Birding Bonanza

Program Registration: 5:00 p.m. After you have your room assignment, come to the Road Scholar table in the lobby to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing your name-tag, up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in.

At a local restaurant.

Orientation: 7:00 p.m. at the hotel. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will review COVID-19 protocols and will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and requirements throughout the program. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Our Group Leader will then provide some detailed information on over 100 different species of bird that we may catch sight of throughout the program. This lecture will be a fitting introduction serving to familiarize us with some of the local wildlife in the beautiful high desert region. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

At the hotel.

Setting out from the hotel via van, our destination for the day will be the Sulphur Springs Valley and its Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area, where we will seek to view an abundance of migrating sandhill cranes and hawks, among others such as Mexican ducks that commonly nest in ponds created by farmers for the reuse of irrigation tailwater. The number of wintering sandhill cranes has increased dramatically since the 1950s, probably in response to the abundant food available in harvested grain fields, primarily corn. Similarly, numbers of mourning and white-winged doves, as well as both mule deer and collared peccary, have also increased since historic times likely as the result of agriculture. At Whitewater Draw, we will congregate at the viewing area where our Group Leader and staff instructor, both wildlife and birding experts, will offer commentary. Then we’ll walk with them on the maintained trail around the Draw. There will be birding stops and spottings along the way as we travel to the Sulphur Springs Valley.

At a local family restaurant in the rural community of Elfrida.

Afterwards, we will continue our exploration of the Sulphur Springs Valley, which is teeming with many birds to see. The sheer amount of sandhill cranes in flight formation as they come in to roost can sometimes seem to darken the skies. These cranes appear sleek in flight but are very rugged when viewed on land.

At a restaurant in Sierra Vista near the hotel.

At the hotel, we’ll review our birding list with our Group Leader and recount some of the species of birds we saw today for a great start to a stellar birding week! The remainder of the evening will be at leisure.

At the hotel.

After boarding our van, we will depart for the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, a 56,000-acre preserve managed by the Bureau of Land Management that is located along the upper San Pedro River. Home to approximately 80 species of mammals, several species of fish, and many amphibians and reptiles, the expansiveness of the ecological community can be surprising because, in this high desert, you may not expect to be looking for beaver dams! The area is also home to about 250 species of migrant and wintering birds. Many archaeological sites can be found in the area that reveal human occupation from over 10,000 years ago. While here, we’ll set out to explore some of the area and enjoy insightful commentary from our Group Leader and staff instructor along the way.

At a restaurant in Sierra Vista.

We’ll then transfer to the Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary located in the Huachuca Mountains to see some of the Sky Island region’s birds at close range, such as the Arizona woodpecker, bridled titmouse, and Gould’s wild turkey. There are many species of hummingbirds and a wide range of resident Arizona birds to view along with migrating birds.

At a restaurant in Sierra Vista.

We’ll then return to the hotel where we will go over the birding list together. The remainder of the evening will be at leisure.

At the hotel.

Today's birding destination will be Patagonia Lake State Park, a 265-surface-acre lake established in 1975. The canyon towhee, Inca doves, vermilion flycatcher, black vulture and several species of hummingbirds may be spotted in the State Park. Be on the lookout for the great blue heron walking along the shore line and white tail deer roaming the area. While here, we’ll stroll along the beautiful creek trail and keep our eyes out for a variety of birds and wildlife.

At a restaurant in Patagonia.

Our field trip will then continue to Paton’s Center for Hummingbirds. Located just outside the town of Patagonia, Paton’s Center for Hummingbirds has a lovely garden providing a native habitat for lots of insects and wildlife who share this garden with many bird species.

At a restaurant in Sierra Vista.

Back at the hotel, the group will go over the birding list together, and the remainder of the evening will be at leisure.

At the hotel.

Our next premier birding adventure will take place in the Huachuca Mountains in Garden Canyon, accessed from Fort Huachuca. Established in 1877, Fort Huachuca today is an important military intelligence and communications center, and one of Arizona’s largest military installations that also helps to manage and maintain the area’s biodiversity. Garden Canyon is often referred to as the most beautiful canyon of the Huachuca Mountains, due in part to the large variety of plants and animals that can be found in the Canyon along with many different bird species. While here, we’ll take a walk with our Group Leader and keep an eye out for some of the local creatures that call this haven home.

At a restaurant on Fort Huachuca military base.

We’ll continue birding in the Huachuca Mountains and canyons on a hike to a rock art site believed by historians to have been a site of religious significance for the Apache Native Americans.

At a restaurant in Sierra Vista. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Upon our return to the hotel, we’ll go over the birding list and enjoy the remainder of the evening at leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departure after lunch tomorrow.

At the hotel.

After checking out of the hotel and boarding our vans, we’ll head to Ramsey Canyon Nature Conservancy, a very popular nature viewing area. Home to more than 20 species of rare and endangered plants and animals, this conservation area hosts plenty of birds and wildlife as well as a rich history. Lush in comparison to much of the surrounding area, you may even forget we are in the desert when walking the trails in the conservancy, making stops on the way up the canyon to get a look at any wildlife and birds that can be spotted.

At a restaurant in Sierra Vista. This concludes our program.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!