I just got back from a week-long excursion to southeast AZ. It may be a little out of the way from where you're planning to go, but I couldn't recommned it more. My favorite area was probably the Chiricahua Mtns. Incredibly scenic and chock full of unique birds (to the US at least). The Cave Creek area is renound as probably the best place to find the elegant trogan and it lived up to that reputation. Also saw painted restarts, tanagers, orioles, numerous hummingbirds and an endemic green rattlesnake. Chiricahua Natl. Monument has marvelous rock formations. We went there as an afterthought and I regret not devoting more time to it.
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We also hit the Nature Conservancy's Sonoita preserve at Patagonia (nice riparian area), the San Pedro River (another riparian conservation area), and Ramsey Canyon (hummingbird capital of the US). Also, if you're anywhere near Tucson, don't miss the Arizona-Sonora desert museum. Has to be the best natural history museum/zoo I've ever been to. I took some great bird shots in their aviary (sure it's cheating, but you can't tell in the photos!). THey really know how to design an exhibit.
Photo/birding trip to AZ/NM/UT: places to visit?
in Nature
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I just got back from a week-long excursion to southeast AZ. It may be a little out of the way from where you're planning to go, but I couldn't recommned it more. My favorite area was probably the Chiricahua Mtns. Incredibly scenic and chock full of unique birds (to the US at least). The Cave Creek area is renound as probably the best place to find the elegant trogan and it lived up to that reputation. Also saw painted restarts, tanagers, orioles, numerous hummingbirds and an endemic green rattlesnake. Chiricahua Natl. Monument has marvelous rock formations. We went there as an afterthought and I regret not devoting more time to it.
<p>
We also hit the Nature Conservancy's Sonoita preserve at Patagonia (nice riparian area), the San Pedro River (another riparian conservation area), and Ramsey Canyon (hummingbird capital of the US). Also, if you're anywhere near Tucson, don't miss the Arizona-Sonora desert museum. Has to be the best natural history museum/zoo I've ever been to. I took some great bird shots in their aviary (sure it's cheating, but you can't tell in the photos!). THey really know how to design an exhibit.
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have fun wherever you go.