Northern Arizona Audubon Society (NAAS) presents Birding 101, a backyard birding class and field trip. Start inside the Library’s 1st Floor Terracotta Room on Friday, March 31st at 1:00p and then meet Saturday morning, April 1 at 7:00a under the Ramada near Moser Lane at Rezzonico Family Park for a bird walk near the river, and immediately after, a carpool trip to the Camp Verde Sewer Treatment Plant for another bird walk. Never been birding before? Ask at the front desk to check out one of the four Birdwatching Backpack Kits at the Library to try it out.

Here is your chance to learn to identify the birds in your own backyard from one of the best, Dr. Richard Armstrong. Rich Armstrong earned his Ph.D. in Nuclear Inorganic Chemistry from Stanford. He retired from the Army as a Major, spent 20 years working at Texaco, and has been married to Nanette for 34 years. He and his wife have birded together in Texas, Oregon, most of North America, and now in Arizona for 9 years. He is the NAAAS steward of the Sedona Wetlands where he has led many field trips for NAAS. This is a two-part class. Friday afternoon learning inside the library, and then the next morning go on two walks outside to practice what you learned.

For the outdoor bird walk on Saturday, April 1, please register at https://yavapai.events/event/camp-verde-birding-101-bird-walk. There is a limit of 15 people for this Saturday Bird Walk.  If it fills up you may register for the Sunday Bird Walk at https://yavapai.events/event/camp-verde-birding-101-bird-walk-0

Also

• bring your own water
• wear sturdy shoes
• wear a hat or sun visor for shade
• don't forget the sunscreen

Camp Verde Important Birding Area: The 17 mile stretch of the middle section of the Verde River from Parsons Park just west of I-17 to Rockin’ River Ranch State Park provides important habitat for resident and migratory birds. The Verde River is one of Arizona’s last remaining perennially flowing river systems, with healthy riparian vegetation, including the extremely rare Fremont Cottonwood-Gooding Willow gallery forest type. It provides a unique habitat that is preferred by bird species of concern, such as Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, Common Black Hawk, Bell’s Vireo, Yellow Warbler, and Lucy’s Warbler.