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Birding Home | Field Trips | Access Updates | RBA | AZ/NM Listserv | Tucson Area |
Tucson Audubon Society
Free Birding
Field Trips
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Important Field Trip Information General Information: Tucson Audubon field trips are free!
Contact trip leader for more information about each field
trip, or contact Field Trip Coordinator Darlene
Smyth, 297-2315. Please dress appropriately for your field trip. Always wear sturdy shoes, a hat, and use sun protection. Bring plenty of snacks and water for yourself. Always bring your binoculars, your field guide, and for most trips a scope can be useful. Bring money to cover your share of the carpooling expenses and any required entry fees (i.e. state parks). Carpooling: Tucson Audubon strongly encourages carpooling and for some trips it may be required. You are expected to reimburse the driver for the actual cost of fuel. Drivers and trip leaders are not expected to contribute. After Your Trip: Stop by the Audubon
Nature Shop! Check out new books, see wonderful nature items, and chat with volunteers. |
Announcements
Go birding in Panama with Tucson Audubon! - Tucson Audubon is restarting its International Birding Tour Program
with this trip to the Canopy Tower and Lodge
- Meet our fantastic field trip leaders!
- Urban bird walks and other regional field trips
- Local bird guiding services provided by Birds & Business Alliance Members
- Global birding tours provided by Birds & Business Alliance Members
Current Trips
June 30-Tuesday 5:30am
Sweetwater Wetlands
This area offers shade and water to birds at a time of the year when both are rare commodities. An early morning gathering at the parking lot and a subsequent inspection of the habitat should produce some good looks at local residents, and with luck we may find one of Sweetwater's treasures before the heat of the day sends us away.
Leader: Darlene Smyth 297-2315 dsmyth3@comcast.net
July 4-Saturday 6:15 AM
Dudleyville and Aravaipa Canyon Rd.
We will make a quick stop at Dudleyville to see if the Mississippi Kites that often nest there are visible, and then we will drive the Aravaipa Canyon Rd. to look for Zone-tailed Hawks, Common Black-Hawks and other resident birds. Very little birding outside of the cars. Limit two cars. Sign up with leader starting June 25. (Approximately 80 miles roundtrip).
Leader: Darlene Smyth dsmyth3@comcast.net 297-2315
July 7-Tuesday 5 AM
Tumacacori/Paton's/Kino Springs/Rio Rico
Come along for a smorgasbord of birds in some of the most productive summer locations. All birding will be done at a leisurely pace. Meet in Fry's parking lot at I-19 and Irvington at 5 AM. or at the McDonald's in Green Valley (Continental Road exit) before 5:30 AM. We should be back in Tucson by about 3 PM (Approx. 130 miles roundtrip)
Leader: Gavin Bieber kingbird77@hotmail.com 360-1736
July 11-Saturday 6 AM
Sunrise Birding at Tucson's Sam Lena Park
Great location for beginning birders! Wake up with the birds at this urban park, where we'll leisurely walk the 2.2-mile loop path overlooking several ponds and restored Tucson Basin habitat, including riparian, marsh, mesquite bosque, upland, and grassland. Expect urban, desert-scrub and wetland birds. Done by 9 AM. Bring water and sun protection. Please RSVP to leader starting July1. (Local)
Leader: Cynthia Barstad cynthiabarstad@gmail.com
July 14-Tuesday 5 AM
Harshaw Creek/Patagonia
The summer rains bring potential rarities to southeastern Arizona habitats. We will explore these interesting areas for resident birds and very early migrants. We hope the bird of the day will be Yellow-billed Cuckoo. We'll be done when the birds try to escape the heat of the day. Meet at 5 AM. at the junction of Houghton Road and I-10 (north of I-10). (Approx 120 miles roundtrip).
Leader: Clait Braun sg-wtp@JUNO.Com
July 18-Saturday 6 AM
Willcox, Benson, St. David
Come for a humid morning adventure to Willcox for shore- and waterbirds, to Benson for the same and to St. David for a look at Mississippi Kites. Meet at the Houghton and I-10 carpool site at 6 AM . Carpooling recommended. We'll return by noon or shortly thereafter.
Leader: Clifford A. Cathers - AZCliffy@q.com 762-3201
JULY 21-Tuesday 5:30 AM
San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area
This is one of our country's prime birding areas which attracts many southeastern Arizona specialties as well as vagrants. An effort will be made to find as many of these birds as possible. Bring lots of water and a snack; wear sun protection and insect repellant to prevent chigger bites. A scope may be useful. Meet at Houghton Road north of 1-10 for a 5:30 AM. departure (leader not present).Meet the leader at the San Pedro House off Arizona Route 90 east of Sierra Vista at 7 AM. Due to the heat, we will be finished by 10:30 , giving you the opportunity to visit some of Sierra Vista 's hummer hot-spots on your own. (160 miles roundtrip)
Leader: Erika Wilson terika88@cox.net (preferred) or 225-0393 ( Tucson ), 234-4359 ( Sierra Vista )
July 25-Saturday 8 AM
Hummingbirds for Beginners: Huachucas Mtns.
Non-birders and birders who are curious about hummingbirds are especially invited to this trip. We will drive down to Sierra Vista and watch the feeders at Ash Canyon B&B and Beattys' Guest Ranch. The pace will be relaxed. Easy walking on dirt except for short steep trail. Bring lunch, $10 for "sugar funds" and optional "ice cream" money. LIMITED TO TEN. Sign up by calling leader starting on July 5 at 9 AM. (150 mile round trip)
Leader: John Higgins jghiggins@comcast.net) 578-1830
July 28-Tuesday 6:30 AM
Secret Trail- Madera Canyon
We will bird/hike about 2½ miles up the Super Trail and drop down into the secret trail to the north. Here we will bird this gorgeous lush canyon, which has a creek that runs through it. Also we will make a detour up onto Roger's Rock where there is a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains. This loop hike is about five miles, for the more experienced hiker. Wear sturdy hiking shoes, and bring plenty of water, snacks and lunch. Back by 12:30 or 1. Limited to 10 people so call the leader starting on July 21 for sign-up. Meet at the Green Valley McDonald's (Continental exit 63 off I-19) at 6:30 AM.
Leader: Sally Johnsen empidonax@netzero.net 399-4050
July 31-Friday 5 AM to 12 Noon
Shorebirds at Willcox and Benson
Meet at I-10 and Houghton at 5 AM, at exit 302 McDonald's at 5:30 AM.
Search for southbound shorebirds at two of the most reliable sites in southeast Arizona . Our focus will be on learning to use the new identification techniques put forth in The Shorebird Guide . With its emphasis on structure and behavior over fine plumage detail, the approach taken in that book can be applied profitably to all bird identification, and time spent watching shorebirds can make all of our birding more enjoyable. (Approximately 160 miles roundtrip)
Leader: Rick Wright, birdaz@gmail.com
August 4-Tuesday 5:30 AM
Brown Canyon --Buenos Aires NWR
This is a rare opportunity to visit the restricted access Brown Canyon at the base of Baboquivari Mountain . $4 fee per person required by FWS. The trail climbs about 2 miles one way and ends in a natural arch . Birds should be the typical foothills canyon species and perhaps a Mexican stray. We will visit Grebe Lake (if there is water) to observe shorebirds, so bring your scopes. The trip is limited to 10 participants. Email the leader beginning July 20th to register. (Approximately 110 miles roundtrip).
Leader: Philip Kline, pgkline_uk@yahoo.com (preferred) 419-5086
August 7-Friday 7 PM to 9 PM
Night Critters of Saguaro National Park East
Have you wondered what is crawling (or flying) around in the desert at night? Here is a chance to see! The park has agreed to lead this private night walk when the biological activity should be at its peak in the middle of the monsoon. We should see plenty of snakes, toads and spiders along with insects and night birds, maybe some mammals (I've seen cats twice on night walks in the saguaros!). The walk is open to the first 12 people to sign up after July 14 .
Leader: Anthony Mendoza 219-0366 (message is fine)
August 11-Tuesday 5:30AM
California Gulch
It's the time of year to view Five-striped Sparrows singing from ocotillos in the Pajarito Mountains . Meet at the Green Valley McDonald's on Continental Road at 5:30 AM . TOUR LIMITED to first three high-clearance or 4-wheel drive volunteers and the first 16 participants (including drivers) we can stuff into a total of 4 vehicles. You must register for this trip starting August 1!
Leader: Clifford A. Cathers AZCliffy@q.com 762-3201
August 15-Saturday 8 AM to 12 Noon
Nature Walk/Birding in Lower Madera Canyon
Join Friends of Madera Canyon naturalist exploring lower Madera Canyon at the height of the summer rainy season. We will walk the Proctor Nature Loop Trail, hiking from semi-desert grassland into mesquite bosque, Madrean evergreen woodland and interior deciduous forest along Madera Creek. The summer rains bring out the "tropical side" of Sky Island flora and fauna. We will be birding, but not as the primary focus of the walk. Limit of 10. Sign up starting August 8. (USFS fee area)
Leader: Doug Moore maderaedu@msn.com
August 18-Tuesday 6AM
Madera Canyon
If you enjoy sitting quietly in a beautiful, shady spot letting the wildlife come to you, then join us for several thirty-minute, shady "sits" in Madera Canyon. If you bring a lightweight chair, your "sits" will be plenty comfortable. We'll settle into an area close to the cars, watch quietly for wildlife, and then enjoy observing whatever nature provides. It might be fun to bring a notebook and jot down some of your observations. Each "sit" will be followed by some sharing of observations before moving on to another location. We should finish up by snacktime ( 10:30 ) before it gets too hot. Trip limited to 10 participants. Sign up starting August 9 at 8 AM .
Leaders: Bev and Clair Postmus bpostmus@cox.net
August 23-Sunday 6:30 AM
Hermit & Townsend's Warblers
Fall migration has started and northern warblers usually move through the mountaintops in impressive numbers, often joined by our summer breeders. Join Tucson Audubon Society at the top of the Santa Catalinas for the subject warblers and more (we'll bird up and down the range as well). Meet at the Tanque Verde & Catalina Highway McDonald's at 6:30 AM . (50 miles roundtrip)
Leader: Clifford A. Cathers AZCliffy@q.com 762-3201
August 25-Tuesday 6 AM
Huachuca Mountains Hummer Hunt: 2009
This trip is designed to find as many different hummingbirds as possible during the late monsoon in the Huachuca Mountains . Leader's personal best is twelve species in one day-let's try to match it. We'll start in Ash Canyon , enjoying Mary Jo Ballator's renowned garden, with Lucifer as our target hummer. Next we move uphill to Miller Canyon, watching at Beatty's hillside site, seeking White-eared as our target. Our final stop will be Ramsey Canyon , checking for Berylline, the least reliable hummer, at the TNC's garden. Bring water and lunch; done by 1 PM. Note: all locations collect fees to support their hummingbird stations; participants will need three $5 bills. Meet at Houghton Road carpool site (leader not present). Reservations after August 1, with details on meeting leader; trip limit 15 people. (About 140 miles roundtrip)
Leader: Erika Wilson terika88@cox.net (preferred) or 225-0393 ( Tucson ) or 234-4359 ( Sierra Vista )
August 30-Sunday 6 AM
Benson Birding Trail, St. David Monastery
This trail can have some exciting birds, and the property abuts the San Pedro River. Come explore/enjoy this fairly short trail; then off to St. David Monastery to enjoy more riparian habitat. If it's not too late and too hot we can return to Benson and check out the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Plan on birding until the heat of the day slows bird activity. Meet at Houghton Road just north of I-10 to carpool at 6 AM. or at 6:30 AM. at the Safeway parking lot in Benson. Take exit 303 off I-10, drive about 1 mile south; Safeway/Wendy's is on the right.(Approx. 100 miles roundtrip from Tucson)
Leader: Lainie Epstein Lainie95us@yahoo.com 720-8976
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This page was updated on 29 June, 2009