Arizona Field Ornithologist
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AZFO WORKSHOP

Shorebird Workshops

August 17 & 25

 

Photo by Robert Shantz

We are excited to announce two AZFO Workshops this year to focus on learning identification of shorebirds during the early part of fall migration!  Each workshop has a cost of $15 per person, with all proceeds going to our Gale Monson Research Grants program to support ornithology in Arizona; for more information on our research grants, please visit our webpage here.  We are limiting each trip to 12 participants to provide a small class size that allows more one-on-one interactions with leaders and participants.  In addition, we encourage carpooling for these trips and expect participants to help split gas costs with those volunteering their vehicles for carpools.

 

Saturday, August 17—Glendale to Gila Bend

 

Meeting Time: 5:45am

Leaders: Troy Corman & Caleb Strand

Limit: 12 participants

Cost: $15

Register here for this workshop date.

For this first of our 2019 AZFO Shorebird Workshop offerings, we will start at the Glendale Recharge Ponds hotspot and then proceed down to ponds in the Gila Bend area.  We have a good chance of finding 15 or more species of shorebirds, possibly more than 20! These locations have attracted rarities in fall migration, with past highlights including Hudsonian Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot, Semipalmated Sandpiper, and Short-billed Dowitcher.  We may encounter other aquatic rarities such as wandering waders from the Gulf of California that are annually brought inland in late summer and early fall, including Reddish Egret, Tricolored Heron, Roseate Spoonbill, gulls, and terns.  Registered participants will be given information on exact meeting location and the leaders will help coordinate carpools.  We will bird through the morning and try to finish up by midday, returning to Glendale by early afternoon.  Please bring your own water and snacks.  Restrooms are not available at most of the spots we visit, but we will try to make pitstops between birding locations.  Please bring a spotting scope if you have one, but there will be some to share.

 

 

Sunday, August 25—Willcox

 

Meeting Time: 6:00am

Leader: Doug Jenness & Keith Kamper

Limit: 12 participants

Cost: $15

Register here for this workshop date. 

The second AZFO Shorebird Workshop offering will meet in Tucson at 6:00am and then travel over to Lake Cochise in

Photo by Robert Shantz

Willcox to scan through the flocks of shorebirds that regularly use this stopover hotspot in migration.  At this season we may find 20 or more species of shorebird!  Being closer to the Central Flyway, this location attracts species that pass through in greater numbers to the east of our state, including Semipalmated, Baird’s, Pectoral, and Stilt Sandpipers, and Short-billed Dowitchers.  Other rarities that have shown up here include Pacific Golden-Plover, Hudsonian Godwit, Ruddy and Black Turnstones, Red Knot, and White-rumped Sandpiper.  Willcox has hosted several species of vagrant wading birds, gulls, and terns at this season.  Registered participants will be given information on exact meeting location and the leaders will help coordinate carpools.  We will be birding through the morning and return back to Tucson by early afternoon.  Please bring your own water and snacks.  Restrooms are not available at this location, but can be found in in the nearby town of Willcox.  Please bring a spotting scope if you have one, but there will be some to share. 

 

 

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