Trips & Special Events
PAS FIELD TRIPS & SPECIAL EVENTS
GENERAL INFORMATION
2021 -2022 PAS FIELD TRIPS
August 2021 – May 2022
Our field trips and meetings are generally free and open to the public. If driving is required, we will try to carpool using participants’ vehicles. We do ask passengers to reimburse the driver at a rate of $.10 (10 cents) per mile, to be split between all passengers in the vehicle. Bring binoculars, comfortable walking shoes and gear, and all the water and snacks you will need. If you are interested in a field trip, contact the trip leader for details.
Also – check back often, as this listing is still a work in process after suspending all field trips due to Covid. We have other trips in mind and will add them when we firm up arrangements. If you are on our Prescott Audubon Email Notification List, we will send notices to you as well, in time for you to plan.
Monthly Saturday Bird Walk in Watson Woods
On the first Saturday of the month, we lead bird walks in Watson Woods, one of our favorite Prescott birding sites. The walks are approximately 2 hours long and are open to birders of all ages and levels. Experienced Prescott Audubon birders lead these outings. This is a great way to get acquainted with birds and birding or to improve your skills. Meet at the Peavine Trailhead parking area on Sundog Ranch Rd (GPS: 34.57542; -112.42723; fee $3/vehicle). No registration required; everyone is welcome.
2021 2022
*** September 4, 8:00 a.m. *** February 5, 9:00 a.m.
*** October 2, 8:30 a.m. *** March 5, 8:30 a.m.
*** November 6, 9:00 a.m. *** April 2, 8:00 a.m.
*** No walks in December, January *** May 7, 8:00 a.m.
*** We begin promptly at the listed start times ***
Field Trips and Other Birding Opportunities
*** August 27 to November 5, 2021 – Hawkwatch International (HWI) – Yaki Point, Grand Canyon
Each year Hawkwatch International conducts their annual Migration Hawk Survey at Yaki Point at the Grand Canyon. Experienced hawk watch personnel identify and count the raptors. We will not be sponsoring a PAS trip this year, but we encourage you to join the HWI surveyors on a day of your choosing.
Check out Grand Canyon Hawkwatch, Yaki Point for information and daily bird counts.
*** Saturday, September 25, 2021 – Peregrine Fund Condor Release at Vermillion Cliffs
The Peregrine Fund releases several captive-bred condors into the wild from the Vermillion Cliffs. Festivities begin before the release is 11:00 AM. For exact location, visit the Peregrine Fund website.
This listing is for information only, PAS is not sponsoring a field trip.
*** Thursday, October 21, 2021 – Hassayampa River Preserve (TRIP IS FILLED!)
This is always such a great trip! In October as the autumn migration slows in Prescott, our thoughts wander downhill in hopes of finding lingering birds and butterflies. We will be arriving at the Hassayampa River Preserve in Wickenburg at 9:00 AM, in time for a 2-hour guided walk with the Preserve’s resident biologist/birder, Eric Hough. We can continue on our own a bit after, and likely do lunch (optional) in Wickenburg before heading home.
Guiding fee for the group is $80, to be split between participants.
Entrance to the Preserve is $5.
To register contact Cory Shaw at moc.loanull@0340wahsmc. Limit 8. (TRIP IS FILLED!)
*** Saturday, November 5-6, 2021- Arizona Field Ornithologists’ Annual Meeting
This year’s annual meeting will be held in Safford.
For more information and to register, go to azfo.org.
*** Sunday, January 1, 2022 –Start your New Year in good company!
We always enjoy this annual field trip, weather permitting. We plan our sites considering recent bird activity and any winter road closures. Of course, we include a visit to Willow or Watson Lake for wintering waterfowl. We will start at a sensible 9:00 AM. We try to be done by noon, but some of us continue into the afternoon when the birding is good. (Bring your lunch.)
Contact Sue Drown at moc.liamgnull@nwordeus to register and for details on where to meet. Limit 8.
*** Wednesday, February 9 – Gilbert Water Ranch
Gilbert Water Ranch is one of our favorite places to enjoy wintering shorebirds and land birds in the Sonoran Desert. The award-winning Water Ranch has numerous ponds and brushy vegetation with abundant bird life.
Walking is easy, on established trails.
Contact Doug Iverson, moc.liamgnull@nosrevisalguodnotla for start time and location.
Bring a lunch; this will be an all-day trip with an early start.
*** February 18 to 20, 2022 – Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC)
For only 15 minutes a day, record and report the birds in your backyard or an area of your choice. This event helps Cornell monitor birds through the collection of real-time data. Be a part of this important citizen science effort.
For more information, check the GBBC website.
*** March 30, 2022 – Birding the Town of Congress
Just an hour’s drive away is the tiny, birdy town of Congress, AZ. This trip can be a great introduction to the desert-dwelling bird specialties of Yavapai County. Trip involves very little walking; we will spot most of the birds from our vehicles. We will look for Curve-billed Thrasher, Gilded Flicker, Pyrrhuloxia, Inca Dove and Harris’ Hawks, among others.
Lunch is optional at the popular Nichols West restaurant (at your own expense).
Contact Cory Shaw at cmshaw0430@aol.com. Limit 8.
*** Tuesday, April 19 – Stricklin Park
Join us for a springtime stroll in the small but very “birdy” Stricklin Park, off of Thumb Butte Rd. This park has a nice paved path, so the morning is suitable for mobility-challenged birders. We like to visit this our “adopted” park every spring. Contact Kathy Wingert, moc.liamgnull@867yhtaktregniw, for details and start time.
*** April 21 to April 24, 2022 – Verde Valley Birding Festival
The Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival provides a unique recreational experience to anyone interested in the natural world and fosters awareness of the importance of habitat for the enrichment of all life in the Verde Valley.
Register online at https://verderiver.org/birding-festival/.
*** Tuesday, May 3 – Jail Trail and Dead Horse Ranch (TRIP IN FILLED)
In early May, the Jail Trail in Old Cottonwood is the place to bird. Here you can find migrant Western Tanagers, hard-to-find Indigo Buntings, and resident Common Black Hawks, along with Yellow-breasted Chats, resident and migrating warblers, to name a few. If you choose, bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at the Dead Horse Ranch “Armchair Birding” site just a short distance up the road. (Access fee $7/car)
To register, contact Karen Schuster, ten.tsacmocnull@kybar. Limit 8.
2021 Important Bird Area (IBA) Surveys
Citizen Science Bird Surveys
Yellow-billed Cuckoo Survey on the Upper Verde River
These surveys are a chance to help document the presence of a threatened species in this riparian habitat east of Paulden. The survey transects include off-trail walking over somewhat difficult terrain. The weather will likely be hot and will include a chance of thunderstorms.
Contact Dave Frechette at ten.asunull@lertsek-74xelec for details.
*** Wednesday, July 21, 2021
*** Wednesday, August 4, 2021
*** Wednesday, August 18, 2021
Important Bird Area (IBA) Surveys
*** Watson Lake IBA – Sunday, August 29, 2021
We will conduct one fall migration survey. The survey will begin at 7:00 a.m. and will take about 2 – 2.5 hours. We will divide into three teams to cover the entire length of Granite Creek in Watson Woods. Although flat, there are no trails so expect some bushwhacking. Also, some creek crossing, and there may be water in the creek. Optional social gathering after survey.
Contact moc.liamgnull@lienokdnaj.
*** IBA on the Upper Verde River – Wednesday, September 15, 2021
These ongoing surveys document changes in bird populations over time in this riparian habitat east of Paulden. The data contribute to the Audubon Southwest IBA database and help to preserve the IBA status of this beautiful area. The survey transects include off-trail walking over somewhat difficult terrain.
Contact Dave Frechette at ten.asunull@lertsek-74xelec for details.
2021 Christmas Bird Counts (CBC’s)!
We will be hosting four (yes, 4!) Christmas Bird Counts in our Chapter area for 2021. Our 4 counts are Chino Valley, Prescott, Havasu National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) near Bullhead City and the Bill Williams River NWR near Parker, AZ.
*** Monday, December 20, 2021 – Chino Valley – Russell Duerksen, moc.nsmnull@neskreud.
*** Wednesday, December 15, 2021 – Prescott – Carl Tomoff, moc.knilhtronnull@ffomot.
*** Thursday, December 16, 2021 – Lake Havasu NWR – Marge Penton, moc.liamgnull@peaglam
*** Friday, December 17, 2021 – Bill Williams NWR – Joey Saccomanno, vog.swfnull@onnamaccas_hpesoj
A complete list of Arizona Christmas Bird Count events can be viewed on our PAS web site, prescottaudubon.org!
