Award-winning artist and naturalist Walt Anderson and professional photographer Kevin Floerke lead a 4-hour in-the-field bird photography workshop. Learn how to use insights into avian behavior to anticipate, plan, and capture high-quality images of birds in their natural environment. Learn to get the most out of your photographic equipment with your instructors, who will help...
This field trip begins in Camp Verde where we will turn off from South Oasis Road and go up Forest Service Road 136 to trailhead parking adjacent to the Copper Canyon drainage. We will bird desert scrub, pinon/juniper, and riparian habitat. Most years there is a trickle of water and a small waterfall in Copper Canyon for a...
Known as the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness It is a remote, protected, and scenic area that cuts through the Mogollon Rim, offering a stunning, less-visited alternative to the nearby Sedona red rocks, complete with a perennial creek and lush riparian habitat. You might encounter Gray Vireo, Scott's Oriole, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Brewer’s, Lark and Black-throated sparrows, Common Black...
The San Pedro River, a narrow green oasis rippling through desert grassland, is one of the last wild rivers in the Southwest and one of the most endangered. These 3-hour guided walks through desert grassland and among towering cottonwood trees will introduce you to the birds and other wildlife that make their homes in the...
Learn about birds of the Sonoran Desert on this easy to moderate guided hike with Ranger Eric while participating in the City Nature Challenge! Join Ranger Eric to look for and learn about resident and migratory birds of the Sonoran Desert on this easy to moderate walk. We will meet at the Nature Center first and...
In the Black Hills Range, Mingus' summit is the second highest at more than 4,000 Ft.. Birds we have encountered include the Steller’s Jay, Pygmy Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Hermit Thrush, Olive Warbler, Red Crossbill, many wood-warblers such as Virginia’s, Grace’s, Townsend’s, Hermit, Red-faced, and the celebrated Painted Redstart. Some grades are wide and gentle, others...
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 along...
One of the many reasons we hold the festival at Dead Horse Ranch State Park is its location in the heart of the Verde River riparian corridor. An easy walk along the Verde River Greenway will provide opportunities to spot riparian dependent species. Our knowledgeable guide will enhance your experience. You should be able to...
Granite Basin offers great higher-altitude birding in Ponderosa Pine habitat while still being close to the town of Prescott. A popular USFS recreational site, with a small lake, Granite Basin is among the top 10 eBird hotspots for Yavapai County. We will look for recently-arrived western birds such as Black-chinned Sparrow, Zone-tailed Hawk, and Painted...
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...
Sparrows are challenging to identify and Homer is not only knowledgeable, he can help you to master this skill. As one of our most popular guides, he will help you to hone your skills of birding by ear while seeking a variety of species. Learning to identify birds through sound will improve your success at...
Free- MUST RSVP Let the birds come to you! Bring your favorite camp chair, binoculars, a little refreshment, and just enjoy birding as the time slips by. You will only have to walk a short distance on the handicapped accessible Canopy Trail to a spot where feeders bring the birds up close. A knowledgeable...
Join us at the Birding Trail kiosk (next to campsite #12 in Patagonia Lake State Park) for a ranger led hike to learn about the diverse avian wildlife at Patagonia Lake and Sonoita Creek. The park is designated as an Important Bird Area by the Audubon Society. If you are a bird watcher you may hit...
This trip is about backyards and attracting birds. We will visit two very different backyard habitats. First stop the Armstrong yard-- an all riparian setting on Oak Creek followed by Desert Pearl Ranch-- mixed riparian and desert scrub. We will see first-hand different methods to attract birds, from different kinds of feeders to kinds of...
Cockscomb-Ground Control-Outer Limits Loop On this hike guests will climb the shoulder of the Cockscomb formation in West Sedona using a moderate three trail loop. We’ll depart from the Aerie Trailhead and travel through pine and juniper woodlands. The Ground Control Trail slithers up the side of the Cockscomb, a narrow passage hugging the cliff...
Dr. Larry Stevens, director of the Springs Stewardship Institute will lead an easy walk through Montezuma Well to look at this world-renowned spring ecosystem, its geologic setting and evolutionary history, and its remarkable biota. We’ll walk the talk through a free-wheeling discussion about the importance of groundwater and springs to the Verde River, its diverse biology,...
Part art. Part engineering. Totally amazing! Add a pop of wonder and a pinch of nostalgia to your spring with Sean Kenney’s Nature Pop! Marvel at over 40 wildly creative sculptures made entirely of LEGO® bricks at this exhibition, included with Zoo admission and free for Zoo members from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily....
Every morning, a volunteer naturalist leads a guided nature walk informing visitors about the different life zones of Red Rock State Park. The subjects discussed on this walk may include geology, wildlife, history, archeology, and plant life. The naturalists welcome questions during the walk, enhancing the learning experience. Hikes are included with park entrance fees...
Come learn about the Common black hawk. Consider signing up for the Common Black Hawk graphite drawing class, which follows immediately after this lecture. Cost: $15 Part of the Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival Join us 100 miles North of Phoenix in North Central Arizona’s Verde Valley for the Verde Valley Birding...
Arizona’s rivers, streams, and wetlands are home to two fascinating semi-aquatic mammals—the North American Beaver and the North American River Otter. While they share similar habitats, these animals live very different lives. This educational talk explores how beavers and otters shape Arizona’s waterways and how to tell them apart in the wild. Participants will learn...
Geoff will be teaching an old-fashioned method called graphite transfer. This is a simple process that uses graphite paper to transfer an image reference onto drawing paper. One helpful way to think about graphite transfer is like making a sandwich: • The top piece of bread is your reference image (the picture you are drawing...
Arizona's Venomous Snakes—identification and desert safety, by Brett Smith of Sonoran Reptiles Reptiles are an often undervalued cornerstone in every environment, including your very own backyard. These animals play an extremely important role in maintaining homeostasis in most habitats around the world. Without snakes and other reptiles we would be overrun by vermin en masse...
Watching warblers is a truly satisfying experience. This presentation will focus on characteristics, behaviors, and other clues for the identification of warblers and will be useful for the expert and beginner alike. Both visual and audio presentations of these diverse birds will enchant you and help with your identification skills. You may also want to...
Following a catered dinner, Melissa and Steve will share their talk. Melissa and Steve will discuss the theme of "Reciprocal Birding", sharing insights (and bloopers) from the writing of their recently published field guide Birds of Arizona and New Mexico, and the under-wielded power of birders to turn the tide on habitat and population declines. In their roles...
Learn about birds of the Sonoran Desert on this easy to moderate guided hike with Ranger Eric while participating in the City Nature Challenge! Join Ranger Eric to look for and learn about resident and migratory birds of the Sonoran Desert on this easy to moderate walk. We will meet at the Nature Center first and...