Color codes for departure locations:

Field Trip Schedule day by day:

Sunday-Monday, April 27-28:

• Sonora Ranch Overnight Tour 8 a.m. Sunday - 4 p.m. Monday

Tuesday, April 29:

• San Pedro River Walk 6-9 a.m.
• Miller Canyon Owl Prowl 7-9 p.m.

Wednesday, April 30:

• Patagonia Lake Walk 6-11 a.m.
• Huachuca Mountain Owl Prowl 7-8:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 1:

• Miller Canyon Walk 6:30-10:30 a.m.
• Hummingbird Field Clinic with Sheri Williamson 1-4 p.m.

Friday, May 2:

• Garden Canyon Walk 6-11 a.m.
• Hummingbird Banding in Carr Canyon 4-6 p.m.
• Owl Prowl in Cave Creek Canyon 7-9 p.m.

Saturday, May 3:

• Cave Creek Canyon Walk 6-11 a.m.
• Hummingbird Banding at the San Pedro House 4-6 p.m.

Field Trips

Each field trip description is accompanied by codes indicating level of activity required of participants:

*A* = Little walking, ordinary outdoor footwear adequate

*B* = Some trail walking (may be optional), comfortable walking shoes will be adequate

*C* = Mainly walking or hiking, though at a moderate pace; sturdy walking shoes or lightweight hiking boots recommended.

With the exception of the Sonora Overnight Trip, transportation is not provided for field trips. Driving directions and maps will be available to participants.

Mexico: Sonora Ranch Overnight Tour
Sunday 8 a.m. - Monday 3 p.m. *C*

SABO members: $235 per person double occupancy
Non-members: $250 per person double occupancy

This international adventure will visit Rancho El Aribabi, a private ranch in a "sky island" mountain range that is the headwaters of three major river corridors important to migrating, nesting, and wintering birds. The ranch's rich and varied habitats are being managed to enhance their value to birds and other wildlife. We'll depart from Banning Creek Field Station in SABO's comfortable tour bus, making a few stops for birding along the way. After a picnic lunch at the ranch's guest lodge, we'll begin our explorations. In the evening, we'll relax with beverages around a fire pit at the lodge while our hosts prepare a traditional ranch barbecue dinner. The next morning, we'll start with an early breakfast before setting out to explore more of the ranch's varied habitats. Following a traditional lunch, we'll board the bus for the trip back to Bisbee. Transportation from Bisbee and 4 meals are included; add $50 for single occupancy. Limited to 10 participants.

Checklist of the Birds of Rancho Aribabi

San Pedro River Walk
Tuesday, 6 - 9 a.m. *C*

SABO members: $10 per person
Non-members: $15 per person

Meet the field trip leader at Casa de San Pedro Bed & Breakfast for this morning tour of the first Globally Important Bird Area to be designated by the American Bird Conservancy. The San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area is home to more than 100 breeding and 250 migrant and/or wintering bird species plus 80 species of mammals, 40 species of reptiles and amphibians, and an equally impressive diversity of plants and invertebrates. Enjoy the shade of towering cottonwoods and lush willows as you search for Gray Hawk, Gila and Ladder-backed woodpeckers, Ash-throated, Brown-crested, and Vermilion flycatchers, Crissal Thrasher, Bridled Titmouse, Bell's, Warbling, and Cassin's vireos, Yellow, Lucy's and MacGillivray's warblers, Yellow-breasted Chat, Abert's Towhee, and Hooded Oriole. Limited to 12 participants.

Owl Prowls in Miller and Cave Creek Canyons

• Miller Canyon: Tuesday, 7 - 9 p.m. *C*
• Cave Creek Canyon: Friday, 7 - 9 p.m. *B*

SABO members: $15 per person
Non-members: $20 per person

Six of southeastern Arizona's twelve owl species nest in the canyons of the "sky islands," but they can be difficult to find and identify. Join SABO naturalists on a no-tapes night walk in search of Whiskered Screech-Owl, Elf Owl, and other night creatures. Limited to 10 participants per field trip.

Patagonia Lake Bird Walk
Wednesday, 6 - 11 a.m. *C*

SABO members: $20 per person
Non-members: $25 per person
(does not include park admission)

Meet the guide at the trailhead at Patagonia Lake State Park to explore the meeting place of desert and wetland habitats. Bird possibilities include Neotropic Cormorant, Zone-tailed Hawk, Broad-billed Hummingbird, Vermilion Flycatcher, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Northern Beardless Tyrannulet, Verdin, Black-tailed and Black-capped gnatcatchers, Varied Bunting, and Black-throated Sparrow. Limited to 10 participants.

Mule Mountain Owl Prowl CANCELED - see schedule
Wednesday, 7 - 8:30 p.m. *B*

SABO members: $10 per person
Non-members: $15 per person

This short moonlight walk at SABO's Banning Creek Field Station will introduce you to nesting Elf Owls and other nocturnal creatures of the Mule Mountains. Come early for feeder watching! Limited to 10 participants.

Miller Canyon Walk
Thursday, 6:30 - 10:30 a.m. *C*

SABO members: $15 per person
Non-members: $20 per person

Miller Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains is home to some of southeastern Arizona's most beautiful birds, including Magnificent Hummingbird, Painted Redstart, Red-faced Warbler, and Scott's Oriole, plus an amazing variety of other wildlife. This 4-hour walk begins at Beatty's Guest Ranch & Orchard and explores moderately challenging trails in the Coronado National Forest Miller Peak Wilderness Area. Limited to 10 participants.

Hummingbird Field Clinic with Sheri Williamson
Thursday, 1-4 p.m. *B*

SABO members: $35 per person
Non-members: $45 per person

Work on your hummingbird identification skills with Sheri Williamson, SABO naturalist and author of A Field Guide to Hummingbirds in the Peterson Field Guide Series, at Beatty's Guest Ranch, Arizona's number one hummingbird hot spot. Up to 12 species of hummingbirds may be present, offering opportunities to study fine differences in plumage, behavior, and voice under the guidance of an expert. Limited to 8 participants.

Garden Canyon Walk
Friday, 6 - 11 a.m. *C*

SABO members: $20 per person
Non-members: $25 per person

Garden Canyon on Fort Huachuca is one of the jewels of southeastern Arizona. Famous among birders for Elegant Trogon, Buff-breasted and Sulphur-bellied flycatchers, Greater Pewee, Hepatic Tanager, Painted Redstart, and Spotted Owl, the canyon also boasts a remarkable diversity of butterflies and other animals, rare plants, and centuries-old Native American pictographs. This 5-hour field trip will begin with a walk at the upper picnic area followed by a carpool trip up a rugged road to sites higher in the canyon; actual areas covered will depend on the quality of the birding and condition of the road. Limited to 10 participants.

Hummingbird Banding in Carr Canyon
Friday, 4 - 6 p.m. *A*

SABO members: free!
Non-members: $5 per person

Observe up close as the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory's research team captures and bands hummingbirds at our new research site in the Huachuca Mountains. A fabulous opportunity to see hummers in the hand (bring your cameras!). Limited to 10 participants.

Cave Creek Canyon Walk
Saturday, 6 - 11 a.m. *C*

SABO members: $20 per person
Non-members: $25 per person
(does not include Forest Service day-use fee)

Cave Creek Canyon in the Chiricahua Mountains is a natural treasure and one of birding's legendary locations. Join us as we explore the South Fork Zoological and Botanical Area in search of Elegant Trogon, Peregrine Falcon, Zone-tailed Hawk, Blue-throated Hummingbird, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Canyon Wren, Hepatic Tanager, Painted Redstart, Red-faced and Grace's warblers, and other avian celebrities. Limited to 10 participants.

Hummingbird Banding at the San Pedro House
Saturday, 4 - 6 p.m. *A*

Free! (donations appreciated)

Observe up close as researchers and volunteers from the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory capture, band, and record data in the thirteenth season of studying the importance of the San Pedro River to migrating and nesting hummingbirds. A fabulous opportunity to see hummers in the hand (bring your cameras!). There is no charge for this program and pre-registration is not required. However, donations are gratefully accepted.

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