Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival: FLAGSTAFF – Anderson Mesa IBA BIG DAY Field Trip

Explore Northern Arizona’s Anderson Mesa with Wildlife Biologist and local birder, Brooks Hart. In addition, you will have Jennie MacFarland, Director of Bird Conservation and a coordinator for Arizona IBA’s with you. Anderson Mesa is an Important Bird Area (IBA) comprising various habitat types, and supports coniferous and deciduous trees, pinyon pine & juniper dotted grasslands, pothole lakes, marshes and wetlands. Participants will have the opportunity to watch raptors glide and soar along the low bluffs overlooking Mormon Lake and pick out various species of waterfowl and shorebirds from Ashurst Lake and Lake Mary. We will look for passerines and early migrants moving through shrubs and trees that surround bodies of water. If we are lucky, we will cross paths with a flock of Pinyon Jays, a species of special conservation status. Transportation Option: Hop in the van or drive yourself, either way keep your eyes peeled because large mammals such as elk, pronghorn, and deer are commonly spotted while travelling between stops. The van will depart Dead Horse Ranch State Park at 6:45AM or you can rendezvous with the rest of the group at Lake Mary Chevron (4026 S Lake Mary Rd) at 8AM. We will return to Lake Mary Chevron at 3:30PM and the van will arrive back at Dead Horse Ranch State Park at 5PM. Times: 6:45am-5pm (Vans) & 8am-3:30pm (Lake Mary meetup) Rating: 3 (Long day, though!) Cost: $75 Meal: Bring your own lunch, drinks, and snacks Capacity: 12 Transportation: Option for van or self-drive (See details above)       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.