Southern Arizona is one of the most wildlife-rich and photographically rewarding regions in the United States, and this workshop is designed to showcase its incredible diversity from sunrise to well after dark. With exclusive access to private wildlife photography locations, specialized setups, and expert local guidance, we'll photograph everything from colorful desert birds and elusive mountain species to bats in flight, reptiles, owls, mammals, and dramatic Sonoran Desert landscapes.

A Wildlife Photographer's Paradise

What makes this workshop special is access.

We'll be visiting one of the most productive wildlife photography properties in the Southwest. Rather than simply searching for wildlife, many of our photographic opportunities are carefully designed to maximize both encounters and image quality.

Throughout the week, you'll take advantage of:

• Exclusive access to private wildlife photography locations

• Professionally managed bird and wildlife setups

• Multi-flash systems for birds, bats, and nocturnal wildlife

• Specialized nighttime photography opportunities

The result is simple: more time photographing and less time waiting.

Birds Beyond Your Bucket List

Southern Arizona is legendary among bird photographers, and for good reason.

Located at the crossroads of the Sonoran Desert and the Sierra Madre, the region supports one of the highest concentrations of bird diversity in North America. Depending on the season, we may encounter more than 100 species during the workshop.

Highlights may include:

• Greater Roadrunner

• Gambel's Quail

• Vermilion Flycatcher

• Pyrrhuloxia

• Hooded Oriole

• Scott's Oriole

• Varied Bunting

• Black-throated Sparrow

• Mexican Jay

• Painted Redstart

• Arizona Woodpecker

• Acorn Woodpecker

• Black-headed Grosbeak

• Elf Owl

• Western Screech Owl

The crown jewel, however, is the spectacular Coppery-tailed Trogon, one of North America's most sought-after birds and a species found in only a handful of locations within the United States.

The Ultimate Bat Photography Experience

As impressive as the daytime photography can be, the nights are what truly set this workshop apart.

Working over a specially designed pond in one of Arizona's most productive bat habitats, we'll photograph bats using professional multi-flash systems specifically designed for high-speed wildlife photography. As bats skim across the water's surface, hover at flowers, and feed in the darkness, the flash systems freeze every detail, creating images unlike anything most photographers have ever attempted.

The best part?

You don't need any previous experience.

These setups have been refined over years and are designed to be approachable for photographers of all skill levels. We'll help dial in your camera settings, explain the process, and get you shooting quickly.

Features of the bat program include:

• Professional multi-flash photography systems

• Specialized bat photography setups

• Guidance for photographers of all skill levels

• Overnight camera monitoring by our local partner w/ battery swaps

The Desert After Dark

Once the sun sets, an entirely different world emerges.

Depending on conditions, we may pursue opportunities to photograph:

Owls

• Elf Owl

• Western Screech Owl

• Whiskered Screech Owl

Reptiles & Amphibians

• Gila Monster

• Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

• Sidewinder

• Gopher Snake

• Sonoran Desert Toad

Mammals

• Coatimundi

• Ringtail

• Gray Fox

• Spotted Skunk

• Bobcat

• American Black Bear

Smaller Desert Wonders

• Sonoran Blonde Tarantula

• Scorpions

• Centipedes

• Dozens of moth species during productive light-trap nights

No two evenings are exactly alike, which is part of what makes this workshop so exciting.

Spring Departures

Spring brings comfortable temperatures, migrating birds, active bats, nesting owls, and excellent opportunities for mammals. Migratory birds move through the region, reptiles begin emerging from winter dormancy, and the desert landscape begins to come alive with new growth.

Summer Departures

Summer is the season of abundance. Timed to coincide with peak biodiversity in southern Arizona, these departures offer exceptional bird and bat activity, active nectar-feeding bats, abundant reptiles and insects, and the possibility of dramatic monsoon storms sweeping across the landscape.

Regardless of the season, each departure is designed to maximize photographic opportunities from sunrise through

Join Us Today!

Few wildlife photography workshops offer this much variety in a single trip. In one week, you can photograph vibrant desert birds, rare mountain specialties, bats frozen in flight, owls after dark, reptiles, insects, mammals, and dramatic monsoon skies—all from a base designed specifically for photographers. Wild Arizona: Birds, Bats & Desert Predators is a rare opportunity to experience the Sonoran Desert at every hour of the day and come home with a portfolio unlike any other.