Tucson Bird Alliance: Southeast Arizona Birding Festival – Mt. Lemmon: Sonoran Desert to Mixed Conifer Forest Field Trip
August 13 @ 5:30 am - 3:30 pm
$130
Rising over 6,000 feet above Tucson, Mount Lemmon is the highest peak in the Santa Catalina Mountains at 9,157 feet, and a popular escape from urban life and the Arizona’s dry early-summer heat (before the relief of the cooling monsoon rains).
It is also an incredible birding experience and biology lesson. Traversing six life zones, from the Sonoran Desert at the base to mixed conifer forests at the highest elevations, the 25-mile drive up the wide, paved, two-lane Catalina Highway is equivalent biologically to traveling from Mexico to Canada. Our efforts will be concentrated on the higher elevations far above the desert below. We’ll look for typical mountain species like Steller’s Jay, Acorn Woodpecker, Spotted Towhee, and Plumbeous Vireo. We’ll make a special effort to track down a variety of warblers; Painted Redstart and Olive, Red-faced, and Grace’s Warblers all breed in these mountains and by August they are beginning to form mixed-species foraging flocks. A few hummingbird feeders are scattered about our route as well. Combine the birds with temperatures nearly 30 degrees cooler at the top and unparalleled scenery, it is hard to beat the Catalinas in August!
Lunch included. Limited to 8 participants.
Difficulty: Moderate (Steeper slopes or more rocky/rooted trails. Multiple stops throughout field trip in various habitats. Drive time to final location approximately 75 minutes on paved mountain roads. Bathroom stops throughout.)
Van Field Trip*
Part of the Tucson Bird Alliance’s Southeast Arizona Birding Festival.
There is a $35 non-refundable registration fee for all festival participants that are attending fee based activities: field trips, workshops, and evening programs.
*Van field trips include van transportation, but “Drive Yourself” field trips do not. A packed lunch, snacks, and drinking water are provided on full-day field trips. A light snack and drinking water are provided on half-day field trips. All Van Trips depart from the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at Reid Park. “Drive Yourself” field trips will meet on-site at birding locations and you will received detailed directions.