Participant Information

WINGS OVER WILLCOX (WOW) combines adventure, entertainment and education to provide a fun-filled weekend of birding pleasure for the novice, expert or curious.

The Wings Over Willcox Birding & Nature Festival takes place during the MLK weekend with daytime and evening activities. The festival is a wonderful opportunity to see the winter migrants and southwest bird species that are found in the Sulphur Springs Valley. Our festival also provides many opportunities to explore nature in Southeast Arizona through tours for photography, geology, archeology, history, botany, agriculture, and ranching. A nature expo in the community center has educational booths, live animal displays, and a wide variety of vendors with nature-related crafts and wares. Free seminars about many different topics are offered throughout the day in the community center. Willcox is situated east of Tucson, Arizona and is a scenic drive of about an hour and fifteen minutes on I-10. Participants can stop in during a day trip, or check out our Area Attractions links for food and lodging options.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Transportation needs are set in advance; reservation requests are filled on a first-come first-served basis. Please contact the Willcox Nature Association at info@wingsoverwillcox.com or call us (520) 384-2874 for current tour availability. Tickets must be picked up at the registration desk at the Willcox Community Center during the hours listed below. Tickets may also be purchased at the registration desk based on available space or last-minute cancellations. To register for tours online go to the Registration link and follow the instructions.

LOCATION

Tours, seminars and events meet at the Willcox Community Center, 312 West Stewart Street, except for the Banquet, which is held at the Elks Lodge, 247 East Stewart Street. See the Willcox Map for the location of these venues.

Registration Desk at Willcox Community Center

Thursday, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Friday, from 6:15a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, from 6:15a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, from 6:30a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Nature Expo will be open at the Willcox Community Center on:

Thursday, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

WHAT TO WEAR

Be prepared for COLD mornings (15 degrees) by wearing layered clothes, sturdy shoes and socks, and jackets. All participants should bring rain/mud gear due to the unpredictability of Mother Nature. In the event of inclement weather, there may be additional walking. Some tours may need to be cancelled or re-routed due to road conditions. Off-trail hiking may include wet stream crossings. Please carefully read italics at the end of tour descriptions.

WATER BOTTLES:

The Willcox Nature Association will provide water for refilling water bottles. We will not provide the prefilled plastic water bottles that are negatively impacting our environment. You are welcome to bring your own water bottle and we will have a limited number of reusable water bottles for sale at the registration desk.

TOUR REFUND SCHEDULE:

The Willcox Nature Association reserves the right to cancel or revise any event for any reason. If it becomes necessary to cancel a paid event for which you have a reservation, we will notify you by telephone and issue a full refund. If you cancel your paid event registration by telephone (520-384-2874) or in writing, the following refund policy will apply:

• Cancellations by December 31 will be fully refunded.
• Cancellations after December 31 will not be refunded except under extenuating circumstances.
• Refunds will not be given for no-shows.
• $20.00 Festival registration fees are not refundable.