Sedona Hummingbird Festival Recur: July 29-31. The International Hummingbird Society invites residents and visitors to the Sedona Performing Arts Center located at 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road, Sedona.
Attendees will experience three enchanting days of on-site hummingbird presentations by hummingbird experts (tickets sold online and also at the door during the festival) with a free hummingbird market, class hummingbird-themed artwork worldwide and a first-class raffle. Off-site offerings include hummingbird banding demonstrations, garden tours, birding excursions, and a celebratory Saturday gala banquet at Poco Diablo with flute and guitar from Meadowlark, an occasion talk up close with expert presenters and a talk about hummingbird nesting in Sedona by our General Manager, Beth Kingsley Hawkins. (tickets in advance)
The festival is sponsored by The International Hummingbird Society, a Sedona-based nonprofit founded in 1996 whose mission is to teach hummingbirds and work internationally to protect them.
The Sedona Hummingbird Festival is unique! This year there is a predominant theme on pollination, and discussions will include one on butterflies, owls and one on bats, as well as conservation themes for the endangered Chilean wood star. , and updated efforts on what is being done to protect the 10% endangered species. species by Dan Lebbin of the American Bird Conservancy.
Attendees will also learn tips for attracting little gems and expert ideas on what to plant, see special art from Gamini Ratnavira, world-class hummingbird artist who has just fulfilled his dream of painting all the hummingbird species There is even a presentation on the spiritual and mythological dimension of hummingbirds and how they connect us to spirit and bring us joy.
A plus is the scenic location here in Sedona with its iconic Red Rocks, and the timing of the festival should coincide with the presence of large numbers of southbound migrating hummingbirds passing through Sedona on their way to the entertainment areas. wintering in southern Mexico. This includes the fiery rufous which comes from its nesting site in Alaska. The influx of the local hummingbird population is increasing dramatically, including the number of hummingbird species from 2 to 5. Some local residents report having over 500 hummingbirds each day (based on nectar consumption – there are too many to count manually!).
This is an incredible opportunity to experience hummingbirds firsthand. Pride of ownership is evident in the private gardens open as self-guided tours throughout the greater Sedona area. (nominal fee). Take a moment to relax and watch these dazzling gems as they feed from the feeders and surrounding flowers.
Be amazed by the hummingbird banding demonstrations, watching individual birds being ‘banded’ with very small, unique identifying anklets for scientific research and to track migration. You may be lucky enough to release one into the wild (minimum fee).
If you’re an “early bird,” you won’t want to miss the birding tours run by the Northern Arizona Audubon Society. You’ll go with a guide to numerous birding spots to spot an array of birds first thing in the morning when they’re most abundant. (prepaid ticket only).
Find an array of hummingbird treasures at the Hummingbird Marketplace located in the lobby of the Sedona Performing Arts Center. This year we also have local artists who will share their creations, and that’s not all! We have Happy the Hummingbird Spirit visiting and wishing attendees, a live falcon display, live music and face painting. (All free).
On Saturday evening, come celebrate the hummingbirds at our magnificent gala banquet. There you can interact with hummingbird experts, taste delicious food and participate in a silent auction (tickets in advance – buy as soon as we have an early count).
Participants will meet new hummingbird-loving friends and form friendships that will last a lifetime!
Volunteers wanted and welcome. Email: LindaOpana17@gmail.com
Prices and tickets can be found at hummingbirdsociety.org/sedona-hummingbird-festival-2022. For more information, call the International Hummingbird Society at (928) 284-2251.