Highlights from the 2022 Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival
Thank you to all who attended the 2022 Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival! We know this year was a little different from festivals before the pandemic, and we’re so grateful for our attendees’ enthusiasm and support for our first in-person festival back. Thank you for making this year’s festival so special! Over 174 species of birds were recorded over the festival weekend. Click here to download the 2022 VVBNF Species List. During the festival, thousands of observations were submitted to iNaturalist as part of the Verde Valley Community BioBlitz. It was a joy to observe all the wonderful wildlife, plants, fungi, and community of the Verde Valley together. We have so many people to thank for helping us put on this event: THANK YOU to Our Volunteers:
- Whit Manter – for organizing trips
- Nanette Armstrong – for organizing workshops
- Rachel Wilkin – for support with trips and vans
- Bob Rothrock – for organizing set up and clean up as well as Cadillac canoe tours
- Deb LaFrance – for organizing hospitality
- Barbie and John Hart – for continuous support throughout the weekend
THANK YOU to Our Sponsors:
- SRP
- City of Cottonwood
- Melting Point
- Northern Arizona Audubon
THANK YOU TO Katie Fallon – for visiting us from West Virginia and providing us with so much info about vultures Homer Hansen – for visiting us from Wilcox and sharing his joy for birds and the Verde Valley Arizona Game & Fish – for providing wonderful educational experiences for all ages Jay’s Bird Barn – for helping new birders find their footing Verde Valley Archaeological Center – for providing tours and guides Red Rock State Park – for allowing us to hold tours Prescott State Parks – for allowing us to hold tours National Park Service, including Tuzigoot and Montezuma Well – for allowing us to hold tours
Jeri Higgins – for being the epicenter for the entire event and providing amazing customer service to all attendees
Melanie Miles – for coordinating an amazing event
Thank you to all other Friends staff, volunteers, attendees, and supporters who helped make the 2022 VVBNF possible!
Some Favorite Festival Moments: We were so happy to hear about people traveling from afar to enjoy the birding festival! It was wonderful to see familiar faces and welcome new attendees. Many people were excited to see Bald Eagles at Dead Horse Ranch State Park, and enjoy the new festival location between the lagoons. Attendees were excited to get to experience Cottonwood and go and try some of the fantastic new restaurants in town. We’d like to give a shoutout to Danae Dearden, our fabulous 13 year old workshop presenter! She led a wonderful workshop on The Plight of the California Condor. Danae works hard to be a part of vital conservation efforts that support rebuilding the population of California Condors. Want to share your favorite moments from this year’s VVBNF? Did you take photos you’d like us to showcase? Email Maya or Melanie and share with us!
