Altar Valley with Tim Helentjaris

Crested Caracara by Michele Weisz

Difficulty: 3 (Will include walking through desert with uneven surfaces for <3 miles.  Drive time to location ~75 mins)

This area just southeast of Tucson has some of the highest biological diversity in the state but is little visited by birders. Amidst the amazing rolling landscape of Sonoran Desert and grassland we’ll hope to find numerous species characteristic of this rich desert habitat including Gilded Flickers, Bendire’s Thrashers, and Black-throated and Rufous-winged Sparrows. Crested Caracara are known to nest in this area as well. Limited to 9 participants.

Crested Caracara by Michele Weisz

Accessible Birding: Agua Caliente Park with Marcia OBara

Difficulty: This field trip is designed to meet the needs of participants with accessibility needs.

Join Marcia OBara for a leisurely birding experience designed for nature lovers with accessibility challenges; wheelchairs, walkers, or other assistive devices are welcome. The pace is slow, distance short, and terrain even. We’ll explore Agua Caliente Park where we hope to see our favorite aquatic and desert species. Each registered participant is welcome to bring a support person. To view a complete accessibility review for this location, visit the official Birdability Map. Limited to 12 participants.

Lucy’s Warbler by Hemant Kishan

Lakeside Park with Donito Burgess

Difficulty: Easy (1.75 mile round trip on concrete and paved surfaces. Restrooms are available)

Lakeside Park in southeast Tucson is a great place to get to know your urban birds. We’ll be at the front end of the possibility of migrating shorebirds, wading birds, gulls or terns, so while unlikely, we’ll be sure to keep our eyes peeled for unusual birds as well. Osprey is a possibility. We’ll explore the lake and the adjacent lawns and ball fields. Likely sightings include Black-crowned Night-heron, hummingbirds (Anna’s, Black-chinned, & Broad-billed), Cassin’s Kingbird, Vermillion Flycatcher, Cooper’s Hawk, swallows, Abert’s Towhee, and more! Drive time to park and meeting location is about 15 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.

Osprey by David Kreidler

Sleep-in Special: Paton Center for Hummingbirds with Hannah Buschert and Erik Ostrander

Difficulty: Easy (Some wheelchair accessibility. Will include short walks on mostly flat walking trails)

Join podcasters Hannah and Erik Go Birding at the famous Paton Center for Hummingbirds which is known for its backyard birds and scenic location. Wally and Marion Paton first began inviting birders into their yard shortly after moving to Patagonia in 1973, and after their passing, the center was acquired by the Tucson Audubon Society with generous help from the American Bird Conservancy and Victor Emanuel Nature Tours. It is a place to explore and experience the special birds of southeast Arizona and it is dedicated to the celebration and conservation of hummingbirds—and all of southeast Arizona’s astounding biodiversity. Violet-crowned Hummingbirds are common and the many feeders attract a wide array of bird species. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is about 70 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand.  Limited to 10 participants.

Violet-crowned Hummingbird by Greg Lavaty

Fort Lowell Park with Christina Klock

Broad-billed Hummingbird by Shawn Cooper

Difficulty: Easy (easy walking around city park trails)

Less than 15 minutes from the festival venue, this is one of the best spots in Tucson to find Vermilion Flycatchers and the city park habitat (along with pond) offers a good variety of species. We’ll walk the grounds hoping to find Broad-billed Hummingbird, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Cassin’s Kingbird, Lark Sparrows, and Lucy’s Warblers. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is about 10 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand.  Limited to 10 participants.

Broad-billed Hummingbird by Shawn Cooper

Catalina State Park with Mike Welch

Difficulty: Moderate (Some mild slopes and a mixture of rocky, sandy, and road surfaces.)

This state park on the northwest side of Tucson sits adjacent to the western slopes of the Coronado National Forest’s Santa Catalina Mountains and contains a good mixture of desert scrub, mesquite bosque, and riparian vegetation. Join local leader, Mike Welch, to explore these habitats which support a varied mix of bird species including Brown-crested Flycatcher, Rufous-winged Sparrow, and Northern Cardinals. $10 parking fee. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is about 40 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.

Rufous-winged Sparrow by Jim Burns

El Rio Preserve with Gerry Hodge sponsored by the Town of Marana

Cinnamon Teal by Tom Brown

Moderate (mostly easy with paved trail and overlook, but some steep grade if walking down to sandy trails)

Explore this 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 of birds including waterfowl, shorebirds, and flycatchers. A walk around the new trail should turn up 35 or more species. 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

De Anza Trail at Santa Gertrudis with Eric Ripma and Jehudy Carballo of Sabrewing Nature Tours

Difficulty: Moderate (Flat walking for about 2 miles on some sandy/gravel trails)

We’ll take a leisurely stroll through the riparian forest along the Santa Cruz River following the historic De Anza Trail. This is a fantastic location for three types of kingbirds (Cassin’s, Tropical, and noisy Thick-billed) along with a wide variety of other desert riparian species like Inca Dove, Gray Hawk, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bell’s Vireo, and Blue Grosbeak. Drive time to the meeting location from the festival venue is about 50 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.

Blue Grosbeak by Matthew Studebaker

Advanced Birding: Flycatchers at Sweetwater Wetlands with Alex Patia


Difficulty: Easy (Around a mile walking on easy, mostly flat trails.)

Join Sweetwater Wetlands Coordinator, Alex Patia, to take a closer look at the many flycatchers that make Sweetwater home. We’ll discuss, and hopefully see and hear, the differences between myiarchus species Ash-throated and Brown-crested Flycatchers, while also looking for other species such as Tropical Kingbird, Black Phoebe, Vermilion Flycatcher, and migrating empidonax. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is about 15 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.

Brown-crested Flycatcher by Lois Manowitz

Isabella Lee Natural Preserve with Karen Howe

Difficulty: Moderate (Two mile loop over level, but often soft, uneven and dusty terrain. No restrooms are available)

Isabella Lee Natural Preserve, at the confluence of Agua Caliente and Tanque Verde wash in northeast Tucson, is a dry mesquite bosque providing year-round habitat for resident and migrant birds. Summer hosts Lucy’s Warblers, Bell’s Vireos, and Ash-throated Flycatchers. One or two pairs of Blue Grosbeaks are also possible along with many other Sonoran Desert loving bird species. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is about 25 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.

Lucy’s Warbler by Lois Manowitz