CBC Bonus Trip: A Taste of Arizona!
Most discussions of the best birding locations in the United States eventually include Southeastern Arizona. The diversity of habitats, stunning natural beauty, easy travel conditions, and promise of dozens of types of birds found nowhere else, or nowhere more easily, in the United States speaks to why a trip to Arizona is at the top of many traveling birder's wish lists.
The CBC is pleased to announce a bonus trip to Southeastern Arizona May 28th to June 2nd, 2010. We will focus on finding and observing breeding birds and late migrants in the “sky island” mountain ranges of the Santa Ritas and Huachuchas and the surrounding desert, visiting locations such as Madera Canyon, Patagonia, Garden Canyon, Scheelite Canyon, Sawmill Canyon, Ramsey Canyon, Miller Canyon, and Saguaro National Park.
While many trips to Arizona occur at the onset of the summer monsoons, in late July or August, to take advantage of hummingbird migration and late-season breeders, a trip in late May/early June arguably provides a better opportunity to find and enjoy many of the species of birds that make Arizona famous. Elegant Trogans should be visible and vocal as they patrol territories, Elf Owls peer from nesting cavities at dusk, and many flycatchers are just arriving and are conspicuous as they search for mates and begin nesting. Plumages are fresh and birds are singing, often in numbers greater than those found later in the season.
We'll visit the saguaro-studded desert for Rufous-winged Sparrow, Gilded Flicker, Gila Woodpecker, rattlesnakes and maybe even a Gila Monster, before heading to the mountains. With one night near majestic Madera Canyon and two nights in Sierra Vista, just minutes from Ramsey, Miller, Garden, and Sawmill Canyons, we will take advantage of the long hours of daylight to see as many of the sights, sounds, and of course birds, as possible.
This trip begins and ends in Tucson, Arizona. Included in the trip fee of $775 is lodging (double occupancy), transportation, entry fees, and guided birding each day. Not included is transportation to and from Tucson, meals, and items of personal nature. A deposit of $300 is due by March 15, 2010 with the balance due by April 14, 2010. Contact Steve Shultz for information on single supplements.
Interested? Act soon, as the number of participants is limited to ten (with a minimum of eight). This will ensure that everyone enjoys a window seat in the vehicles with plenty of room to enjoy the views as we travel from desert to grassland to mountaintop.
Detailed information including lodging details, bird check lists, and a day-by-day summary of activities will be provided upon registration, but an overview of the schedule is listed below:
Friday—arrival in Tucson. Depending on arrival time, birding at Saguaro National Park or optional excursion for Common Black-Hawk. Overnight in Tucson.
Saturday—Madera Canyon and grasslands. Overnight in Green Valley (probability of nesting Elf Owls in Madera).
Sunday—Madera Canyon, Nogales, Patagonia. Overnight in Sierra Vista.
Monday—Garden, Scheelite, and Sawmill Canyons. Overnight in Sierra Vista.
Tuesday—Ramsey Canyon Preserve, Miller Canyon, Mary Jo Ballators B&B (hummers and desert species). Overnight in Tucson. Dusk drive for snakes and reptiles.
Wednesday—Saguaro National Park. (plan for departing flights no earlier than 1 p.m.)
Trip leaders for “A Taste of Arizona!” will be Steve Shultz and Brian Pendergraft, who have each made several trips to the locations we will visit and look forward to sharing them with you.
To reserve your space on this trip, or for more information, contact Steve Shultz at sshultz@nc.rr.com or (919) 779-2826.