AZFO Workshop: Gull Identification

February 20-21, 2010

Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico

OVERVIEW:

Birders in Arizona enjoy one of the richest and most diverse avifaunas in the country, but if you have birded here for more than a few months, you’ve learned that there’s a definite lack of gulls to view and study in this state.  That’s why we’re announcing our first-ever Gull Identification Workshop to be held in conjunction with the Tucson Audubon Society in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico on February 20-21, 2010.  Chris Benesh and Dave Stejskal have generously offered to lead this workshop!

Puerto Peñasco is the winter home to an impressive diversity and abundance of gulls, exhibiting a wide variety of plumages, with as many as a dozen species present in late February.  We can expect to see large numbers of Ring-billed, California, Herring, Yellow-footed, and Heermann’s gulls, with smaller numbers of Bonaparte’s, Thayer’s, Glaucous-winged, Western, and perhaps other, scarcer species.  The vast majority of our time will be spent studying and discussing the identification and molt of as many species as we can Saturday and Sunday. The main goal is to come away with a much better understanding of the identification of various gull species which are possible in Arizona.

While this shouldn’t be viewed as a general field trip to sample Puerto Peñasco’s rich birdlife, we’ll undoubtedly see a number of other enticing waterbirds while there.

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY / WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE FIELD:

Climate in Puerto Peñasco at this season is much like that of Phoenix or Tucson in late February (chilly mornings warming to the 60’s or low 70’s during the daytime).  We’ll be doing our birding from the roadside or along the beach, with no significant climbing involved.  We encourage each participant to bring along their own spotting scope for this workshop.

FEES AND REGISTRATION:

We are limiting the participation for this special event to ten TAS members and ten AZFO members only and ask that participants contribute $10 each to cover the leaders’ expenses.  Registration will open on January 6 –  We will send out an E-mail in early January with the

contact information for the workshop.  Passport now required for land border crossings.

LODGING:

-Recommended: Viña del Mar Hotel on the waterfront in downtown Puerto Peñasco (www.vinadelmarhotel.com).  Lodging required only for one night (Saturday, Feb 20).

CARPOOLING, MEETING TIMES/PLACES:

-Car pools will leave from both the Phoenix and Tucson areas early on Saturday morning (4 hour drive to Puerto Peñasco from either location); returning Sunday evening

-Carpooling to be coordinated with registered participants

-Please send your phone number and general location (city/town) when registering!