Desert Purple Martins – Star Birds of the Arizona Monsoon with Jennie MacFarland

Charismatic, large swallows, Purple Martins are a beloved and iconic nestbox species in the eastern half of the United States. Did you know they can be found here as well? The Desert Purple Martin (Progne subis hesperia) is a distinct subspecies that times its nesting to monsoon abundance and nests almost exclusively in saguaros or other large columnar cacti. These are “wild” martins that use naturally occurring cavities, while the eastern subspecies is said to be entirely reliant on human-made nestboxes. Desert Purple Martins are extremely understudied with large gaps in knowledge about their nesting, migration, and wintering grounds. Tucson Audubon launched the Desert Purple Martin project in 2020 and has learned so much about these intriguing birds. Very recent discoveries and data results will be shared along with lots of video and audio that showcases the charming and fascinating Desert Purple Martin.

Purple Martin by Zach-Steinhauser

Introduction to Bird Photography with Jamie Cunningham

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

Birding with a Smartphone and Wi-Fi enabled Camera with John Amoroso

Phone Image by Tati Tata

While technology has made life ultra-busy and confusing in some ways, it has also completely changed the face of birdwatching for many who learn how to harness its power. Of course, you can and should just wander through the woods sometimes, but if you are on a quest to become a better bird and find more birds, this session is for you. With a pair of binoculars, and a Smart phone, and a Wi-Fi-enabled camera you can FIND birds more easily, ID them more accurately, and SHARE information more quickly. We will learn how to use this technology specifically on the IOS (iPhone) platform, but much will be translatable to Android. This session is a companion with a field day. (Limit of 60)

Phone Image by Tati Tata

Arizona’s Native Parrot with Jeff Babson

Thick-billed Parrots by Jorge Montejo

Arizona’s Sky Islands were the former home of one of only two native parrots in North America – the Thick-billed Parrot. We discuss the natural history of this remarkable bird as well as the reasons for its decline and prospects for the future. (Limit of 100)

Thick-billed Parrots by Jorge Montejo

Starlings: The Curious Odyssey of a Most Hated Bird with author Mike Stark

European Starling by Mick Thompson

Mike Stark’s book Starlings is a first-of-its-kind history of starlings in America, an oddball, love-hate story at the intersection of human folly, ornithology, and one bird’s tenacious will to endure.

“A meticulously researched account of the collision of starlings and humans, starting with the species’ deliberate 1877 introduction to New York City by a wealthy “man of leisure” named Eugene Schieffelin. . . . [Mike Stark] writes in lavish detail of the ecological train wreck that swiftly followed as Schieffelin kept importing crates of starlings, as well as house sparrows, skylarks, nightingales and bullfinches.”—Julie Zickefoose, Wall Street Journal (Limit of 60)

European Starling by Mick Thompson

Give it Your Best Shot: Rethinking Your Bird Photography Approach with Stephen Vaughan

At some point, every bird photographer hits a plateau. The technical skills are solid—sharp focus, proper exposure, strong composition—but the images start to feel predictable. They’re missing that creative spark that makes a photograph truly memorable. In this class, Steve Vaughan will help you move beyond that rut. Together, we’ll explore fresh, creative approaches to bird photography—experimenting with light, perspective, and storytelling techniques to breathe new life into your work. By challenging your habits and stepping outside the bounds of traditional methods, you’ll find renewed inspiration and discover exciting new directions for your photography.

Stephen Vaughan is a seasoned professional nature photographer and ornithologist, dedicating over five decades to capturing and exploring the wonders of natural history. His exceptional imagery has graced the pages of countless esteemed publications, including National Geographic, Audubon, National Wildlife, Sierra Club, and Hawkwatch International. (Limit of 60)

Blue-throated Mountain-gem by Steve Vaughan

Hummingbird Photography Class with Stephen Vaughan

Hummingbirds can flap their wings up to 80 times a second, which can present quite the challenge for a photographer. This is the perfect opportunity to learn the specialized techniques needed to create stunning images of hummingbirds. We will cover ambient light, fill-flash and high-speed flash photography techniques. Join professional nature photographer Steve Vaughan for this fantastic opportunity to experience the joys of photographing these flying jewels. You can email Steve at StephenHVaughan@Gmail.com if you have questions. (Limit of 100)

Blue-throated Mountain-gem by Stephen Vaughan

Backyard Bird Photography with Jeff Parker

Jeff will talk about attracting birds to your yard and convincing them to stick around.  Attractive perches and where to locate them for photography.  The type of equipment needed for bird photography. The use of blinds. And finally, putting it all together to actually take the shot, including basic exposure settings and composition tips. (Limit of 60)

Verdin

Wondrous World of Warblers with Homer Hansen

Warblers are some of North America’s smallest birds, and are known for their wide variety of colors and long migrations from South America and the West Indies to northern Canada and back.  Their rapid movements from branch to branch and behind leaves can make identification challenging. Learn how to distinguish between the warblers of southeast Arizona.  This workshop will cover key structural characteristics, comparisons with similar species, and vocalizations. (Limit of 100)

Rufous-capped Warbler by Jeremy Hayes

Communal Foraging and Roosting of Crested Caracaras in Arizona with Doug Jenness

It has been known for a long time that Crested Caracaras socially forage and roost communally, but this has only recently been discovered and studied in Arizona. Since 2014, more than 100 nocturnal counts at five roosts in Pinal County have shown that there is a seasonal character to this behavior, which is related to available food supply. (Limit of 60)

Crested Caracara by Ned Harris