Some flit from branch to branch or can turn on a dime in mid-air to nab a gnat. Others soar majestically high overhead. If you’ve spent any time outdoors these days, you’ve probably seen and/or heard our fine-feathered friends.

But did you know that Arizona is a top-notch place for birding? And with spring’s arrival, there may be no better time to get your gear together to see all shapes and sizes of birds, which make up the class Aves.

Chris Rohrer teaches Spanish at Ironwood Ridge High. He also has been into birds since he was a kid. “They make interesting sounds. They have beautiful feathers. And they remind me of dinosaurs—that fly!” he explains. Rohrer loves living in such a birder’s paradise and also travels all over the world to see and hear other bird species in their natural habitats. “Birding is an exciting thing! It’s like a treasure hunt outside in the great big world. Birds are beautiful and interesting.”

Earth Day Happens This Month!

When it comes to appreciating and caring for wildlife, birding is a great way to start. Many birds are attracted to green spaces. “A green space has water, shade and all the necessary elements needed for healthy and happy birds,” Rohrer explains. So if you live in the city, if you want to see a variety of birds, you might want to go with your family to a large park or some other type of desert oasis. He says that the number and variety of birds is an INDICATOR of how healthy our environment is.

What Makes Arizona So Special?

“Arizona is pretty magical—it’s so much more than desert!” Rohrer points out. People from all over the world come here to see our birds and other wildlife. “We have ‘sky islands,’ mountains with forests on top, canyons, deserts, grasslands and riparian areas that have so many different species of birds that come from the eastern, northern and western parts of the U.S. And Mexican birds also will show up here during our summers,” he continues. Riparian areas are ribbons of green along our washes, rivers and lakes. Arizona’s San Pedro and Santa Cruz rivers are important riparian CORRIDORS for migrating birds and provide lots of habitat for other native creatures as well.

You’ll find different birds at different elevations. Looking for owls one evening, Rohrer and his friends started at the bottom of Mount Lemmon north of Tucson. “We saw seven species of owl! It was a fun night out looking for owls and nightjars. Birding is an adventure. Plus we saw a bear and a lot of foxes,” he shares.

Getting Started

Make birding a family thing. Figure out where you want to go and read up on some of the birds you’re likely to find there.

Wearing a hat with a brim and applying sunscreen every few hours will help protect you from the sun. A water bottle (insulated ones can keep water cold in the heat) is always a good idea. Try to wear neutral-colored clothes that won’t scare off the birds.

Rohrer also says if you and your family will be hitting the trails, wear a good pair of hiking shoes. Also bring “a bird guide(book) for their area, a pair of binoculars and, if you love photography, a camera. There are so many wonderful bird guides for our area. I use the Sibley Guide for western birds but there are so many more choices these days,” Rohrer says. You might be able to check out a bird field guide from the library. There are also ones for kids, like Stan Tekiela’s  Birding for Beginners: Southwest.

Warning—rattlesnakes and cacti are outdoor hazards. Even if you stick to the trails, you might come across a rattler or chunk of cactus sticking out. So watch where you step. You should stop before looking up for a bird to avoid tripping or worse.

Places to See and Hear Birds!

Make it a family thing and don’t go any place without a parent or older brother or sister. Parks are nice, green spaces where you can find lots of birds. There are also places like the Phoenix Zoo and Liberty Wildlife (a bird rescue center) where you can see a variety of cool native birds up close. West of Tucson is the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum that has a nice aviary, and Reid Park Zoo has native birds just hanging out in its green spaces and the surrounding park.

Rohrer fixed up his backyard to attract butterflies and birds. “If you have water, like a pond or birdbath, and native plants in your yard, you’ll attract so many beautiful local birds, along with butterflies, lizards and other fun critters that live in our amazing Sonoran Desert,” he suggests.

What You Can Expect to See

Birding has taken Rohrer to places near and far. And by learning about the birds he comes across,  he knows a lot! “I’ve been all over the world. I’ve searched for birds in Cape Verde (an African chain of   islands), Mexico, Trinidad, Wales, Peru, etc. And I’m only just getting started—there are over 10,000 bird species on this planet!” he shares.

Here in Arizona, there are more than 500 species! Starting small, you are bound to see and hear hummingbirds. Some are busy building nests. “In the U.S., Arizona rates as THE best spot for hummingbirds,” he explains. “In this state, during the summer months and migration, you can observe as many as 15 species of hummingbirds!”

His favorite little bird here is the northern beardless Tyrannulet—the smallest flycatcher in North America.  People come here from all over the world to see the elegant trogon, a multi-colored bird with long tail feathers. For most bird species, including the elegant trogon, males tend to be the more colorful and spectacular ones.

Now is a good time to see larger birds, too! “Raptors, like hawks, kites, vultures, falcons and eagles, are migrating north along our endangered and precious riparian corridors,” Rohrer points out.

Identifying What You See

One of the most fun (and trickiest) parts of birding is figuring out what you see. There are some SUBTLE differences and it can help to be able to snap a picture—otherwise you will need to have a good memory of what the bird looked like, how it behaved and/or what it sounded like.

To help, there’s eBird, an online database that also sends out alerts from other birders who have recently reported seeing rarer birds. “It’s a great way to study birds and where they are seen. Plus, you can participate in their citizen science research project by doing an ebird report on your phone. It’s a fun way to keep track of all the birds you’ve seen!” Rohrer explains.

Another resource and app is iNaturalist.org—an online community of naturalists that can help identify what you’ve seen.

Boomer’s Basic Birding Rules

Birding is a great lifelong pursuit that’ll get you outdoors and get your mind off of what’s bothering you. Here are a few basic rules to keep in mind: 

• Quietly walk/approach so you don’t startle the birds. Use slow and steady gestures to point out birds to others. If you need to talk, speak in a library voice!

• If you are part of a group and need to talk to someone, stay behind and talk quietly.

• Stick to trails or paths, and do not walk in front of someone looking at a bird—hang back and wait for them to invite you to take a look. 

• Learn to effectively use your words to describe where the bird is. For example: “In the tall, dark tree, the bird is left of center, halfway down on the biggest branch.” 

• Stay on public property unless you have permission to enter private property, and leave everything as you found it, but carry out trash. Binoculars are only to be used to look at wildlife and scenery—never at people or houses.

• Always respect wildlife. Do not use recorded bird songs or calls, especially during the breeding season.  

• Never disturb a nest or eggs. If a baby bird falls out of a nest, it is best to leave it alone. 

• Walk, don’t run, in a birding area, and watch where you step!