Birding Rates
Please read this section carefully. Rates are subject to change without notice. Rates will be held for all
reserved trips regardless of potential cost increases. All fees are in United States currency and are
payable by cash, check or money order. No credit cards will be accepted.
My rate structure, discounts and specials are designed to provide you with maximum trip planning
flexibility. If you shop and compare (and I hope you do), you’ll find my total hourly rate after all charges
and fees will be lower, in comparison, the more days you reserve and the more birders in your party.
Some of the rates listed below may not apply to your trip.
Reservations, Deposits and Cancellations
By contacting me for birding services, you agree that I have the right to refuse, take, or cancel a
reservation at any time for any reason whatsoever.
When you contact me with details of your proposed trip, I will return an email quote. This estimate will
be guaranteed for twenty-one (21) days from the day it is sent to you.
No deposit is required to hold a birding reservation! You can cancel at any time.
Daily/Hourly Birding Rates
All times include travel time to and from my home in Vail to our arranged meeting and drop off location.
Day Birding: $150.00 for 1 birder for 8-10 hours of birding
Day Birding: $25.00 for each additional birder, 8-10 hours
Owling: $25.00 per hour for 1 birder
Owling: $10.00 per hour for each additional birder
Hourly and half-day rates are available upon request.
Available Discounts
Senior Discount: $5.00 off each day for each and every birder over the age of 55
Repeat Customer Discount: $5.00 off each and every day for repeat customers
Multiple Day Bookings - $5.00 off the second day of a consecutive day booking, $10.00 thereafter
Patch Discount: Flat $5.00 off per booking, per party in exchange for your local bird patch
Children 12 and under are free with a paid adult!
Out-of-State Birding Group Rates
Are you an out-of-state birding group with a compensated leader who simply needs access to the
permits to be able to conduct tours in Arizona's National Forests? I can be "rented" for the day for a
$175.00 flat fee plus mileage at $0.35 per mile to cover your permit needs.
I bird with your group, follow along like I'm part of the tour, let your leader do his or her job and I
occasionally point out a bird or two. It avoids the difficulties of your group having to secure a forest
service permit, your tour satisfies all local permit requirements and everyone is happy!
Shuttle Service Fee
If, instead of using your vehicle, we use my Honda Accord for birding (it’s fairly comfortable and seats up
to three (3)) or my Dodge Durango for birding (it is spacious and holds four (4) to five (5) passengers),
the rate will be $0.35 per mile (that’s 35 cents per mile). Any more than three (3) birders when using the
Honda Accord or five (5) when using the Dodge Durango and you will need to provide additional vehicle
(s) at your cost. The Accord is more than sufficient to reach many paved birding areas in southeast
Arizona. The Durango is required for all dirt roads and any areas requiring high clearance or 4 x 4
capability.
If we use your vehicle for the day, there is no Shuttle Service Fee..
California Gulch
After ten years of so of multiple trips into the "gulch", I have decided that this is a risky trip just waiting for
a disaster. While most areas in Arizona are safe to visit, and California Gulch is generally one of them,
the range of potential dangers that one actually does need to ponder, seems to be higher in California
Gulch than in any other single area in southeast Arizona. It's possible to travel here 1,000 times and
never experience even a slight difficulty, but it's that one bad occurrence that will make you reconsider
your wisdom and potentially place you in a dangerous situation.
If you consider the remoteness, the lack of cell coverage, illegal immigration and drug smuggling,
extreme heat, the potential for flash flooding, the distance to help, the steep and uneven walking terrain,
venomous critters, rocky to deep water crossings and more, visits to this area demand a level of backup
and contingency planning to avoid unpleasant or potentially harmful situations.
For example, a dead battery may not seem like much, but it could be one of those days when no one
else visits the gulch. Border Patrol agents, if you run into one, may or may not help you. Perhaps your
battery backup device isn't sufficient to start your car. It's a 3-4 mile hike out of the gulch to the main road
and the best times to see the specialties here is during the hottest part of the summer. Once you reach
Ruby Road, you're still 10-15 miles from civilization that might be able to help you and cell service is
spotty, if at all available. I've seen the washes in this area flood to depths that would permanently
damage an engine. Slipping and breaking an ankle in the gulch would be a tough situation. A disabled
vehicle is cause to wonder about losing your investment.
I'm not sure any tow truck or auto club representative would venture into these remote canyons to
extricate or tow a vehicle even if you could reach them. I carry tow straps for this very reason. I refuse to
carry a handgun to protect myself. Since I am committed to safety on behalf of my clients and especially
my family, I have restructured how and under what conditions I will travel to the "gulch" for birding. I have
decided to no longer conduct single vehicle excursions into this area.
I will be more than happy to accompany you into the gulch during daylight hours, provided that you rent a
suitable high-clearance or four-wheel drive vehicle for the journey. I will lead or follow you with my own
vehicle and we can thus avoid about 95% of the potential dangers that threaten your fun and safety in
birding this area. My rates will be the same, but I will charge for my mileage, at the usual rate, and I will
add a $50.00 rugged area surcharge to my fee to offset undue wear and tear to my vehicle.
I choose NOT to take clients into the "gulch" at night. There's no amount of adequate compensation or
armament that would make this either a pleasant or comfortable birding situation.
Access to Fee Areas
If we visit sites such as open yards, state parks, bed & breakfast establishments, Nature Conservancy
properties and other mandatory fee or suggested donation areas, you will be responsible for all such
fees for all vehicles and members in the birding party (including mine!).
Based on your itinerary, I can let you know what these fees are likely to be.
Please read this section carefully. Rates are subject to change without notice. Rates will be held for all
reserved trips regardless of potential cost increases. All fees are in United States currency and are
payable by cash, check or money order. No credit cards will be accepted.
My rate structure, discounts and specials are designed to provide you with maximum trip planning
flexibility. If you shop and compare (and I hope you do), you’ll find my total hourly rate after all charges
and fees will be lower, in comparison, the more days you reserve and the more birders in your party.
Some of the rates listed below may not apply to your trip.
Reservations, Deposits and Cancellations
By contacting me for birding services, you agree that I have the right to refuse, take, or cancel a
reservation at any time for any reason whatsoever.
When you contact me with details of your proposed trip, I will return an email quote. This estimate will
be guaranteed for twenty-one (21) days from the day it is sent to you.
No deposit is required to hold a birding reservation! You can cancel at any time.
Daily/Hourly Birding Rates
All times include travel time to and from my home in Vail to our arranged meeting and drop off location.
Day Birding: $150.00 for 1 birder for 8-10 hours of birding
Day Birding: $25.00 for each additional birder, 8-10 hours
Owling: $25.00 per hour for 1 birder
Owling: $10.00 per hour for each additional birder
Hourly and half-day rates are available upon request.
Available Discounts
Senior Discount: $5.00 off each day for each and every birder over the age of 55
Repeat Customer Discount: $5.00 off each and every day for repeat customers
Multiple Day Bookings - $5.00 off the second day of a consecutive day booking, $10.00 thereafter
Patch Discount: Flat $5.00 off per booking, per party in exchange for your local bird patch
Children 12 and under are free with a paid adult!
Out-of-State Birding Group Rates
Are you an out-of-state birding group with a compensated leader who simply needs access to the
permits to be able to conduct tours in Arizona's National Forests? I can be "rented" for the day for a
$175.00 flat fee plus mileage at $0.35 per mile to cover your permit needs.
I bird with your group, follow along like I'm part of the tour, let your leader do his or her job and I
occasionally point out a bird or two. It avoids the difficulties of your group having to secure a forest
service permit, your tour satisfies all local permit requirements and everyone is happy!
Shuttle Service Fee
If, instead of using your vehicle, we use my Honda Accord for birding (it’s fairly comfortable and seats up
to three (3)) or my Dodge Durango for birding (it is spacious and holds four (4) to five (5) passengers),
the rate will be $0.35 per mile (that’s 35 cents per mile). Any more than three (3) birders when using the
Honda Accord or five (5) when using the Dodge Durango and you will need to provide additional vehicle
(s) at your cost. The Accord is more than sufficient to reach many paved birding areas in southeast
Arizona. The Durango is required for all dirt roads and any areas requiring high clearance or 4 x 4
capability.
If we use your vehicle for the day, there is no Shuttle Service Fee..
California Gulch
After ten years of so of multiple trips into the "gulch", I have decided that this is a risky trip just waiting for
a disaster. While most areas in Arizona are safe to visit, and California Gulch is generally one of them,
the range of potential dangers that one actually does need to ponder, seems to be higher in California
Gulch than in any other single area in southeast Arizona. It's possible to travel here 1,000 times and
never experience even a slight difficulty, but it's that one bad occurrence that will make you reconsider
your wisdom and potentially place you in a dangerous situation.
If you consider the remoteness, the lack of cell coverage, illegal immigration and drug smuggling,
extreme heat, the potential for flash flooding, the distance to help, the steep and uneven walking terrain,
venomous critters, rocky to deep water crossings and more, visits to this area demand a level of backup
and contingency planning to avoid unpleasant or potentially harmful situations.
For example, a dead battery may not seem like much, but it could be one of those days when no one
else visits the gulch. Border Patrol agents, if you run into one, may or may not help you. Perhaps your
battery backup device isn't sufficient to start your car. It's a 3-4 mile hike out of the gulch to the main road
and the best times to see the specialties here is during the hottest part of the summer. Once you reach
Ruby Road, you're still 10-15 miles from civilization that might be able to help you and cell service is
spotty, if at all available. I've seen the washes in this area flood to depths that would permanently
damage an engine. Slipping and breaking an ankle in the gulch would be a tough situation. A disabled
vehicle is cause to wonder about losing your investment.
I'm not sure any tow truck or auto club representative would venture into these remote canyons to
extricate or tow a vehicle even if you could reach them. I carry tow straps for this very reason. I refuse to
carry a handgun to protect myself. Since I am committed to safety on behalf of my clients and especially
my family, I have restructured how and under what conditions I will travel to the "gulch" for birding. I have
decided to no longer conduct single vehicle excursions into this area.
I will be more than happy to accompany you into the gulch during daylight hours, provided that you rent a
suitable high-clearance or four-wheel drive vehicle for the journey. I will lead or follow you with my own
vehicle and we can thus avoid about 95% of the potential dangers that threaten your fun and safety in
birding this area. My rates will be the same, but I will charge for my mileage, at the usual rate, and I will
add a $50.00 rugged area surcharge to my fee to offset undue wear and tear to my vehicle.
I choose NOT to take clients into the "gulch" at night. There's no amount of adequate compensation or
armament that would make this either a pleasant or comfortable birding situation.
Access to Fee Areas
If we visit sites such as open yards, state parks, bed & breakfast establishments, Nature Conservancy
properties and other mandatory fee or suggested donation areas, you will be responsible for all such
fees for all vehicles and members in the birding party (including mine!).
Based on your itinerary, I can let you know what these fees are likely to be.
| White-eared Hummer |
| Rock Wren |
| Backyard Bobcat |
| Yellow Warbler |
| Gilded Flicker |
| Least Grebe |
Economy Birding Services, Inc.
| Rates |
"Quality Birding With Your Budget in Mind"
| Green Jay |