Spring & Summer
River Walks
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 sanctuary of the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area. River Walks depart from Casa de San Pedro Bed & Breakfast.
$10 per person for members of SABO and/or guests of Casa de San Pedro Bed & Breakfast, $15 for non-members. Participation is limited, and reservations are required; prepaid registration is refundable only if unforeseen circumstances force SABO to cancel the walk. River Walks take place weekly from late March/early April through May. Please check SABO's calendar of events for dates and registration.
Whitewater Wetlands Walks
These 2- to 3-hour bird walks take place at the Arizona Game & Fish Department's Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area between Bisbee and Elfrida, an oasis for breeding and migrating birds such as hawks, eagles, falcons, owls, waterfowl, and songbirds and winter home for thousands of Sandhill Cranes (through early March most years).
Winter (Jan-Feb, 2 hours): $5 per person for members of SABO, $10 for non-members. Spring (Mar-Apr, 3 hours): $10 per person for members of SABO, $15 for non-members. Participation is limited, and reservations are recommended for these walks; prepaid registration is refundable only if unforeseen circumstances force SABO to cancel the walk. Whitewater Wetlands Walks take place on an approximately weekly basis from late November through mid-April; please check SABO's calendar of events for dates. Custom walking tours of Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area for individuals and groups are available with advance arrangements.
Owl Prowls
Five species of small owls nest in the "sky islands" of southeastern Arizona, but they can be difficult to find and identify. Join a SABO naturalist on a no-tapes moonlight walk in search of Elf Owls, Whiskered Screech-Owls, and othert night creatures.
Two-hour Huachuca Mountain Owl Prowls take place in lower Miller Canyon. These walks are typically offered once or twice per month from late March through May, depending on the timing of the full moon. Owl Prowls begin with an introduction to owling ethics and the natural history, behavior, and identification of the small owls of southeastern Arizona.
$15 per person for members of SABO, $20 for non-members. Participation is limited to 10, and reservations are required; prepaid registration is refundable only if unforeseen circumstances force SABO to cancel the walk. Please check SABO's calendar of events for dates and registration. Personalized Owl Prowls for individuals and groups are available with advance arrangements.
April 29 - May 5, 2012
Hummingbirds of Arizona
August 2013 (dates to be announced)
Spend a week 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, with up to 15 species present at the area's famous feeding stations and other birding hotspots. The tour will include classroom presentations to give you an in-depth understanding of hummingbird natural history and identification. Most field trip destinations will be of particular interest to hummingbird aficionados, but we won't neglect the many other colorful species that make this region so special. Participants will also have the opportunity to see research in progress at SABO's hummingbird banding stations.
Price TBA. Package will include 6 nights lodging, ground transportation from Tucson, and meals from dinner the first day through breakfast the last day. Limited to 10 participants. For more information, contact SABO.
EOP Walks
In cooperation with the City of Sierra Vista, SABO, the Friends of the San Pedro River, and Huachuca Audubon Society offer volunteer-led 2-hour birding tours of the wastewater wetlands at the Environmental Operations Park on the city's east side. These Sunday morning tours begin at 8 a.m. from October through March and 7 a.m. from April through September. The tours explore areas normally off limits to the public.
Free. Participation is limited and on a first-come first-served basis; reservations are not accepted. Special tours are available for groups of 6 or more with advance arrangements; for more information on group tours, contact SABO.