This immersive multi-day birding experience combines classroom learning with field exploration in one of California’s richest desert ecosystems. The program begins with a virtual lecture that introduces participants to bird identification, behavior, and desert adaptations. In the field portion, participants will explore desert oases and open landscapes to observe a wide variety of resident and migratory bird species. Wildlife ecologist Kurt Leuschner will provide a detailed interpretation of habitat relationships, survival strategies, and ecological roles.

The lecture portion of this class takes place via Zoom. The outdoor portion takes place at Anza-Borrego State Park.
Anyone may attend! No expertise or experience is required.
Entry to Joshua Tree National Park is not needed for this program. Entry to Anza-Borrego State Park is not included in the cost of enrollment. Please purchase your A-B park pass ahead of time by visiting the California State Parks website. Link: https://www.parks.ca.gov/.
Participants are responsible for booking their own camping or hotel accommodations. No meals, lodging, or equipment are provided.
Participants are responsible for their own transportation; carpooling with other participants is encouraged.

This class is moderate. It requires less than 5 miles of walking with limited elevation gain on somewhat variable terrain and/or more than one hour outdoors in the elements throughout the weekend.

Required Items:

Water (3 to 4 liters per person per day)
Appropriate hiking attire
Meals and snacks
Closed-toe athletic shoes
Sun protection: A hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are recommended
Daypack
Compass or GPS device
Binoculars (recommended)
Camera (optional)
Personal equipment for camping
A full tank of gas (or full charge for EVs) prior to arriving at the meeting location

Discount Policy: Only one discount may be applied per registration. Discounts cannot be combined. Eligible discounts include Friends & Family, Teacher, Veteran, Active Duty Military (and spouses), Park Lover Member, and Student discounts. The highest applicable single discount will be applied at checkout.

Meet Your Instructor: Kurt Leuschner, M.S., Wildlife Ecology, is a professor of Natural Resources at College of the Desert. Leuschner's specialties include ornithology, entomology, and desert ecology. He has led hundreds of field trips both locally and as far afield as Africa. He teaches natural history courses for the Bureau of Land Management, UCR Extension, Desert Institute, Living Desert, California State Parks, Riverside County Parks, and many other conservation organizations.

Photo Credit: NPS/Carmen Aurrecoechea

Contact the host of Anza-Borrego Birding & Ecology Field Experience