Birding in the Verde River Valley
The Verde River Valley is a hot spot for bird watchers and nature enthusiasts. The Verde River Valley creates a rich and diverse riparian habitat that is home to many of our feathered friends. Depending on the time of year you can see the American bald and gold eagle, blue heron, Virginia’s rail, belted kingfisher, common black hawk and yellow-billed cuckoo to name just a few. Northern Arizona is truly a bird lovers paradise offering terrific birding resources like the Verde River Greenway, on Arizona’s last free-flowing river, Red Rock State Park , the Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival, guided bird hikes, and a number of birding-friendly websites.
Birding Events
Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival
Celebration of Nature
April 26th – 29th, 2012
The Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival has been attracting hundreds of birders to the Verde River Valley for over 10 years now. The festival celebrates nature with workshops and field trips where expert guides take visitors to the area’s birding hot spots. The Verde Valley is home to many species of birds and normally at the festival over a 100 species of birds are seen including herons, cardinals, tanagers, warblers, hawks and egrets to only name a few. There will be plenty of vendors and exhibitors on hand and activities for families and friends to enjoy. If you are interested in learning more about their schedule of events, or registering for this festival please visit the Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival.
Guided Birding Hikes
Red Rock State Park
Guided Bird Walks
Meet up with other bird lovers at the visitors center every Wednesday and Saturday morning and enjoy a leisurely stroll through one of the most popular parks in Northern Arizona . Bird enthusiasts can join a naturalist for a “Guided Bird Walk”. Beginning as well as advanced birders are welcome. Rangers recommend that visitors being their own binoculars. A limited number are available for loan from the Park. To contact the park about schedules, or reservations for some of their most popular hikes, call 928.282.6907 or visit Red Rock State Park. The park’s birding walks are often listed on our events page as well.
Birding Websites for the Verde River Valley & Sedona
Northern Arizona Audubon Society (NAAS)
The NAAs offers valuable and up to date information on birding in Northern Arizona. The NAAS is based among the scenic red rock canyons of Sedona and the lofty peaks of Flagstaff. Their birding world ranges from the Verde Valley to the Grand Canyon and beyond to the Utah border. Their members are active in birding, conservation and education.
Verde Valley Birding Trail
The Verde Valley Birding Trail offers a wonderful list of all the places to go bird watching in the Verde River Valley and Sedona. They also have a journal of birding in the Verde River Valley where you can check out bird photos and read about Verde birding experiences and share yours. This website is a labor of love developed by a local birding enthusiast Dennis Tomko.
