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NAVIGATION
If you have not yet signed a participant waiver form, please complete one as a requirement for participating in our events or activities. Hard copies will also be available on-site from our trip leader, but completing the form online helps save time during check-in or avoid activity delays. You only need to sign the form once.
Please email yaspresident@yahoo.com if you have any questions about the events.
Weekly Bird Walks (Year Round)
Weekly Bird Walks (Year Round)
Loggerhead Shrike at East Wetlands
Wednesday Morning Bird Walk
Wednesday Morning Bird Walk
Meet at 7 AM at the parking lot of the East Wetlands park.
We stroll at a relaxed pace while looking for birds and other wildlife found in wetland, aquatic, and riparian habitats along the Colorado River corridor. Walks typically cover 1 mile or less on mostly flat dirt trails. Restrooms are available nearby at the building in the parking lot.
Wear comfortable walking shoes, dress for the weather, and bring your binoculars or telezoom cameras. If you need to borrow binoculars, contact us by the Monday before, and we can bring a spare pair.
During the summer, walks end around 9:30 AM before temperatures become too hot. Please bring sun protection, insect repellent, and plenty of water.
2026/27 Member Meetings & Potlucks
2026/27 Member Meetings & Potlucks
Rufous Hummingbird at West Wetlands
Tue Nov 17, 2026 - Welcome-back Meeting
Tue Nov 17, 2026 - Welcome-back Meeting
Like migratory birds, some YAS members are seasonal “snowbirds,” arriving in Yuma for the winter and heading north before the summer heat. Their return also marks the start of our busiest and most active birding season.
For the welcome-back meeting, we will meet at Yuma Landing Bar & Grill (195 S. 4th Ave) at 4:30 PM. From there we will carpool to a member's desert home on Ogilby Rd.
Please bring a chair, snacks, and your favorite drink. We'll share summer adventures and ideas for field trips.
Gila Woodpecker at the Solar Ponds
Monthly Meeting ft. Guest Speaker
Monthly Meeting ft. Guest Speaker
5:30 PM at the Arizona Game and Fish, at the corner of Ave 9E and 28th St.
A typical meeting agenda includes a short business discussion, conservation news, break with refreshments, and a feature presentation. Please bring finger foods to share.
2026/27 programs are TBD.
Tue Dec 15, 2026
Tue Jan 12, 2027
Tue Feb 9, 2027
Tue Mar 9, 2027
You can find the past 2025/26 programs below:
Dec 9, 2025: Daniel Rigby of Bureau of Land Management, "What's New at the Bureau of Land Management"
Jan 13, 2026: Margret Heming will present "A Successful Educational Program for Future Audubon Members"
Feb 10, 2026: Albert Ustaszewski, falconer & rehabilitator and President of VIDA Wildlife, "Raptors"
Mar 10, 2026: Stephanie Dyer, "Take Aways form the National Audubon Leadership Conference and Birds in my Camera Lens"
Yellow-breasted Chat at West Wetlands
Tue Apr 6, 2027 - Farewell Potluck
Tue Apr 6, 2027 - Farewell Potluck
Like migratory birds, some YAS members are seasonal “snowbirds,” arriving in Yuma for the winter and heading north before the summer heat. Their departure marks the end of pleasant weather in Yuma and concludes our busy activity season.
Members will meet to say our goodbyes (and "see you again soon") at a member's home, recap the season, and eat good food while enjoying all the beautiful backyard birds, both local and migratory, that visit their native plants garden.
Please bring a dish to share, your own dinnerware, a pair of binoculars and a foldable/camping chair.
2026/27 Seasonal Field Trips
2026/27 Seasonal Field Trips
American Avocets & Black-necked Stilts at the Solar Ponds
Sat Nov 21, 2026 - Gila River Corridor & Solar Ponds
Sat Nov 21, 2026 - Gila River Corridor & Solar Ponds
FULL-DAY TRIP
More details are coming soon.
Cooper's Hawk at West Wetlands
Sat Dec 19, 2026 - Yuma Christmas Bird Count
Sat Dec 19, 2026 - Yuma Christmas Bird Count
HALF-DAY TRIP (+ OPTIONAL CELEBRATORY DINNER)
YAS CBC is truly a fun day of birding, teamwork, and community. From 7 AM to around noon, we split into small groups and explore assigned areas and count as many birds seen or heard as we can. No experience is needed. Simply spotting birds is already a big help!
Volunteers are welcome! Please register by Sunday, December 13, so groups can be assigned. Group leaders will contact participants with meeting times and locations before the event.
More Details
The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is one of the world’s longest-running community science projects, started in 1900. Every winter, tens of thousands of volunteers across the world head outdoors to count birds. So put on your scientist hat for a day and join this exciting global movement to help collect scientific data that enable the study and protection of bird populations!
At the end of the day, all the teams gather for a celebratory dinner to tally the bird counts, share stories and cool sightings before the final count is submitted to eBird as part of this global conservation effort.
Barrow's Goldeneye at Bill Williams River NWR
Sat Jan 16, 2027 - Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge
Sat Jan 16, 2027 - Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge
FULL-DAY TRIP
Meet at 6:30 AM MST at the Chevron gas station (north side of I-8 at the Fortuna Rd) exit to check in and carpool to Bill Williams River NWR. Plan on returning to Yuma by 6:00 PM MST.
Dress for the weather and wear comfy walking shoes. Bring a lunch and plenty of liquids. Drivers should top-off fuel tanks before leaving Yuma.
More Details
Trip leader: Wayne Bowers
Logistics: Travel time to the refuge is a little over 2 hours via Hwy 95 North. Drivers should have full fuel tanks. Plan for a short rest stop in Quartzsite.
We will arrive at refuge headquarters and look for water birds along the shore of Lake Havasu. After lunch at Refuge headquarters, we will head to River Ranch Road to look for upland species associated with the river corridor. We may also head south to the Ahukhav Tribal Preserve on the Colorado River south of Parker to look for a target bird, the Gray Flycatcher.
What to see: We should see a variety of water birds in the refuge area on Lake Havasu. Several other stops are planned looking for migrants and land based birds while always hoping for a rarity, such as Barrow's goldeneyes or loons.
American Wigeon & Eurasian Wigeon at Cibola NWR
Sat Feb 13, 2027 - Cibola National Wildlife Refuge
Sat Feb 13, 2027 - Cibola National Wildlife Refuge
FULL-DAY TRIP
Meet at 6:45 AM MST at The Landing Restaurant and Bar to check in and carpool to Cibola NWR. Plan on returning to Yuma by 5:00 PM MST.
Dress for the weather and wear comfy walking shoes. Bring a lunch and plenty of liquids. Drivers should top-off fuel tanks before leaving Yuma.
More Details
Trip leader: Wayne Bowers
Logistics: It’s a 1.5-hour drive to the refuge HQ. We will stop there for a restroom break and check in with staff to find out what’s recently been seen, check out the birds there.
Then we will head to the Goose Loop vehicle access area. Viewing will be from the vehicles only as visitors are required to stay in the vehicles on the loop.
The next stop is the Cornfield Nature Trail. A pit toilet and several picnic tables are available at the parking area.
We will likely eat lunch at the parking area of the HQ building. After lunch the route will be determined by recent sightings in other areas of the refuge.
Levels of difficulty: The trail meets ADA guidelines and is level hard packed fine gravel. The path has several routes of varying lengths with one leading to a nice viewing platform that looks over a large pond which is usually covered with large numbers of water birds. Several benches are located along the trail for resting and wildlife viewing.
What to see: There should be opportunities to see flocks of wintering white geese, greater white-fronted geese, sandhill cranes, white-faced ibises, waterfowls, shorebirds, blackbirds, and flycatchers, and other species often associated with farm fields and tree windbreaks. Most of the hiking trail is in a mixed cottonwood forest that hosts wintering warblers, vireos, woodpeckers, towhees, and other species associated with that type of habitat.
Wilson's Warbler at Picacho State Recreation Area
Sat Mar 13, 2027 - Picacho State Recreation Area
Sat Mar 13, 2027 - Picacho State Recreation Area
FULL-DAY TRIP
Meet at 6:45 AM MST at The Landing Restaurant and Bar to check in and carpool to Picacho State Recreation Area. Plan on returning to Yuma by 4:00 PM MST.
Dress for the weather and wear comfy walking shoes. Bring a lunch and plenty of liquids. Drivers should top-off fuel tanks before leaving Yuma.
More Details
Trip leader: Wayne Bowers
Logistics: It is about an hour drive north of Yuma. About 1/3 of the way is paved road and 2/3 is gravel/dirt road. There is a daily entrance fee of $10 for one person per vehicle and $20 for 2-4 people per vehicle.
There is a boat launch, primitive campsites, hiking trails, restrooms and a day use area. There is no potable water. Participants should bring drinks, lunch, maybe a lawn chair and dress according to the current weather report. We will eat lunch at one of the picnic areas.
Level of difficulty: The trip is open to anyone interested in learning about birds. There will be experienced birders along to help folks new to birding identify birds. There will also be folks along with an interest and knowledge about local plants. Although there are some trails people with limited mobility may find difficult, there will be many places to explore from a vehicle or stroll or wheel through the campground and day use area on relatively level hard gravel surfaces.
What to see: We should have the opportunity to see birds associated with the Colorado River riparian corridor as well as migratory species. The area also has some mining history including an old cemetery that may be of interest.
White-tailed Kite at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
Sat Apr 3, 2027 - Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
Sat Apr 3, 2027 - Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
FULL-DAY TRIP
Meet at 6:15 AM MST at The Landing Restaurant and Bar to check in and carpool to Cuyamaca Ranch State Park. Plan on returning to Yuma about 6:00 PM MST.
Dress for the weather and wear comfy walking shoes. Bring a lunch and plenty of liquids. Drivers should top-off fuel tanks before leaving Yuma.
More Details
Trip leader: Wayne Bowers
Logistics: It’s a 2-hr drive via I-8 and north on Old Hwy 80 to the first stop at the city park in Pine Valley for a restroom break and local birding. Next stop will be at Secret Canyon Trailhead where we will try for Mountain Quail. Next will be to Cuyamaca Ranch State Park.
There is a $10 day-use fee per vehicle to enter the park. We will stop at the first pay station to obtain passes. We will eat lunch at one of the picnic areas.
Level of difficulty: We will stop at several roadside pullouts to view from or near the vehicles. Stops at park headquarters and picnic areas have paved access and ADA picnic areas and paved or hard packed trail of various lengths. We can accommodate folks with mobility challenges. Anyone needing assistance getting to the departure point or transporting a wheelchair or other equipment for the trip can contact Wayne Bowers at 541-589-1957.
What to see: The park’s elevations ranges from 4,000 to 5000 feet. Vegetation types range from pine/oak woodlands to open meadows and the wetlands and water associated with Lake Cuyamaca. Expect to see birds associated with those habitats including Acorn Woodpecker, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Wild Turkey, Oak Titmouse, Townsend’s Warbler, Stellar’s Jay, California Scrub Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Nuthatches, Spotted Towhee, Lark Sparrow, Western Bluebird, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Hermit Warbler, and Bald Eagle.
Community Science Events
Community Science Events
Lesser Goldfinch at East Wetlands
May 15-Jun 15, 2026 - Audubon Climate Watch Survey
May 15-Jun 15, 2026 - Audubon Climate Watch Survey
National Audubon Society’s Climate Watch program is a community science effort that tracks how birds are responding to climate change. Our target species in Yuma is the Lesser Goldfinch.
Climate Watch follows a specific survey protocol using predetermined routes with designated stops and time limits at each stop. During the survey, participants count only Lesser Goldfinches. No advanced birding experience is required, and new volunteers are welcome. If you are interested in joining our coordinated local survey, please contact us for details.
Anna's Hummingbird in a member's backyard
Feb 12–15, 2027 - The Great Backyard Bird Count
Feb 12–15, 2027 - The Great Backyard Bird Count
The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is annual community-science event where people across the globe spend 15 minutes or more watching and counting birds.
Spend as little as 15 minutes in your backyard or any favorite birdwatching spots and notice the birds around you. Identify them, count them, and submit your counts to eBird. Your submissions over the 4 days count toward GBBC.
Canvasback at Cocopah RV Resort
Sat May 8, 2027 - Global Big Day
Sat May 8, 2027 - Global Big Day
Global Big Day is an annual worldwide citizen science event where birdwatchers come together to count and record as many bird species as possible in a 24-hour period! Participants must submit their observations to eBird.
You don't need to be an expert! Whether you spend just 15 minutes birding in your backyard or make it a full-day birding adventure with friends, every observation within those 24 hours counts.
Watch in real time as people submit their sightings from across the globe.
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