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Birding and Natural History in Southeast Arizona

April 30 - May 6, 2024

Southeast Arizona is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the United States.  Habitats include the Sonoran Desert with its dramatic columnar cacti, the Chihuahuan desert with its grasslands and desert scrub, and the dramatic “Sky Islands” where species from the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Madre come together.  During our journey, we’ll explore most of these habitats, encounter a great diversity of plants and animals, and enjoy fine weather at one of the richest times of year.  We’ll visit many of the birding and wildlife hotspots – Madera Canyon, the Patagonia area, Huachuca and Carr Canyons, and the San Pedro River.  Species we’re likely to see include elegant trogon, vermilion flycatcher, painted redstart, Grace’s, Lucy’s, olive, red-faced and other warblers, 3 species of Myiarchus flycatcher (ash-throated, brown-crested, and dusky-capped), northern beardless tyrannulet, thick-billed kingbird, pyrrhuloxia, greater pewee, buff-breasted flycatcher, 4 species of kingbird (Cassin's, western, thick-billed, and tropical), up to 7 species of hummingbirds, up to 14 species of sparrow (inlcuding five-striped, rufous-winged, rufous-crowned, grasshopper, black-throated, and Botteri's), and many others.  On our nocturnal outings, we'll have good chances to see elf, whiskered-screech, and western-screech owls as well as Mexican whip-poor-will, common poorwill, and lesser nighthawk.

In addition to birds, the area is well known for its butterfly diversity, with the Huachuca Mountains alone harboring almost one-quarter of all the butterflies found in the U.S.  While May is not the peak season for butterflies, we should see as many as 15 - 20 species.   Mammal diversity in the area is high, and we've seen 20 species on past trips - these include round-tailed ground-squirrel, Arizona gray squirrel, Coues' white-tailed deer, pronghorn, black-tailed jackrabbit, coyote, bobcat, coatimundi, and javelina.  And of course, with this being the Southwest, there will be as many as 10 species of reptiles.

We’ll also spend time learning about the general ecology of the area and explore the fascinating relationships among southeast Arizona’s wildlife, geology, and regional climate.  

The 2024 cost is $2425 per person, double occupancy, and includes all lodging, meals, tips, admission fees, and ground transportation from Tucson, AZ.   The single supplement for this trip is $450.  Limited to 8 participants.  Please contact me for a detailed itinerary.

Photo - Mexican spotted owl by Judy Lin
            Montezuma quail by John Dicus


Last updated: December 30, 2023.