Archives: Festival Events

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.

Vermilion Flycatcher by David Quanrud

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

Difficulty: Easy (Mostly flat, groomed trails at a city park)
One of the most common themes in spark bird stories isn’t birds at all – it is other people! Spark people help draw others into a shared love of birds! Do you know someone who you think would love birds but who just hasn’t quite found their way to becoming a birder yet or who is definitely a birder but doesn’t see themselves in that way? This is the outing for them! Bring them along as we create a joyful entry-level celebration of birds! Welcome all ages, interests, and abilities! Drive time to the meeting location from the festival venue is about 15 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants. 

Osprey by David Kreidler

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

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

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

Join Kathe Anderson on a beginning birding tour of the most visited birding location in the state. We’ll look for returning Cinnamon Teal, breeding Tropical Kingbirds, and singing Common Yellowthroats while discussing the best habits we can develop as birders. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is about 25 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.

Common Yellowthroat by Mike Henry

Difficulty: Moderate (walking over uneven, rocky terrain and off trails relatively short distances)

Be a part of the Desert Purple Martin Project research crew for a morning! Tucson Audubon is using technology and a network of volunteers to learn more about these little known birds that nest in saguaro cavities during the monsoon abundance. We will visit several saguaros with active nests and use an endoscope camera and telescoping pole to peek inside the nests. We will be gathering real data points of what stage each nest has reached as specific timing of nests is still not completely known to science. Participants must wear sturdy shoes, long pants and sleeves, binoculars, hat and other sun protection. Bring water and snacks, it heats up quickly in the desert! Specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.

Purple Martin by Scott Olmstead

Difficulty: Easy (Expect easy walking on trails and some dry, sandy creek bed.)

Mindful birding is about the intention to focus on the present moment without judgment, just noticing and welcoming whatever shows up, opening our senses to take in the sights and sounds of birds.  Our morning will begin with an overview of mindful birding and its health benefits followed by a birding walk at Las Posta Quemada Ranch. Meet at the parking area at La Posta Quemeda at 6am. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is about 40 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.

Yellow Warbler by Shawn Cooper

Difficulty: Easy

Join us for a leisurely bike ride on a dedicated path around Reid Park in search of its varied bird life. Located right across from the DoubleTree hotel Festival site, the park is one of the best places in Tucson to see Vermilion Flycatchers! We’ll check the lakes of the park for any lingering ducks, cormorants, herons and egrets, and maybe even a Mexican Duck. The many species of large, native and exotic trees are good places to find early migrating warblers, vireos, orioles, and grosbeaks. We’ll take a trip to the nearby Hardesty pond for more marshy conditions and the chance at seeing Black Phoebe, Spotted Sandpiper, Song Sparrow, Abert’s Towhee, and other desert riparian species. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED A BIKE RENTAL. Limited to 8 participants.

Vermilion Flycatcher