AZFO Meetings

Sky Islands and Desert Waters

Arizona Field Ornithologists will be holding its 15th annual state meeting on September 23-25 at Eastern Arizona College's Discovery Park Campus in Safford.

The Arizona Field Ornithologists Board and others are busy planning an exciting weekend of activities, presentations, and free pre- and post-meeting field expeditions to excellent birding areas in Graham County for our 2022 Annual Meeting.

The Safford area embodies this year’s theme, Sky Islands and Desert Waters. The Pinaleño Mountains’ Sky Islands top 10,700 as roads and trails meander through chaparral, oak woodlands, Ponderosa pines, and spruce-fir forests. The surrounding lowlands below 3,000’ include a plethora of lakes and ponds dotted through grassland habitats and the transition between the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts.

Saturday’s full day of science presentations will be held in the Old West atmosphere of the Circle D Ranch House at Discovery Park, a Safford campus of Eastern Arizona College. During breaks and lunchtime, enjoy birding the pond and cottonwoods at Nature’s Hideaway and visit the nearby Pollinator Garden. Then, after talks end, stretch your legs with a tour of the Gila Watershed Partnership’s Native Plant Nursery.

The Saturday-evening banquet at the Mt. Graham Golf Club begins with a Social Hour at 5:30 followed by dinner with Keynote Speaker at 6:30. Come early and bird miles of paths through the lush grounds of the golf course’s four ponds that are a magnet for local and migrating birds.

On your way to Safford on Friday, join one of several free field expeditions being planned to local birding spots. And on Sunday, another set of free treks to birding spots will be offered. These will likely include hotspots such as Roper Lake State Park, Dankworth Pond, and several stops along Swift Trail as it ascends the Pinaleño Mountains, aka Mt. Graham.

More details will be posted soon. Both members and nonmembers are welcome.

AZFO Annual Meetings Feature:

Expert presentations on identification, status and distribution of Arizona birds

Reports on AZFO activities such as Field Expeditions

Photos of recent rare bird sightings from the Arizona Bird Committee

Updates from Arizona Birds, our online journal

Presentation of awards and research grants

Fun bird identification games

Sales and a silent auction for art, books, gear, and other bird-related merchandise

A chance to meet new friends and visit with old ones!

Past Meetings Summaries:

2012: Lake Havasu City

2011: Phoenix

2010: Prescott

2009: Tucson

2008: Flagstaff (no summary)

2007: Gilbert (no summary)