“MAS Pod Birdwalks” are our offering to go out birding during this difficult Covid-19 period. Our goal is to enjoy birding in small groups while remaining as safe as possible. We request that if you need to cancel your reservation, you contact the trip leader so someone on the wait list can take your spot.
Who: Open only to members of Maricopa Audubon Society. You may join anytime before the trip here.
Leader: Robert Bowker
When: Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 7:30 a.m.
Where: Meet near the bathrooms at the Recreation area parking lot. It is about 3.5 miles north of the Power Road exit off the loop 202 freeway. All cars parked along the Salt River (Tonto National Forest) need to have a Tonto Recreation Pass (available at local sporting goods stores or nearby convenience stores (or a federal entrance/parking card). Buy one or more before the day of the trip. They have scratch off dates on them and can be kept until use for several years.
Why: To enjoy birding and friends while safely maintaining masked and social distancing guidelines from the CDC and the State of Arizona.
Winter residents that we could spot are Gadwall, Bufflehead, and other ducks, Great Egret, Pied-billed Grebe, Eared Grebe, Killdeer, Lesser Goldfinch, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Abert's Towhee, and Yellow-rumped Warbler.
Also likely are sightings of Bald Eagle, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, and Phainopepla. There can be 15 or more species of ducks and several species of shorebirds along the river!
How: Registration is required. Limit: 5 birders plus the leader(s). To register, send an email to the leader- bowker657@hotmail.com
When you register, please include a contact phone number where you can be reached in case the field trip needs to be cancelled or for any post-trip messages such as contact tracing.
On the day of the field trip, participants must:
sign the liability waiver
provide a current email address
carpool only with members of your own household
provide and wear a mask
maintain social distancing of 6 feet from others when possible
Bring your binoculars, a snack, water, hat, and personal hand sanitizer.
We will ask for feedback after the event to improve or modify future bird walks to best meet identified needs.