Over 40 Free Programs at the 20th Annual Birding and Nature Festival!

[ Wed, August 3 | Thursday, August 4 | Friday, August 5 | Saturday, August 5 ]

WEDNESDAY- AUGUST 3 FREE PROGRAMS - Horace Steele Room Registration Desk Open 12:00 noon - 7:00 pm

Warblers - Homer Hansen
Wednesday, 2:30 pm — 4:00 pm - August 3
Warblers are challenging to identify, especially so in the fall! Following the free program on warbler identification a paid Field Trip (please see the field trip section for registration) will visit appropriate habitats to observe and practice what was covered. Species that might be seen include Olive, Red-faced, Black-throated Gray, Nashville, Grace's, Lucy's, Yellow-rumped and Yellow Warbler, Painted Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, and Yellow-breasted Chat.

Butterflies for Birders - Priscilla Brodkin
Wednesday, 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 pm - August 3
Add a new dimension to your field trip experience with ID’s of the endemic Arizona Sister, the bright yellow Two-tailed Swallowtail and the lustrous blue Spring Azure. This program a MUST-SEE for birding, butterfly & dragonfly field trips! Join Priscilla Brodkin, (co-author with Bob Stewart and Hank Brodkin, of the book, Butterflies of Arizona - A Photographic Guide), for a PowerPoint adventure into the realm of Arizona's butterflies. You can use your birding skills to observe and ID butterflies. Butterflies' defense mechanisms, food and nectar plants, and some basic butterfly gardening will also be discussed

How to Choose and Use Optics - Jim Danzenbaker Wednesday, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
We will discuss the world of optics, including questions to ask yourself about your own optics use. We will explain technical terms and definitions such as interpupillary distance, exit pupil, and diopter. We will also learn how to test optics before making a final purchase decision.

THURSDAY- AUGUST 4 FREE PROGRAMS

Horace Steele Room Registration Desk Open 5:00 am to 6:00 pm

Thursday 9:00 am - 10:00 am, Bird Identification - Kathe Anderson
Kathe Anderson will guide you through the fundamentals of bird identification, including distinguishing physical structures and plumage of birds, key behavioral characteristics to look for, and differentiating habitats. You will gain essential skills to help you puzzle out that strange bird you have spotted.

Thursday, 10:00 am - 11:00 am Thorns, Stingers, Fangs - Vincent Pinto
(carpool trip) Black Widows, Rattlesnakes, Poison Ivy, spiny Cacti, Centipedes, Kissing bugs, Africanized Bees, Ants, Gila Monsters, Scorpions and more - welcome to the Southwest! How in the world can we enjoy the wilds with these daunting species as neighbors? In this presentation you'll learn to tell the difference between truly dangerous animals and plants versus those that we unjustly fear. Further, we'll delve deeply into the identification, natural history, and first aid involved with each fascinating species covered. Not only will you increase your knowledge and safety with each species, you may also discover that you've made a few unconventional friends along the way - just give them a wide berth at times!

Thursday, 11:00 am - 12:00 noon San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area - Jim Mahoney, BLM
Jim Mahoney will provide a general overview of the significant wildlife, botanical, hydrologic, cultural, and paleontological resources values of the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (SPRNCA). Sound boring? It won't be, as we get into what the SPRNCA is really about: out there on the ground, and under the trees, and in the mud and marl of the river, with some of the coolest photos and sounds that will bring the river alive. The SPRNCA, administered by the Bureau of Land Management, contains nearly 57,000 acres of public land between the international border and St. David, Arizona. The primary purpose for the special designation is to protect and enhance the desert riparian ecosystem, a rare remnant of what was once an extensive network of similar riparian systems throughout the American Southwest. One of the most important riparian areas in the United States, the San Pedro River runs through the Chihuahuan and Sonoran Deserts of southeastern Arizona. The river's stretch is home to 84 species of mammals, 14 species of fish, 41 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 100 species of breeding birds. It also provides invaluable habitat for 250 species of migrant and wintering birds and contains archaeological sites representing the remains of human occupation from 13,000 years ago. Jim will also provide an overview of conservation efforts in the SPNCA.

Thursday, 12:00 pm 1:00 pm The Gould's Turkey in Southeast Arizona - John Millican
John will speak about the Gould's Turkey, its introduction into Southeast Arizona and the many activities that have led up to this species being translocated into 6 sky island mountain ranges. The conservation efforts that he will talk about have made this a true success story, and have allowed Arizona to take the lead in Gould's Turkey management.

Hummingbirds of the U.S. - Charles Melton
Thursday,1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Hummingbirds are fascinating creatures and southeast Arizona is one of the best areas in the U.S. to view them. This video program provides information on identification tips, range, habitat preferences, and migration patterns for most of the species occurring in the U.S. Behaviors such as nesting, feeding, bathing, courtship, territorial defense, singing and many others will be shown. Information on where to view hummingbirds in the area will also be discussed.

National Wildlife Refuges of Cochise County - Chris Lohrengel
Thursday, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Cochise County, Arizona contains some of the most abundant and unique fish and wildlife in the nation. San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge and Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge are two special areas in southeast Arizona administered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service that were set aside to help recover several federally-listed threatened and endangered species. At least 320 bird species have been confirmed on the refuges, including many nesting species. In addition, 63 mammal, 42 reptile, 13 amphibian, and 8 fish species have been documented. The refuges lie within the Rio Yaqui Basin, a large watershed that drains portions of Arizona, New Mexico, Sonora, and Chihuahua. Come hear and see why these refuges were established, what fish and wildlife they protect, how the areas are managed, and learn how you can visit and enjoy them.

Birding by Ear - Rick Romea
Thursday,3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Ever wonder what the bird guides mean when they say: a noisy twittering call or a thin whistle? Or, how about dry chip or liquid trill? In the first hour of this program, we will start to develop a common language to describe bird vocalizations, using examples from common southwest birds. We will learn to characterize bird sounds as to common types and sound qualities. Then we will introduce some of the simple tricks that take the mystery out of birding by ear, including: name-saying, mnemonics and memory tricks, cadence, and sound quality tip-offs. In the second hour, we'll examine several sound groups, including robin sound-alike birds trilling birds, and mockers.

Arizona Dragonflies 101 - Rich Bailowitz
Thursday, 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 pm
Southeastern Arizona's wetland habitats include canyon streams, ponds, reservoirs, rain pools, irrigated fields and spring-fed cienegas. All of these offer a rich, colorful, and initially confusing assortment of dragonflies and damsel-flies. Several new field guides and the advent of close-focus binoculars have encouraged birders and butterflyers to turn their optics toward these fascinating aquatic insects. After explaining the benefits of watching them, Bob will present an introduction to Arizona-s dragons and damsels, differentiating the characteristics of the two groups, discussing something of their life history, behavior and habitats, and providing some suggestions for recognizing them in the field.

FRIDAY - AUGUST 5, 2010 FREE PROGRAMS Horace Steele Room Registration Desk Open 5:00 am - 6:00 pm

Ups and Downs of the Flycatchers of Southeastern Arizona - Homer Hansen
Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 am
This free classroom session will be followed by a paid Field Trip. See Field Trip Section for cost and detail. Identification of flycatchers is one of the great challenges of birding. This presentation will focus on characteristics, behaviors, and other clues to the identification of the flycatchers of southeast Arizona. This detailed presentation will be useful for the expert and beginner alike. Both visual and audio presentations will be given for those really interested in learning about flycatchers.

Veteran snake handler - John Porter
Friday, 9:00-10:00 am
Veteran snake handler John Porter is a self-taught herpetologist who has been handling venomous snakes for 35 years. He has handled 100s of snakes in the interest of science and survived 14 venomous rattlesnake bites. During this presentation John takes us through a documented account of his latest snakebite and why this one resulted in the loss of a finger. Along the way you will learn about identification and safety in wilderness snake encounters.

Geology and Groundwater of the San Pedro Valley - Sandy Kunzer
Friday, 10:00 am - 11:00 am
A non-technical PowerPoint presentation for birders, gardeners and anyone who drinks water or bathes, this program will include live demonstrations and emphasize the intimate connection between geology and the many activities that all of us enjoy, as well as our critical daily requirements.

Ants of Southern Arizona - Dwight Long
Friday, 11:00 am - 12:00 noon
Join Dwight Long, a local photographer and Friends of the San Pedro docent, for a presentation geared toward those who would like to know more about the fascinating and often ignored world of ants. The program will cover the behavior and interactions of the more prominent ants found in southern Arizona and the San Pedro River area. Dwight will use information obtained from local experts and leading entomologists and his own observations supplemented with amazing close-up photos. Most of the discussion will cover local ant species such as the harvester ant, spine-waisted ant, field ant, army ant, leaf cutter ant, honey ant, and more. Some material may also cover non-local and exotic tropical species if time permits.

Native American Cultures - Eric Kaldahl
Friday, 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm,
Southeast Arizona archaeology is some of the most important in the country. In this talk, archaeologist Eric Kaldahl talks about important Native American and Spanish archaeological sites from ancient Clovis times (11,000 B.C.) through the Spanish Colonial period (AD 1500s-1800s). He also discusses the role of southeast Arizona's Amerind Foundation archaeologists in studying the history of the region.

Arizona's Mammals - Jeff Babson
Friday, 1:00 - 2:00 pm,
Arizona is home to over 135 species of mammals. Everything from tiny desert shrews and western pipistrelles to elk and jaguar reside in the state. In this presentation, Jeff Babson gives an overview of the mammalian diversity in the Grand Canyon State. Did you know that four species of skunk are found here? Or that a site in southeastern Arizona has recorded more bat species than any other location in North America? This talk will offer an informative introduction to our furred brethren that also call Arizona home.

Reptiles and Amphibians - Tom Miscione
Friday, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Learn about the Reptiles and Amphibians of southeastern Arizona from a reptile nut! Through photos and live animals, by hands-on experience and humor, find out how to understand and appreciate the beauty, habits, and habitats of these misunderstood desert creatures.

Protecting the World's Northernmost Jaguars - The Northern Jaguar Project, Diana Hadley
Friday, 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Renowned for their power, strength, beauty, and grace, jaguars once roamed across much of the southern United States. Today, these magnificent predators are vanishing throughout the Americas. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands. Removed from their historic northern range by poaching and habitat destruction, jaguars have all but disappeared from this part of their territory. Dozens of jaguars have been killed just south of the U.S.-Mexico border in the last decade alone. Join members of the Northern Jaguar Project to discover what is being done to help them survive.

Nectar Feeding Bats - Ronnie Sidner PhD
Friday, 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
People in southeastern Arizona keep asking about the disappearance of sugar water from their hummingbird feeders at night. They should just go out to see what's happening. Two species of nectar-feeding bats visit southern Arizona from April through October each year. In spring and early summer they bear and raise one young while feeding on nectar and pollen from saguaros and organ pipe cactus. In August mother bats and grown young fatten up on agave juice (and sugar-water from your feeders) before migrating back to Mexico. Come learn about these two remarkable species of bats.

Photo Workshop in Classroom - Tom Whetten and George Andrejko
Friday, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00p.m.
Enthusiastic wildlife photographer Tom Whetten, retired from the Arizona Department of Game and Fish, will discuss tips for improving your photography skills in this two-hour PowerPoint presentation. Check out Toms's website at www.wildlifephototour.com to see the kinds of fantastic pictures that you, too, can take. George's's work can be seen on the Arizona Game and Fish website

FRIDAY - AUGUST 5, 2010 Student Union Community Room

Movie- Mating for Life - Cindy Stillwell
Friday, 7:00p.m.
Part first person essay, part nature film, Mating for Life is an hour-long documentary that features the yearly migration of half a million Sandhill Cranes to the Platte River in central Nebraska. The film positions the journey of the cranes alongside the human search for meaning as we move into the second half, meditating on turning forty, the lessons learned and our human ability to mate for life. Cindy Stillwell's work has screened at venues worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Sundance Film Festival, the Walker Art Center, and the International Film Festival of Rotterdam. She has been awarded residencies at MacDowell, the Ucross Foundation and the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation. Stillwell received an MFA from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She teaches film production in the School of Film and Photography at Montana State University in Bozeman, MT. Note: $5 admission. Questions and discussion to follow

SATURDAY - AUGUST 6, 2010 FREE PROGRAMS

Horace Steele Room Registration Desk Open 5:00 am to 6:00 pm

Clovis Culture - Sandy Kunzer, Perrie Barnes
Saturday, 8:00 am - 11:30 am
Perrie Barnes, anthropologist, and geologist Sandy Kunzer will take us on an exciting trip to 13,000 years ago to meet the people and animals that occupied our San Pedro Valley. Explore with them the science and controversies of the Clovis people, where they came from, how and why they disappeared and what effects they may have had on the associated megafauna, which disappeared at the same time. A multimedia presentation will precede a free walking trip at Murray Springs, one of the most easily accessible Clovis sites on the continent. This session starts in the classroom and is followed by a carpool to explore some of the discoveries and controversies regarding one of the earliest cultures of North America. Be prepared for sun with little shade and some rough trails on the approximately 1 mile walk (hat, other appropriate clothing and shoes, sunscreen and water highly recommended).

Arizona Ghost Towns and Mining Camps - Bob Graff
Saturday, 9:30 am - 11:00 am
This program takes a quick tour of the heritage of mining and living in early Arizona. We visit the people, places and culture of this industrial period in Arizona and America, which lead to fabulous fortunes for some and utter despair for others. We will discuss living and working conditions experienced by all classes, the tools and techniques for extracting minerals from the harsh Arizona landscape, and the extremes people went through to recover the wealth of the earth.

Beavers of the San Pedro - Mike Foster
Saturday, 12:00 noon 1:00 pm,
In 1999 the Bureau of Land Management and the Arizona Game and Fish Department reintroduced fifteen beaver to the San Pedro River near Hereford, Arizona. Mike Foster, videographer for the Friends of the San Pedro River, describes his first hand observations, based on hundreds of daylong hikes, of beaver activity in the San Pedro River Natural Conservation Area. He will show the video he made about the reintroduction of the beaver, discuss how the beaver are doing, and describe their habits. Be prepared to see the only known quality video of beaver on the San Pedro River.

Hummingbirds 101 - Tom Wood - Sheri Williamson
Saturday, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 pm
From their insect-like flight to the brilliant iridescence of their plumage, hummingbirds have long fascinated birders and non-birders alike. In this program, Tom Wood of the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory answers many of the most common questions about these often misunderstood birds, including how to attract and feed them and how scientists are revealing new and surprising information about their behavior and adaptations. This program will be followed by a carpool to the San Pedro House to observe up-close as researchers from the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory capture, band, and record data in their fifteenth season studying the importance of the San Pedro River as a migration corridor and nesting area for hummingbirds. This is a fabulous opportunity to see hummers up close - bring your camera! There is no charge for this program and pre-registration is not required. However, donations are gratefully accepted. Hummingbird adoptions will also be available. Meet Sheri and Tom at the San Pedro House (carpool).

From River to Peaks - Flowers (and a Few Other Things) of the Area - Betsy Kunzer
Saturday, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Take a virtual trip with Betsy Kunzer, starting in the Upper San Pedro River Valley and moving vertically upward into the surrounding mountains. This is the equivalent of a trip through a great variety of habitats, from the lowlands of northern Mexico to the peaks of the Colorado Rockies. From riverside through scrubland, grassland, oak woodland and spruce-fir forest, each habitat has its own peculiarities. This photo-program explores this variety, emphasizing flowers but sneaking in a few animals, ecology and other things along the way.

Malpai Borderlands Group - Bill McDonald
Saturday, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
The Malpai Borderlands Group is a landowner-driven nonprofit organization attempting to implement ecosystem management on nearly one million acres of virtually un-fragmented open-space landscape in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. The Malpai includes the San Bernardino Valley, the Peloncillo Mountains, the Animas Valley and the Animas Mountains. It is roughly pyramid-shaped, with the base of the pyramid beginning just east of Douglas, Arizona along the Mexican Border and extending to just west of Antelope Wells, New Mexico. The apex is just south of Animas, New Mexico. Bill will present an overview of the area and the efforts made by the group.

Tongues, Toes, and Tales of Arizona's Woodpeckers - Stephen Shunk
Saturday, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Imagine, for a moment, slamming your face into a brick wall at 16 miles per hour. This self-destructive (and foolish) act would require a force of about 1,200 Gs, almost certainly resulting in your death. Yet, a woodpecker can exert the same force up to 20 times per second, and as many as 12,000 times per day, pounding its head against trees! The woodpeckers anatomy is perfectly suited for its climbing and excavating lifestyle. Some woodpecker species also possess unique adaptations for aerial acrobatics, for drilling sap wells, or for extracting ants from their underground burrows. Woodpecker natural history and behavior show amazing specialization, making them one of the most fascinating of all the world's bird families. Join woodpecker expert Steve Shunk to learn what makes woodpeckers work.

SATURDAY - AUGUST 6, 2010 FREE PROGRAMS Room 900

Arizona Climate Unraveled - Glenn Minuth
Saturday, 8:30 am - 10:00 am
"Arizona Climate Unraveled"--Arizona certainly has more to offer than just a dry climate, with little rainfall. What city in the state receives more hours of sunshine than any other US city? Temperatures vary greatly from place to place, season to season, and day to night. There are major contrasts to be recognized for instance, between Yuma, in the southwestern desert range and Flagstaff, in the interior uplands, but do you know why? Find out where the maximum recorded temperature (128 F) was registered and the minimum, -40 F. Where are precipitation records set in our state? Why couldn't airliners take off on the hottest day ever in Phoenix? We will examine the spatial relationships of the many climate variables, such as sunshine amounts, humidity, precipitation, elevation impact, tornado occurrence, and the ugly statistical patterns of death from climatic factors in our state. You walk away with full knowledge of not only how to portray our state's climate, but more importantly, why it happens.

Geology of the Huachucas - Glenn Minuth
Saturday, 10:30 am - 4:00 pm
Geology of the Huachuca Mountains (Part II)--picks up where last year's trip left off to demonstrate a variety of geologic conditions in our backyard mountain range. Visit sites of debris flows to learn how they operate in the fire-flood cycle; discover how stream piracy (capture) occurred in one of the master drainage channels in the range; and place your hands directly on an ancient thrust fault scarp, plus a surprise topic of local interest. Water provided--if you bring a container. Difficulty: one mile R/T loop, off-trail hike (rated easy- slightly moderate) from vehicles at one stop. Easier shorter walks at other stops. SPECIAL NOTE: Due to part of this tour being on Fort Huachuca, an active military base, participation is limited to US Citizens. YOU MUST BRING: two picture IDs for passengers and driver, proof of insurance, car registration and drivers license. Lunch will be on post at a small food court or bring a lunch. (carpool).

Beginning Birding for All Ages - Tom Clancy
Saturday, 11:00 am - 12:00 noon
If you'd like to become a birder, or you're a beginner who wants to improve your birding skills, then this is the workshop for you. You'll learn what Tom, an intermediate birder, has learned by trial and error, but you'll learn it in a much shorter period of time. Tom's PowerPoint presentation will include: The basics of adjusting binoculars to fit your personal use, a discussion on field guides and clothing, what beginning birders need to know, and a discussion on basic bird identification using the GISS approach (General Impression of Size and Shape). Following the presentation, we will take a short field trip around the campus to see and learn about some of our resident birds. Tom will also give you some pointers on how to make your birding time more enjoyable and productive.

Cross Border Wildlife Corridors - Valer Austin
Saturday, 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm
Join Valer Austin as she shares her life's work in restoring watersheds in Arizona and northern Mexico - the habitat for many of the birds, mammals, and reptiles that are native to this area. She will describe the efforts of the Cuenca los Ojos Foundation that works collaboratively with governmental and other non-profit groups to restore upland grasslands and the cross-border wildlife corridors that support species diversity and migration on both sides of the border.

The Chiricahua Apaches in Myth and History - Becky Orozco
Saturday, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
As the last Native American group to reach a peace accord with the US government, the Chiricahua Apache were often featured in the press of the day. Famous warriors such as Geronimo and Naiche were photographed many times. This presentation contains a collection of historic photos from the late 1800s depicting the end of an era.

La Frontera, a History of the Border - Becky Orozco
Saturday, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Our history here on the border is inextricably linked to that of Mexico. This is an overview of the past 500 years of shared heritage in a region that changed from Northern New Spain through Mexican rule and ultimately to the establishment of today's contentious border.

Return of Arizona's Black-tailed Prairie Dog - Glen Dickens
Saturday, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
The recorded history of prairie dogs in Arizona began in the late 18th century with extensive population control efforts by land owners/lessees and federal and state animal control agents. By the 1960's these control efforts resulted in the complete extirpation of the Black-tailed species within its former 1.4 million acre range of southeast Arizona. In 2008, following an arduous 12-step public/biological process spanning more than 10 years, the Arizona Game and Fish Department began reintroductions of this keystone grasslands species. This presentation will give a history of the loss and steps to the eventual return of the Black-tailed Prairie Dog to southeast Arizona, and includes multiple photos of the first soft release.

CANCELLED The Arizona Game and Fish Department's Ornate Box Turtle Watch: How Birders Can Help Box Turtles -
Audrey Owens
Saturday,4:00 pm - 5:00 pm,
Ornate box turtles remain understudied in Arizona's grasslands, mainly because finding them is often a matter of being in the right place at the right time. For this reason, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has started an Ornate Box Turtle Watch program, which seeks input from the public on when and where box turtles are encountered in the wild. Because birders spend time in box turtle habitat, you will be an important resource for this program. Find out about how you can participate in the program, as well as everything you ever wondered about ornate box turtle natural history, what is known about their populations in Arizona, and rules and regulations pertaining to the species.

SATURDAY - AUGUST 6, 2010 FREE PROGRAMS Student Union Dining Room

Ethnobotany, Vincent Pinto
Saturday, 8:30 am - 10:30 am
Ethnobotanist and Naturalist Vincent Pinto will guide you in discovering some of the amazing and useful plants of the Sky Island's region. Venturing into several habitat types, you'll soon discover how to find, identify, collect, and use a wide variety of native plants. Plant uses will include wild edible plants, rope-making, medicinal plants, fire-making (without matches!), shelters, tools, glue, and more! You'll even get to try your hand at several skills during your time in the field. Be sure to pack a lunch and bring water bottles (Carpool; Maximum of 12 participants).

Birding with Hearing Loss - Scott Wiedensaul
Saturday, 11:00 am - 12:00 noon
What? I Don't Hear a Bird. Good birders use their ears almost as much (maybe more) than their eyes - yet many of us suffer from hearing loss, and miss out on a lot of what happens when we're birding. Author and naturalist Scott Wiedensaul - who uses hearing aids himself - explores how hearing loss impacts our birding, and cuts through some of the confusion surrounding aids and gizmos that may or may not help in the field.