Tubac Takes Flight, a monthlong celebration of birds and bird-watching, begins Monday, March 7, and continues through March in and around the community of Tubac south of Tucson.
Free events range from Birding for Beginners walks to hawk-spotting opportunities along the scenic Santa Cruz River.
“Southeastern Arizona in general is just a birding mecca, and the first Tubac Takes Flight last year was such a success that we decided to have a sequel,” said John O’Neill, a spokesman for the event, which is sponsored by the Anza Trail Coalition.
“On the Birding for Beginners walks, people might see 40 to 45 species in a good day” — from swallows and warblers to doves and vermilion flycatchers, O’Neill said.
“And the hawks. Three hawk species that birders across the country and beyond yearn to see — black hawk, zone-tailed hawk and gray hawk — have a very limited range in the U.S.,” O’Neill said. “Tubac is the best and easiest place in the nation to observe them.”
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Scheduled events at Tubac Takes Flight include:
- Birding for Beginners
- — Every Monday in March — March 7, 14, 21 and 28 — experts will lead small-group walks along the Anza Trail with a focus on basic bird-watching.
Walks, which will last about two hours, begin at 8 a.m. on the trail near downtown Tubac. For more information and to reserve a spot, call Jim Karp at 1-520-398-9487.
- Raptor Thursdays
- — From 9 to 10 a.m. on March 10, 17 and 24, hawk experts will help locate and identify raptors as they fly north along the Santa Cruz River to their summer nesting areas. Bring binoculars and a chair to Ron Morriss Park. Drive to the east end of Calle Iglesia and signs will direct you to the park.
- Riparian Habitat Walks
- — Members of the Anza Trail Coalition will lead walks along the Santa Cruz River in Tubac on March 16 and 30 with a focus on the ecosystem, native plants and why the area is a magnet for birds. Meet at 9 a.m. at the east end of Calle Iglesia at the entrance to the Anza Trail.
- Art Exhibit
- — A juried exhibit of art celebrating the beauty and spirit of birds and bird-watching will be at the Tubac Center of the Arts from March 18 to April 24.
