Fall & Winter
Hawk Stalks
The
Sulphur Springs Valley is a winter paradise for birds of prey. Up to twenty
species may be found here between November and March, including eagles, falcons,
buteos, accipiters, harriers, kites and owls. SABO's Hawk Stalk tours take you
down highways and back roads in search of these magnificent predators and other
species that share their habitats. Along the way you'll learn about the
identification, behavior and ecology of the valley's raptors, cranes, sparrows
and other wintering and resident birds.
These all-day tours depart downtown Bisbee at 8 a.m. and return around 4 p.m.
Participants travel in SABO's roomy
touring bus,
with frequent stops for roadside birding and short walks. Lunch in a
local restaurant, bird checklists, and transportation from Bisbee
are included.
Winter 2008-9: $60 per adult for members of SABO, $70 for non-members;
$30/members, $35/non-members for children age 10 to 16 when
accompanied by an adult. Groups of 6 or more adults qualify for a discount of
$10 per person. Space is limited, and reservations are highly recommended; pre-paid registration is refundable only if unforeseen circumstances force SABO to cancel the tour. Tours begin Thanksgiving weekend and continue most weekends
through February. Please check SABO's
calendar of events
for upcoming dates. Custom Hawk Stalks for groups
of 6 or more are available with advance arrangements.
Whitewater Wetlands Walks
These 2- to 3-hour bird walks take place at the Arizona Game & Fish Department's
Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area between Bisbee and Elfrida, an oasis for breeding
and migrating birds such as hawks, eagles,
falcons, owls, waterfowl, and songbirds and winter home for
thousands of Sandhill Cranes. Winter walks last 2 hours and are followed by a 2-hour Sandhill Crane Watch (free). Spring walks last 3 hours.
Winter (Nov-Feb): $5 per person for members of SABO, $10 for
non-members. Spring (Mar-Apr): $10 per person for members of SABO, $15 for
non-members. Participation is limited, and reservations are recommended for
these walks; pre-paid registration is refundable only if unforeseen circumstances force SABO to cancel the walk. Whitewater Wetlands Walks take place
on an approximately weekly basis from late November through mid-April; please check SABO's
calendar of events
for dates. Custom walking tours of Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area for individuals and groups
are available with advance arrangements.
Sandhill Crane Watches
Whitewater
Draw Wildlife Area, just 30
minutes from Bisbee, is winter home to thousands of
Sandhill Cranes. These 2- to 3-hour programs center around the awe-inspiring
spectacle of the cranes' return from breakfast in nearby farm fields.
As the
flocks arrive at the wetland that they share with ducks, geese,
shorebirds, songbirds, and birds of prey, a SABO naturalist will talk
about their behavior, family lives, and intercontinental travels. This
program is a family-friendly
activity suitable for wildlife watchers of all ages and
free to the public thanks to the generosity of the Southeastern
Arizona Bird Observatory's members and donors.
Sandhill Crane Watches
take place
on an approximately weekly basis from late November through the end of February, usually following Whitewater Wetlands Walks; please check SABO's
calendar of events
for dates.
Custom Sandhill Crane programs for individuals and groups
are available with advance arrangements.
Raptors and Cranes Mini-Workshop
January 30-31, 2010
Thousands of birds of prey—from tiny American Kestrels to majestic
Bald Eagles—and thousands of stately Sandhill Cranes, make
the Sulphur Springs Valley of southeastern Arizona their winter retreat.
Join SABO naturalists in exploring the behavior, ecology and identification
of birds of prey, cranes, sparrows, thrashers, and other wintering and resident birds
in one of the premier winter birding areas in the United States.
This weekend workshop begins on Saturday morning with a classroom presentation at Casa de San Pedro Bed & Breakfast covering
the natural history and identification of winter raptors of Arizona and
the natural history of Sandhill Cranes. The group will then board
SABO's birding bus for birding and a brown-bag lunch at Whitewater Draw
Wildlife Area, the "jewel in the crown" of the Sulphur Springs Valley.
Sunday's all-day bus trip, also departing from Casa de San Pedro, will
tour the valley's back roads in search of hawks, eagles, falcons, owls,
and more, with lunch at a local restaurant included.
Registration and additional information
Sparrow-phobics Anonymous Mini-Workshop
February 6-7, 2010
Are you terrified at the thought of sorting
through all those "little brown jobs"? You're not alone! Let fellow
sufferers guide you through the basics of sparrow identification with a
little classroom study and plenty of practice on the real thing.
This
weekend workshop begins on Saturday morning with a classroom
presentation at Casa de San Pedro Bed & Breakfast covering the
basics of sparrow identification, including season, habitat, field
marks, behavior, and voice. The group will then do some leisurely
exploration around the inn and along the San Pedro River to hone our new skills, with a midday break for a brown-bag lunch. On
Sunday morning, the group will meet at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area in
the Sulphur Springs Valley to work on a slightly different group of
sparrows before an optional picnic lunch.
Registration and additional information
Sulphur Springs Valley Tours
Ideal for more casual birders or those with limited time, these
morning bus tours visit some of the best bird habitats in the
southern part of the valley, including a wetland that is home to waterfowl, shorebirds,
raptors, and one of the largest crane flocks in Arizona.
The tours depart at 8 a.m. from downtown Bisbee and return by 12:30
p.m. Participants travel to feeding and roosting sites in SABO's
roomy touring bus; some walking
required. Transportation from Bisbee is included.
Winter 2008-9: $40 per adult for members of SABO, $45 for non-members;
$20/members, $23/non-members for children age 8 to 16 when accompanied by
an adult. Groups of 6 or more adults qualify for a discount of $5 per person. Space is limited, and reservations are highly recommended; pre-paid registration is refundable only if unforeseen circumstances force SABO to cancel the tour. Tours begin the Friday of Thanksgiving weekend and are offered on occasional Sunday mornings thereafter through February.
Please check SABO's
calendar of events
for upcoming dates. Custom bus tours of the Sulphur Springs Valley for groups
of 6 or more are available with advance arrangements.
Sandhill Crane Tours
This short bus tour highlights the Sulphur Springs Valley's most spectacular winter residents and is great for families. The tour departs at 9 a.m. from downtown Bisbee and returns around 12:30
p.m. Participants travel to the cranes' feeding and roosting sites in SABO's
roomy touring bus; some walking
required. Transportation from Bisbee is included.
Winter 2008-9: $40 per adult for members of SABO, $45 for non-members;
$20/members, $23/non-members for children age 8 to 16 when accompanied by
an adult. Groups of 6 or more adults qualify for a discount of $5 per person. Space is limited, and reservations are highly recommended; pre-paid registration is refundable only if unforeseen circumstances force SABO to cancel the tour. This special seasonal tour takes place the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend. Custom bus tour of the Sulphur Springs Valley for groups
of 6 or more are available with advance arrangements.