Did you know that well over 250 bird species inhabit or migrate through the Sonoran Desert of the U.S. Southwest? In fact, Arizona itself has the 3rd-highest number of bird species in the United States behind California and Texas! Besides iconic American birds like bald eagles and peregrine falcons, the Sonoran Desert also hosts many others that spring to mind when people think about the American Southwest, such as Gambel's quail, roadrunners, turkey vultures, red-tailed hawks, and cactus wrens. Of the 570 bird species that have been recorded in Arizona, we have had the highest number of hummingbird species in the U.S. (17), with 14 species in a day twice recorded in southern Arizona!
In celebration of America’s upcoming 250th birthday, join Ranger Eric to learn about birds of the U.S. Southwest as we look and listen on this guided walk! We will still be in peak spring migration, so we should expect to see several species of migrants, as well as desert resident species nesting and feeding their young. Along the way we will discuss how to identify birds by sight and sound, useful modern tools like the Merlin app, and about citizen science apps like eBird and iNaturalist.
Binoculars may be available to borrow at the Nature Center when it opens at 7:00am, but please bring your own if you have them. We will walk on easy grade, but sometimes uneven ground around the Nature Center and the adjacent Tortoise Trail, then caravan in our separate vehicles over to the Nursery Tank and walk an easy trail around there. We will only be walking short distances. Please wear sturdy footwear and sun protection, carry ample water and electrolytes for yourself, and pre-hydrate ahead of time. Restrooms are available at the Nature Center and at some other locations around the park.
MEETING LOCATION: Nature Center
Limit 10 participants. To register, please call the Nature Center at (602) 506-2930 ext. 3 with your name, phone number, and number of people attending. If you find you cannot attend a program after you have registered, please call the Nature Center ASAP so we may contact those on the waiting list. Registration for this program will close on 5/5.
PLEASE NOTE: Outdoor summer programs may be canceled on short notice due to severe weather, including extreme heat events. The Maricopa County Parks website (www.maricopa.gov/parks) is the most accurate resource for verifying the program’s status. Please check the program listing online before coming to the park.