Field Sciences

Stoneman Lake is one of only two natural lakes in Arizona. We travel to over 6000' elevation to the Mogollon Rim and enter Ponderosa pine country and then drop into...

This environmentally important 306-acre section of the Verde River at its confluence with West Clear Creek effectively links the Coconino and Prescott National Forests. Shield Ranch provides critical habitat for the at-risk southwest willow flycatcher as well as nesting sites for the common black-hawk. This lush cottonwood-willow riparian habitat provides a migratory flyway corridor as...

This field trip begins south of Camp Verde where we will turn off of Route 260 and onto the open grasslands of Wingfield Mesa. After birding here for sparrows, meadowlarks and other open-area-loving avian life we will descend off the Mesa to Rancho Tres Brisas. Rancho Tres Brisas is a family run working cattle ranch...

The Agua Fria National Monument is one of our National Park treasures managed by The Bureau of Land Management. We’ll bird along the Agua Fria River riparian corridor - an Important Bird Area dominated by an over-story of cottonwood and willow that shelter many different species of songbirds and raptors. Among these birds are Cooper’s...

  This field trip will explore what was once a working ranch on the Verde River outside of Camp Verde. The property is now owned and managed by Arizona State Parks as part of the Greenway Project to preserve the riparian corridor along the Verde River. The site is soon to be a new state...

This trip will be taking us into a lush riparian habitat. West Clear Creek is one of several perennial spring-fed streams that flow from the Mogollon Rim into the Verde River. We will walk through a Forest Service campground with lush riparian growth and into upland desert scrub following the creek. Hopeful species include summer...

Mingus Mountain has the second highest summit in the Black Hills Range on the west side of the Verde Valley and peaks at more than 4,000 ft above the Valley floor.  We will take advantage of the varied slope aspects to look for birds including Steller’s Jay, Pygmy Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Hermit Thrush, Olive Warbler,...

  The name comes from a freshwater source that Native Americans used centuries ago. Although not flowing like descriptions of the past, it is a lovely spot protected by towering cottonwoods. It is located in Clarkdale a short distance past Tuzigoot Road, next to the Clarkdale Wastewater Treatment plant. We will encounter some rough footing...

We'll begin at Cornville's Windmill Park, on the banks of Oak Creek. We'll look for tanagers, blackbirds, orioles, sparrows, and flycatchers in the adjacent pastures, and swallows over the creek. We'll proceed then to Page Springs Cellars winery, whose fabulous property is also on the banks of Oak Creek. There we will hope to see...

This trip features the Featured Speaker Steve Hoffman of Hawk Watch International. The Page Springs area is a favorite hangout for birds and birders alike. This trip will take you to one of the locals’ favorite hot spots on the banks of Oak Creek. Bubbling Ponds has been a project of the Northern Arizona Audubon...

Just across the river from Tuzigoot National Monument, we will bird rich Verde River riparian habitat as guests of the Harrington family. The river bottom land, canal corridors and historic farm meadows are all part of Bent River Ranch. The bend in the river is how Tuzigoot got its name. Moderate walking. Restrooms provided when...

Join Brooks Hart on a tour of Picture Canyon and Walnut Canyon Lakes. Picture Canyon is a natural and cultural amenity through which Flagstaff's only river, the Rio de Flag, flows. The Rio de Flag provides important habitat for the 207 species of birds that have been recorded in Picture Canyon since 2007. Participants should...

This trip is about backyards and attracting birds. We will visit two very different backyard habitats from all riparian on oak creek to mixed to all desert. We will see first-hand different methods to attract birds, from kinds of feeders to kinds of food. And at each stop we will not only bird, but also...