Southeastern Arizona

May 10-19, 2008

One of our continent's premier spring birding destinations is now on the Vermont Bird Tours agenda. Here's why: Black Hawk, Montezuma Quail, Greater Roadrunner, Elf Owl, Elegant Trogon, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Vermillion Flycatcher, Magnificent Hummingbird, Black-capped Gnatcatcher, Mexican Chickadee, Lucy's Warbler, Rufous-winged Sparrow (to name only a few).

We'll visit all the classic southeastern Arizona birding hotspots - from Tucson's famed Desert Museum to Patagonia to the Chiricahua Mountains. Outrageous owls, hoards of hummingbirds and western warblers are among the birds that will keep us busy (and happy).

As if the birds weren't enough (they are), Bryan Pfeiffer has taken extra steps to make this trip a classic. The group size is limited to 10 birders. We'll spend two nights at each lodging stop (so we won't feel uprooted every morning). The trip is priced for everyone to have their own room. (Discounts are available for double-occupancy.) And in order to maximize our time in Arizona, Bryan will be scouting the route twice - this coming August and in the week before our trip next May.

The fee for this outing is $1395 from our meeting spot in Tucson. (The double-occupancy discount is $75). This includes nine nights lodging, birder's breakfast each morning, Bryan's guiding, all park entrance fees and a few other treats. Trip participants will be asked to share the cost of rental vehicles for our transportation around Arizona. This gives us greater comfort and flexibility (three or four to a vehicle); Bryan will help with details. If you're already thinking about flights, try to be in Tucson in the morning of our trip's first day (May 10) because we'll start at noon that day with a drive toward the famed Chiricahua Mountains with some birding along the way.

Email Bryan or call (802-454-4640) to register for this outing. A $200 deposit will hold your spot.