Who do I contact if I am running late?

Please plan to arrive on time for your class. We allow a 10-minute grace period for check-in before the class officially departs or begins. If you find that you will not be making it, please notify us in advance via email at desertinstitute@joshuatree.org.

What if I need to cancel?

Desert Institute will provide a full refund if we are notified more than 7 days in advance. We are unable to process refunds for any cancellations less than 7 days in advance.

Does Desert Institute cancel activities for weather or low enrollment?

If we do not meet our minimum of 10 registered participants for any given activity, we will likely cancel the activity with at least 48+ hours’ notice. Desert Institute runs classes rain or shine, except for astrophotography classes, which require mostly clear skies to be successful. If weather poses a safety risk, the class will be cancelled or postponed. We recommend that you purchase travel insurance, as we are unable to reimburse for expenses you incur due to a canceled class, such as airfare and hotel.

What if I forgot something I need?

Our visitor centers and park stores are stocked with amazing essentials for your adventure. Preview or purchase items from our online shop; we carry hats, shirts, bandanas, water bottles, notebooks, maps, books. And more!

Can I bring my kids? My Spouse? Pets?

Only registered participants may attend Desert Institute activities (unless noted in the activity description). If this is a kid-friendly activity, please make sure your child(ren) are registered and meet the age requirements. As much as we love pets, we don’t allow them in the field with any of our activities.

Seasonal Birding & Nature Walk in Joshua Tree

Name: Seasonal Birding & Nature Walk in Joshua Tree
Start: 2026-09-26T07:00:00-0700
End: 2026-09-26T09:00:00-0700
Location: Barker Dam Parking Lot

Sat, Sep 26, 7am - 9am PDT

Barker Dam Parking Lot

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Desert Institute at Joshua Tree National Park Association

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Description

This guided bird walk offers participants an opportunity to observe the diverse avian life of Joshua Tree National Park during the active morning hours. Set in the Barker Dam area, the program focuses on bird identification, behavior, and habitat use within a desert ecosystem. Participants will learn how seasonal changes influence bird movement and activity, as well as how water sources like Barker Dam support a wide range of species. Wildlife ecologist Kurt Leuschner will provide field-based interpretation, helping guests sharpen observation skills and better understand the relationship between birds and their desert environment. The walk moves at a relaxed pace with frequent stops for viewing and discussion, making it accessible for beginners and enjoyable for experienced birders alike.

This class takes place in Joshua Tree National Park.
Anyone may attend! No expertise or experience is required.
Entry to Joshua Tree National Park is not included in the cost of enrollment. Please purchase your park pass online ahead of time on the NPS website.
No meals or equipment are provided.
Participants are responsible for their own transportation; carpooling with other participants is encouraged.

This class is leisurely. It requires less than 2 miles of walking on established trails with limited elevation gain. No prior birding experience is required. This is an introductory-level field experience suitable for all ages and skill levels.

Required Items:

Water (1 to 2 liters per person)
Appropriate hiking attire
Food and snacks
Closed-toe athletic shoes
Sun protection: A hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are recommended
Daypack
Compass or GPS device
Binoculars (recommended)
Camera (optional)
Field notebook (optional)

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/Robert Zuniga

FAQs

Who do I contact if I am running late?

Please plan to arrive on time for your class. We allow a 10-minute grace period for check-in before the class officially departs or begins. If you find that you will not be making it, please notify us in advance via email at desertinstitute@joshuatree.org.
What if I need to cancel?

Desert Institute will provide a full refund if we are notified more than 7 days in advance. We are unable to process refunds for any cancellations less than 7 days in advance.
Does Desert Institute cancel activities for weather or low enrollment?

If we do not meet our minimum of 10 registered participants for any given activity, we will likely cancel the activity with at least 48+ hours’ notice. Desert Institute runs classes rain or shine, except for astrophotography classes, which require mostly clear skies to be successful. If weather poses a safety risk, the class will be cancelled or postponed. We recommend that you purchase travel insurance, as we are unable to reimburse for expenses you incur due to a canceled class, such as airfare and hotel.
What if I forgot something I need?

Our visitor centers and park stores are stocked with amazing essentials for your adventure. Preview or purchase items from our online shop; we carry hats, shirts, bandanas, water bottles, notebooks, maps, books. And more!
Can I bring my kids? My Spouse? Pets?

Only registered participants may attend Desert Institute activities (unless noted in the activity description). If this is a kid-friendly activity, please make sure your child(ren) are registered and meet the age requirements. As much as we love pets, we don’t allow them in the field with any of our activities.

Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity

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Desert Institute at Joshua Tree National Park Association

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Desert Institute is the educational branch of JTNPA, Joshua Tree National Park’s primary non-profit partner and offers field classes, recreational adventures, weekend excursions, and social events that span a wide spectrum of disciplines and formats. Our programming works to articulate and animate the rich resources of not only the national park but also the surrounding desert environment and the community of people who make Joshua Tree so unique. Our vision is to provide a rich, learning environment that inspires people of all ages and backgrounds to recreate together and help steward this beautiful place for years to come.

Desert Institute (DI) was established in 1999 by the former Chief of Interpretation and current Vice President of JTNPA’s Board of Directors, Joe Zarki. DI was operated by the National Park Service in its first year thanks to a grant from the Parks as Classrooms program. After the first year, the Institute program was absorbed by JTNPA as part of its educational operations.

JTNPA has provided support to the park for over 60 years through educational programming, cash aid, in-kind aid, and visitor center operations. We work in partnership with Joshua Tree National Park to help achieve programming goals in education and interpretation, along with scientific and historical research and activities.

Learn more about our work and how you can get involved: (760) 820-1103 | desertinstitute@joshuatree.org