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Birding Saguaro National Park (Sonoran Desert) in Tucson, Arizona

Badgerland Birding

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The Sonoran Desert is one of the most incredible places to visit in all of North America. This rugged land is home to some of the most specialized bird species in the continent and some of the most recognizable plants. Join Ryan and Derek as they brave the heat to find some of the unique birds that inhabit this cactus covered terrain.

Gear Links (As Amazon Associates we do earn from qualifying purchases)

Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 4K Digital Camera
Used for most bird videos) - check credits as we do source some photos/videos elsewhere which is noted in the description
https://amzn.to/3GZl3Mu

Cayer FP2450 Fluid Head Tripod, 75 inches Aluminium Tripod
Derek's lighter tripod
https://amzn.to/3suX5CK

Andoer Video Tripod Aluminum Alloy 67 Inch
Derek's heavier tripod
https://amzn.to/3uRLTTk

Nikon D5300
Derek's vlogging and macro camera
https://amzn.to/3HF8jeh

Rode VideoMicPro Compact Directional On-Camera Microphone
Derek's external microphone for Nikon D5300
https://amzn.to/3oH8YnS

Connect with us!
https://badgerlandbirding.wordpress.com
Instagram: badgerlandbirding
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Credits

Cover image birds are either CC by 2.0 or public domain and edited

Pyrrhuloxia and Curve-billed Thrasher by Andy Morffew (CC by 2.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
https://flic.kr/p/U2WtBr
https://flic.kr/p/V27MSb

Gila Woodpecker by Pamela Gunn (Public Domain)
https://flic.kr/p/QXKQuE

Cactus Wren by Bill Grossmeyer
https://www.facebook.com/BillsBirding...

Thanks to Terry Sohl for allowing us to use his range maps
https://www.sdakotabirds.com/index.ht...

All other photos and videos by Derek and Ryan Sallmann

#Birding #BirdWatching #BadgerlandBirding

20 Comments

@tishie42 1 year ago

As a native, it's cool to see people realize how alive this special desert really is. 😂

@prescotthenry1727 4 years ago

Glad you made it down here. The Gila are always around. The verdin are also year-round neighbors. We usually only see the Hooded Oriole. The Anna’s, Costa’s and Broadbill hummers somehow manage to survive our winter weather. Amazing to see the little birds at our feeders in the upper 20’s mornings. I’ve ridden thru the East Park on my bicycle .

@barbaracole709 4 years ago

I love the Pyrrhuloxia! Such a pretty bird! I am happy for you that you got a chance to experience this unique habitat!

@Beryllahawk 4 years ago

OH so many memories. I grew up in the western part of Texas and my aunt lives just south of Tucson, so we would visit her often in summertime. Lots of nostalgia for me, seeing That Sky! And hearing those noisy, noisy bugs all the time, haha. And horned lizards! Every kid I knew (and me too) was forever catching those poor things, though I took care never to hurt them. I was hoping y'all would get to see an elf owl or Western Screech owl - one of the very very first birds I ever saw up close. They will often use old woodpecker nests, and sometimes they will bask in the morning sun, too. Maybe next time you visit there will be one!
I was super excited watching this one. A place I know, a place I've been. I could practically smell the dust and sun. Glad y'all had a good experience!!

@hankthebirdman 4 years ago

Great finds! Such a unique ecosystem!

@FJP69 3 years ago

I love the wildlife of deserts. Amazing birds. Greetings from Spain, friends 👍😎

@nathanwebb4836 4 years ago

Someday I would love to visit Arizona and see what birds I could find there. Such a wonderful desert area.

@martymcflurry97 4 years ago

Best birding channel on YouTube. Been birding seriously for a couple years now but have loved birds all my life, wish i had a buddy to go with like you guys do lol, it’s hard to find people with a passion for the hobby like I have. Keep up the great work guys much love from Ontario

@naturewithgabe 4 years ago

Awesome landscape. Great job capturing the woodpecker nest footage!

@dixxebell 4 years ago

Awesome finds, I can recall where I was when I saw each one of those species, it makes a spot even more special.

@DianaMurphy-s9i 1 year ago

i recently found out the place i'm from is well-regarded by birders and it's so cool to see how excited y'all get by it!

@danae-rain3019 4 years ago

I'm so fascinated by Arizona birding. To go somewhere and every bird is a lifer. With Covid lots of us are in a birding rut. With jobs and pets it's easy to not make birding a priority. Which is dumb cause nothing improves my quality of life and mood more than birding.

@ABirdersParadise 4 years ago

That's awesome! Just being able to see a Pyrrhuloxia would be so cool!

@michaeldeierhoi4096 2 years ago

I imagine you guys figured it out at some or another birder pointed it out, but the second thrasher at 11:53 is a Crissal thrasher not a Curved billed thrasher. The Crissal has a longer more curved bill and the two black stripes running down its throat are more prominent.

@Prairieskybirding 4 years ago

Awesome video!

@_ethanol_ 4 years ago

I would love to go here! I’ve always wanted to go birding in Arizona but I am not going anytime soon.

@Boatingwego5 2 years ago

Wonderful video :).

@Manwithaplan2021 4 years ago

It’s so dope to see other young birders, I was just in the Tucson area in mid may. Place is literal birding heaven haha. I’m not sure if you guys made it to Madeira Canyon while you were there, but it’s pretty common to spot elegant trogan there. Hunting down that trogan there was one of my most cool birding experiences.