WHAT
HawkWatch Festival, hosted by Tubac Nature Center
Tubac HawkWatch began in 2012 when a discovery was made that Common Black Hawks migrate over Tubac on their way to their breeding grounds. The birds often stop to roost in the cottonwood trees along the Santa Cruz River. The Common Black Hawk is a special bird in the United States, with about 500 of them soaring above during the month and this is the only known location to see this phenomenon.
Spectators from all over the country visit Tubac to view this migration spectacle. Nine-o’clock to noon is the best time to watch Common Black Hawks lift off from the river corridor, and again in the late afternoon when they fly down for the evening. There are also many other species of hawks aloft over the park and 240 bird species have been tallied migrating through this watershed oasis.
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Nature walks and children’s activities
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Official hawkwatch spotters from HawkWatch International on site to point out hawks and introduce their live raptor ambassadors
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Raffles and merchandise available throughout the event
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Interesting speakers giving presentations at the Tubac Community Center and in the park
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Free morning bird watching tours on the adjacent Anza Trail, departing daily from Ron Morriss Park
Bring a chair, binoculars, sunscreen, water and your love of the outdoors. Stick around to watch bird migration and learn why Tubac’s own riparian corridor is a highway for hawks and other migrating birds. Bring lunch or head into Tubac for a lunch break.
If you go, be sure to share Your Story On Social #LOVETUBAC & #TubacHawkWatch and tag @Rosieonthehouse!
WHEN
March 13-17th, 2026
WHERE
Tubac Nature Center
31 Calle Iglesia | Tubac, AZ 85646
ADMISSION
Free!
