All of our presentations take place in the handicapped accessible, sloped seating, climate-controlled Sedona Performing Arts Center auditorium, which is also equipped with a large on-stage screen and excellent acoustics. We offer 14 presentations plus a special dance performance this year. Read on to find out what our speakers will be sharing with you this year!

Each presentation is 45 minutes long, with up to 15 minutes allotted for audience questions afterward.

Tickets: $150 for all three days of presentations (advance sales only); Friday and Saturday $60 each, Sunday $50; single-lecture tickets are $20.

Friday Speakers

July 25th, 2025

Hybrid Hummingbirds

Presented by Sheri L. Williamson

Hummingbird researcher, bander, author, conservationist

4 – 4:45pm
Hummingbird expert Sheri Williamson will present a fascinating and entertaining lecture on a subject not often discussed: hybrid hummingbirds.  How common is it for hummingbirds to cross-breed? Do certain species intermix more often?  Why? What do some of these hybrids look like?  What are their odds for survival and reproduction?  We are certain Sheri’s presentation will provide you with surprises and insights you will long remember.

Sheri L. Williamson is a naturalist, ornithologist, conservationist, hummingbird researcher, writer, artist, and author of A Field Guide to Hummingbirds of North America in the Peterson Field Guide Series.  For the more than 35 years that Sheri has lived in Southeastern Arizona, she has devoted herself to hummingbird research and conservation.  She remains “obsessed with these prismatic pugilists,” as she calls them.  Together with her husband Tom she manages Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary and the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory, and she is also a much sought after speaker and tour leader.

Searching for Lost Hummingbirds:  Stories Behind the Species No One Can Find

Presented by John C. Mittermeier, Ph.D.

Director of the Search for Lost Birds at American Bird Conservancy

2:45 – 3:30pm
As we all know well, some hummingbird species are rarer and harder to see than others. But which are the rarest and hardest to find? The answer is the “lost” hummingbirds, a small number of species that no one has been able to find for the past ten or more years. These lost species are puzzles. Why can’t anyone find them? Are they still there? Do they even exist at all? Searching for them and trying to answer these questions can feel like a detective story. John C. Mittermeier is the director of the Search for Lost Birds at American Bird Conservancy, a global initiative that aims to find all of the world’s lost bird species. He will share the exciting stories behind some of the lost hummingbirds and explain why searching for them matters for bird conservation.

John C. Mittermeier has been fascinated by lost birds ever since he happened on an illustration of a rarely seen bird called the Makira Moorhen at age 15. This interest has led him around the world, where he has searched for lost species in places like Samoa, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Madagascar. As the director of the Search for Lost Birds at American Bird Conservancy, John leads an initiative that supports local conservationists and citizen scientists to find birds that are currently lost. He holds a PhD in geography from the University of Oxford, a degree in environmental history from Yale University, and has authored more than forty scientific and popular articles.

All About Anna’s: Amazing Facts and New Discoveries

Presented by Alejandro Rico-Guevara, Ph.D. and Kristiina Hurme, Ph.D.

Hummingbird researchers at the University of Washington

1:30-2:15pm
Alejandro Rico-Guevara and Kristiina Hurme have authored numerous papers and studies on hummingbirds together and individually.  Much of their research has involved our Festival bird, the Anna’s hummingbird.  In this talk they will share some of the amazing characteristics of hummingbird anatomy, physiology, and behavior.  You are sure to learn something new in this presentation as well as gain new perspective and insights.  

Secrets of Dragonflies

Presented by Doug Von Gausig

Executive Director of Verde River Institute

12:15 – 1pm
As Executive Director of Verde River Institute, Doug spends a lot of time on our local waterways — and a lot of time observing all the creatures that depend on them.  Among his very favorite are dragonflies: incredibly ancient, varied, and fascinating insects.  We confess: this is not a hummingbird or pollinator presentation.  But dragonflies are so enchanting that we wanted to give  you the opportunity to learn more about them. Doug will share his amazing images of dragonflies and discuss their variety, evolution, and biology, leaving you with a deeper understanding and appreciation for these ethereal wonders of nature.

A third-generation native Arizonan, Doug has served as Executive Director of the Verde River Institute since 2012.  He is a professional photographer and sound recordist, providing photography and natural sound recordings to museums, films, reference libraries, conservation organizations and state and national parks. Always deeply involved in community service and conservation work, Doug was the Mayor of the Town of Clarkdale for 16 years, president of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, and he has served on the Yavapai County Water Advisory Committee, the Northern Arizona Municipal Water Users Association, the Verde River Basin Partnership, the Verde River Valley Nature Organization, and the Arizona State Committee on Trails.

Becky Hardy
Becky Hardy

Create a Garden for Hummingbirds and Butterflies

Presented by Becky Hardy

Founder of Butterfly Enthusiasts of Northern Arizona, bird guide, master gardener

11 – 11:45am
Flowers are beautiful in a garden — but hummingbirds and butterflies make it even more beautiful, and as pollinators they help keep our ecosystems healthy.  In this talk Becky will share information on how you can design and grow a garden that will attract and support hummingbirds and butterflies, making your yard a colorful mosaic of life.

Becky Hardy has had a lifelong passion for butterflies, which has led to countless hours of interaction with and observation of these beautiful, complex creatures. When she moved to Arizona, Becky expanded her passion to include birds and the plants that support butterflies and birds.  Today Becky devotes her time to making the Verde Valley a better place for butterflies and birds: she is a birding guide and education chair for Northern Arizona Audubon Society, and she has founded the non-profit Butterfly Enthusiasts of Northern Arizona.  Becky has participated in several North American Butterfly Association (NABA) butterfly counts, most recently as the sector leader for Dead Horse Ranch State Park. In 2023, she observed a butterfly species that had never been recorded in the Verde Valley before.

Saturday Speakers

July 26th, 2025

Humming Across the Americas: Hummingbird Evolution

Presented by Steve Shunk

Professional naturalist, bird guide and speaker

4 – 4:45pm
With more than 360 species in the Americas the hummingbird family is among the most varied bird families in the world, surpassed only by tyrant flycatchers and tanagers.  Learn how and why hummingbirds evolved their unique characteristics and why there is such a variety of species — many having evolved to specialize in living in a very tiny area.

Stephen A. Shunk was raised with a passion for nature and the outdoors, and he went on to study Meteorology and Environmental Studies at San Jose State University. Steve began birding in the Bay Area in 1989, and he started teaching birding classes in 1992. After moving to central Oregon in 1997, he founded the Paradise Birding tour company. Now an accomplished professional naturalist, Steve leads birding and natural history tours throughout the Americas, as well as destinations in Asia and Europe. While in central Oregon, Steve co-founded the East Cascades Bird Conservancy—now the East Cascades Audubon Society—and served as its first President. Steve co-founded the Oregon Birding Trails program and coordinated its flagship project, the Oregon Cascades Birding Trail. He served as a 15-year compiler for two Christmas bird counts, and he has worked as a field biologist off and on for over 20 years. In 2021, Steve started leading domestic and international birding tours through Arizona-based Naturalist Journeys. In January 2024, Steve moved his home base to Rancho Primavera, in Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco, Mexico. Here, Steve and his partner, Lizzy Martinez, lead tours on this private nature reserve, while Steve continues guiding for Naturalist Journeys.

Visit Steve’s website ⇒

Soo Baus

Backyard Hummingbird Photography

Presented by Soo Baus

Wildlife photographer and Trauma/ICU nurse

2:45 – 3:30pm
During the COVID pandemic, Trauma/ICU nurse Soo Baus found peace in her backyard, where she created an environment that attracted hummingbirds and provided an artistic setting for photography.  Most of the hummingbirds in her yard were our Festival Bird this year: Anna’s Hummingbirds.  She spent as many as 6 hours at a time watching and photographing them. Her images were so captivating that one of them won the Grand Prize (out of 7200 entries) in the National Wildlife Federation’s 2022 Garden for Wildlife photo contest. Says Soo, “I love observing their [birds’] behavior—mating rituals, parenting, territorial disputes. Sometimes it’s heartbreaking, but often it’s deeply entertaining and even humbling. Birds can be graceful, silly, and surprisingly clever.” In this presentation, Soo will share how she created a natural photo studio in her own backyard and what techniques she used to photograph the birds.

In 2014, Soo Baus bought her first Nikon DSLR — to photograph her daughter’s flute performances. “I didn’t really know what I was getting into,” she says. “I just assumed a DSLR would take better photos than my phone or point-and-shoot camera.”  She developed her photography skills by watching YouTube videos, reading articles, and learning from photographers she met out in the field. “It was during a cold November that I saw my first hummingbird — and to my utter amazement, I managed to freeze its wings mid-flight in a photo. That moment sparked something in me. I was hooked.”  Soo now photographs with the Sony Alpha system and a 200–600mm lens. “Wildlife photography has become more than a hobby—it’s a passion, a refuge, and a way for me to connect more deeply with the world around me,” says Soo. “My hope is that through my photos, others will also fall in love with nature and feel inspired to protect it.”

The Paton Center for Hummingbirds: Past Present and Future

Presented by Tom Brown

Owner/operator of Focus On Feathers Photography and Guided Bird Tours and Site Manager of the Paton Center for Hummingbirds

1:30 – 2:15pm
Located in Patagonia, southeast Arizona, the Paton Center for Hummingbirds has become a world-famous destination for hummingbird enthusiasts, and is a rare location in the U.S. where sightings of the Violet-crowned Hummingbird can (almost) be guaranteed.  Tom will open his talk with a description of how Wally and Marion Paton created a truly amazing birding location in their own backyard. Now owned by the Tucson Bird Alliance, the property continues to evolve.  Tom will take you on a virtual tour of the Paton Center, its surroundings and its birds, and discuss plans for repairs, remodels, and expansions to the site and the surrounding trail system. 

Tom grew up in south-eastern Oregon, where his love of birds started early and has continued thru his extensive photography. Starting out with a hand-me-down Leica camera at age 14, his photos can now be found in magazines, websites and calendars in several countries. At some point it became quite obvious that a deeper knowledge of all things “bird” was not only great fun, but helped to provide the critical information that made for great photos. This in turn has lead to many years of getting to know as much about the behavior of our avian friends as possible, and he is still learning to this day. Tom is the owner and operator of Focus On Feathers, Photography and Guided Bird Tours, originally based in La Paz, Mexico now in SE Arizona. He has presented bird seminars and photo exhibitions, and has led bird tours for groups and individuals for many years. He is now in his third year as Site Manager of Tucson Bird Alliance’s Paton Center for Hummingbirds in Patagonia Arizona.

Brian Fox Ellis

Hummingbird Tales: Myths, Legends, and Stories

Presented by Brian Fox Ellis

Professional storyteller, historian, naturalist, author, and editor of Illinois Audubon magazine

12:15 – 1pm
Hummingbirds have captivated and inspired humans for as long as people have inhabited the new world.  Tribal cultures from the Peruvian Andes to America’s Appalachian Mountains tell incredible, magical tales of these winged jewels and of the mythical feats they accomplish. Master storyteller Brian “Fox” Ellis will share insights into the significance many cultures attach to hummingbirds and regale you with ancient stories such as how the hummingbird earned its colors, their famous race with the crane, and how the hummingbird added stars to the heavens.

Brian “Fox” Ellis is an internationally renowned storyteller and naturalist who has been a featured speaker at regional and international conferences on environmental concerns, including the International Wetlands Conservation Conference and the North American Prairie Conservation Conference. He is the author of 30 books including the critically acclaimed Learning From the Land: Teaching Ecology Through Stories and Activities. His first children’s picture book, The Web at Dragonfly Pond, was selected as Conservation Education Book of the Year. He recently authored biographies of Audubon, Lewis, and Darwin as well as several collections of folklore including Bird Tales, Tall Tree Tales, and Prairie Fire.

Sedona Dance Academy
Sedona Dance Academy

Dance of the Hummingbirds

Presented by Sedona Dance Academy

Noon – 12:15pm
Join us to celebrate hummingbirds with the gift of a youth performance. Members of the Sedona Dance Academy will perform “Dance of the Hummingbirds.” This beautiful dance represents the heart and all its flurry as it goes through the day, like a hummingbird. What a great way to start the day!

More than a dance class, Sedona Dance Academy is an immersive community fostering friendship, artistry, athleticism, and soul in the Verde Valley area.

Visit the Sedona Dance Academy’s website ⇒

Arizona’s Central Highlands

Presented by Sue Halvorsen and John Huff

Arizona master naturalists

11 – 11:45am
Sedona and its surroundings are not desert like Phoenix and not as high in elevation as those “above the rim” regions such as Flagstaff.  Learn what makes this “transition zone” a diverse, compelling, and unique environment — an ecoregion of great diversity stretching across Central Arizona. Join Sue Halvorsen and John Huff for an introduction to the unique geology of our Central Highlands and what makes it so special for the indigenous peoples who have lived here and for the wildlife, plants, and birds that migrate through or call this area of Arizona home.

John Huff has lived in Arizona for most of his life, enjoying nature by hiking and camping in various ecozones around Tucson, Flagstaff, and now Prescott. John is a certified Arizona Master Naturalist. His further understanding of the natural world includes volunteering as a docent mentor and assisting in caring for the animals at the Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary in Prescott. He also participates with the Highlands Center for Natural History in programs for all ages, helping them discover the wonders of nature.

Sue Halvorsen lives a life filled with adventure. She is an avid supporter of animal rescue, both wild and domestic. She is a compassionate educator and encourager with a deep love for animals and the planet. Sue is a certified Arizona Master Naturalist with degrees in wilderness education and nature-based creative writing. She is currently involved in several projects with the community science team at the Highlands Center for Natural History in Prescott, Arizona.

Sunday Speakers

July 27th, 2025

Beth Kingsley Hawkins
Beth Kingsley Hawkins

A Hummingbird-Inspired Life

Presented by Beth Kingsley Hawkins, M.A.

Spiritual nature photographer, author, and Hummingbird Gallery owner

2:45 – 3:30pm
Beth has loved hummingbirds since she was three, when the flowers in her grandfather’s garden in Maine were taller than she was. Wanting to see, learn about, and photograph diverse hummers with her Hummingbird Society founder husband Ross, she traveled to Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica, Jamaica and Mexico.   Now at age 87 she reminisces about how hummingbirds have shaped her life and the adventures that ensued as she led a hummingbird-inspired life. She will include her own creative photography as she shares her journey in word and image. 

Following the passing in 2020 of her late husband Ross Hawkins, who founded the International Hummingbird Society in 1996, Beth served as Executive Director of the Society for 3 years. Since 2006 she has also operated her for-profit Sedona Hummingbird Gallery, which features her photography and everything hummingbird. Hummingbirds have been a source of inspiration for Beth who has traveled extensively to experience and photograph them, and to give talks and share stories about them. She is the author of two books, Anna’s in the Snow and Hummy, the Magnificent: How a Hummingbird Learned to Read. She is now completing her third book, Love’s Messengers, Hummingbird Stories of Hope and Healing, designed around her definition of a hummingbird.

Beth has a master’s degree in music and music therapy from the Orff Institute at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. She has worked as a music therapist in a variety of settings, work she continues in private practice. She is also a Reiki master and offers Personal Totem Pole work, identifying the animal allies in each of the chakras of the body.

Real-time Painting Demonstration and Storytelling

Presented by Gamini Ratnavira

Renowned wildlife artist

1:30 -2:15pm
Artist Gamini Ratnavira, a Sedona Hummingbird Festival favorite, will paint a hummingbird live on stage as he explains his technique and his personal history through wonderful stories of his unusual life. Make sure to stop by Gamini’s booth where he is selling and signing copies of his book “Hummingbirds: A Celebration of their Beauty through Art.” This book features paintings of 365 species of hummingbird, each one infused with the signature magic only Gamini can bring to a painting.

Gamini Ratnavira is a self-taught Sri Lankan-American wildlife artist of international renown. Inspired by the magnificant rainforest country he grew up in and wanting to share the beauty and wonder of nature with those around him, he became a professional wildlife artist at the age of 19. He says: “As a Buddhist, respect for all life and nature is ingrained in my life philosophy and is a part of my canvas. I have been fortunate to visit over 55 countries, keeping detailed sketchbooks, taking photos, and creating paintings from these travels.” The president of Sri Lanka collected his work and named him his Chief Advisor on Wildlife and Conservation. Gamini also worked with Britain’s Prince Philip to develop “Let them Live,” an elephant conservation program with the World Wildlife Fund. Gamini and his art have become a much-loved centerpiece at every Sedona Hummingbird Festival since its inception in 2012.

Visit Gamini’s website ⇒

Chasing Feathers: Photographing Hummingbirds Across the Americas (and Why You Should Use a Guide)

Presented by Anthony Lujan

International hummingbird photographer and author

12:15 – 1pm
Join dedicated (hardcore) hummingbird photographer Anthony Lujan on a vivid journey through the cloud forests, deserts, and rainforests of the Americas as he shares how he set out to photograph as many hummingbird species as possible—capturing breathtaking images along the way. In this presentation, Anthony unveils the obsessive planning, deeply personal motivations, and sometimes chaotic realities behind the lens. You’ll gain rare insights into how guides—local experts with eyes sharper than a raptor—were instrumental in tracking down elusive species in remote corners of the world. Whether you’re a nature lover, photographer, birder, or someone who dreams of the perfect iridescent shot, Anthony’s stories, hard-won lessons, and pro tips will leave you inspired—and better prepared to chase your own feathered dreams.

A passionate hummingbird photographer, Anthony Lujan creates stunning visual narratives that have garnered international acclaim, evoking a deep appreciation for the artistry and storytelling prowess evident in each capture.  He has published three hummingbird books.  As an advocate for hummingbirds he is committed to seeking out and supporting conservation projects for endangered hummingbird species. In his view, photography is an important medium for raising awareness about the need to preserve hummingbird habitats.

Hummingbird Rehab

Presented by Vanessa Jones

Hummingbird rehabilitator

11 – 11:45am
Vanessa Jones has rehabilitated hundreds (or is it thousands?) of hummingbirds, first in southern California and currently in southeastern Arizona.  Learn about the joys, heartbreak, lessons learned, and incredible sacrifice involved in hummingbird rehabilitation — and what you can do to help keep hummingbirds safe so they do not need rehabilitation!

Vanessa Jones is a licensed hummingbird rehabber in the State of Arizona.  She started her work with hummingbirds at Project Wildlife in San Diego. She volunteered there for 22 years, handling between 200 and 300 patients a year. After moving to Tucson in 2022, she joined the Southern Arizona Hummingbird Rescue (partnered with Liberty Wildlife in Phoenix) to continue providing care for orphaned or injured hummingbirds. Her specialty is neonates and nestlings.
Because of her love of hummingbirds and nature, Vanessa has taken an interest in amateur photography and painting.  After hearing a talk at one of the festivals a few years back, she was inspired by Beth Kingsley to go to Costa Rica to see some of the amazing species found there — and she looks forward to returning to Central America to encounter even more hummingbird species.  This will be Vanessa’s seventh time attending the Sedona Hummingbird Festival and her second participation as a speaker.

All of our presentations take place in the handicapped accessible, sloped seating, climate-controlled Sedona Performing Arts Center auditorium, which is also equipped with a large on-stage screen and excellent acoustics. We offer 14 presentations plus a special dance performance this year. Read on to find out what our speakers will be sharing with you this year!

Each presentation is 45 minutes long, with up to 15 minutes allotted for audience questions afterward.

Tickets: $150 for all three days of presentations (advance sales only); Friday and Saturday $60 each, Sunday $50; single-lecture tickets are $20.

Friday Speakers

July 25th, 2025

Hybrid Hummingbirds

Presented by Sheri L. Williamson

Hummingbird researcher, bander, author, conservationist

4 – 4:45pm
Hummingbird expert Sheri Williamson will present a fascinating and entertaining lecture on a subject not often discussed: hybrid hummingbirds.  How common is it for hummingbirds to cross-breed? Do certain species intermix more often?  Why? What do some of these hybrids look like?  What are their odds for survival and reproduction?  We are certain Sheri’s presentation will provide you with surprises and insights you will long remember.

Sheri L. Williamson is a naturalist, ornithologist, conservationist, hummingbird researcher, writer, artist, and author of A Field Guide to Hummingbirds of North America in the Peterson Field Guide Series.  For the more than 35 years that Sheri has lived in Southeastern Arizona, she has devoted herself to hummingbird research and conservation.  She remains “obsessed with these prismatic pugilists,” as she calls them.  Together with her husband Tom she manages Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary and the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory, and she is also a much sought after speaker and tour leader.

Searching for Lost Hummingbirds:  Stories Behind the Species No One Can Find

Presented by John C. Mittermeier, Ph.D.

Director of the Search for Lost Birds at American Bird Conservancy

2:45 – 3:30pm
As we all know well, some hummingbird species are rarer and harder to see than others. But which are the rarest and hardest to find? The answer is the “lost” hummingbirds, a small number of species that no one has been able to find for the past ten or more years. These lost species are puzzles. Why can’t anyone find them? Are they still there? Do they even exist at all? Searching for them and trying to answer these questions can feel like a detective story. John C. Mittermeier is the director of the Search for Lost Birds at American Bird Conservancy, a global initiative that aims to find all of the world’s lost bird species. He will share the exciting stories behind some of the lost hummingbirds and explain why searching for them matters for bird conservation.

John C. Mittermeier has been fascinated by lost birds ever since he happened on an illustration of a rarely seen bird called the Makira Moorhen at age 15. This interest has led him around the world, where he has searched for lost species in places like Samoa, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Madagascar. As the director of the Search for Lost Birds at American Bird Conservancy, John leads an initiative that supports local conservationists and citizen scientists to find birds that are currently lost. He holds a PhD in geography from the University of Oxford, a degree in environmental history from Yale University, and has authored more than forty scientific and popular articles.

All About Anna’s: Amazing Facts and New Discoveries

Presented by Alejandro Rico-Guevara, Ph.D. and Kristiina Hurme, Ph.D.

Hummingbird researchers at the University of Washington

1:30-2:15pm
Alejandro Rico-Guevara and Kristiina Hurme have authored numerous papers and studies on hummingbirds together and individually.  Much of their research has involved our Festival bird, the Anna’s hummingbird.  In this talk they will share some of the amazing characteristics of hummingbird anatomy, physiology, and behavior.  You are sure to learn something new in this presentation as well as gain new perspective and insights.  

Secrets of Dragonflies

Presented by Doug Von Gausig

Executive Director of Verde River Institute

12:15 – 1pm
As Executive Director of Verde River Institute, Doug spends a lot of time on our local waterways — and a lot of time observing all the creatures that depend on them.  Among his very favorite are dragonflies: incredibly ancient, varied, and fascinating insects.  We confess: this is not a hummingbird or pollinator presentation.  But dragonflies are so enchanting that we wanted to give  you the opportunity to learn more about them. Doug will share his amazing images of dragonflies and discuss their variety, evolution, and biology, leaving you with a deeper understanding and appreciation for these ethereal wonders of nature.

A third-generation native Arizonan, Doug has served as Executive Director of the Verde River Institute since 2012.  He is a professional photographer and sound recordist, providing photography and natural sound recordings to museums, films, reference libraries, conservation organizations and state and national parks. Always deeply involved in community service and conservation work, Doug was the Mayor of the Town of Clarkdale for 16 years, president of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, and he has served on the Yavapai County Water Advisory Committee, the Northern Arizona Municipal Water Users Association, the Verde River Basin Partnership, the Verde River Valley Nature Organization, and the Arizona State Committee on Trails.

Becky Hardy
Becky Hardy

Create a Garden for Hummingbirds and Butterflies

Presented by Becky Hardy

Founder of Butterfly Enthusiasts of Northern Arizona, bird guide, master gardener

11 – 11:45am
Flowers are beautiful in a garden — but hummingbirds and butterflies make it even more beautiful, and as pollinators they help keep our ecosystems healthy.  In this talk Becky will share information on how you can design and grow a garden that will attract and support hummingbirds and butterflies, making your yard a colorful mosaic of life.

Becky Hardy has had a lifelong passion for butterflies, which has led to countless hours of interaction with and observation of these beautiful, complex creatures. When she moved to Arizona, Becky expanded her passion to include birds and the plants that support butterflies and birds.  Today Becky devotes her time to making the Verde Valley a better place for butterflies and birds: she is a birding guide and education chair for Northern Arizona Audubon Society, and she has founded the non-profit Butterfly Enthusiasts of Northern Arizona.  Becky has participated in several North American Butterfly Association (NABA) butterfly counts, most recently as the sector leader for Dead Horse Ranch State Park. In 2023, she observed a butterfly species that had never been recorded in the Verde Valley before.

Saturday Speakers

July 26th, 2025

Humming Across the Americas: Hummingbird Evolution

Presented by Steve Shunk

Professional naturalist, bird guide and speaker

4 – 4:45pm
With more than 360 species in the Americas the hummingbird family is among the most varied bird families in the world, surpassed only by tyrant flycatchers and tanagers.  Learn how and why hummingbirds evolved their unique characteristics and why there is such a variety of species — many having evolved to specialize in living in a very tiny area.

Stephen A. Shunk was raised with a passion for nature and the outdoors, and he went on to study Meteorology and Environmental Studies at San Jose State University. Steve began birding in the Bay Area in 1989, and he started teaching birding classes in 1992. After moving to central Oregon in 1997, he founded the Paradise Birding tour company. Now an accomplished professional naturalist, Steve leads birding and natural history tours throughout the Americas, as well as destinations in Asia and Europe. While in central Oregon, Steve co-founded the East Cascades Bird Conservancy—now the East Cascades Audubon Society—and served as its first President. Steve co-founded the Oregon Birding Trails program and coordinated its flagship project, the Oregon Cascades Birding Trail. He served as a 15-year compiler for two Christmas bird counts, and he has worked as a field biologist off and on for over 20 years. In 2021, Steve started leading domestic and international birding tours through Arizona-based Naturalist Journeys. In January 2024, Steve moved his home base to Rancho Primavera, in Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco, Mexico. Here, Steve and his partner, Lizzy Martinez, lead tours on this private nature reserve, while Steve continues guiding for Naturalist Journeys.

Visit Steve’s website ⇒

Soo Baus

Backyard Hummingbird Photography

Presented by Soo Baus

Wildlife photographer and Trauma/ICU nurse

2:45 – 3:30pm
During the COVID pandemic, Trauma/ICU nurse Soo Baus found peace in her backyard, where she created an environment that attracted hummingbirds and provided an artistic setting for photography.  Most of the hummingbirds in her yard were our Festival Bird this year: Anna’s Hummingbirds.  She spent as many as 6 hours at a time watching and photographing them. Her images were so captivating that one of them won the Grand Prize (out of 7200 entries) in the National Wildlife Federation’s 2022 Garden for Wildlife photo contest. Says Soo, “I love observing their [birds’] behavior—mating rituals, parenting, territorial disputes. Sometimes it’s heartbreaking, but often it’s deeply entertaining and even humbling. Birds can be graceful, silly, and surprisingly clever.” In this presentation, Soo will share how she created a natural photo studio in her own backyard and what techniques she used to photograph the birds.

In 2014, Soo Baus bought her first Nikon DSLR — to photograph her daughter’s flute performances. “I didn’t really know what I was getting into,” she says. “I just assumed a DSLR would take better photos than my phone or point-and-shoot camera.”  She developed her photography skills by watching YouTube videos, reading articles, and learning from photographers she met out in the field. “It was during a cold November that I saw my first hummingbird — and to my utter amazement, I managed to freeze its wings mid-flight in a photo. That moment sparked something in me. I was hooked.”  Soo now photographs with the Sony Alpha system and a 200–600mm lens. “Wildlife photography has become more than a hobby—it’s a passion, a refuge, and a way for me to connect more deeply with the world around me,” says Soo. “My hope is that through my photos, others will also fall in love with nature and feel inspired to protect it.”

The Paton Center for Hummingbirds: Past Present and Future

Presented by Tom Brown

Owner/operator of Focus On Feathers Photography and Guided Bird Tours and Site Manager of the Paton Center for Hummingbirds

1:30 – 2:15pm
Located in Patagonia, southeast Arizona, the Paton Center for Hummingbirds has become a world-famous destination for hummingbird enthusiasts, and is a rare location in the U.S. where sightings of the Violet-crowned Hummingbird can (almost) be guaranteed.  Tom will open his talk with a description of how Wally and Marion Paton created a truly amazing birding location in their own backyard. Now owned by the Tucson Bird Alliance, the property continues to evolve.  Tom will take you on a virtual tour of the Paton Center, its surroundings and its birds, and discuss plans for repairs, remodels, and expansions to the site and the surrounding trail system. 

Tom grew up in south-eastern Oregon, where his love of birds started early and has continued thru his extensive photography. Starting out with a hand-me-down Leica camera at age 14, his photos can now be found in magazines, websites and calendars in several countries. At some point it became quite obvious that a deeper knowledge of all things “bird” was not only great fun, but helped to provide the critical information that made for great photos. This in turn has lead to many years of getting to know as much about the behavior of our avian friends as possible, and he is still learning to this day. Tom is the owner and operator of Focus On Feathers, Photography and Guided Bird Tours, originally based in La Paz, Mexico now in SE Arizona. He has presented bird seminars and photo exhibitions, and has led bird tours for groups and individuals for many years. He is now in his third year as Site Manager of Tucson Bird Alliance’s Paton Center for Hummingbirds in Patagonia Arizona.

Brian Fox Ellis

Hummingbird Tales: Myths, Legends, and Stories

Presented by Brian Fox Ellis

Professional storyteller, historian, naturalist, author, and editor of Illinois Audubon magazine

12:15 – 1pm
Hummingbirds have captivated and inspired humans for as long as people have inhabited the new world.  Tribal cultures from the Peruvian Andes to America’s Appalachian Mountains tell incredible, magical tales of these winged jewels and of the mythical feats they accomplish. Master storyteller Brian “Fox” Ellis will share insights into the significance many cultures attach to hummingbirds and regale you with ancient stories such as how the hummingbird earned its colors, their famous race with the crane, and how the hummingbird added stars to the heavens.

Brian “Fox” Ellis is an internationally renowned storyteller and naturalist who has been a featured speaker at regional and international conferences on environmental concerns, including the International Wetlands Conservation Conference and the North American Prairie Conservation Conference. He is the author of 30 books including the critically acclaimed Learning From the Land: Teaching Ecology Through Stories and Activities. His first children’s picture book, The Web at Dragonfly Pond, was selected as Conservation Education Book of the Year. He recently authored biographies of Audubon, Lewis, and Darwin as well as several collections of folklore including Bird Tales, Tall Tree Tales, and Prairie Fire.

Sedona Dance Academy
Sedona Dance Academy

Dance of the Hummingbirds

Presented by Sedona Dance Academy

Noon – 12:15pm
Join us to celebrate hummingbirds with the gift of a youth performance. Members of the Sedona Dance Academy will perform “Dance of the Hummingbirds.” This beautiful dance represents the heart and all its flurry as it goes through the day, like a hummingbird. What a great way to start the day!

More than a dance class, Sedona Dance Academy is an immersive community fostering friendship, artistry, athleticism, and soul in the Verde Valley area.

Visit the Sedona Dance Academy’s website ⇒

Arizona’s Central Highlands

Presented by Sue Halvorsen and John Huff

Arizona master naturalists

11 – 11:45am
Sedona and its surroundings are not desert like Phoenix and not as high in elevation as those “above the rim” regions such as Flagstaff.  Learn what makes this “transition zone” a diverse, compelling, and unique environment — an ecoregion of great diversity stretching across Central Arizona. Join Sue Halvorsen and John Huff for an introduction to the unique geology of our Central Highlands and what makes it so special for the indigenous peoples who have lived here and for the wildlife, plants, and birds that migrate through or call this area of Arizona home.

John Huff has lived in Arizona for most of his life, enjoying nature by hiking and camping in various ecozones around Tucson, Flagstaff, and now Prescott. John is a certified Arizona Master Naturalist. His further understanding of the natural world includes volunteering as a docent mentor and assisting in caring for the animals at the Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary in Prescott. He also participates with the Highlands Center for Natural History in programs for all ages, helping them discover the wonders of nature.

Sue Halvorsen lives a life filled with adventure. She is an avid supporter of animal rescue, both wild and domestic. She is a compassionate educator and encourager with a deep love for animals and the planet. Sue is a certified Arizona Master Naturalist with degrees in wilderness education and nature-based creative writing. She is currently involved in several projects with the community science team at the Highlands Center for Natural History in Prescott, Arizona.

Sunday Speakers

July 27th, 2025

Beth Kingsley Hawkins
Beth Kingsley Hawkins

A Hummingbird-Inspired Life

Presented by Beth Kingsley Hawkins, M.A.

Spiritual nature photographer, author, and Hummingbird Gallery owner

2:45 – 3:30pm
Beth has loved hummingbirds since she was three, when the flowers in her grandfather’s garden in Maine were taller than she was. Wanting to see, learn about, and photograph diverse hummers with her Hummingbird Society founder husband Ross, she traveled to Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica, Jamaica and Mexico.   Now at age 87 she reminisces about how hummingbirds have shaped her life and the adventures that ensued as she led a hummingbird-inspired life. She will include her own creative photography as she shares her journey in word and image. 

Following the passing in 2020 of her late husband Ross Hawkins, who founded the International Hummingbird Society in 1996, Beth served as Executive Director of the Society for 3 years. Since 2006 she has also operated her for-profit Sedona Hummingbird Gallery, which features her photography and everything hummingbird. Hummingbirds have been a source of inspiration for Beth who has traveled extensively to experience and photograph them, and to give talks and share stories about them. She is the author of two books, Anna’s in the Snow and Hummy, the Magnificent: How a Hummingbird Learned to Read. She is now completing her third book, Love’s Messengers, Hummingbird Stories of Hope and Healing, designed around her definition of a hummingbird.

Beth has a master’s degree in music and music therapy from the Orff Institute at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. She has worked as a music therapist in a variety of settings, work she continues in private practice. She is also a Reiki master and offers Personal Totem Pole work, identifying the animal allies in each of the chakras of the body.

Real-time Painting Demonstration and Storytelling

Presented by Gamini Ratnavira

Renowned wildlife artist

1:30 -2:15pm
Artist Gamini Ratnavira, a Sedona Hummingbird Festival favorite, will paint a hummingbird live on stage as he explains his technique and his personal history through wonderful stories of his unusual life. Make sure to stop by Gamini’s booth where he is selling and signing copies of his book “Hummingbirds: A Celebration of their Beauty through Art.” This book features paintings of 365 species of hummingbird, each one infused with the signature magic only Gamini can bring to a painting.

Gamini Ratnavira is a self-taught Sri Lankan-American wildlife artist of international renown. Inspired by the magnificant rainforest country he grew up in and wanting to share the beauty and wonder of nature with those around him, he became a professional wildlife artist at the age of 19. He says: “As a Buddhist, respect for all life and nature is ingrained in my life philosophy and is a part of my canvas. I have been fortunate to visit over 55 countries, keeping detailed sketchbooks, taking photos, and creating paintings from these travels.” The president of Sri Lanka collected his work and named him his Chief Advisor on Wildlife and Conservation. Gamini also worked with Britain’s Prince Philip to develop “Let them Live,” an elephant conservation program with the World Wildlife Fund. Gamini and his art have become a much-loved centerpiece at every Sedona Hummingbird Festival since its inception in 2012.

Visit Gamini’s website ⇒

Chasing Feathers: Photographing Hummingbirds Across the Americas (and Why You Should Use a Guide)

Presented by Anthony Lujan

International hummingbird photographer and author

12:15 – 1pm
Join dedicated (hardcore) hummingbird photographer Anthony Lujan on a vivid journey through the cloud forests, deserts, and rainforests of the Americas as he shares how he set out to photograph as many hummingbird species as possible—capturing breathtaking images along the way. In this presentation, Anthony unveils the obsessive planning, deeply personal motivations, and sometimes chaotic realities behind the lens. You’ll gain rare insights into how guides—local experts with eyes sharper than a raptor—were instrumental in tracking down elusive species in remote corners of the world. Whether you’re a nature lover, photographer, birder, or someone who dreams of the perfect iridescent shot, Anthony’s stories, hard-won lessons, and pro tips will leave you inspired—and better prepared to chase your own feathered dreams.

A passionate hummingbird photographer, Anthony Lujan creates stunning visual narratives that have garnered international acclaim, evoking a deep appreciation for the artistry and storytelling prowess evident in each capture.  He has published three hummingbird books.  As an advocate for hummingbirds he is committed to seeking out and supporting conservation projects for endangered hummingbird species. In his view, photography is an important medium for raising awareness about the need to preserve hummingbird habitats.

Hummingbird Rehab

Presented by Vanessa Jones

Hummingbird rehabilitator

11 – 11:45am
Vanessa Jones has rehabilitated hundreds (or is it thousands?) of hummingbirds, first in southern California and currently in southeastern Arizona.  Learn about the joys, heartbreak, lessons learned, and incredible sacrifice involved in hummingbird rehabilitation — and what you can do to help keep hummingbirds safe so they do not need rehabilitation!

Vanessa Jones is a licensed hummingbird rehabber in the State of Arizona.  She started her work with hummingbirds at Project Wildlife in San Diego. She volunteered there for 22 years, handling between 200 and 300 patients a year. After moving to Tucson in 2022, she joined the Southern Arizona Hummingbird Rescue (partnered with Liberty Wildlife in Phoenix) to continue providing care for orphaned or injured hummingbirds. Her specialty is neonates and nestlings.
Because of her love of hummingbirds and nature, Vanessa has taken an interest in amateur photography and painting.  After hearing a talk at one of the festivals a few years back, she was inspired by Beth Kingsley to go to Costa Rica to see some of the amazing species found there — and she looks forward to returning to Central America to encounter even more hummingbird species.  This will be Vanessa’s seventh time attending the Sedona Hummingbird Festival and her second participation as a speaker.