Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival: Advanced Bird ID – Identification of Arizona’s Diurnal Raptors

Have you ever wanted to sharpen your raptor identification skills? If so, this is the workshop for you! Raptor biologist Steve Hoffman will provide a detailed discussion of the identification and natural history information of all the diurnal raptor species (e.g., kites, harriers, hawks, eagles, falcons, etc.) regularly found in Arizona. Steve’s powerpoint-assisted presentation will include limited discussion of plumage variations (including color morphs, age and sex details, etc.). Helpful flight characteristics and/or behavioral clues will also be mentioned, as appropriate. Arizona’s “specialties” (e.g., Black Vulture, California Condor, White-tailed & Mississippi kites, Gray Hawk, Common Black Hawk, Zone-tailed Hawk, Short-tailed Hawk, Harris’s Hawk and Crested Caracara) will be included. This presentation will be especially valuable for “beginner” and “intermediate” raptor enthusiasts. Cost: $30 Speaker: Steve Hoffman Conservationist, Founder, HawkWatch International Steve has devoted his entire 45-year career to wildlife conservation. After 10 years of government service (primarily as an Endangered Species Biologist for the US Fish & Wildlife Service in the American Southwest), in 1986 Steve founded HawkWatch International. He has authored more than 50 publications/manuscripts on raptor migration, ecology and conservation, and endangered species management. Steve continues to coordinate the local Bridger Raptor Migration Project (through Bozeman-based Sacajawea Audubon Society), and also runs his own nature-based tour company, Merlin Birding & Nature Tours, LLC (headquartered in Bozeman). Steve has given dozens of public presentations on the identification, natural history, migration and conservation of North American raptors. He received his Master’s degree in Wildlife Ecology from Utah State University (1979). Location: Cottonwood Community Clubhouse 805 N Main St, Cottonwood, AZ 86326         Part of the Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival It’s the 2024 Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival! In 2024, join us as we explore the theme of migration and its impact on riparian areas in our environment. Our keynote speaker, Richard Crossley, will lead discussions, and the featured bird for the year is the common black hawk. The Free Family Nature Festival at the Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival will be in the lagoon area on Saturday, April 27th from 9am to 3pm. There will be armchair birding and guided bird walks all across the Verde Valley from April 25th - 28th that you do need to register for.