Tucson Audubon Society

General Information: Tucson Audubon field trips are free! Contact trip leader for more information about each field trip, or the Field Trip Coordinator This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , for general questions.

TRIP BIRDING ETHICS - PLEASE READ
Approach birding with the health and safety of nesting birds and bird populations as your first priority. For more on how to protect birds while birding, see the American Birding Association's statement of birding ethics at www.aba.org/about/ethics.html.

Announcements

• NEWS: Galapagos Islands Cruise to Benefit Tucson Audubon! See the details
• Meet our fantastic field trip leaders!
• Southeast Arizona birding sites
• Additional Tucson region bird walks
• Local bird guiding services provided by Birds & Business Alliance Members
• Global birding tours provided by Birds & Business Alliance Members

Continuing Walks

Wake up with the Birds at Agua Caliente Park - Thursdays
Pima County Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation offers guided bird walks especially for beginning bird watchers. Binoculars will be available for use during the walk. Location: Roy P. Drachman Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E. Roger Road. Meet at the Visitor's Center. Free. For meeting time and more information, call 629-0510, 615-7855 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Mason Center Saturday Morning Birdwalks - October through May
Learn the very basics of birdwatching and how to identify the backyard birds commonly seen in the Tucson area. A brief presentation is followed by a slow stroll around the 1/2 mile trail. Advanced signup required, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Walk begins at 8am, see the Mason Center page for details. Led by Jim Gessaman, Mary Ellen Flynn, or Mike Sadatmousavi.

Arivaca Cienega, Buenos Aires NWR - Saturdays 8AM RESUMES IN NOVEMBER
Tucson Audubon bird walk at Arivaca Cienega every Saturday at 8 AM, November through April, whatever the weather. Meet at the trailhead for a mostly level walk of approximately 2 miles. You can expect to see 30 to 50 species depending on the season. To get there, take I19 to exit 48 at the town of Amado, then southwest on Arivaca Road approximately 25 miles to the well-marked trailhead about ½ mile before the town of Arivaca.

Current Trips

May 19—Saturday 6:30 am
Atturbury-Lyman Bird and Animal Sanctuary
Join us to explore the rich microcosm of nesting birds along Atturbury Wash, and maybe catch some late migrants. This is a great place to see Lucy’s Warbler, Bewick’s Wren, Bell’s Vireo, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher and many others. The location is the lower part of Lincoln Park off Escalante Road, on Tucson’s east side. Meet at 6:30 am.Bring water and sunscreen.

Call leader to sign up and get directions: Kendall Kroesen, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 971-2385.

May 22—Tuesday 6:30 AM
Two Hours at Sweetwater
Join us for a birding stroll at Sweetwater Wetlands. We'll check out the paths through the wetlands, and maybe pop over to the trail along the river easement. Easy walking, good birds, and pleasant company. Bring water and sun protection. Limit of 20. RSVP after May 1st. Meet at Sweetwater, bring water and sun protection.

Leaders Matt Brooks & Sara Pike 520-209-1807 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

May 23—Wednesday 6:30 AM
Mount Lemmon Big Day - TRIP FULL!
Meet at Agua Caliente Park at 6:30 a.m. Go up the hill to sample diverse habitats and species -- Molino Basin, Hitchcock, Rose Canyon, Marshall Gulch. Olive, Virginia's, Grace's, & Red-faced Warblers, Buff-breasted Flycatcher, Greater Pewee, Black-headed and Blue Grosbeak, Summer, Western, Hepatic Tanagers etc. Bring lunch/snack, water return mid-afternoon. Limit 12

Contact Richard Carlson This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

May 29—Tuesday 6:00 AM
Crossroads Park
Another walk through one of Marana's birdiest parks. Likely sightings: egrets, ducks, and shorebirds. We'll walk along a pathway between the park and Ina Road where rarities have occasionally been spotted and check the willow trees by the river's edge. Meet to carpool at 06:00 at the Pima County library parking lot (Mission Rd. & Ajo Way) or meet at the Crossroads Park parking area at 06:45. Crossroads Park is off Silverbell Road west of the Santa Cruz River, south of Cortaro Road. Bring water, snack, comfortable walking shoes.

Leader: Norma Miller ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

May 31—Thursday 7 :00PM
Owl Prowl on Mount Lemmon - NEW TRIP!
Join Jennie of the Tucson Audubon Society and Ryan, Interpretive Ranger with the National Park Service on a prowl up Mount Lemmon to find as many of the different owl and nightjar species at the different elevations and habitats of the mountain that we can! This will be mainly a driving trip where we will get out at strategic stops and listen for nocturnal birds. This trip is appropriate for birders of all ages and skill levels.

Species that we will likely encounter include: Great Horned Owl, Elf Owl, Western Screech-owl, Whiskered Screech Owl, Common Poorwill, Lesser Nighthawk and Mexican Whip-poor-will. Some species are more difficult to find, but are possible on Mount Lemmon including: Mountain Pygmy Owl, Flammulated Owl, Mexican Spotted Owl and Common Nighthawk. No Promises on these guys!

Meet at 7pm at the McDonald's on Catalina Highway and Tanque Verde. We will condense into as few vehicles as possible so that it will be easier to park in some of the pullouts. If you have a Mount Lemmon Pass, please bring it with you. Trip Restricted to 20 participants. Please be sure to bring a flashlight or headlamp, a jacket (it gets cold at the top!) water and snacks. Trip will end at about 9:30 PM.

Leaders: Jennie MacFarland, Arizona Important Bird Area Conservation Biologist & Ryan Carpenter, Interpretive Ranger with the National Park Service and owl specialist. Sign up with Jennie This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

June 3—Sunday 12 Noon
Plants of the Catalina Mountains
Lets do something different. We're going to drive up the Catalinas looking at the plant composition of the different life zones and maybe learning a bit of Latin. There should be a lot of wildflowers to liven things up and maybe even some orchids near the summit. Meet at Tanque Verde and Catalina Mountains Road at the McDonald's at 12 noon. Yes you heard it right, no need to be early for plants. They can't run. 50 miles round trip.

Leader: Anthony Mendoza ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 520-219-0366).

June 16—Saturday 6:30 AM
Catalina Mountains
Let's spend the morning perusing the mountain and trying to get out of the heat for a few hours. We will make stops at Middle Bear and Marshall Gulch. Bring a hat, sunscreen, plenty of water. Home after lunch. Meet at Tanque Verde and Catalina Mountains Road at the McDonald's at 6:30 am. 50 miles roundtrip.

Leader: Melody Kehl ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 520-245-4085)

June 22-24–Friday/Saturday/Sunday 10:00 a.m.
Q Ranch/Mogollon Rim  - TRIP FULL!
Friday drive to Q Ranch. About 150 bird species have been identified, including Pygmy and Red-breasted Nuthatches and nesting Mountain Bluebirds. Expect lots of other wildlife. Dark clear night skies mean plenty of stars. Combine birding with brief hikes to cool and scenic locations. Tour the 1000-year-old Q Ranch Pueblo. Depart Sunday after brunch. Ranch is cell phone dead zone, but Verizon service available within a few miles. All meals included. $135/person/night for shared room. $175/person/night for single. Down payment due May 18. See facebook.com/QRanchLodge For reservations (due May 10) and more info contact Matt Griffiths ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Leader (present at Q Ranch only): Ken Furtado, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it