird by Jamie Cunningham