Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival: Sedona Wetlands & Red Rock State Park Field Trip

The use of man-made water treatment plants as birding sites by creating artificial wetlands has proven to be the source of excellent birding across the country, especially when they are planned to provide rich habitat. The City of Sedona, in keeping with the natural beauty of the area, has not only taken care of the basic needs of the public but has done so with nature in mind. The birding is excellent and with a local expert to lead you into this normally restricted area, you should be able to add many species to your day’s list. From there we go to Red Rock State Park and check out the riparian habitat along Oak Creek that’s included in the Oak Creek IBA. Rating: 3 Transportation: Vans Meal: Bring your own lunch Trip Guide: Tim Weber A New-Englander by birth, Tim grew up hiking over the cranberry bogs, barrier beaches and sand bars of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. At Middlebury College in Vermont, he began to hike, bike, camp and study the Green Mountains. Inspired by a flying squirrel and a hawk, he became enthralled by the world of nature and wildlife. Years later, he earned a Master of Science in Wildlife Management from Humboldt State University where he studied the habitat of the reclusive northern goshawk in California. He then spent the better part of 20 years working as a biologist with the government, private industry, and non- profit organizations. Since moving to Flagstaff, Arizona in 2004, Tim has birded extensively in Arizona for work and pleasure. He visits the Sky Islands in southern Arizona annually and has guided at the Verde Valley Bird and Nature Festival since 2013. In 2016, Tim’s dream of starting a birdwatching tour company came to fruition. Birding Northern Arizona, LLC received an outfitters and guide permit to lead birdwatching walks on the Coconino National Forest in Sedona and Flagstaff, and beginning in 2024, Grand Canyon National Park. BNAZ is the only permitted and insured tour company in Northern Arizona dedicated to year-round birdwatching! BNAZ customizes each trip, offering easy and flat walks for a few hours, or an all-day adventure for the extreme birder. Let’s Bird the Heck out of it! He now leads professionally through his guiding business: Birding Northern Arizona Assistant Trip Guide: Abby Confer Abby has lived in Arizona since the mid 1990s and went to university at NAU in Flagstaff. She started birding as a way to reduce stress and got hooked. Birdwatching brings her great joy. Each adventure offers the opportunity to learn, see new places, connect with people, and have a great time along the way. Abby currently lives on the south rim of the Grand Canyon National Park with her husband and charismatic great dane.         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.