Bird/Nature Photography: Santa Rita Lodge at Madera Canyon - Friday 06/26/2026

Bird/Nature Photography: Santa Rita Lodge at Madera Canyon - Friday 06/26/2026

Trip Cost: $10

Madera Canyon is a rich, protected habitat that provides an ideal breeding ground for about 200 species of birds. Birders from all over the world come to view rare species such as Elegant Trogon, Painted Redstart, and up to 15 species of hummingbirds. Elf Owls and Whiskered Screech Owls call Madera Canyon home in the migrating months.

At an elevation of 5,000 feet, Santa Rita Lodge is more than 10 degrees cooler than Tucson on any given day. Near the Lodge’s main parking lot is the ‘Wildlife Area’ with varied feeders - seed feeders, platform feeders, nectar, and suet - to attract the greatest variety of birds. There’s also a water feature that's not only popular among canyon birds, but also deer, coati, and ring-tailed cats. The Lodge provides sitting areas for visitors to view the birds and enjoy the wonderful surroundings.

The Lodge’s gift shop offers a selection of books, T-shirts, hats, hummingbird feeders, and a variety of souvenirs. They also offer refreshments, sandwiches, and snacks.

We’ll meet at the Photography Club at 6:30 AM for departure at 6:45 AM.  Please wear your GVR Photography or Camera Club badge, if you have one. For those carpooling, $5.00 is an appropriate amount to reimburse your driver.

Be sure to wear comfortable clothes and shoes. A hat, sunscreen and water are suggested. If you have binoculars, you may want to bring them along. A small notebook and pen or pencil would be useful to record your sightings.

Following the trip, you are welcome to join us for a no-host lunch at Taco Giro located at the Green Valley Country Club, 77 East Paseo de Golf.

Darrell Rude will be our trip leader. Contact Darrell at 907-227-4244 or email at akphoto@ak.net with any questions. He will be disseminating more information to registered participants via e-mail as we get closer to the event. Please add your trip leader's email and phone number to your contact list so you don't miss out on any important updates.

GVR requires that every person participating in the club's field trips must sign a waiver absolving GVR of any liability.  You will be required to sign the waiver at the Photography club before the trip departs if you haven't already done so.

The last date to cancel for a refund is June 19, 2026. If you need to cancel, please contact the Field Trip Co-Chair Lynn Rozema at (719) 351-5193 or email lrozema51@gmail.com.  We may have people on the wait list to take your place.

If you have to cancel on the day of the trip, please call Darrell as soon as you know you cannot make the trip. 

NOTICE:

All participants need to be responsible for an assessment of their mobility and health issues relating to field trips. Some trips may not be appropriate, but you must make that determination. However, the trip leader may deny participation in a specific field trip to anyone deemed not suitably prepared or able to walk with the group.

Be sure to have your GVR card with you for each and every field trip. Without it, you won't be allowed to go on the trip. No refunds will be granted for failure to comply with this requirement.  To protect GVR and club member benefits, GVR has implemented a new process that requires each field trip participant to come into the club and scan his/her GVR card to confirm eligibility. We no longer have the option of typing in your name or GVR number – only the physical GVR card will do.

We will no longer meet in the parking lot. We will meet in the GVR Photography Club where you will scan your GVR card confirming your eligibility to go on the trip. We’ll also review important/late-breaking information, pair up drivers and riders, provide driving directions, and give participants a chance to visit the restrooms prior to departure. Again, be sure to have your GVR card with you.

In order to participate in this event, you must be a member of the GVR Photography Club and GVR.