Silent Auction

During the Keynote Dinner on Thursday, Aug 4, a silent auction will be held to raise funds for future festivals. Items being auctioned are nature-themed artwork, books, clothing, as well as local restaurant and lodging discounts. All items can be viewed here on our website and during the first day of the vendor hall open hours on Wednesday, Aug 3 and Thursday Aug 4 before the Keynote Dinner.

Winning bidder will be announced at the end of the Keynote dinner. Please pay for the item with cash or credit card and take the item at that time. Other than gift cards/lodging discounts, no items will be mailed or delivered.

AUCTION LOTS

Please revisit this page as items are being added all of the time.

SA1 - Acorn Woodpecker, original art

This 16” x 20” original acrylic-on-canvas painted by Lisa (Wren) Walraven was donated to the Southwest Wings Nature Festival silent auction many years ago by Wren and her husband/bird tour leader Wezil Walraven. The painting has been enjoyed for many years and now finds its way back to the 2022 silent auction to support the festival.

SA2 - New birding vest

This is a new birding vest, women's size small.

SA3 - Lucifer Hummingbird photo

16” x 11” color print (in 22” x 17” black frame) of male Lucifer hummingbird photographed by Stan Tekiela in a Hereford garden for one of his many Arizona natural history books.

SA4 - Hummingbird Kitchen Towel

New 100% cotton flour sacking kitchen towel with drawings of nine southwest hummingbirds.

SA5 - Life of the Flycatcher, book

A new copy of Life of the Flycatcher (1997, paperback) written by Alexander Skutch with drawings by Dana Gardner.

SA6 - Moonlit Critters, print

Lisa (Wren) Walraven 4”x4” print of artwork “Moonlit Critters” and three bird magnets. Wren’s whimsical paintings of local wildlife have been featured on several past festival T-shirts.

SA7 - When Birds are Near, book

A new copy of When Birds are Near (2020, paperback), a collection of essays: some whimsical, some serious by ornithologists, hobby birders, and tour leaders including local guide Bob Behrstock who chronicles an adventure in Panama.

SA8 - Birdlife of Houston, Galveston and the Upper Texas Coast, book

A new copy of Birdlife of Houston, Galveston, and the Upper Texas Coast (2006, hardcover) by Eubanks, Behrstock, and Weeks. An ornithological and historic perspective for one of the country’s richest and most popular birding venues.

SA9 - Print of Joshua Kydd poster

A 7"x11" print of a Sierra Vista: Hummingbird Capital of America poster by famous artist Joshua Kydd.

SA10 - Desert Dreams: Celebrating Five Seasons in the Sonoran Desert

A new copy of the award-winning DVD donated by film-maker Thomas Wiewandt. This 52-minute multimedia tapestry showcases 182 species of Sonoran Desert plants and animals in a five-season chronology.

SA11 - Casa de San Pedro Bed and Breakfast

This long-time supporter of Southwest Wings, Casa San Pedro Bed and Breakfast is donating a gift certificate for one free night, which includes a gourmet (and may I add delicious!) breakfast.

SA12 - Bridled Titmouse print

Local nature artist, Linda Feltner, is donating one of her lovely Bridled Titmouse prints (5/150). Linda’s scientifically accurate drawings of local birds have been featured on several past festival T-shirts.

SA13 - Life of the San Pedro River, book

The San Pedro House bookstore is donating a new signed paperback copy of The Life of the San Pedro River, a naturalist’s account of an iconic desert river and its watershed, written by local naturalist Ralph Waldt, published in 2020.

SA14 - Ramsey Canyon Inn - two nights

The Ramsey Canyon Inn is donating a gift certificate for two nights of lodging at their beautiful bed and breakfast bordering the Nature Conservancy's Ramsey Canyon Preserve.

SA15 - Fabric bird patches

Eleven fabric patches of North American warblers, many designed by local artist Linda Feltner, made for High Island in Texas. These collectors items are issued annually by Houston Audubon Society and these badges range from 1993 to 2017.

SA16 - Bird walk with Kathe Anderson

Kathe Anderson, a long-time enthusiastic supporter and tour leader for this festival, is donating a personal bird walk led by her for up to four people at the fabulous Boyce Thompson Arboretum, just 30 minutes from Mesa, Arizona. Admission, bird checklist, snacks and water included, date and time to be arranged by the bidder.

SA17 - SE Arizona Bird DVDs

Local nature photographer, Charles Melton, is donating DVDs of the four extraordinary videos he produced after many years of patiently observing and filming wild, free-flying birds in the Huachuca Mountains of Arizona and other hummingbird hotspots.

SA18 and SA19 - Ramsey Canyon Inn famous pie

The Ramsey Canyon Inn is also donating two famous blue ribbon pies baked by Executive Chef Glenn. There are 21 specialty pies to choose from, baked to order. (The two certificates will be bid on individually.)

SA20 - Pizzeria Mimosa gift card and wine

Pizzeria Mimosa, Hereford is donating a $50 gift card and 1.5L bottle of Principato red blend wine. Indoor and outdoor seating (with mountain views) serving delicious, authentic Italian food. Once you walk in, you will forget you are in a small rural town in SE Arizona.

SA21 - 8x42 Diamondback Vortex Binoculars

Jay’s Bird Barn, Prescott AZ, a multi-year vendor at this festival, is generously donating new 8x42 Vortex Diamondback binoculars.

SA22 - Blue Jay Bola Tie

Long-time festival attendees have donated a beautiful Bolo Tie with inlaid turquoise Blue Jays, made by Harlan Coonsis, a well-known and highly respected artist of the Zuni Pueblo.

SA23 - Ace gift basket

Sierra Vista Ace Hardware, locally owned and operated since 1981 by community supporters, is kindly donating a $100 gift basket, including a hummingbird rain chain and other items.

SA24 - Bird puppets

A local bird lover and nature educator is donating several bird puppets and nature-related items.

SA25 - Carved Stone Owl

Another donation from long-time festival attendees. This beautifully carved stone owl was made by stone masons building a church they came across in their travels around Mexico.