Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival

The Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival is presented each April by Friends of the Verde River, a nonprofit working to preserve one of the last perennial flowing rivers in the American Southwest. This beloved celebration of birding and nature during peak migration in the Verde Valley began as a celebration of birding at Dead Horse Ranch State Park in 2001. The festival founders sought a way to provide a fun and educational birding experience to both the local community and visitors. They knew they had an undiscovered treasure in the diversity of habitats within the Verde Valley, as well as great birding in Dead Horse Ranch State Park.

Located 100 miles north of Phoenix, the festival gives participants the opportunity to experience birding during the peak spring migration season. The four-day festival is held at Dead Horse Ranch State Park on the banks of the Verde River. The high desert of north-central Arizona contains unique and exciting mammals, reptiles, and birds that carve out an existence in the semi-arid climate. In contrast, the riparian areas of the Verde River host a wide variety of birds and animals that relate to and benefit from, life near the water and understory of the lush deciduous vegetation that thrives there. With close proximity to the Verde, Oak Creek, Sycamore Creek, and other perennial waters, festival participants can choose from a wide selection of offerings, such as guided tours, hikes, and workshops in one of Arizona’s richest birding habitats. Their experienced guides have extensive knowledge of birds and the habitat that make this region so unique.

The festival is organized by Friends of the Verde River with a planning committee made up of community volunteers. Some volunteers represent different agencies and organizations, but they all donate their time throughout the year toward the success of the event.

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