AZFO Annual Meetings:

AZFO ANNUAL MEETING – COTTONWOOD

20-22 October 2017 

By Chrissy Kondrat-Smith and Lauren Harter 

The AZFO state meeting for 2017 is heading over to Cottonwood! Our 11^th annual meeting will be held on 20-22 October and based at the Quality Inn, minutes from historic downtown Cottonwood and Clarkdale. The Cottonwood area features a good number of birding hotspots such as Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Tavasci Marsh and Mingus Mountain, not to mention the underexplored areas! The meeting will feature mini-field expeditions to various places on Friday and Sunday. Species plentiful in this area include Bald Eagle, Common Black Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Bell's Vireo and Yellow-breasted Chat.  

A special feature of this annual meeting will be a kayak birding expedition led by Doug Von Gausig.

This four-hour trip down the Verde River will follow a stretch from the Lower Tapco River Access Point (TapcoRAP) above Clarkdale to the Tuzigoot River Access Point (TuziRAP), a distance of about 3.5 miles through one of the most diverse, pristine stretches of the river. This stretch is home to several pairs of breeding Yellow-billed Cuckoos and Willow Flycatchers. Doug will cover a range of topics including birds, archeology, riparian ecology, water law, and biodiversity. 

The Saturday program will include presentations about ongoing research on the status, behavior, and distribution of Arizona birds; a chance to put your skills to the test with audio and visual identification contests; and opportunities to learn about how you can become more involved with AZFO. Thanks to the generous support of the Maricopa Audubon Society, we are also able to offer an advanced eBird workshop given by Ian Davies, eBird Project Coordinator for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Our keynote speaker at the Saturday evening banquet will be Doug Von Gausig, Clarkdale’s advocate for the bird population in Arizona and Mayor of Clarkdale. Join us as he shares his insights on the avifauna of the Verde Valley, especially threatened and endangered species, and how the huge conservation efforts centered on the Verde River have affected avifauna. 

The annual meeting will be here before you know it! Don’t hesitate to register for the weekend meeting, the eBird workshop and/or the kayak expedition. A group rate is available at the Quality Inn through the end of August. Further information about the Saturday program, workshop and trips can be found here: http://www.azfo.org/annual_meetings/annual_meetings.html. More details to come soon! 

Presentations – If you are interested in presenting a paper or displaying a poster on the identification, status or distribution of Arizona birds, please check out our Call for Papers and Posters at http://www.azfo.org/annual_meetings/2017/meeting_2017_Call4Papers.html.  Papers and posters may range from technical reports of original research to general surveys and studies.

Please submit an abstract by 1 September 2017 to Jennie MacFarland at  jmacfarland@tucsonaudubon.org. Abstracts of papers and posters from past AZFO meetings are available at http://www.azfo.org/annual_meetings/Oral_Posters_Abstracts.html. 

Elections – Board elections will be held at the annual meeting. Two positions are open: Membership Secretary and Board Member. If you or someone you know is interested in serving as an AZFO Officer, Board Member or Committee member in the upcoming year, please contact Chrissy Kondrat-Smith at azdesertbird@gmail.com. Our current officers, other board members and committee heads are listed in the left column. To all the past and present board and committee members, THANK YOU for your dedication and service to the Arizona Field Ornithologists! 

Youth Scholarships – AZFO is proud to encourage and support young people with an interest in Arizona birds. As part of our goal to involve a younger generation in AZFO’s activities, starting in 2014 we began offering scholarships to students (middle school through college undergraduate) to attend the annual meeting. Since then, the scholarship program has helped and encouraged nine students to attend the meetings, where they have enjoyed opportunities to meet new friends and mentors, see new birds, learn from the science sessions, and get involved with AZFO and other organizations. 

Each scholarship includes $150 for transportation, a two-night hotel stay, admission to the banquet, and a one-year membership in AZFO. Following the meeting, recipients will be expected to submit an essay describing their experiences at the meeting, to be posted on the AZFO website. Prior years’ essays can be read at http://azfo.net/scholarships/RecipientsEssays.html. Application materials can be found at http://azfo.net/scholarships/scholarships.html; students should apply by 20 September 2017. The AZFO scholarship program is generously supported by the Maricopa Audubon Society. 

Where to stay - For additional hotels go to: http://www.visitcottonwoodaz.org/ 

*Quality Inn Cottonwood – Register before September 1^st, 2017 to get $89.00 rate. No code needed, mention you are attending the AZFO Annual Meeting.
Nonsmoking, no pets, free Wi-Fi, and Q Cafe Breakfast included. Central to all Verde Valley sights.

301 W. Highway 89A, Cottonwood
928.634.4207
www.qualityinn.com 

Best Western Cottonwood Inn
After a fun-filled day experiencing the Verde Valley, relax at Cottonwood’s only 3-Diamond hotel, Best Western Cottonwood Inn.

993 S. Main St., Cottonwood
928.634.5575
800.350.0025
www.bestwesterncottonwoodinn.com 

Best Western Inn of Sedona
Resort-style property with unbeatable red rock views, terraced decks, heated outdoor pool, walking trails and wireless high-speed Internet.

1200 W. Highway 89A, Sedona
928.282.3072
www.innofsedona.com 

Cottonwood Hotel
The Cottonwood Hotel is a RARE 1-of-a-Kind lodging experience and place to stay, blending the comforts of today with a 'Trip to the Past'.

930 N. Main St., Old Town Cottonwood
928.634.9455
www.cottonwoodhotel.com  

Tavern Hotel
Welcome to The Tavern Hotel, nestled in the heart of Old Town Cottonwood's dining, shopping and entertainment district. This luxury boutique hotel features deluxe accommodations, combining historic details with chic elegance.

914 N. Main Street, Old Town Cottonwood
928.634.6669
www.thetavernhotel.com  

View Motel
Noted for our quiet and comfortable atmosphere. Located up and away from traffic, we offer the best view in Cottonwood.

818 S. Main St., Cottonwood
928.634.7581
www.theviewmotel.com 

Jerome Grand Hotel
200 Hill St., Jerome
928.634.8200
888.817.6788
www.jeromegrandhotel.com

 
Lights of Jerome Inn
A unique private "Green" Bed and Breakfast Inn centrally located in a quiet rural neighborhood in Clarkdale, the foothills of Jerome.  We're close to everything in the Verde Valley and only 5 miles from Dead Horse State Park.  Our full one bedroom suite accommodation offers a private deck with views of Mingus Mtn and Jerome, living area, kitchenette, luxury king bedroom and roomy bath... with our bountiful gourmet continental breakfast delivered right to you each morning…we're the perfect home-base for your stay in the Verde Valley.

1126 Valley View Rd
Clarkdale, AZ 86324
928.300.1765
http://www.innsite.com/inns/F014574.html 

Little Daisy Motel
34 S. Main St., Cottonwood
928.634.7865
www.littledaisy.com 

The Lodge at Cliff Castle Casino
Steps away from Cliff Castle Casino. The Lodge offers 80 rooms with southwestern decor, convenient dining, meeting rooms, banquet facilities, and a free 24-hour shuttle to the casino.

333 Middle Verde Road, Camp Verde
928.567.6611
800.524.6343 http://www.cliffcastlecasinohotel.com/

Pines Motel
920 S. Camino Real, Cottonwood