The East Valley's Audubon chapter, Desert Rivers Audubon Society,  hosts on Nov. 9 the Garden Tour de Bird, a self-guided tour of six places landscaped with the native plants that birds, insects and other Sonoran Desert wildlife need to survive.

These properties demonstrate how people can help to replace habitat lost to development by using native plants in their yards, creating beautiful spaces for humans that also are welcoming to native wildlife.

The Garden Tour de Bird is a self-guided excursion to five Tempe residences and a Chandler park that are appealing to people as well as birds. Tickets are available on Eventbrite and on the day of the event.

The theme this year is “Inviting the Natives to Your Yard.”

The yards will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are $25 plus fees on Eventbrite, at certain Desert Rivers Audubon events, or $30 at the door.

Day-of-event tickets will be on sale (cash or check) at the Adams residence, 4007 S.  Heather Drive, Tempe.

Treeland Nursery, 2900 S Country Club Dr, Mesa, will be offering a selection of native and low water plants at a 10% discount. The discount will also apply to other plants except annuals and vegetables and certain items in the shop through Nov. 16.

All of the homes are within easy driving distance in Tempe, however the event is open to all in the metro area. 

This is the only fundraiser Desert Rivers is holding this year. Funds will be used to support its free public education programs and its conservation projects. These include free Family Bird Walks monthly during the cool season at Gilbert Riparian Preserve and Veterans Oasis Park in Chandler, plus its monthly speaker series, offered in-person at the Southeastern Regional Library in Gilbert and on Zoom.

The society's conservation efforts include an initiative to reduce bird deaths due to window strikes and a partnership with the Town of Gilbert to erect a Motus receiving tower — a new migration research tool.