Legend:
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Intense birding
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Casual to moderate birding
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Speciatly trip, includes activities other than birding
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No birding on this trip
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New trip this year
=Overnight-
room included
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Accessible trip
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educational workshop/presentation
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drive on your own
FT=Field Trip
BXL=box lunch included
M=meal is included (brunch or specititley meal
RDU=River Day Use-Event Site
Studio-S=Shuttle provided to studio from RDU and return
Tent = Main Event Tent “The Birdy Bazaar”
Reg. Tent=registration
Nature Niche & Knowledge Nest tents on Flyway
CRC = Cottonwood Rec Center, 150 S. 6th St.
SW Inn = Southwest Inn, 3250 SR 89A, Sedona
All walks and field trips leave from the River Day Use area unless otherwise noted. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to departure. |
Agua Fria National Monument Field Trip
Tice Supplee
Friday, April 27
Departure: 6am
Return: 2pm
Rating: 4
Cost: $45
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, which has been determined suitable for Wild and Scenic Status. The riparian corridors are an Audubon Important Bird Area and are dominated by an over-story of cottonwood and willow that shelter many different species of songbirds and raptors. Among these birds are Cooper’s and red-tailed hawks, kingbirds, vireos, wrens, warblers and sparrows. Tice brings a fresh perspective to the birding. Box lunch included.
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Gap Creek Field Trip 
Geoffrey Bland
Saturday, April 27
Departure: 6am
Return: 2pm
Rating: 3
Cost: $45
We travel along the alluvial fan of Mingus Mountain to a surprising oasis of
Gap Creek where we will find migratory and breeding riparian species. This can
be an adventurous ride made for those who don’t mind being bounced around.
Along the route we will look for black-throated, lark, chipping and black-chinned
sparrows as well as raptors and high desert species. This should prove to be
some fast, furious birding led by one of our popular guides. Box lunch included.
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Sedona Wetlands FT
Scott Woolbright
Friday, April 29
Departure: 7am
Return: 11am
Rating: 3
Cost: $30
The use of man-made water treatment plants as birding sites creating artificial
wetlands has proven to be the source of excellent birding across the country,
especially when they are planned to provide rich habitat. The City of Sedona,
in keeping with the natural beauty of the area, has not only taken care of the
basic needs of the public but has done so with nature in mind. The birding is
excellent and with a local expert to lead you into this normally restricted
area, you should be able to add many species to your day’s list.
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Tavasci Marsh Field Trip
Doug Von Gausig
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, April 26, 27, 28, 29
Departure: 7am
Return: 11am
Rating: 4
Cost: $30
We will leave in shuttle vans that will take us to nearby Tavasci Marsh where
water and shore birds, raptors, and flycatchers abound. The Yuma clapper rail
has been spotted here in the past as have the river otters. The marsh and adjoining
Peck’s Lake and Verde River Greenway are part of Audubon’s Tuzigoot
Important Birding Area. This is one of our most popular trips. Includes lots
of walking, a mile each way in and out, but worth every step.
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Greenway Walk
Phyllis Lindberg
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, April 26, 27, 28, 29
Departure: 7am
Return: 11am
Rating: 3
Cost: $25
One of the many reasons for holding the festival at Dead Horse Ranch State Park
is its location in the heart of the Verde River’s riparian corridor. A
walk along the Verde River Greenway will provide opportunities to spot riparian
dependent species. An expert guide will enhance your experience. You should
be able to see most of the species of the season on the park’s bird list
including the common black-hawk that is known to nest here.
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Bubbling Ponds at Page Springs Field Trip
Bob Miller
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, April 26, 27, 28, 29
Departure: 7am
Return: noon
Rating: 3
Cost: $30
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
with trails, invasive plant species eradication and habitat restoration and
is part of the Lower Oak Creek Important Birding Area.
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Willow Brook Organic Farm and Tickaboo Too Field Trip
Randy MIller , Denise Gould & Diane Scantleburry
Friday, April 2
Departure: 7am
Return: 2pm
Rating: 3
Cost: $45
We will first enjoy the birding along the Verde River in Middle Verde with naturalist Randy Miller. Another side trip to nearby Tickaboo will increase the birding opportunities. Ending with a visit to Willow Brook Organic Farm, the hostess and owner, Denise Gould, and Diane Scantleburry will then show us around the farm and offer up a brunch of some of their delicious, organically grown foods. This trip produces rave reviews. We think you will really enjoy the birding, the leader and the food.
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Rocking Ranch Field Trip
Ruth Valencia
Friday, April 27
Departure: 7am
Return: noon
Rating: 3
Cost: $45
This field trip will explore what was 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 not open to the public and hosts a cottonwood-willow
gallery forest that supports black-hawks, great-horned owls, a large number
of neo-tropical migratory birds and, occasionally, a bald eagle. Wear good hiking
shoes and be prepared for some walking.
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Watching Warblers Field Trip
Homer Hansen
Friday, April 27
Departure: 7am
Return: 3pm
Rating: 3
Cost: $45
Warblers are challenging to identify and Homer is not only knowledgeable; he
can help you to master this skill. You’ll visit appropriate habitats,
and with Homer’s skill, you will soon be able to keep up with the best.
Species that might be seen include Black-throated Gray, Nashville, Grace's,
Lucy's, Virginia's, and Yellow Warbler, Painted Redstart, Common Yellowthroat,
and Yellow-breasted Chat. Box lunch included. Homer will be presenting a workshop
on Thursday afternoon where he will go over the basics of warbler ID. We recommend
attending this workshop in preparation for this field trip.
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Armchair Birding 
Julie Wills
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, April 26, 27, 28, 29
Departure: 8am
Return: 10am
Rating: 5
Cost: Free
Let the birds come to you. Bring your favorite camp chair, binoculars, a little
refreshment, and just enjoy birding as the hours slip by. We will only have
to walk a short distance on the Day Use Accessible Trail to a spot where feeders
bring the birds up close. A knowledgeable guide will help identify species.
The area is open for birding at any time but the guide will only be available
during these hours. Donations to help cover feeder costs are appreciated.
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Birding by Bike
Victoria Norton, Randy Victory
Friday, April 27
Departure: 8am
Return: 11am
Rating: 3
Cost: $30
The most popular sport of eco-tourists is birding; the second is biking. With the high cost of gas and the strong desire to get out into nature, bikes are the natural solution. Back by popular demand, the park’s biking guru, Randy Victory, will lead the way while Victoria points out the avian sites. You cover more ground yet the bike is unobtrusive to wildlife. The trip takes you a few miles on paved trails and the dirt trail to Tavasci Marsh. You should be in good physical condition. Bring your own bike. All participants are required to wear a helmet.
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Ecology Walk from Tuzigoot National Monument
John Lewis
Friday, April 27
Departure: 8am
Return: noon
Rating: 4
Cost: $10 (transportation on own)
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This walk leaves from the Tuzigoot National Monument parking lot. |
Tavasci Marsh is one of the few fresh water marshes in Arizona. It is a critically
important habitat for birds and other wildlife. Join the National Park Service
for an ecology tour to this unique wildlife sanctuary. We will visit several
different plant communities: grassland, mesquite bosque, cottonwood riparian
habitat, and the marsh. We will do casual birding along the way. This is a strenuous
walk with many stops. Bring water and hiking boots that you don’t mind
getting wet. Meet at 8am in the lower parking lot at Tuzigoot National Monument,
a short four-mile drive from the festival site.
Botanical Walk 
Patty West
Friday, April 27
Departure: 2pm
Return: 4pm
Rating: 2
Cost: $10
A guided walk to identify many of the riparian and grassland species of plants and flowers found in the park. Learn arid plants’ secrets to survival and the challenge of invasive species. If the rains favor us, we could even experience a wealth of wildflowers. Please prepare for warm afternoon weather.
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Friday Workshops and Seminars |
Workshops and seminars have a fee involved and require registration. Both are held in the Studio located in the far end of the park, unless noted otherwise. Check in for all workshops at the registration tent. Participants will be shuttled to and from all workshops/seminars. There is no parking at the Studio. Restroom facilities are located in the building.
Meet at the shuttle stop in the parking lot of the River Day Use Area near the Aviary 15 minutes PRIOR to the seminar or workshop.
Wildlife Photography
Tom Whetten
Friday, April 27
Location: Cabin
8am - 9:30am
Cost: $10
Tom will teach us the basics of using digital photography to capture the wildlife we enjoy. Although Tom uses a SLR camera, all types of camera users will benefit from his expertise. His patience and wit makes this class fun for anyone, amateur or experienced photographers alike. See Saturday’s schedule for his photography trip into the wild to utilize the skills you will learn.
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Having Fun with Nature Photography
Nancy Bell
Friday, April 27
10am - 11am
Location: Studio
Rating: 5
Cost: $10
Join our keynote presenter, Nancy Bell as she focuses on all the fun folks can have with photography right around their homes, just like she does around their mountain home – photographing the mule deer, rodents, flowers, bears and, of course, the birds.
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The Lunch & Learn Series is designed to provide you with an intense, skill oriented presentation over the lunch hour, so a box lunch will be provided. Be sure to pick up your lunch and a drink at the Aviary before boarding the shuttle to the Studio.
Lunch & Learn: “Help! I’ve fallen and can’t get up!”
Carol Conti
Friday, April 27
Location: Studio
11:30am – 1:30pm
Cost: $20
Do you know what to do when you find a baby bird that’s fallen out of its nest? Carol is a licensed rehabilitator who can give you the advice you need to make a good decision. Other animals will be covered in this informative and entertaining talk as well. We should all learn the correct thing to do for our feathered, or not so feathered, friends.
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Reptiles
Sandra Schenone
Friday, April 27
Location: Studio
2pm – 3pm
Cost: $5
We often come across reptiles of all sorts on our birding expeditions. Sandra will give you some interesting facts that will make those encounters even more enjoyable. She will have live specimens and a lively message. Find the delight in all Nature’s critters by attending her workshop. Sandra comes to us as a volunteer at Boyce Thompson Arboretum and is the Supervising Animal Technologist/Training Coordinator in the Department of Animal Care & Technologies at Arizona State University.
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Flycatchers
Homer Hansen
Friday, April 27
Location: Studio
3:30pm – 4:30pm
Cost: $5
Identification of flycatchers is one of the great challenges of birding. This presentation will focus on characteristics, behaviors, and other clues for the identification of flycatchers and will be useful for the expert and beginner alike. Both visual and audio presentations of flycatcher traits will be given for those really interested in learning about flycatchers. You may want to sign up for Homer’s field trip on Saturday.
Click here for a copy of Friday's schedule in a printable PDF format
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| Mission: The Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival provides a unique recreational experience to anyone interested in the natural world and fosters awareness of the importance of habitat for the enrichment of all life in the Verde Valley. |
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