Tucson is the gateway to birding in southeastern Arizona. The area south and east of Tucson is considered one of the top five birding destinations in the entire United States.

I am excited to announce that the Tucson Audubon Society will be hosting its first-ever Tucson Bird & Wildlife Festival, which will run from Aug. 17 - 21 at the Riverpark Inn near downtown Tucson. There is a link on my website (www.jaysbirdbarn.com) to the Tucson Audubon Society if you would like to obtain more information or register.
The format for this event is similar to other Tucson is the gateway to birding in southeastern Arizona. The area south and east of Tucson is considered one of the top five birding destinations in the entire United States.

I am excited to announce that the Tucson Audubon Society will be hosting its first-ever Tucson Bird & Wildlife Festival, which will run from Aug. 17 - 21 at the Riverpark Inn near downtown Tucson. There is a link on my website (www.jaysbirdbarn.com) to the Tucson Audubon Society if you would like to obtain more information or register.
The format for this event is similar to other birding and nature festivals. There will be workshops, seminars and field trips to fabulous birding destinations. The keynote speaker for this inaugural year will be author, naturalist and conservationist Ken Kaufmann.

Among the many rare and exotic species southeastern Arizona is famous for is the elegant trogon. Some of the field trips being offered will provide you with a good chance of seeing this tropical species.

However, the family of birds that southeastern Arizona is most famous for is hummingbirds. At least 15 different hummingbird species have been documented in this part of the state - which is three times more than the variety of hummingbirds we see here in the Central Highlands of Arizona.

Birding in and around Tucson is very near and dear to me. Though I was born in Massachusetts, I was raised in Tucson. My first four years in Tucson, from age six until I was 10, were spent at a private boarding school for asthmatic children. It was while I lived at this school that my love of nature and birds took flight.

After my family joined me in Tucson, my love of birds grew tremendously when a neighbor discovered that I was very interested in birds. She invited me to attend Tucson Audubon Society meetings and field trips. From that point on, I was hooked!

If you have ever been in our Prescott store, you may have seen the "storyboard" of my life - a collection of pictures that one of my sisters put together illustrating my interest and love of nature from an early age. Many of these pictures show me as a young man running about with binoculars around my neck and my Peterson field guide in hand.

It was in Tucson that I had the privilege of going birding with some amazing birders, such as Eddie Chalif, who served as president of the Tucson Audubon Society Chapter when I was a teenager. Eddie co-authored the book "A Field Guide to Mexican Birds" with Roger Tory Peterson.

After the book was published, the University of Arizona hosted a book-signing event where I had the opportunity of meeting my idol, Roger Tory Peterson. I cherish this autographed book and feel grateful that I had the opportunity to meet Peterson - with whom I coincidentally share the same birthdate.

My early birding experiences in Tucson set the course for the rest of my life. To this day, Tucson has a special place in my heart. When I go there, even though I do not have family there anymore, it is still like going home. I love the mountains and the desert, the plants, the smells - all of those things that trigger memories of my childhood.

I encourage you to consider attending the first year of this new birding festival. I am sure it is destined to become one of the truly great birding festivals in the country, just by its location alone.
ing and nature festivals. There will be workshops, seminars and field trips to fabulous birding destinations. The keynote speaker for this inaugural year will be author, naturalist and conservationist Ken Kaufmann.

Among the many rare and exotic species southeastern Arizona is famous for is the elegant trogon. Some of the field trips being offered will provide you with a good chance of seeing this tropical species.

However, the family of birds that southeastern Arizona is most famous for is hummingbirds. At least 15 different hummingbird species have been documented in this part of the state - which is three times more than the variety of hummingbirds we see here in the Central Highlands of Arizona.

Birding in and around Tucson is very near and dear to me. Though I was born in Massachusetts, I was raised in Tucson. My first four years in Tucson, from age six until I was 10, were spent at a private boarding school for asthmatic children. It was while I lived at this school that my love of nature and birds took flight.

After my family joined me in Tucson, my love of birds grew tremendously when a neighbor discovered that I was very interested in birds. She invited me to attend Tucson Audubon Society meetings and field trips. From that point on, I was hooked!

If you have ever been in our Prescott store, you may have seen the "storyboard" of my life - a collection of pictures that one of my sisters put together illustrating my interest and love of nature from an early age. Many of these pictures show me as a young man running about with binoculars around my neck and my Peterson field guide in hand.

It was in Tucson that I had the privilege of going birding with some amazing birders, such as Eddie Chalif, who served as president of the Tucson Audubon Society Chapter when I was a teenager. Eddie co-authored the book "A Field Guide to Mexican Birds" with Roger Tory Peterson.

After the book was published, the University of Arizona hosted a book-signing event where I had the opportunity of meeting my idol, Roger Tory Peterson. I cherish this autographed book and feel grateful that I had the opportunity to meet Peterson - with whom I coincidentally share the same birthdate.

My early birding experiences in Tucson set the course for the rest of my life. To this day, Tucson has a special place in my heart. When I go there, even though I do not have family there anymore, it is still like going home. I love the mountains and the desert, the plants, the smells - all of those things that trigger memories of my childhood.

I encourage you to consider attending the first year of this new birding festival. I am sure it is destined to become one of the truly great birding festivals in the country, just by its location alone.