Bird Walks at the Amerind with Homer Hansen

Friday, November 20, 2026
8:00 am to 10:00 am
Beginner’s Bird Walk with Homer Hansen

Enjoy a casual walk around the Amerind while spending time learning and practicing basic bird identification skills. Time will be spent at the ponds and along trails observing and identifying common bird species.  Homer will have a spotting scope. Please bring your own binoculars if you have them, and be sure to bring a hat, good hiking shoes, and water.

Friday, March 26, 2027
7:30 am to 9:30 am
Birdwatching for Early Spring Migrants with Homer Hansen

During the month of March, early spring migrants start passing through southeast Arizona.  Enjoy a casual walk around the Amerind while looking for returning birds.  Time will be spent at the ponds and along trails observing and identifying our migratory (and resident) bird species.  Homer will have a spotting scope. Please bring your own binoculars if you have them, and be sure to bring a hat, good hiking shoes, and water.

Homer Hansen grew up in Willcox, Arizona surrounded by Sandhill Cranes in winter and Cassin’s Sparrows in summer.  Homer has a passion for sharing bird watching with others and is a regular field trip leader for several festivals and has served as chairman of the Wings Over Willcox Birding & Nature Festival for over 25 years.  Homer loves working with youths and co-founded the Sulphur Springs Valley Young Birders Club and the associated Arizona Young Birder’s Camp, non-profits dedicated to educating youths about birds.  He instructs workshops on sparrows, raptors, flycatchers, warblers, birding by ear, and bird ecology, including the Advanced Bird ID courses for the Tucson Bird Alliance (formerly Tucson Audubon Society), the Southwestern Sparrows IFO for the American Birding Association, and educational workshops for a variety of public and private events.  Homer is a life member of the Cooper Ornithological Society (COS), Wilson Ornithological Society (WOS), and Western Field Ornithologists (WFO) and served for six years on the WFO board as chairman of the Student Programs Committee.

Amerind Guided hikes are limited to 20 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. You can sign up by calling the Amerind Museum Store at 520-586-3666.

Guided hikes are FREE for all Amerind Members. Guided hikes for non-members are $22 per adult, $20 for seniors (62+) and youth (10-17). This fee includes the guided hike and admission to the Amerind Museum and Art Gallery on the day of your hike.
Each program will involve 1-2 miles of hiking and last 2 hours. Participants should dress appropriately for the weather and hiking. Don’t forget your water and sun protection. As with all Amerind’s outdoor activities, participants will need to complete a recreational liability waiver just before the hike. All Texas Canyon Nature Preserve hiking rules apply.

If you love birding and the outdoors, a 1-year $50 Amerind Nature Club membership gives two adults and any children or grandchildren under 18 access to the hiking trails at no extra cost during our open hours. This membership will also give you access to guided hikes like these at no extra cost. Nature Club Members also receive four guest passes which you can use to visit the Amerind museum or give away to friends and family. Nature Club Members also get 10% off items in our Museum Store. For more information visit our Membership page.

Birding Walk at Amerind with Tucson Audubon Society Volunteer Field Trip Leader Jim Rorabaugh

A killdeer at the Amerind Bird Pond

Birding Walk at Amerind with Tucson Audubon Society Volunteer Field Trip Leader Jim Rorabaugh

 

Birding Walk at Amerind with Tucson Audubon Society Volunteer Field Trip Leader Jim Rorabaugh

Saturday, May 14, 2022, 8:00 am

Join Amerind and the Tucson Audubon Society for a birding walk at the Amerind Museum Campus. During this one-hour walk, you will explore Amerind’s property with Tucson Audubon Society volunteer field trip leader Jim Rorabaugh. Birders of all experience levels are welcome to join this walk and learn about birds and natural history at Amerind. Participants should prepare for a moderate level of walking to reach birding locations. Please wear comfortable shoes, sun protection, and bring water.

Jim Rorabaugh earned BS and MS degrees in Zoology and Animal Ecology, respectively, from U.C. Davis and then went on to a 30-year career as a wildlife biologist for various federal agencies, mostly in Arizona and California. He spent his last 20 years working on threatened and endangered species in southern Arizona while employed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Phoenix and Tucson. Mostly known for his work in herpetology, Jim is the senior author of A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Sonora, Mexico, as well as many other published works in herpetology. He was worked extensively in Sonora as well as southern Arizona. Jim began birding in Arizona in 1979 and enjoys sharing with others what he has learned over the years about birds, other animals, and plants. Now retired, he lives off-the-grid in a remote area of Cochise County where the lizards are strong, all the snakes are good looking, and all the birds are way above average.

The price is $20 per person. The tour will be limited to 20 guests, with 8 spaces available to Amerind members at no cost. Space is limited and is on a first-come-first-served basis for both paid and free slots. Amerind members must call Annie Larkin at 520-686-1336 to reserve their free space.

To purchase a ticket visit: https://bit.ly/Amerind051422

To reserve one of the limited free Amerind members’ tickets, please call Annie Larkin at 520-686-1336.

Amerind thanks the Tucson Audubon Society for making this program possible. To learn more about the Tucson Audubon Society, visit: https://tucsonaudubon.org/