General Information: Tucson Audubon field trips are free! Contact trip leader for more information about each field trip, or the Interim 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
- ALERT: Avra Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant is closed to all birders from now until end of June due to construction work. (April 2013)
- 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
Sweetwater Wetlands - Wednesdays
Join Mike Sadatmousavi for an easy walk through the Sweetwater wetlands to see waterfowl in the hundreds, regular and visiting warblers, and several exciting species hiding in the reeds. Birders of all experience levels welcome! Now 6 AM. Contact leader to sign up,
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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
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.
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 Nov through April
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. For more information call Bob Rolfson at 520-399-2873.
Current Trips
June 22-- Saturday 2:30 PM
California Gulch
We will head into the gulch via Arivaca with stops to browse the birds along the way as we head into the gulch proper. Our main target is the Five-striped Sparrow, but we will look at any feathered thing that passes in front of us. Bring supper. We will eat as we watch the sun go down. Bring a chair!! Wear good walking shoes. Bring a Flashlight. We will owl after we eat. It can cool off after dark, bring a light jacket. Green Valley at the McDonald's 150 miles
Leader: Melody Kehl, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 520-245-4085
June 25--Tuesday 5 AM
Patagonia, Rio Rico and Tumacacori
Meeting at 5am at the Fry's on Irvington and I-19, back by 3 with a lunch stop in Patagonia. We'll stop at various places along the Santa Cruz River including Santa Gertrudis Lane, Rio Rico, and Kino Springs. After a lunch stop at the Gathering Grounds Cafe in Patagonia (or a picnic nearby for those that prefer) we'll make a quick stop in to the Paton's feeders before heading back to Tucson. Explore these extremely birdy areas at prime time in the season!
Leader: Gavin Bieber This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
June 29—Saturday 6:00 AM
Willcox and St. David
It's time to try for early shorebirds and Mississippi Kites. Please meet at the Houghton and I-10 meeting spot at 6:00 AM. Back by noon or shortly thereafter. You MUST register with the trip leader Cliff Cathers at
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or 520-982-3273. Limit of 20 participants.
July 20—Saturday 6:00 AM
Empire Cienega
Join Tucson Audubon for an outing around this lush riparian area, hopefully awakened by early monsoon rains. Meet at the Houghton and I-10 meeting spot at 6:00 AM. If birding is slow there, we'll try the Paton's in Patagonia. Back by noon or shortly thereafter. You MUST register with the trip leader Cliff Cathers at
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or 520-982-3273. Limit of 20 participants.
July 23—Tuesday 6 AM
Santa Catalina Mountains
Let's escape the heat with a trip into the mountains. We'll stop at various elevations to maximize bird diversity enjoying the desert floor, Manzanita/oak, pine/oak and fir forests that make up Mt. Lemmon. Short hikes from trailheads are likely, with some walking above 7000 ft. Meet at 6:00 at the McDonald's on the corner of Tanque Verde and Catalina HWY. Expected return is 3:00 PM. Bring a packed lunch, plenty of water, and a sense of fun!
Leader: Gavin Bieber This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
August 4—Sunday 6:30 AM
Santa Catalina Mountains
Let's hunt for a fall "superflock" of high mountain species in Tucson's own Santa Catalina Mountains. Meet at the McDonalds at Tanque Verde and the Catalina Highway at 6:30 AM. Back by noon or shortly thereafter. You MUST register with the trip leader Cliff Cathers at
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or 520-982-3273. Limit of 20 participants.
August 31—Saturday 8:30 AM
Monsoon Birding & Nature in Madera Canyon
Join naturalist Doug Moore for a morning nature hike on the lower Carrie Nation/Vault Mine Trail. We'll look for birds, monsoon flowers, herps & insects along the riparian corridor in mid-canyon pine/oak woodlands. Participants will take a moderate ~2 mile hike above 5,000' with steady elevation gain and an uneven, rocky trail. We'll return by 12:00-12:30 PM. Meet at the Mt. Wrightson Parking Area top of the canyon road.; 3rd parking lot (upper lot with restroom) on the one-way loop). Bring: water, sturdy hiking shoes, sunscreen, sun hat, binocs, trail snacks. Optional: camera, walking stick, rain jacket or slicker. Limited to 10 participants.
Contact Doug to sign up This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
September 14—Saturday 5:30 am
St. David and Willcox
Mid-September usually offers plenty of birds and occasional pleasant surprises. We will begin in the riparian habitat in St. David in the relative cool of the morning. We will be walking a mile or two over mostly level ground. Then we head to the Willcox ponds to see what shorebirds are migrating through. We may stop at the Benson ponds on our return to Tucson (by mid-afternoon). Bring plenty of water, snacks and lunch. Meet at Houghton Road, just north of I-10 (about 180 miles round trip).
Leader Dave Dunford 520-909-1809 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
September 24—Tuesday 6 AM
Peppersauce Canyon
Among the sycamores, oaks, ash, and junipers, this is a great location for fall migrants. We'll be looking for tanagers, flycatchers, warblers, vireos, etc. We've had an American Redstart, Olive-sided Flycatchers, and a Broad-tailed Hawk here on previous September field trips. There'll be some walking so wear sturdy shoes. We will finish around noon. Meet the leader at the north end of the Bashas' parking lot in Catalina, on the northeast corner of Oracle Rd. and Golder Ranch Rd. Trip limited to first 15 who contact leader beginning September 1.
Leader: Doug Jenness ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 520-909-1529)
September 28—Saturday 6:30 AM
Pena Blanca Lake
It's time to hunt for fall migrants at one of the better traps here in southeast Arizona. Meet at the Green Valley McDonalds on Continental Road at 6:30 AM. Back by noon or shortly thereafter. You MUST register with the trip leader Cliff Cathers at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or 520-982-3273. Limit of 20 participants.
October 26—Saturday 7:00 AM
Tubac De Anza Trail
Hopefully a fall cold front or two will have deposited a few migrants along the Santa Cruz River corridor at Tubac. Meet at the Green Valley McDonalds on Continental Road at 7:00 AM. Back by noon or shortly thereafter. You MUST register with the trip leader Cliff Cathers at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or 520-982-3273. Limit of 20 participants.
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