SOUTHWEST WINGS
Birding and Nature Festival in Sierra Vista, Arizona
Greatest Little Birding Festival in the United States - since 1991
Our mission is to promote nature-based tourism and environmental awareness in southeastern Arizona
30th ANNIVERSARY
Summer FestivalÂ
August 4 - 7, 2021
In August, for our 30th Anniversary Summer Festival, we have planned a "hybrid" festival with small-group, Covid-safe, caravan style guided field trips in participants' own vehicles (no group vans). We will also have online virtual speaker talks and presentations (live and pre-recorded) including guest speakers Scott Weidensaul, Rick Wright and Alvaro Jaramillo.
There will be no indoor activities such as registration, pre-festival Jamboree, our talks, Keynote Speaker dinner or vendor/exhibit floor in the college library. We had considered a one-day outdoor version of that, but the logistics and possibility of winds and monsoon preclude it.
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FIeLD TRIPS
Full details of the Summer Festival field trips can be found using the menu bar above, together with the guide bios, field trips tips, information about the festival artist this year, and details of what is available for purchase in our online shop. To find out which trips are still available before registering, click the Register here now button above (Registration now closed).
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field trip costs
Our 2021 Field Trip prices per person are:
Overnight (two days) $210-245
Full Day $65
Half Day $45
Night Trip $35
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Price does not include lunch (apart from S1) - for full-day trips you must bring your own lunch and water. Overnights include lodging but meals are not included unless otherwise stated.
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Remember all Field Trips begin from different meeting points - make sure you know both the place and time.
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Registration, Check in, Fort Access and Refunds
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2021 Festival Registration
From May 8 you will be able to register online for the 2021 summer field trips. Before that time you will be able to view up-to-date information about the field trips via our sneak peek on the website. The reservation system provides you with your festival itinerary and a registration code. You can go back to the registration system and make any changes you might need. The $15 online registration fee is non-refundable. If you need help please contact us: admin@swwings.org
2021 check in
There is no in-person check in this year. It is the responsibility of the trip participants to be at the field trip meeting point at the right time, to check-in with the guide.
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2021 Cancellation and Refund Policy
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The online registration fee ($15) is non-refundable.
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Cancellations received by June 1, 2021 will be refunded less a 10% processing fee.
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Cancellations for day trips between June 2 and July 1 refunds will be refunded 50% of the amount paid.
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No refunds will be issued after July 1, 2021.
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If you need to cancel after July 1 contact us and we can arrange a 25% discount on a future Southwest Wings.
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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.
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No refunds will be issued for no-shows.
Birding on fort huachuca: security and access information
You'll need a visitor access approval for your trip at Fort Huachuca. If you haven't already done so please plan to have your approved Visitor ID card in hand for the start of the trip. It is processed in person at the Visitor Control Center located at the Van Deman Gate. They do a quick background check, take a photo and issue an ID card.
You can access the required form to complete ahead of time on their website.
https://home.army.mil/huachuca/index.php/about/Garrison/DES/physical-security/visitor-access
The Visitor Control Center at Fort Huachuca is open to vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles 24/7. It is located at the Van Deman Gate, Hatfield Street (not the Buffalo Soldier Gate). Follow signs to Fort Huachuca, Van Deman Gate from the junction of Hwy 90 and Buffalo Soldier Trail.
For further assistance please contact the Visitor Control Center 520.454.2323 directly.
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lodging
Be sure to make any lodging reservations well in advance. We urge you to make any lodging reservations as early as you can.
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We recommend you try:
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Best Western, Sierra Vista is offering special rates during Southwest Wings Summer Festival.
Standard King size rooms. These rooms usually go for $159 + tax but they are happy to offer a discounted rate of $129 + tax for the folks attending the festival.
Be sure to mention you are an attendee when booking your rooms.
Best Western Plus Sun Canyon
260 N. Garden Ave.
Sierra Vista, AZ. 85635
520-335-0403
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THANK YOU FOr Your Support!
Southwest Wings Birding Festival is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization. Will you help its mission to promote nature-based tourism and environmental awareness in southeastern Arizona? Because the natural world needs all the help it can get from caring people like you.
