Sabino Canyon with Clay Taylor & Bruce Webb of Swarovski Optik

Difficulty: Moderate (mostly flat walking trails on some uneven and rocky terrain)
We’ll bird Sabino Canyon Recreation Area walking a loop that includes both Sonoran desert upland and Sabino Creek riparian area. Gila Woodpeckers, Purple Martins, and Cactus Wrens should be readily seen with other desert and riparian birds. Meet at the ramada by the Visitor’s Center at 5700 N Sabino Canyon Road. $8 parking fee. Return to car by 9am. Sunhat, water and walking shoes always recommended. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is about 25 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.

Cactus Wren by John Kennedy

Sunset Birding at Sweetwater Wetlands with Alex Patia sponsored by ZEISS

Difficulty: Easy (Just over a mile walking on excellent surfaces.)

This artificial wetland is the premier birding hotspot in the Tucson Valley, offering a stunning variety of species that can be found here at any time during the season. Green Heron, Common Gallinule, Tropical Kingbird, Common Yellowthroat, and Abert’s Towhees are some of our prime targets. You’ll also have the chance to try out the new ZEISS SFL 50 binoculars and see how amazing they are in low-light conditions. Drive time to the meeting location from the festival venue is about 20 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 12 participants.

Abert’s Towhee by Greg Lavaty

A Bird Photography Adventure with OM SYSTEM’s Tech Expert Mike Amico

Difficulty: Easy (Mostly flat, groomed trails at a city park. Bathrooms available.)

Guided by seasoned bird photographer and OM SYSTEM Tech Expert Mike Amico, this casual walk at the nearby Reid Park welcomes both nature enthusiasts and photographers alike. Mike will offer insights into capturing breathtaking bird photos and fine-tuning camera settings for optimal results. Join us for a fun photo walk amidst nature, where we’ll appreciate the outdoors and experience beautiful bird moments together. Photographers using any camera system are invited. Birders without a camera are welcome too! OM SYSTEM will provide loaner equipment on a first-come, first-served basis. Limited to 10 participants.

Curve-billed Thrasher by Martin Molina

Fort Lowell Park: Learn and practice Merlin Bird ID and Sound ID phone app with Laura Couchman

Lark Sparrow by Tom Brown

Difficulty: Easy (Mostly flat, groomed trails at a city park. Bathrooms available.)

Improve your bird ID skills using your smartphone!  The Merlin Bird ID app is like having a well-informed birding field trip leader in your pocket. Tucson’s Fort Lowell Park has a variety of habitats is a great place to see and hear a variety of Tucson’s urban birds, and it’s only 5 miles from the DoubleTree Hotel.  By the end of the outing you’ll know how to use all of the FREE Merlin Bird ID app’s great features:  Sound ID, Photo ID, the Explore field guide, and more!  IMPORTANT:  Download the Merlin Bird ID app to your phone (iPhone or Android) before the field trip, and log in to (or create) your eBird username and password with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (if you have any difficulties, come 10 minutes early and we’ll do it together). Bring your phone (fully charged) and your binoculars, and we’ll learn and practice using the app to help you identify birds by sight and by sound. Beginners and young people are welcome; no prior experience with birding or with Merlin Bird ID necessary. Even if you have used Merlin before, it’s a good opportunity to practice its latest features and get your questions answered. Limited to 12 participants.

Lark Sparrow by Tom Brown

Honey Bee Canyon Park & Petroglyphs with Gerry Hodge

Difficulty: Moderate (Some mild slopes, most of walking in soft sand)

Join local field trip leader, Gerry Hodge, at this under-birded and hidden park in Oro Valley. Fall migrants, like Western Tanager and Lazuli Bunting, are beginning to come through and we will look for usual desert inhabitants, like the range-restricted Gilded Flicker. We will also check out a large rock with Indian petroglyphs. Most of the walking will be in soft sand, but it could be wet in places this time of year so please be prepared. Drive time to the meeting location from the festival venue is about 45 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand.  Limited to 10 participants.

Gilded Flicker by Bruce Taubert

Accessible Birding at El Rio Preserve with Marcia OBara sponsored by the Town of Marana

Cinnamon Teal by Tom Brown

Easy (We’ll be doing stationary birding from the overlook. This field trip is designed to meet the needs of participants with accessibility needs.)
We’ll soak in the birds at this beautiful nature preserve area just northwest of Tucson in Marana along the Santa Cruz River which is also part of the historic Juan Bautista de Anza Trail. You’ll enjoy the view from the overlook where you’ll be able to scope the water to see a variety birds including waterfowl, shorebirds, and flycatchers. 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.

Cinnamon Teal by Tom Brown

Sweetwater Wetlands with Alex Patia

Difficulty: Easy (Just over a mile walking on excellent surfaces.)

This artificial wetland is the premier birding hotspot in the Tucson Valley, offering a stunning variety of species that can be found here at any time during the season. Green Heron, Common Gallinule, Tropical Kingbird, Common Yellowthroat, and Abert’s Towhees are some of our prime targets. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is about 20 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.

Common Yellowthroat by Mike Henry

Photography Field Workshop: Bat Photography at Pond at Elephant Head with Dano Grayson

Difficulty: Easy (Most of the time spent in photography blinds)

The desert comes alive at night and the Pond at Elephant Head offers the perfect opportunity to catch it in action with your camera. Bat migration is happening during the monsoon season and offers an amazing experience. Join Wildlife Photographer, Dano Grayson for an evening of photographing bats and other wildlife at this private photography location. Important Equipment Needed for this Workshop: Camera with telephoto lens of at least 300mm along with tripod and shutter release cable. Limited to 8 participants.

Lesser Long-nosed bat Dan Weisz

Madera Canyon’s Santa Rita Lodge with Hollie Mansfield

Arizona Woodpecker by Mick Thompson

Difficulty: Easy. We’ll enjoy the feeders from the benches and chairs. No bathrooms at the lodge feeders.
Join festival volunteer and leader, Hollie Mansfield, for a 90 minute outing of enjoyable “stationary birding” at the Santa Rita Lodge feeders. We will enjoy the variety of birds at the feeder station, where benches are available. Possible birds include Rivoli’s Hummingbird, Acorn & Arizona Woodpecker, Mexican Jay, and Hepatic Tanager. Drive time to the meeting location from the festival venue is about 55 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 8 participants.

Arizona Woodpecker by Mick Thompson

Southeast Arizona Birding Festival Banquet & Culmination with special guest, David Lindo

Wrap up your festival experience with us as we celebrate more than just the new birds we’ve seen, but also the movement that birding is becoming—all over the world, and right here in Tucson. You’ll enjoy a delicious meal, receive a drink ticket, visit with friends, and hear from special guest, David Lindo and his presentation “A World of Urban Birds.”

Celebrated Urban Birder, David Lindo, takes us around the urban world of birds. Over 20% of the globe’s bird species have been recorded within our towns and cities, sometimes without us noticing. You will be surprised as to some of the variety of species David will be featuring. To see some of these great birds all you have to do is open your hearts, minds and importantly, look up! (Limit of 120)