Spend a wee
k exploring southeastern Arizona's
hummingbird havens with Sheri Williamson, author of the Peterson Field
Guide to Hummingbirds and scriptwriter for the Advanced Birding
Video: Hummingbirds of North America.
August is one of the most
exciting months for hummingbird watching in southeastern Arizona. Summer thunderstorms bring a second spring to the "sky island" mountains and valleys. Blooming wildflowers and the area's famous feeding stations attract up
to 15 hummingbird species plus many other colorful birds, butterflies, and much more.
Most field trip destinations will be of particular
interest to hummingbird aficionados, but we won't neglect the songbirds, raptors, butterflies, and other
wildlife that make this region so special. The tour will include short presentations to give
you an in-depth understanding of hummingbird natural history and
identification. Participants will also
have the opportunity to see research in progress at SABO's
hummingbird banding stations. To compensate for early mornings and avoid thunderstorms, most days will incorporate an hour or two of siesta time in the afternoon.
Featured lodging for this tour will be Casa de San Pedro Bed & Breakfast, adjacent to the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area. The tour follows the Southwest Wings Birding Festival.
Itinerary*
Day 1 (Sun): meet at Casa de San Pedro B&B at 4 p.m. for dinner and orientation
Day 2 (Mon): early walk on the river, classroom session, afternoon in Miller Canyon at Beatty's Guest Ranch
Day 3 (Tue): Carr Canyon, Ash Canyon B&B
Day 4 (Wed): Chiricahua Mountains
Day 5 (Thu): Patagonia
Day 6 (Fri): Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area, Ramsey Canyon Preserve, hummingbird banding at Carr Canyon
Day 7 (Sat): early walk on the river, Beatty's Guest Ranch
* The actual itinerary will be flexible and may change as unusual opportunities and/or access issues dictate.
Price $1175 for SABO members, $1205 for non-members; add $340 for single occupancy. Package includes 6 nights' lodging, ground transportation
from Casa de San Pedro B&B, and meals from dinner the first day through breakfast the
last day. Alcoholic beverages, guide and lodging
gratuities, and other personal expenses are not included. Limited to 8 participants. A deposit of $200 is required to hold your reservation. For additional information, please contact SABO at reservations@sabo.org or (520) 432-1388.