AREA DAY TRIPS

Birding, Hiking and Tours

Birds are a real draw to the Gila National Forest and Silver City area. The natural habitat on the Lodge grounds is home to many resident and migrant bird species. Walk the grounds or sit by the pond with binoculars and see many of them all through the year. To name a few :


  • Four species of Jay: Mexican, Stellar's, Scrub, and Pinon
  • Swainson's, Black, and Zone-tailed Hawks, and Golden Eagle possible
  • Numerous songbirds - warblers, vireos, local and migratory
  • Woodpeckers including Lewis' Woodpecker
  • Hummingbirds that are resident and migrants from Mexico


The Silver City area has many types of habitat - plant life and elevation - supporting the wide range of bird and animal life you will find here. [ Southwest New Mexico Audubon Society ]

Schedule an excursion:

→ for day hikes, petroglyphs, and Gila Cliff Dwellings, Miriam - 575-313-2180

→  for birding outings, Devyn - (847) 660-4816 or gilabirdguiding@gmail.com

April 24th - 26th, 2026

Birding Workshop at Hermosa Field Station

This birding workshop at Natural Curiosity’s Hermosa Field Station is led by Devyn, a student at Western New Mexico University whose academic focus and personal passion center on avian life. Participants will learn bird identification skills, habitat awareness, and observation techniques while exploring the diverse ecosystems surrounding the field station. Spend a spring weekend immersed in birds, learning, and community at Hermosa Field Station. 


The workshop blends early-morning birding walks, engaging bird identification presentations, and relaxed optional outings throughout the day, with shared meals, catered by Bear Mountain Lodge, and evening programs that invite reflection and connection. April at Hermosa is especially magical. Cool mornings, warming sun, flowing creeks, and the landscape alive with new growth and birdsong. As you explore the Gila, you might spot striking species like the Stellar’s Jay, Hepatic Tanager, Red-naped Sap Sucker, or hear the haunting call of the Northern Pygmy-Owl. https://www.natural-curiosity.org/ 


Cost $700 per person.

Register Today!

Email: sophia.schaffer@natural-curiosity to reserve your spot.