Southwest Wings Birding and Nature Festival is Arizona’s oldest birding festival. Since 1991 we’ve been offering small group trips through monsoons and droughts … and even a global pandemic. 

​

The Southwest Wings Spring Fling will run from Wednesday May 3 to Saturday May 6, 2023 with a welcome pre-festival Jamboree on Tuesday May 2.  The Jamboree runs from 4.30-5.30 pm at Cochise College Sierra Vista Campus, Student Center, Bldg 1000. See map.

​

                   

​

FIELD TRIPS

 

Spring Fling 2023 will be mainly Group Van Field Trips to more distant and less accessible locations with a small number of small car-caravan style guided field trips in participants' own vehicles. 

 

For descriptions of all of the field trips please click here.

​

SAFETY PROTOCOLS –

 

With your wellbeing in mind during these present-day travel conditions, Spring Fling 2023 will operate with common sense health and safety protocols*. You'll have options to join our classic Group Vans or car-caravan style guided field trips in participants' own vehicles. The vans allow access to more remote or less accessible by car-caravan locations.

 

* For Group Van participants, face masks are now optional. However we respect others' choices to wear them, if they wish. If you are feeling unwell on trip day, we ask that you please do not participate in a Group Van departure. Thank you. 

​

Vans (and Car Caravan guide's car) will be stocked with hand sanitizers, antiseptic wipes, first aid kits and extra masks and each van will be cleaned and sanitized daily. 

​​

LOGISTICS -

 

VAN TRIPS will be limited to nine participants (plus guide) and will meet and depart from Cochise College Sierra Vista Campus. Lunch and water are included in van trips and sandwich filling can be chosen when registering.

 

SELF-DRIVE CAR CARAVAN TRIPS will be limited to a maximum of four cars (plus the guide's) and eight participants (plus guide), unless stated otherwise. Each car caravan will have a set meeting point and time to meet your guide. Out of consideration for all trip members, the guide and the scheduled itinerary plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before start time to avoid any disappointments. If more than one site is visited then cars will follow the guide's lead car to each birding location. Your guide will make sure that phone numbers are exchanged and in case of becoming separated you will be told the next stop on your itinerary. On car caravan trips food and personal water are not included. Be sure to bring plenty of your own water, and for full-day trips you will also need to bring your own lunch. 

​

FIELD TRIP PRICES 2023

 

CAR CARAVAN

Full day                       $75

Half day                      $50

Night trip                    $40

 

GROUP VAN

Full Day                      $110

Half Day                     $75

Double Overnight     $520 (single supplement $130)

​

​

CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY

​

• The online registration fee ($15) is non-refundable.

• Cancellations received by March 1, 2023 will be refunded less a 10% processing fee.

• Cancellations between March 2 and April 1, 2023 will be refunded 50% of the amount paid.

• No refunds will be issued after April 1, 2023.

• If you need to cancel after April 1 please contact us and we can arrange a 25% discount on a future Southwest Wings.

• Southwest Wings reserves the right to cancel or revise any event for any reason. If it becomes necessary to cancel a field trip for which you have a reservation, we will notify you and offer a full refund or different trip.

• No refunds will be issued for no-shows.

​