Upcoming Field Trips
Let's go birding! Our field trips 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 $.15 (15 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. Please provide your cell number.
Breakfast with Birders
April 19 – 8:00 am
Fain Park
May 17 – 8:00 am
Goldwater Lake
June 21 – 7:00 am
Granite Creek Park
July 19 – 7:00 am
Lynx Lake South Shore
BYOB – Bring Your Own Breakfast to meet with fellow birders for conversation, breakfast, and birds. There is no official leader. This is an unstructured gathering to start your day off with friends and birds. Every location has at least one picnic table and restrooms.
We think it's just too cold to eat breakfast outdoors
quite yet, but here is our plan for the warmer months.
All sites are flat and accessible for mobility-challenged birders.
Watson Woods Bird Walk
April 1, 8:00 a.m.
May 6, 7:30 a.m.
June 3, 7:00 a.m.
July 1, 7:00 a.m.
August 5, 7:30 a.m.
September 2, 8:00 a.m.
October 7, 8:30 a.m.
November 4, 9:00 a.m.
No walks in December, January
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.
**We begin promptly at the listed start time**
Upper Verde River Surveys
IBA Surveys
Wednesday, April 19
Wednesday, May 3
Wednesday, September 13
Yellow-Billed Cuckoo Surveys
Wednesday, June 21
Wednesday, July 5
Wednesday, July 19
Wednesday, August 2
Wednesday, August 16
IBA Surveys
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.
Yellow-Billed Cuckoo Surveys
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.
Watson & Willow Lake IBA Surveys
Monday, April 24
Sunday, May 7
Sunday, August 27
Monday, September 23
Since 2009, Prescott Audubon Society and Prescott Creeks have collaborated on conducting migrating bird surveys in the Watson Woods Riparian Preserve portion of the Watson and Willow Lakes Ecosystem Important Bird Area. Surveys were initiated concurrent with ecological restoration work performed on Granite Creek in the Preserve to improve habitat for native birds among other things. More information can be found at www.PrescottCreeks.org.
Experienced birders can indicate their interest in participating in surveys by completing the volunteer interest form on the Prescott Creeks website at: https://prescottcreeks.org/iba/
Birding the Town of Congress
March 23, 2023
This trip is full
Waitlist is open
Just an hour's drive away from Prescott is the tiny, birds town of Congress, AZ. This trip is a great introduction to the desert dwelling bird species of Yavapai County. This trip involves walking. We will park our vehicles and walk the neighborhood. We will look for Curve-billed Thrashers, Gilded Flickers, Pyrrhuloxia, Inca Dove, Cactus Wrens, Great Horned Owls, and many others. Pack a lunch. We will eat at a local park where we will enjoy discussing the "bird of the day!" Limit 8. Contact [email protected]
to register. Limit 8.
Birding the Sedona Wetlands
April 22, 2023
We will head out early for the Sedona Wetlands where we will join a local guide from Northern AZ Audubon. At the wetlands we will try for some migrating shorebirds and perhaps some rails in the small retention ponds. For details please contact
[email protected]
Verde Valley Birding Festival
April 27-30, 2023
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/.
Dead Horse Ranch State Park
May 9, 2023
We will meet at 6:00 a.m. in Prescott Valley and leave as a caravan by 6:15 a.m. Details TBA. Carpooling is optional and individually arranged. Entrance fee to Dead Horse Ranch State Park is $7 per vehicle (1-4 persons). Bring a bag lunch for picnicking at the "Armchair Birding" spot after a fulfilling morning of birding. Limit 8. To register contact
[email protected].
Mingus Mountain with Rich Armstrong
May 25, 2023
Rich will be our Window on Nature speaker the evening of May 25. He has offered to lead a field trip that morning as well, from 9AM to 1PM, to explore the high country birds on Mingus Mountain. This trip will meet at the parking lot at the crest of Hwy 89A and carpool from there because parking on Mingus is limited. We’ll be looking for mountain species and hopefully some late migrants. Rich is a recognized leader for Northern AZ Audubon, and we appreciate him venturing over to “our side” of the county. To register, contact Rich at [email protected] or 928-282-3675. Limit 8.
Mingus, Again!
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
We are offering another opportunity to explore Mingus Mountain, for those who missed the May 25th trip or those who just can’t get enough of warblers, cool shade, and good company. We will begin at the Butterfly Springs trail, one of the best spots on Mingus. The first 100 yards of the trail is quite steep and parking is limited, requiring carpooling. Contact [email protected] for details and to register. Limit 8.
Birding Flagstaff
Tuesday, July 11, 2023
We’ll be off to an early start, leaving from the Taco Bell parking lot off of Willow Creek Rd and Sandretto, (the Fry’s shopping center) at 6:00AM. We will travel west and south of Flagstaff to the Arboretum at Flagstaff, Rogers Lake, Sholz Lake, White Horse Lake and S.D. Dam. Bring a lunch, and water, and expect cooler weather than in Prescott. To register and for details, contact [email protected].
Mingus Mountain, Butterfly Springs
Thursday, August 17, 2023
We return to Mingus to visit one of the best spots to see beautiful migrating warblers and much more. This trail is lovely, but the first 100 yards are steep. To register and for details, contact [email protected] . Limit 6.
Arizona Field Ornithologists' Annual Meeting
Friday, September 15-Sunday, September 17, 2023
This year’s annual AZFO meeting will be held in Payson. Prescott birders might want to take advantage of this fairly close location to join in and learn more about AZFO. Events include field trips, reports on bird studies in Arizona, some fun bird quizzes, and a live speaker presentation at the final dinner Saturday evening. All interested birders are welcome. For more information and to register, go to azfo.org.
Prescott Water Reclamation Facility (aka the WTP's)
Thursday, September 21, 2023
The Prescott Audubon Wetlands Team has been working with the City of Prescott to promote access to the water treatment ponds for passive recreation opportunities. Come out to the Airport WTP’s and envision the future. It is not Gilbert Water Ranch, but there are possibilities. There may be ducks in the ponds with water, shorebirds on the mud flats, and usually raptors in the sky. Be prepared for sun and wind. Parking is outside the fenced facility at 2800 Melville Road. Meet at 7:30 AM. If you have a spotting scope, please bring it. Contact [email protected] to register and for details.
Start Your New Year in Good Company!
Sunday, January 1, 2024
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 [email protected]org to register and for details on where to meet. Limit 8.
Bird Walks by Jay's Bird Barn
Walks in the Prescott region sponsored by one of our local birding shops