Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival: Granite Basin Lake Field Trip

Granite Basin offers great higher-altitude birding in Ponderosa Pine habitat while still being close to the town of Prescott. A popular USFS recreational site, with a small lake, Granite Basin is among the top 10 eBird hotspots for Yavapai County. We will look for recently-arrived western birds such as Black-chinned Sparrow, Zone-tailed Hawk, and Painted Redstart. We will listen for resident Pygmy Nuthatch, Juniper Titmouse, Steller’s Jay, and, of course, Acorn Woodpeckers. Expect some rocky trails, a bit of elevation gain, with a total of about 2 miles of walking. Cost: $60 Rating: 3 Transportation: self-drive with a $5 parking fee or USFS Senior Pass. Meal: optional restaurant       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.