Pacing and Expectations: The daily travel schedule on our birding tour varies to account for weather, bird species and habitat. We will often want to be out birding very early in the morning—we may have dawn breakfasts or take a box breakfast into the field.

Clothing: Pack light field clothing of neutral colors. Bring several pairs of long pants and comfortable, light, airy shirts. Long-sleeved (relaxed fit) shirts are useful for protection from the sun, as is a light hat or cap. Though rain is unlikely, do pack a rain jacket or small umbrella. Be sure to have a pair of comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots, plus a second pair of tennis shoes or sandals. You may want more casual clothing for traveling or dinners. A small washcloth and handkerchiefs will be helpful.

Equipment: Bring a pair of binoculars, a field guide and a camera with extra batteries. The guides will carry spotting scopes. Pack sunglasses and sunscreen, a small flashlight or headlamp, a small alarm clock (a smartphone will work), insect repellent, a small daypack, and hiking poles (optional).

Health Considerations: Please consult your physician before the trip for any concerns relating to travel and exertion at high altitudes. As for foods, all meals at the different lodges are perfectly safe to eat, and we will have easy access to potable water throughout the journey.

Participants should be able to hike on moderate, uneven, and sometimes steep terrain, up to 4 miles per day.  Most days will have very little, if any, strenuous walking.

Temperatures: The Sky Island regions we'll be visiting are much milder in temperature than the surrounding desert lowlands. That said, we'll be encountering a wide range of temperatures. Mornings in the mountains may be as cool as 60 degrees, and the desert floor in Tucson may be closer to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. We will generally avoid birding in the mid-day heat, and prioritize morning and evenings when birds are most active.

We’ll be staying at "Holiday Inn equivalent" lodging throughout much of the trip. We selected our lodging to ensure clean and comfortable accommodations situated strategically near the heart of the birding hotspots we’ll be visiting.

Cave Creek Ranch and Santa Rita Lodge are smaller, high-quality lodges that regularly cater to birders, and offer terrific birding right from the doorstep.

We will typically have picnic breakfasts (including coffee) and lunches in the field each day, and we provide a range of options to accommodate preferences and dietary restrictions. Our dinners will typically be at restaurants back in town or at the lodge.

Chip Darmstadt is the "emeritus" executive director of the North Branch Nature Center and an avid birder and naturalist. Chip has led birding trips in the US and across the world with NBNC for the last two decades, observing over 2,000 bird species along the way. Arizona is a regular birding destination for Chip. When not guiding trips, Chip works on extending his streak of over 1,400 consecutive days of eBird checklists!

The trip cost includes:

• Pre-departure orientation gathering at NBNC
• Expert NBNC guide
• Use of shared spotting scopes
• All accommodations
• Entrance fees to parks
• All transportation in a private van
• Water
• All meals during the trip

The trip cost does not include:

• Airfare to and from Arizona
• Trip cancellation insurance
• Alcoholic beverages
• Extra hotel services
• Snacks
• Guide gratuities

Ready to go to Arizona?
Email [email protected] to get signed up.

Payment Schedule

• A $500 deposit is required to reserve your space on the trip.
• 50% of the trip balance will be due 6 months before the departure date.
• Single travelers must include the single supplement fee with this payment. Single rooms are limited on this itinerary, so please confirm with us that your request for a single room can be accommodated before sending payment.
• The remaining trip balance will be due 3 months before the departure date.

All payments can be made via check to: North Branch Nature Center, 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VT 05602

Cancellation Policies

We understand that incidents and emergencies arise that may force you to cancel your trip. However, NBNC invests considerable time and, in many cases, non-refundable payments to lodges and local contractors to secure our rooms and programming. NBNC aims to be as flexible as possible in our refund policy, but a full refund of your payments may not be possible after the dates indicated. All cancellations must be made via email to NBNC.

• Cancellation more than 180 days before the trip: Full refund of all payments.

• Cancellation 90-180 days before the trip: Refund of any payments minus the $500 deposit. If your space is filled by another traveler, we will also refund your deposit.

• Cancellation 30-90 days before the trip: No refund guaranteed. If your space is filled by another traveler, we will provide a full refund minus the $500 deposit.

• Cancellation less than 30 days before the trip: No refunds guaranteed.