When habitats meet, the birds are abundant. Just east of I-17 come see what we can find between the riparian stands, mesquite bosque and Sonoran hillsides. It’s sure to be an adventure!
A trip that needs no introduction - a perusal of the ponds at Gilbert during migration is sure to be a great time. Join us.
Where there’s habitat, there are birds, and we re heading north to check out this one. Come along and let’s see what all we can find!
Between the Arizona Sycamore, Freemont Cottonwood, Ponderosa Pine - not to mention the abundant scrub habitat - you might see just about any bird we get here in Maricopa County!
Legendary Hassayamp River Preserve. A conservation success, and a delightful mix of migrating birds, and Sonoran Desert specialties, check it out with experienced trip leader Kathe Anderson
Come see what North phoenix has to offer, and contemplate conservation while you explore multiple parks in the area.
Come learn about birds and get excited about conservation with your family and friends. This all-ages friendly field trip is for birders and aspiring birders who want to engage more with the living world around them
An ecological treasure that is currently under threat from a proposed copper mine operation - boasting species like: Crissal Thrasher, Juniper Titmouse, Western Bluebird, and Dark-eyed Junco. Come along and see if you can observe them.
Looking to level up your bird ID skills? Come check out this field workshop, where we’ll use color and pattern to ID bird species, and add or sharpen one of the skills in your conservation toolkit
See Tempe Marsh like you may not have imagined before. From the paved multi-use path along the southern edge of the marsh. Enjoy a front-row experience of the plant and animal life below - all with the backdrop of an Arizona Sunset
Photo - Sean McEntee
Explore this riverine riparian habitat that hosts a number of reliable local songbird varieties, as well as the occasional uncommon visitor - Common Merganser anyone?
On this overnight trip to Southeast Arizona you’ll get to visit a number of different habitats, and likely see a wide variety of bird, plant, insect, and maybe even some mammal species. Come along with Kathe Anderson as she takes you to some of Arizona’s most renowned birding hotspots!
All-ages friendly birding at the newest hotspot to catch the birding community’s attention - thanks to a flock of Lawrence’s Goldfinches. Check out the fuss, and bring friends and family of all ages!
Two habitats in one trip! Check out some prime desert habitat at Thunderbird Conservation Park, and wash that all down with some waterfowl at Arrowhead Lake
Part one in a series of field trips designed to maximize enjoyment of wild spaces while improving bird ID skills
For information and to register, contact AGFD Avian Monitoring Coordinator Ashley Lauria alauria@azgfd.gov
The following areas may still need surveyors. Please let others who may be available know about this important bird population survey.
ChandlerWest - Price Road Ponds
Chandler West - Palo Verde Country Club
Gilbert South - Higley Road Wastewater Ponds
Gilbert South - Greenfield Lake Golf Community (Last done in 2018)
Gilbert South - Islands Community Lake (Last done in 2018)
Glendale - Thunderbird Paseo Park and Flood diversion Channel
Glendale - Dos Lagos Park
Glendale - Palomino
Glendale - Arrowhead Country Club
Mesa East - Red Mountain Park Lake
Mesa West - Dobson Ranch
Paradise Valley - Cameback Golf Club
Phoenix - Biltmore GC
Phoenix - Rio Salado Habitat Restoration
Phoenix - Northeast Stone creek golf course
Scottsdale - Gainy Ranch
Scottsdale - McKellips Lake
The Phoenix Mountains presere is home to a number of birds, lizards, plants and mammals. We’re going to see how many of them we can enjoy on an early morning hike in January. Don’t forget layers!
Volunteers Needed for Thrasher Surveys
A recording of the training can be found here. The first portion of the video covers updates to current thrasher conservation and the review of thrasher ID and habitat. At 33:22 minutes, the protocol and use of field maps are discussed. The training documents and sound recordings can be found HERE.
Written instruction on the use of field maps can be found here.
This week's Expedition Details:
WHEN: Saturday, January 11th.
TIME and MEET-UP LOCATION: We will meet at the Pilot truck stop on the north side of the I-10 at the Vicksburg exit. The address is 48286 Vicksburg Rd, Salome, AZ 85348
What to bring: Wear comfortable layered clothing, sturdy shoes, and a hat. Don't forget water and snacks. If you have a speaker you can bring that too. Please be sure to have your field maps app and a GPS app to capture coordinates as a backup before Saturday.
If you noted an interest in being added to the carpooling list from where you will be departing and traveling to the meetup site, please use this Google form found HERE to connect with someone for carpool purposes
Contact Info:
Please email Dara at fieldexp@azfo.org for any questions or comments concerning the Saturday, January 11th field day. Participants will be organized in groups of 2-3 people and locations. We will have printed maps as needed and finalize groups at the meetup location before going out to the field site.
For any questions about the use of field maps for this expedition please email Dawn at fletcher@gbbo.org
SITE CHANGE. As mentioned earlier we will no longer be surveying the site West of Gila Bend. We will however be visiting the 2 sites West of Phoenix along I-10. Please see the following link with the sites outlined on this Google map link found HERE.
If you know of anyone else interested in this upcoming expedition or future expeditions please have them check out the AZFO expedition website page at https://www.azfo.org/fieldexpeditions.
Please let me know if you have any questions. On behalf of the AZFO Expedition Committee, Great Basin Bird Observatory, and the Nongame Bird Program at AZ Game & Fish Department we appreciate your help with the upcoming expedition!
The Great Basin Bird Observatory and the Arizona Game and Fish Department will deploy lightweight GPS transmitters on a small sample of Bendire's and LeConte's thrashers to track the movements of these interesting birds and to understand how they respond to the installation of industrial-scale solar facilities.
Volunteers will help mark the territories of thrashers, which is essential for capturing and tagging them. Target areas for this project include Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land in Arizona (Gila Bend, Buckeye, Lake Havasu) and Nevada (Pahrump). We will conduct surveys along transects on roads and washes, utilizing call playback and opportunistic searches. Data collection will be streamlined using the Field Maps app.
Online training Tuesday 7 January 2025 7-8PM
Surveys: January 11 and February 2, 2025
Detailed Expedition Description, CLICK HERE
TO REGISTER, CLICK HERE
Car birding with in an ag heavy ares - look out for raptors, meadowlarks, burrowing owls, and MORE
Watch the sunset over Tempe March from a raised platform where you can see all the diurnal birds heading to their roosts, and the nocturnal animals coming out to hunt. An excellent opportunity to observe a unique ecosystem from a unique vantage point
A casual walk through the Tres Rios Overbank Wetlands, seeing what species of birds are present to start the year off.
Join Charles Babbit, author of Birding Arizona for an unforgettable morning of wintering waterfowl at Lake Pleasant Regional Park
Desert specialties, waterfowl and surprises in Fountain Hills
Between Riverview Park and the Mesa Recharge Basisns, there's a lot of water, and you know what that means - birds, lots of them.
A big day in november. Wintering birds abound in different habitats ranging from Top of the World to Gilbert Water Ranch
An excellent two-for-one trip where you'll get to visit the alluring Burrowing Owls at Scottsdale Community College, and then strap in for all of the excitement that winter at the sod farm can bring. Who knows what avian surprises await?
Take a close look at one of Southern Arizona’s gems with local guides Alexis and Jake.
If a preserve with a perennial stream and excellent riparian habitat, featuring cottonwoods and willows Sounds like a good time, this is the trip for you.
Winter (birding) is coming. Explore the diverse habitats at Coon Bluff and see what this year has brought to the Salt River
City parks play an important role in our lives as a third space where we can meet, play, read, or simply just breathe. Come along and explore what they can do for the birds
A family-friendly walk exploring one of Maricopa County's treasures. Papago Park, where both the pond and mesquite bosque offer the chance of desert specialties and migrant birds!
This trip is a casual child-friendly walk through a park with multiple bird attractants (lake, groundcover, drip fountain, and hummingbird habitat). Come along with Torin to explore the joys of urban birding at Desert Breeze Park.
Off the beaten path, north of Phoenix is the New River Nature Reserve. Tucked between new River and I-17 this reserve boasts a dense Cottonwood/Willow riparian habitat, adjacent to open Sonoran Desert, providing opportunities to see a wide range of species such as Bell’s Vireo, Wilson’s Snipe, Willow and Western flycatchers to name a few. You may get a chance to practice your ID skills--comparing Hutton’s Vireo and Ruby-crowned Kinglet. You may also be treated to a number of thrushes, thrashers, finches and sparrows.
Bring water, snacks, sturdy shoes, and sun protection.
Meet 6AM at Metro Parkway Park-and-Ride station
Difficulty: 2-3
Limit: 7
Restrictions: All participants who carpool must be fully vaccinated.
