Marana is a birding hotspot! The town’s location at the intersection of several migratory routes and habitat types gives it a high level of biodiversity.
Located along the Santa Cruz River, the El Rio Preserve is one of Southern Arizona’s top locations to witness a wide variety of bird species. The El Rio Preserve protects 104 acres of riparian habitat along the Santa Cruz River. The banks of the Santa Cruz were lined by lush, green, riparian ecosystems for thousands of years, and supported a wide diversity of plant and animal life, including human agriculture.
Winging It In Marana
Nearly 250 bird species have been identified at the El Rio Preserve. Among these are egrets, vireos, cormorants, warblers, mallards, and hummingbirds, all of which flock to the lush oasis the preserve provides. In addition to birds, the preserve’s wetlands provide refuge for a variety of mammals, reptiles, and insects.
![](https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/painted_redstart.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=0d44f69260f1c07fa6fa517ca308b6a9 320w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/painted_redstart.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=31456c0f27e337f6708710f11d2eff5d 540w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/painted_redstart.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=ac365d10ab0777aef7592a17f46ac9a4 768w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/painted_redstart.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=a55707829581f50882bae2aaaa139e39 1024w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/painted_redstart.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=b1e93a30604523f4fa3d2f15044ba2f2 1200w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/painted_redstart.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=cfb5df1c14c1dec52dc8fe6b86cc6b44 1440w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/painted_redstart.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=80c3f6a3a6cdd7aa1820f1b969bdfc9a 1920w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/painted_redstart.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=12afebe8a3f5908531ea8a5200992559 2048w)
![A red-tailed hawk sits on a branch](https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/juvenile_redtailed_hawk.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=f5fcdb2a1f6e57da5d94aa1ca782b264 320w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/juvenile_redtailed_hawk.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=b37d0cc043a9f6b0bff056e9269af807 540w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/juvenile_redtailed_hawk.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=a9ba2565769837e7e48c35ca9a9ed416 768w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/juvenile_redtailed_hawk.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=59d7c7e8bcee646d113f81e7d38c210d 1024w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/juvenile_redtailed_hawk.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=85da9755d78fed0a94022175061f36ef 1200w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/juvenile_redtailed_hawk.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=eb5ef640fbebe07a526bc92cf764518a 1205w)
A variety of birds can be found at the preserve year-round, but to see the greatest diversity of species, there are several main bird migration seasons:
- The spring migration typically runs from mid-April through mid-May
- The late summer and fall migration season can start as early as late June, and usually peaks between late August and mid-September.
- The late summer Monsoon season is a particularly active season for hummingbirds.
![Hooded oriole sits on a branch](https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/hooded_oriole_by_a._core.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=5746c601c64e9ad59335b89dcb9cc0b6 320w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/hooded_oriole_by_a._core.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=3c32a0eb3dbe1dd7d4b28728040b556a 540w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/hooded_oriole_by_a._core.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=275282fc217ca4f259684e4e1d37709c 768w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/hooded_oriole_by_a._core.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=2fbd5b277583cd65287056b32ba61d10 1024w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/hooded_oriole_by_a._core.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=498b901d2b3870d84a8ff58ffd96f4c7 1200w)
![Indigo bunting bird on a branch](https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/indigo_bunting_-_andrew_core.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=0b38fc82291b85358509ca25ddc3f60c 320w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/indigo_bunting_-_andrew_core.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=e1d266d0105fc6c29580dcd633a4e22e 540w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/indigo_bunting_-_andrew_core.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=0cdba8ff9fe6568d6876f925c73244ed 640w)
The preserve’s riparian habitat is supported by its lake, which is filled with water year-round. It reflects the rugged outline of the Tucson Mountains and mature cottonwood trees that act as perches to majestic snowy egrets and many other shore birds.
This makes it a perfect place for a picnic and open-air painting, photography or just taking in the view.
![](https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/el_rio_parks__rec_-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=eccb8390cee69bdb768a2b31dbaa337e 320w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/el_rio_parks__rec_-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=3a945cd1c27549b0640bd1661b20f20a 540w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/el_rio_parks__rec_-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=2f1db1309f6758557745c2aa9a146ed3 768w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/el_rio_parks__rec_-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=fb570badad187a0b53418812bfaae440 1024w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/el_rio_parks__rec_-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=938a1499e6ec097fceba7f20d58c877d 1200w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/el_rio_parks__rec_-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=279e441d9a97c07374479049ebb22b55 1440w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/el_rio_parks__rec_-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=3000a2f9227012fe20bfdb500dea9534 1920w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/el_rio_parks__rec_-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=4a1902d512f5ca2d180f103dcacfd8b7 2048w)
Guided Tours
The Town of Marana Parks & Recreation Department, Tucson Audubon Society, Pima County, and many other organizations in Southern Arizona dedicated to sharing the birding hobby host frequent guided tours of the preserve. Also, it is a mainstay on the schedule for the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival, which is held every August, to coincide with a common bird migration season.
![](https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/guided_birding_tour_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=3a277081232d81322a5d753c1b4e0ee9 320w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/guided_birding_tour_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=423371a7ae4238c51a70b6195f591297 540w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/guided_birding_tour_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=a9389fbbdec00e48a8bbc53dfeccb656 768w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/guided_birding_tour_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=1df1324f8ff893a8d32bdc23a61baba0 1024w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/guided_birding_tour_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=d958e8b3102bf1d14b7f9f4246f3e7c6 1200w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/guided_birding_tour_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=26a3f74d20dc070d854ba6d410a62801 1440w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/guided_birding_tour_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=b96ae28a159f92dbbb7dc52897a86676 1920w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/guided_birding_tour_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=4b760d7c692e5681adee58c9ef29bad4 2016w)
Getting There
Take the Twin Peaks exit from I-10, and go west to Coachline Blvd. Turn north on Coachline Blvd and follow it until you come to a nice parking lot on the north side of the road. The El Rio Preserve is conveniently connected to The Loop, an award-winning, 137-mile paved multi-use trail for bikes, pedestrians, horses, and other non-motorized vehicles, that connects to all other parts of Pima County!
Interesting Facts about El Rio Preserve
- It has archaeological significance – this site is located just to the north of Los Morteros, an important archaeological site. The site was the location of an Hohokam-era village with a ballcourt, and its namesake, mortar holes, that were used to grind mesquite pods.
- A regional wildlife linkage that was identified by Paul Beier, Northern Arizona University and by the Arizona Game and Fish Department runs through El Rio Preserve.
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Wing It with the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival
Your guide to the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival, and birding hotspots in and around Marana!
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Birding Along The Santa Cruz River
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![](https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/owl_buow_family.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=320&q=80&w=320&s=da59586e8af7e21ca93ecd1a792efda2 320w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/owl_buow_family.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=540&q=80&w=540&s=716366561aeb286027ebd9a2746c6e56 540w, https://marana.imgix.net/images/blog-images/owl_buow_family.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=768&q=80&w=768&s=b96d5e2885f82599ff637b63257ca845 675w)
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Burrowing owls (Athene cuniculaira) are somewhat comical looking, with long legs and big yellow eyes.
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