Ornithology

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...

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.,...

When you combine two lakes, native flora, and large trees you are in for a great day of birding. Come join fellow birders as we explore this westside hotspot known for its waterfowl, raptors, desert favorites plus the chance for some rarities and migrant visitors. This park sports a list of nearly 250 species, so...

We’ll bird Sabino Canyon Recreation Area walking a loop that includes both Sonoran desert upland and Sabino Creek riparian areas. Meet at the ramada by the Visitor’s Center at 5700 N Sabino Canyon Road. Parking fee or pass required. Return by 11 am. Sunhat, water and walking shoes always recommended. Beginning birders welcome. Leaders are...

Dear Birders, I look forward to another birding field trip at Himmel Park, 1000 N. Tucson Blvd. on Tuesday, November 11th 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 10 participants per group. Leaders: Donito...

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...

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....

Patagonia Lake is one of the best places in all of Arizona to go birding and offers a good selection of waterfowl, raptors, and songbirds. We’ll start on the “Birding Trail” on the east end of the lake and walk along the Sonoita Creek for around a mile. After walking the trail for a while...

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...

November marks the return of wintering waterfowl to Sweetwater, with possibly up to 10 species of ducks for us to observe and admire. We’ll study the biggest southwest duck identification challenge: differentiating Mexican Ducks, Mallards, and hybrids of the two. We will also work on separating all three species of teal, identifying ducks that are...

We’ll meander around this urban park looking for hidden gems in the masses.  We’ll meet at the entrance to the Rose Garden.  Driving directions to get you closest to the Rose Garden:  Enter Reid Park from Country Club Rd at Concert Pl.. Drive through the parking lot to the covered parking S of the amphitheater...

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...

This lake west of the Huachuca Mts. and not far from the border doesn’t get birded often but the winter season sees an interesting collection of waterfowl drop in to complement the resident birds.  We’ll bring scanning the lake as well as checking out the local forests.  Bring comfortable walking shoes, water and snacks/lunch, sun...

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 10 participants per group. Leaders: Donito...

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 10 participants per group. Leaders: Donito...

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...

Trip difficulty: Moderate. 1.5 miles on dirt paths and loose wash sand. Trip duration no more than 2.5 hours. No water, no bathroom, limited shade, and one bench. This trip is in the wash 4 miles north of Catalina State Park. It contains several different habitats and is known for some rarities. Special note: This...

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 10 participants per group. Leaders: Donito...

Join Tucson Bird Alliance for a garden bird walk at Tohono Chul! This popular destination near the intersection of Ina and Oracle Roads has cultivated gardens, art exhibits, and winding trails with many typical birds of the Sonoran Desert and its suburban habitats. Hummingbirds, in particular, flock to the gardens to enjoy the abundance of...

Join Marcia OBara for an outing designed for nature lovers with or without accessibility challenges; wheelchairs, walkers, or other assistive devices are welcome. On this trip, we will gather at one of Southern Arizona’s birding gems: Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon! Here, we’ll watch for hummingbirds, migrating orioles, and an abundance of other species....