Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival: Botanical Walk – Tavasci

This plant walk will begin at the Tuzigoot Visitor Center, and will descend from there to Tavasci Marsh. Severed from the Verde River nearly 10,000 years ago, Tavasci Marsh is the largest spring-fed freshwater marsh in Arizona unconnected to the Colorado River. Intense human and mining developments within and around Tavasci Marsh until the early 1990’s severely impacted both vegetation and wildlife. However, NPS acquired the marsh as a part of the Tuzigoot property in 2005 and began endeavors to study, rehabilitate, and enhance this unique habitat. With an area of approximately 106 acres, Tavasci Marsh feeds south into the Verde River. The site is an Audubon Society Important Bird Area, and will give us the opportunity to observe the significant riparian plant species that contribute to the making of such good wildlife habitat. The fire at the Marsh burned 106 acres of the Tavasci Marsh footprint in 2023, but has substantially recovered botanically, and this will be one of the first opportunities to revisit the area since it was closed due to danger from post-fire impacts. Rating: 2 Transportation: Self-drive Meal: None Cost: $25       Part of the Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival Join us 100 miles North of Phoenix in North Central Arizona’s Verde Valley for the Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival. Experience birding during the peak Spring migration season at Dead Horse Ranch State Park on the banks of the Verde River. Close proximity to the Verde, Oak Creek, Sycamore Creek, and other perennial waters offers a wide selection of guided tours, hikes, and workshops in one of Arizona’s richest birding habitats. Our experienced guides have extensive knowledge of birds and the unique habitat that makes this region special. The festival, presented each April by Friends of the Verde River, is a purpose-driven community benefit organization and 501© 3 non-profit working to preserve one of the last perennial flowing rivers in the American Southwest. Festival site is at Dead Horse Ranch State Park.