Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary

Welcome to Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary – our second Sky Islands Nature Sanctuary!

BIODIVERSITY IN THE HEART OF THE SKY ISLANDS

Situated in the heart of Arizona’s spectacular Sky Islands, Raven’s Nest is a private, 42-acre Nature Sanctuary where you can experience world-class biodiversity.  It is a Naturalist’s paradise!  Located by 10,000 acres of pristine and remote wilderness, Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary is set in scenic rolling hills tucked between the soaring Santa Rita and lush Patagonia Mountains.  The preserve is only 75 minutes south of Tucson International Airport and about 3 hours from Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix. Reaching Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary is not only easy, it also ends with a gorgeous scenic drive through spectacular wild areas as far as your eyes can see!

Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary enjoys a very strategic location located by pristine wilderness.  A short walk from us is Sonoita Creek State Natural Area with 10,000 wild acres to explore.  Adjoining the Natural Area, Patagonia Lake State Park offers great birding and lies a mere 4-minute drive away.

The beautiful land at Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary consists of 5 diverse and intriguing habitats:

1. Velvet Mesquite and Catclaw Acacia Woodland or Bosque  – extensively covering the preserve’s bottomlands
2.  Arroyos/dry creek beds –  winding throughout the preserve and running seasonally
3. Grasslands  – in both uplands and bottomlands, providing critical habitat for wildlife
4. Ocotillo Forest  – perched on a plateau and adjoining hills with sweeping vistas of the preserve and nearby Sky Island mountain ranges
5. Canyons  – adding an air of mystery to Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary and affording maximum privacy as you explore

Approximately 6 miles of expansive and well-groomed Nature Trails. allow you to easily explore all of these habitats  Further, the varied topography at Raven’s Nest buffers our Nature Sanctuary from neighboring properties, making the preserve seem even larger.

Since their arrival in March 2008, Vincent and Claudia have been passionate and tireless Earth Stewards at Raven’s Nest.  Their hands-on land management strategies have helped to restore various habitats throughout the preserve’s 42-acres.

Thier goal is to support, rehabilitate, and create self-sustaining and resilient habitats for generations to come.  As a professional Ethnobotanist, Wildlife Biologist, Naturalist and Sky Islands Conservationist since 1987,  Vincent designed and continues to implement various Restoration & Conservation Initiatives, including:

• Ecological Restoration Strategy
• Habitat Management Zones
• Habitat Restoration
• Rainwater Harvesting Techniques
• Environmental Policy
• Invasive / Non-native Species Removal
• Planting Native Species
• Xeriscaping 

Ongoing Earth Stewardship since 2008 has allowed wildlife and native plant populations at Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary to flourish. The resulting high levels of biodiversity   at the preserve represent a significant subset of the species present in the Sky Islands region as a whole.  All of the habitats at Raven’s Nest boast a diverse flora, attracting and supporting a broad spectrum of wildlife.  Many of the wild plants here are also edible or otherwise useful to humans.

Ethnobotanist, Naturalist and Wildlife Biologist Vincent Pinto has recorded 215 species of wild plants at Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary as of Monsoon 2026! This is an exceptional number of species for our 42-acre Nature Preserve, in part reflecting Vincent’s relentless Sky Islands Conservation strategies since 2008.  Some of these plants barely enter the U.S., lending a tropical flare to various plant communities at Raven’s Nest.

Native plants support wildlife in a multitude of ways, including for vital calories.  For example, nectar-feeding Bats are drawn to the sweet blossoms on towering Palmer Agave flowering stalks.  Meanwhile, Collared Peccaries eagerly dine upon Prickly Pear pads and fruit.  A variety of Hummingbirds probe colorful wildflowers from spring through autumn in search of a quick meal.  A broad spectrum of seasonal wildflowers punctuate late Winter/early Spring as well as Summer/Autumn, adding color to an already stunning landscape.

Since March 2008 we have recorded 171 bird species at our Nature Sanctuary, representing a significant subset of the species found at Patagonia Lake and Sonoita Creek State Natural Area – both a mere 4-minute drive from Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary.  Those 2 areas have recorded 315 species of birds over the years – about 1/3 of all the birds ever documented in the U.S.!  A good number of these species are at or near the northern terminus of their range, making for a truly unique birding experience.  Some Bird highlights at Raven’s Nest include:

• Golden Eagle
• Osprey
• Gray Hawk
• Zone-tailed Hawk
• Swainson’s Hawk
• Black-bellied Whistling Duck
• Montezuma Quail
• Broad-billed Hummingbird
• Violet-crowned Hummingbird
• Costa’s Hummingbird & 4 other species of Hummingbirds
• Elegant Trogon
• Elf Owl
• Lesser Nighthawk
• Greater Roadrunner
• Yellow-billed Cuckoo
• Inca Dove
• Gila Woodpecker
• Red-naped Sapsucker
• Ladder-backed Woodpecker
• Northern Beardless Tyrannulet
• Dusky-capped Flycatcher
• Brown-crested Flycatcher
• Vermillion Flycatcher
• Bell’s Vireo
• Verdin
• Bridled Titmouse
• Cactus Wren
• Rock Wren
• Crissal Thrasher
• Phainopepla
• Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
• 11 species of Warblers, incl. nesting Lucy’s Warbler
• Botteri’s Sparrow & 18 other species of Sparrows & Towhees
• Pyrrhuloxia
• Blue Grosbeak
• Varied Bunting
• Lazuli Bunting
• Bronzed Cowbird
• Pine Siskin
• Lawrence’s Goldfinch
• Cassin’s Finch

View and download a detailed Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary Bird List

Equally impressive are our Mammals, which include:

• Mountain Lion
• Bobcat
• American Badger
• Coyote
• Gray Fox
• 4 species of Skunks
• White-nosed Coati
• Ringtail
• Northern Raccoon
• Virginia Opossum
• Coues Whitetail Deer
• Mule Deer
• Collared Peccary
• Antelope Jackrabbit
• Desert Cottontail
• Rock Squirrel
• Merriam’s Kangaroo Rat
• Southern Grasshopper Mouse – a predatory species that eats other Mice!
• Desert Shrew
• Mexican Long-tongued Bat & Lesser-long-nosed Bat – nectar-feeding species
• …..and a diversity of smaller species – many more typical of Mexico.

Birds and Mammals are joined by some of the most exciting Reptile and Amphibian species found in North America. Huge Sonoran Desert Toads – common residents – are the largest toad species in the U.S.  They lumber about with impunity at night given the highly toxic chemicals exuded from their paratoid glands. Gila Monsters, though reclusive and difficult to spot, are an exciting find in summer, as are several species of Rattlesnake (don’t worry, they don’t want to bite you!), Sonoran Coral Snakes, and many non-venomous species.  Here are some of the species resident at Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary:

• Sonoran Toad
• Red-spotted Toad
• Great Plains Narrow-mouthed Toad
• Mexican Spadefoot
• Ornate Box Turtle
• Western Banded Gecko
• Elegant Earless Lizard
• Greater Earless Lizard
• Clark’s Spiny Lizard
• Ornate Tree lizard
• Regal Horned Lizard
• Great Plains Skink
• Sonoran Spotted Whiptail
• Madrean Alligator Lizard
• Gila Monster
• Coachwhip
• Sonoran Whipsnake
• Mountain Patch-nosed Snake
• Gopher Snake
• Long-nosed Snake
• Common Kingsnake
• Black-necked Garter Snake
• Sonoran Coral Snake
• Nightsnake
• Western Lyre Snake
• Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
• Black-tailed Rattlesnake

Ornate Box Turtles wander amidst the lushness of monsoon season, while a diverse assemblage of lizards will tempt you into closer viewing.  One species of whiptail lizard here amazingly consists only of females!

Invertebrates at our Nature Sanctuary are legion, yet we’re almost entirely lacking in biting flies or mosquitos! We do have flies – Robber Flies that eat Paper Wasps, Wasps whose larvae consume Tarantulas, and Tarantulas that can eat Lizards, and Lizards that can eat…. you get the idea! We encourage a deep appreciation of all species, great and small, at our Nature Sanctuary.  Each has a vital role to play in our ecosystem.  Invertebrates, for example, often help support the larger “flashier” species of wildlife – either directly as food or as plant pollinators.

On August 28, 2016  a Butterfly Survey conducted within Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary recorded 47 species.  Enjoy the Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary Butterfly List.    Our ongoing Ecological Restoration Strategy   includes planting a diversity Native Species which builds resilient and sustainable habitats that support a myriad of wildlife – including many butterfly species.

Since his arrival in March 2008, Vincent has planted dozens of native species that support our Butterfly diversity.  With over 133 species recorded on the Butterfly list for nearby Sonoita Creek State Natural Area & Patagonia Lake State Park, each year will no doubt see new species added to the Raven’s Nest list!.

A UNIQUE ECO-LODGE EXPERIENCE

Set amidst the incomparable beauty of Nature, our Eco-Lodge facilities at our Nature Sanctuary  provide rustic luxury, while adhering to Green Building Principles.  All of Claudia’s new projects were designed to be both environmentally responsible and resource-efficient.  Her two main objectives were to benefit the land and all its amazing wildlife, as well as to maximize the opportunities for relaxation, learning, and exploration.  Whether you take a Sky Islands Nature Adventure with us or come along on a Birding & Biodiversity Tour, we always want for you to be comfortable and enjoy the amazing luxuries afforded while staying at our unique Sky Islands Safari Camp.

We strive to provide very unique wilderness experiences, via our Sky Islands Nature Adventures  Special Events are also possible at the Safari Camp with its unexpected levels of luxury at our remote Sky Islands Nature Sanctuary  .

Guests from all over the world praise the fact that we exceeded their expectations.  They have found Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary to be a wonderfully wild, beautiful, luxurious, and a very unique place to immerse in and learn about our renowned Sky Islands Biodiversity!

Guests also enjoy the breath-taking results from our relentless Green Living Practices and Conservation Strategies at our Nature Sanctuary.  Our passion for protecting the unique biodiversity of the Sky Islands truly shines through to all who visit.  

Water efficiency and reuse is one of our key Conservation Strategies at Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary.  Thus, Claudia designed an efficient Graywater System throughout to redirect used water from all the showers and sinks into an effective Irrigation System, benefiting all the neighboring trees, wildflowers, and other landscaping.  

A wonderful example of the Graywater System, working in tandem with an Irrigation System, is showcased at the Nighthawk Nook – built to house 4 indoor showers. The used water along with harvested rainwater allows native plants to flourish around the Sky Islands Discovery Center .

Another key conservation pillar is our exclusive commitment to Green-Building Projects:

• Sky Islands Safari Camp
• Sky Islands Discovery Center 
• Ecological Restoration Strategy 
• Rainwater Harvesting Techniques
• Organic Orchards & Edible Gardens

Since March 2008, the remarkable rehabilitation of Native Habitats  and the widespread Ecological Restoration at our Nature Sanctuary has been possible due to our multi-faceted Conservation Strategy that includes:

•  Active & Passive Rainwater Harvesting Techniques
•  Invasive/Non-native Plant species Removal
• Planting Native Trees, Plants, Shrubs, Vines, etc.
• Xeriscaping 

At Ravens-Way Wild Journeys LLC we strive to raise awareness via experiential education, helping you to better understand and protect our unique Sky Islands biodiversity and fragile natural resources.

During your time at Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary you will enjoy:

• • 42 wild acres of private Nature Sanctuary with unique biodiversity 
  • ~ 6 miles of engaging, groomed, and private Nature Trails winding through various habitats, and including shaded sitting Ramadas
  • 2000 sq. ft. Sky Islands Discovery Center with Natural History displays
  • Sky Islands Nature Library
  • Organic Orchards & Edible Gardens  with desert-adapted Kino Heritage Fruit trees
  • 20,000 gallon capacity Rainwater Harvesting System supporting several wildlife ponds and our ongoing wildlife habitat restoration
  • Ecological Restoration Strategy ,Wildlife Ponds, Rehabilitated Wildlife Habitat – incl. Certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat (National Wildlife Federation)
  • Sky Islands Safari Camp   , including the shady Lion’s Den for relaxation
  • Hummingbird Haven reading area at the Sky Islands Safari Camp
  • Wildlife Blind for animal viewing & photography at the Sky Islands Safari Camp
  • Coati Cafe – covered dining at the Sky Islands Safari Camp
  • Catclaw Lounge – dining under the sun or stars at the Sky Islands Safari Camp
  • Unique Stone-Age Village for learning hands-on Wilderness Survival Skills
  • Lizard Labyrinth – a small set of intertwining paths for contemplation of Nature
  • 6 State-of-the-art stainless steel Incinerator Toilets
  • Indoor & Outdoor hot showers – ALL installed using Graywater Systems
  • The well-documented health benefits of spending time in Nature, including stress relief
  • Private Sky Islands Nature Adventures to pristine and remote Sky Islands locations include:
    • Nature Treks & Naturalist Saunter’s  
    • Birding Tours
    • Biodiversity Tours
    •  Wilderness Survival Skills
    • Astronomy Programs
    • Private Sky Islands Nature Adventures 
    • Ethnobotany Workshops

SKY ISLANDS DISCOVERY CENTER

Welcome to our 2000 sq. ft. Sky Islands Discovery Center – full of educational and informative Natural History and Wilderness Survival displays.  Wildlife Biologist, Naturalist and Ethnobotanist Vincent Pinto has created a hands-on museum, highlighting the amazing biodiversity of the Sky Islands.  Devoted to the detailed interpretation and conservation of our incomparable Sky Islands Ecoregion, it provides fascinating, self-guiding Nature information that showcases the unique biodiversity of the Sky Islands. No matter how many times you wander the Discovery Center, you will always learn new and fascinating facts about the region’s flora and fauna!

Over the years we have developed very solid and rewarding Education Partnerships with several American, Canadian, and international Universities, Colleges, International Organizations, and Outdoor Schools – including NOLS, the National Outdoor Leadership School – among many others.

Your time exploring our peaceful and secluded Raven’s Nest will be enhanced by the songs and sounds of countless birds – including the haunting calls of a Gray Hawk, and tsight of cavorting Ravens, the iconic howling of Coyotes at dawn and dusk, the alluring scents of wildflowers, and countless other memorable wild sensory experiences at our Nature Sanctuary.

For Nature lovers, birders, and photographers alike our Bird Blind is strategically located by a wildlife pond fed by our Rain Water Harvesting system.  There you can relax and wait for the arrival of numerous bird species, Collared Peccaries (Javelina), lizards, and other wildlife. This charming site also has photos of our resident and migrant species as well as our Bird & Wildlife Lists, which can guide and inspire you in your quest to see and enjoy wildlife.

Nature Trails at Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary

Our marked and groomed Nature Trail System provides ~6 miles of walking trails with a diverse range of difficulty at our Nature Sanctuary.

• RAVEN’S NEST BIRD LIST PDF
• RAVEN’S NEST PLANT LIST PDF