Ornithology

Trip difficulty: Easy; Walking distance: ~1 mile, Trip Duration: 2.5 hrs, Elevation gain: none, but with chance of slight inclines/declines; Ground condition: groomed gravel trails. Drinking water and restrooms available at park’s entrance. Benches available at periodic intervals around the Wetlands. This popular birding hotspot in urban Tucson offers an easy walk through marshes created...

Arivaca Lake is an amazing location for fall migration and we’ll be hitting it at a time when there are so many possibilities. This can be a great spot for Painted Bunting this time of year, so we’ll be sure to check for that, while also looking for a wide array of species such as...

Are you new to birding and looking to learn some of the basics? Then this field workshop is for you! We’ll cover topics like how to use binoculars, finding birds, identifying birds by sight and sound, bird behavior, birding apps, and using field guides. The entire workshop will be conducted outside on a short walk...

We will partially walk the old front 9 of this abandoned 200-acre golf course that has been turned into a Nature Preserve.  While the number of bird species doesn’t usually exceed 25, they are plentiful. Driving directions: From Dove Mountain Road, take Tangerine Rd. east for 7 miles, turn left (north) on Rancho Vistoso Blvd.,...

October is peak fall migration activity at Sweetwater Wetlands! Fall migration is regarded by many birders as the best time of year given it is longer than spring migration, birds tend to linger longer at stop over sites, the overall volume of birds is much higher, and the chance of rare/ unusual birds is greater....

Join Marcia OBara for a leisurely birding experience designed for nature lovers with accessibility challenges; wheelchairs, walkers, or other assistive devices are welcome. The pace is slow, distance short, and terrain even. This month’s birding explores the birding hotspot of historic Canoa Ranch where we hope to see waterfowl, raptors, sparrows, and a lot more....

We’ve birded a short segment of the golf course here for many years. But this walk will be different. The course will be closed to golfers for annual fall reseeding on these dates. Woo-hoo! We will bird a much longer stretch of the course than usual using the cart paths while visiting all three ponds...

We’ll circumnavigate the park with one side trip to the Santa Cruz River through an artistic tunnel.  Part of the walk will be on The Loop so we’ll need to stay to one side to avoid the heavy bicycle traffic on the path.  We’ll meet near the entrance to the dog park on the Silverbell...

Trip difficulty: Easy; Walking distance: ~1 mile, Trip Duration: 2.5 hrs, Elevation gain: none, but with chance of slight inclines/declines; Ground condition: groomed gravel trails. Drinking water and restrooms available at park’s entrance. Benches available at periodic intervals around the Wetlands. This popular birding hotspot in urban Tucson offers an easy walk through marshes created...

This bird walk is all about enjoying nature and birds. It’s about walking slow, being mindful and looking for birds and then spending time truly watching their behaviors. It’s not about the number of birds we see, but it’s about appreciating the birding experience. Birding is a treasure hunt and we will take delight in...

For out-of-town visitors and those new to the Sonoran Desert, Tohono Chul’s easy-walking trails and beautiful gardens provide close-up looks at many of the typical birds of the Sonoran Desert. Of the more than 500 bird species that spend time in Arizona during the year, 140 are known to have visited Tohono Chul, and on...

We’ll walk a little over ½ mile up the flowing Santa Cruz River deep in the agricultural fields of Marana.  The walking is open because the cattle have tramped down the brush and have created paths to follow.  The trails are lumpy and littered with cow pies. Santa Cruz River at Trico Rd  (Oit Par...

Join Marcia OBara for a leisurely birding experience designed for nature lovers with accessibility challenges; wheelchairs, walkers, or other assistive devices are welcome. The pace is slow, distance short, and terrain even. This month’s birding explores the birding hotspot of Agua Caliente Park where we hope to see waterfowl, raptors, sparrows, and a lot more....

We’ll be exploring these uplands for their birdlife while walking on roads and trails here. Bring comfortable hiking shoes, day pack, water and snacks/lunch, sun protection.  Walking stick might be useful.  No restroom facilities after the trailhead. Sunrise: 6:26AM Directions: final meeting instructions by email. Leader: Tim Helentjaris (tnhelentjaris@msn.com) Registration fee: $35/member, $50/non-member* Trip Difficulty:...

Dear Birders, I look forward to another birding field trip at Himmel Park, 1000 N. Tucson Blvd. on Tuesday, October 14th at 7:00 am. Himmel Park is located on the east side of Tucson Boulevard, half a block south of Speedway Boulevard. We will meet in front of the wildlife mural. You can’t miss it!...

This popular birding hotspot in urban Tucson offers an easy walk through marshes created by Tucson Water to see waterfowl, regular and visiting warblers, and several exciting species hiding in the reeds. Birders of all experience levels welcome! The Wetlands are located at 2511 W Sweetwater Drive. Limited to 12 participants per group. Leaders: Donito...

Join us as we explore Splendido’s diverse birdlife on a guided walk. Discover colorful songbirds and hummingbirds, and engage in insightful discussions about bird behavior and conservation. We’ll conclude with a delightful light brunch at Splendido, reflecting on the birds we saw and the time we spent together. Join us for an enriching and memorable birding...

Join Marcia OBara for a leisurely birding experience designed for nature lovers with accessibility challenges; wheelchairs, walkers, or other assistive devices are welcome. The pace is slow, distance short, and terrain even. This month’s birding explores the birding hotspot of historic Canoa Ranch where we hope to see waterfowl, raptors, sparrows, and a lot more....

We will walk a route that navigates habitats not normally visited at Danny Lopez Park (formerly Columbus Park) along with touching the traditional spots.  This is not an easy ¾ mile walk around Silverbell Lake, but a 1.75-mile trek over some uneven terrain.  There are bathrooms, benches, shade, and water but we will only occasionally be near them. ...

Join Alex Patia on this inclusive outing that welcomes LGBTQIA+ birders, allies, and anyone interested in connecting with nature in a supportive community setting. On this field trip we will explore one of Tucson’s best birding sites: Sweetwater Wetlands. We’ll take our time enjoying all the birds and wildlife including ducks, songbirds, reptiles, insects, and...

Trip difficulty: Easy; Walking distance: ~1 mile, Trip Duration: 2.5 hrs, Elevation gain: none, but with chance of slight inclines/declines; Ground condition: groomed gravel trails. Drinking water and restrooms available at park’s entrance. Benches available at periodic intervals around the Wetlands. This popular birding hotspot in urban Tucson offers an easy walk through marshes created...

Rio Vista Park is one of two Natural Resource Parks within the City of Tucson. Nearly 80% of the park is undeveloped with open scrub the predominant vegetation, as well as some densely vegetated areas. The remainder is recreation area. The entire park has opportunities for seeing a variety of birds, from hawks, to flycatchers,...

Celebrate Birdability Week with us on a welcoming and inclusive bird walk at Ft. Lowell Park! This beautiful urban park offers paved pathways, accessible restrooms, and excellent opportunities to enjoy birds up close—making it a perfect location for birders of all abilities. As we explore the park’s pond, mature trees, and grassy open spaces, we’ll look for year-round...

This Nature Conservancy property and trail system provides access to a mixed habitat of primarily riparian area, with a free-flowing creek as a boundary. Woodland areas of Fremont cottonwood, ash, and netleaf hackberry alternate with grassland areas, mesquite bosque, and wetland portions. This diverse habitat provides the opportunity to search for a wide variety of...

Please join us as we gaze at the ponds and wander the park in search of local birds and recently returned winter migrants. Please wear sturdy shoes, bring your curiosity, binoculars or other optics, and water bottle. Ft. Lowell Park is a wonderful and easy place to bird and we always have a lot of...

Trip difficulty: Easy; Walking distance: ~1 mile, Trip Duration: 2.5 hrs, Elevation gain: none, but with chance of slight inclines/declines; Ground condition: groomed gravel trails. Drinking water and restrooms available at park’s entrance. Benches available at periodic intervals around the Wetlands. This popular birding hotspot in urban Tucson offers an easy walk through marshes created...