Birdability outing to McDonald Park + Agua Caliente Park with Birdability’s Virginia Rose and Freya McGregor, and Tucson Audubon accessible outing leader Marcia OBara
Date: Sunday August 15th, 8:00am – 10:30am.
Difficulty: 1. For detailed accessibility information on this location, please visit the McDonald District Park Birdability Site Review and the Agua Caliente Regional Park Birdability Site Review on the Birdability Map.
Distance: 0.7 miles on an asphalt loop at McDonald Park. At Agua Caliente Park, a 0.8 mile asphalt loop trail, with an optional additional 0.3 mile side trip.
Bathrooms: Wheelchair accessible bathrooms are available at McDonald Park. Bathrooms are available at Agua Caliente, although no wheelchair accessible bathrooms are present.
Type of bird outing: This trip is designed to be intentionally inclusive and accessible for beginner and advanced birders who experience accessibility challenges as a result of a disability or other health concern. The three outing leaders experience their own accessibility challenges, including one who uses a manual wheelchair, and the location’s accessibility features have been documented in detail to help you decide if you’d like to attend.
Description: Join us for a leisurely birding experience at McDonald Park, with the option to continue on to Agua Caliente Park. We will start at McDonald Park, in the parking area off N Harrison Rd, slightly south of the main entrance. Drive in and park in the right hand section of the parking area. We will bird along the asphalt loop trail for approximately 0.7 miles. Please note, this trail is somewhat bumpy and can be challenging for those using mobility devices.
You then have the option to continue on with us to Agua Caliente Park, which is a 15 minute drive in your own vehicle. At Agua Caliente Park, enter via E Roger Rd, and we will meet at the end of the parking lot farthest from the entrance. We will bird along the asphalt loop trail which extends approximately 0.8 miles around two retention basins. Participants are welcome to wait for us and enjoy some stationary birding, or turn back at any time. We have the option of travelling along several hard packed dirt trails (total distance about 0.3 miles) that branch off from the asphalt trail, or the group splitting if participants have different preferences.
Target birds: McDonald Park: Phainopepla, Lucy’s Warbler, Cooper’s Hawk, Great-horned Owl, Vermillion Flycatcher, Verdin. Agua Caliente: Lesser Nighthawk, Gila Woodpecker, Purple Martin, Lesser Goldfinch, Bell’s Vireo, Brown-crested Flycatcher.
Number of attendees: Limited to 15 participants, with up to five additional attendants if you need to bring someone to help you participate.
Additional information: 12 pairs of loaner binoculars will be available. Outing is free with festival registration. Please feel free to email info@birdability.org with any additional questions you may have about this event. To learn more about Birdability, please visit birdability.org
To learn more about the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival, including the other fieldtrips and workshops offered, and to register, visit the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival webpage.