Some of the most sought-after birds in North America spend their winters here in Cochise County. The tour travels the wetlands, grasslands, agriculture fields, and foothills of the Sulphur Springs Valley and includes stops at Whitewater Draw and Cochise Stronghold. The tour will look for Scaled Quail, Arizona Woodpecker, Mountain Plover, Sage Sparrow, Chestnut-Collared Longspur, Vermilion Flycatcher, and Bendire's Thrasher, as well as a variety of waterfowl, raptors, and shorebirds. Be ready for other rare and exciting finds. Approximately one mile of easy to moderate walking with several stops. Intermediate to Advanced. Includes lunch, drinks, and rest stops.

A shorter version of the Daylong Hawk Stalk exploring Sulphur Springs Valley in pursuit of the same types of hawks, owls, eagles, and falcons. Morning and afternoon tours offered. NOTE: Due to the excitement this trip offers, the tour may run 15-20 minutes behind schedule. Caravan-style with many stops along the way. Less than 1/2 mile of easy walking. Beginner to Intermediate. Includes limited rest stops.

Learn and practice basic identification skills. Time will be spent at the Willcox ponds and nearby areas observing and identifying common bird species.  The trip leader will likely have a spotting scope; however, this tour will require that you bring your own binoculars.  Less than 1/2 mile of easy walking. Beginner.

The grasslands of the Sulphur Springs Valley are well known for the diversity of sparrows, towhees, and longspurs that are winter residents. Over 24 species of Passerellidae (members of the sparrow family) may winter in Cochise County and as many as 19 species have been observed during the festival weekend. The tour includes a field trip seeking a handful of these sparrow species. Less than 1/2 mile of easy to moderate walking and includes brushy areas. Intermediate to Advanced. Includes rest stops.

Join biologists from the Chiricahua National Monument for a wondrous hike through select trails of the Chiricahua National Monument. The monument is an enchanting wonderful of towering and inspiring rock formations amidst oaks and pines. You will visit historic sites, including Faraway Ranch, as you watch for birds and wildlife during this casual hike. Up to 2 miles of easy walking, though among uneven trails. Includes lunch, drinks, and rest stops.

To the south and east of Willcox, two major geologic features adjoin the Willcox Playa on the east: the Dos Cabazes and Chiricahua Mountains.  Both formed long before the Willcox Playa.  This geology trip will observe those mountains and learn a bit about their ages, origins, and impacts on the history and development of Cochise County.  The tour leader, a retired geologist, will describe features in nontechnical terms. No prior knowledge of geology is required. Tour members may take short walks totaling no more than 1/2 mile total.

Lush grasslands of the Sulphur Springs Valley supported large ranches, and ranchers once shipped more cattle from Willcox than any other point in the U.S. Visit an historic, working cattle ranch continuously operated by descendants of one of the earliest pioneer ranchers. Your rancher-guide will discuss ranching history, show and explain modern cattle and range management practices, and discuss relationships between ranching and wildlife. If it's cold in Willcox, it's cold on this tour! Less than 1/4 mile of easy, short walks. Includes sack lunch, drinks, and rest stops.

Head to the south end of Sulphur Springs Valley looking for Sandhill Cranes foraging in the fields along the way.  Then enjoy their return to Whitewater Draw as they fly in to loaf after their morning feeding. Less than 1/2 mile of easy walking. Beginner to Intermediate. Includes rest stops and lunch.

A shorter version of the Daylong Hawk Stalk exploring the Stewart District in pursuit of the same types of hawks, owls, eagles, and falcons. Morning and afternoon tours offered. NOTE: Due to the excitement this trip offers, the tour may run 15-20 minutes behind schedule. Caravan-style with many stops along the way. Less than 1/2 mile of easy walking. Beginner to Intermediate. Includes limited rest stops.

A slow pace and comfortable, easy viewing that will be emphasized on this trip designed for birders with limitations of endurance or mobility. We will visit locations identified by local wildlife experts to view a variety of species such as waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, sparrows, and Sandhill Cranes. Most birding will be done from the vehicle or in close proximity to the vehicle and the short excursions will be wheelchair accessible. Beginner to Advanced. Includes rest stops.

The grasslands of the Sulphur Springs Valley are well known for the diversity of sparrows, towhees, and longspurs that are winter residents. Over 24 species of Passerellidae (members of the sparrow family) may winter in Cochise County and as many as 19 species have been observed during the festival weekend. The tour starts with an hour-long class on sparrow identification, followed by a field trip seeking a dozen sparrow species. Morning and afternoon tours offered. Less than 1/2 mile of easy to moderate walking and includes brushy areas. Intermediate to Advanced. Includes rest stops.

Willcox is a thriving vineyard and winemaking area, and grows roughly two thirds of the grapes produced in Arizona.  This tour will visit the "Willcox Bench" area off Kansas Settlement Road, a popular birder area to see Sandhill Cranes, hawks, and other winter migrants.  Learn about why Willcox is a great area for vineyards, what varieties of grapes do well here, and the process to produce award winning wines.  Taste some of our locally produced wines, and learn about the many vineyards and tasting rooms in the Willcox area.

Take a tour of the Historic Downtown's Railroad Avenue with a local historian. You'll see Arizona's only remaining original Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, constructed in 1880; the recently revitalized Willcox Commercial, formerly the oldest continually operating store in Arizona; and the Schwertner House, built as an overnight rooming facility for Army personnel en route through Willcox to area military posts. Nearby, the Rex Allen Cowboy Museum honors the late singer/actor "hometown boy" success story. Stop by the Chiricahua Regional Museum and Research Center where there are exhibits on the region's history, featuring the Chiricahua Apache, cavalry, Butterfield Stage Line, and mining and railroad displays. On your stroll, you'll pass several other historic buildings, such as the Headquarters Saloon, where Warren Earp was shot. Approximately 3/4 mile of easy walking. Includes a historic downtown walking tour map.

Banquet is held at the Elk's Lodge in Willcox at 247 E. Stewart Street

The Incidental Sparrow:

Have you ever gone out in search of something—and instead discovered something entirely unexpected and far more wonderful? Such is the experience of birders every day, and such was the experience of early explorers and ornithologists here in the Southwest, where every outing, whatever its original purpose, could lead to discovery. Many of the sparrows of southeastern Arizona were first encountered by scientists in search of something completely different, making their discoveries all the more exciting. Join Rick Wright for some surprising stories of the gold miners, soldiers, and grave robbers who introduced us to some of southeast Arizona’s most familiar, and most charming, birds.

Presented by Rick Wright:

Rick Wright leads a full program of Birds and Art tours in Europe and the Americas for Victor Emanuel Nature Tours. A native of southeast Nebraska, Rick studied French, German, philosophy, and life sciences at the University of Nebraska, where he worked in the bird collections of the State Museum and served as teaching assistant to Paul Johnsgard. After a detour to Harvard Law School, Rick took the M.A. and Ph.D. in German at Princeton University. His years as an academic included appointments as assistant professor of German at the University of Illinois, reader/scholar at Princeton University’s Index of Christian Art, and associate professor of medieval studies at Fordham University.

Among Rick’s scholarly publications are two books on the Latin and German animal literature of the late Middle Ages. Author of the American Birding Association’s field guides to birds of New Jersey and of Arizona, and of the Peterson Reference Guide to North American Sparrows, he is a prolific contributor to the birding literature and a sought-after speaker at festivals, conventions, and workshops.

Based in Tucson from 2004-2010, Rick and his family—his wife, Alison Beringer; their little girl, Avril; and their chocolate lab, Gellert—now live in Bloomfield, New Jersey, but travel widely in search of birds, above all to their beloved southeast Arizona.