Gwen Grace, Desert Rivers Audubon Society

Sun Lakes again has a featured house in the Tour de Bird sponsored by the Desert Rivers Audubon Society. This year’s beautiful habitat in Cottonwood will kick off the annual Tour de Bird. You will learn how to attract birds without bird feeders! A more natural way to attract birds is to use appropriate plantings.

Nectar-feeding birds like hummingbirds are attracted to tubular flowers, often red in color. Mockingbirds and thrashers like fruits and berries.

This tour has 10 featured backyards and parks designed with habitats to appeal to one bird or many, mostly with desert and native plants. Butterflies and pollinators, too, are considered. Learn what kind of water features work best.

These 10 different sights offer a variety of trees, shrubs and water features. You can also check out raptors up close and personal with the Liberty Wildlife folks. Look for the more than hundred species of birds sighted locally! View large yards and small spaces and you can be richly rewarded with the right habitat.

On November 5 from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. tour the many yards. The book of 10 tickets has the location and directions to each place. Advance tickets are available for $10 online at www.desertriversaudubon.org or call Gwen Grace at 480-239-8029. Tickets can be purchased for $15 the day of the tour.