General Tour Information
ENTERING THE UNITED STATES: Non-U.S. citizens will need a valid passport and may need a tourist visa. You can locate the nearest U.S.Embassy or Consulate here. You must be a U.S resident and have a government issued picture ID in order to enter Fort Huachuca (the US Army base in Sierra Vista, AZ, and a half-day stop on the tour). Suitable alternate birding will be provided for any participants denied access to Fort Huachuca.
HEALTH: Arizona presents no real hazards to the visiting birdwatcher but certain factors must be considered. The sun is intense in May. A broad-brimmed hat, proper clothing and a strong sun screen lotion are essential. Much of our birding is at elevations between 4000 and 9000 feet and, with the exception of a hike up Scheelite Canyon in seach of Spotted Owl, we do not schedule anything even faintly strenuous at the higher altitudes. However we suggest anyone with known cardiac or respiratory problems consult his or her doctor before scheduling the trip. Rattlesnakes are not a hazard but one always needs to use common sense and be alert in desert areas. We actively look for reptiles and feel lucky to see one rattlesnake per trip. Scorpions are nocturnal and rarely seen, and the tarantulas often seen on the highways are not dangerous. Chiggers or biting insects may be encountered occasionally in moist areas.
PACE OF THE TOUR: Early mornings are always the best time for birding activity, and we’ll often be out in the field by 6:00 am, sometimes preceded by a drive of 30 minutes or so. Breakfast will usually be at 5:00 or 5:30. Daily temperatures are often very warm in the lowlands, and we’ll try to schedule a siesta during the hottest portion of the day. Lunches will be a combination of picnic lunches and sandwich shops. Much of the birding will be on roads and wider trails, and on one day, in search for Spotted Owl, we’ll hike a rocky trail up hill for about a mile. On a few nights, we’ll have owling and nightbird excursions after dinner. We’ll schedule about an hour off before dinner, when possible.
CLIMATE: Temperatures rise steadily from March through June with little rain, although rain and anomolously cool temperatures are possible. Much of the most interesting spring birdwatching is in the deep mountain canyons between 4000 and 6000 feet where warm days and cool nights are the rule. At the elevations where we spend most of our time, the daytime highs average in the low 90°s F and nightime lows average about 60-65° F, although we do spend some time at lower elevations.
ACCOMMODATIONS: We stay at standard motels throughout the tour.
DRESS: Informal throughout.
TRANSPORT: Transportation is in 15-passenger window vans.
SMOKING: Smoking is prohibited in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists, etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, we ask that you do so well away and downwind from the group.
GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS OF WINGS TOURS: Please take a moment to read the General Information & Conditions here. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.
FINAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for Tours to Southeastern Arizona will be mailed to each registrant on receipt of their booking. Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary. If you have any questions, please let us know.
Updated: September 2007