Biographies

Featured Keynote Speakers: Bryce and Brita Lundberg, Lundberg Family Farms

Bryce Lundberg is Vice President of Agriculture at Lundberg Family Farms and a third-generation rice farmer. He serves as chair of the Northern California Water Association, on the board of the Western Canal Water District, and on the California State Board of Food and Agriculture. Bryce has previously served on the boards of California Certified Organic Farmers, the California Organic Food Advisory Board, and the California Rice Research Board, as well as on the standards committee of the Organic Crop Improvement Association. As passionate advocates of regenerative organic farming, Bryce and his family aspire to follow in their founding fore-farmers’ footsteps by leaving the land better than they found it.

Brita Lundberg is Chief Storyteller at Lundberg Family Farms. As a fourth-generation farmer, Brita has boots-on-the-ground experience in the fields, where she learned the importance of working in partnership with nature. After growing up on the farm and gaining experience in different areas of the company, Brita studied literature and spent several years honing her storytelling skills in the New York publishing world, most recently at Simon & Schuster. However, Brita’s favorite story to tell is her family’s. Now, as a resident expert on the brand’s rich history and heritage, Brita shares the Lundberg story with a broad base of eco-conscious consumers and advocates for regenerative organic farming practices as part of the climate solution. Brita also serves on the boards of Audubon California and AltaCal.

Keynote Address: “In Partnership with Nature: The Power of Regenerative Organic Farming Practices to Provide Habitat, Heal Soil, and Support Communities”

 In 1937, Albert and Frances Lundberg left Nebraska in the wake of the Dust Bowl with their four sons, a flatbed Chevy truck, a Farmall tractor, and a new philosophy: “Leave the land better than you found it.” A few generations later, father-daughter farming duo Bryce and Brita Lundberg are following in their fore-farmers’ footsteps by caring for their family’s land and the creatures who call it home, including thousands—if not millions! —of migratory birds. People used to call them “those crazy Lundbergs” for trying to do something different, from refusing to burn rice straw left in the fields after harvest to rescuing duck eggs from their fields before planting. Today, they call them Regenerative Organic Certified®. But what does “regenerative” really mean, and what the duck does it have to do with birds? With a few jokes and a little fowl language, Bryce and Brita Lundberg will share their family’s vision for a world in which farmers and conservationists can work together, in partnership with nature, to leave the land better than they found it. 

Leader Biographies

Steve Abbott

Steve Abbott has enjoyed birding since the age of six. Born and raised in New Hampshire, Steve moved to Sacramento in 1997 and quickly became enamored with California's avifauna. He has led field trips for several birding festivals over the last 25 years and enjoys helping others discover new species. Since becoming a Field Tech for Swarovski Optik several years ago, Steve has been able to share his passion for birds at various festivals across the United States.

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Carol Anderson

Carol Anderson is a retired high school biology teacher with a life-long interest in nature. A member of Altacal Audubon Society since retirement, she enjoys learning from experienced birders. She has assisted in the grebe survey at the Thermalito afterbay, the birding class of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at CSU, Chico, and the Northern Saw-whet Owl banding project.

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Stuart Angerer

Stuart Angerer lives in Colusa County and as an avid birder enjoys the proximity to the Sacramento Valley Refuges. His lifelong love of the outdoors and 30 years working as an Environmental Scientist for the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Reclamation have enabled him to work in the Sierras and Coast Range as well as many of the wildlife refuges in the state. Birding experience includes Spotted Owl, Northern Goshawk, breeding bird, and Tri-colored Blackbird and shorebird surveys.

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Rayme Antonowich

Raymond "Rayme" Antonowich was born and raised in Durham, California, attended Durham High School and graduated California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. After receiving a degree in Agricultural Production, he returned home to Durham. Rayme gained expertise in farming through his Family Business, Antonowich Farms and Antonowich Huller, his involvement with FFA, various water boards, and life experiences. In 2003 he was hired as a consultant for Rancho Esquon, Inc developing the orchards, rebuilding roads, improving and maintaining the fish ladders and dam on Butte Creek, planting and developing our wetland habitat, where millions of waterfowl, shore birds, songbirds and raptors stop to feed and rest as they migrate south traveling the Pacific Flyaway. In 2016, Rayme became General Ranch Manager of Rancho Esquon, Inc. He continues to better the ranch you see today, tackling obstacles, and continuing growth and development. He is involved in State, District and Local Water boards, protecting not only Rancho Esquon, but all area farms.

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Kim Armstrong

Kim Armstrong has been a Restoration Biologist for River Partners for the last four years. Her work focus on riparian and floodplain restoration and habitat connectivity in the Sacramento River watershed. Prior to working for River Partners, she was a Scientific Aid for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for 9 years, where she got to partake in various wildlife surveys, band ducks and geese, and oversaw the wood duck box program at the Oroville Wildlife Area. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science Ecology, with a minor in Biology, from CSU, Chico in 2019. In her free time, she volunteers with Altacal banding northern saw-whet owls.

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Skip Augur

Skip Augur has been an avid local birder and served Altacal Audubon in various capacities for over 30 years.

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Jon Aull

Jon Aull received his master's degree studying parks and natural resources in the recreation department at Chico State. He is currently the outdoor education coordinator for the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve, and has worked as a naturalist along the creek for 20 years.

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Brenda Bebensee

Brenda M Bebensee was born and raised in Gridley, California. She attended CSU, Chico majoring in Photojournalism and Public Relations. After college she worked as a Wholesale Lender in the bay area for 15 years. Brenda moved back to the area to focus on her waterfowl photography. She joined Ducks Unlimited and The California Waterfowl Association, becoming a volunteer for CWA's Wood Duck Program. Brenda first came to Rancho Esquon 8 years ago when she brought Wood Duck Eggs to Loretta Gardiner, the office manager and Hatchery Manager partnered with CWA Egg Salvage Program. Brenda became a volunteer for Loretta helping to clean Brood Ponds, feed, receive, band and release egg salvage ducks at 5 weeks old. She was named Volunteer of the Year by CWA in 2020. In February of this year, Loretta retired from the office and Brenda was hired to replace her as Rancho Esquon, Inc Office Manager. She spends free time photographing waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors at our area refuges, Llano Seco, Sacramento Refuge, Gray lodge, Colusa Refuge, and Private Habitats to photograph and or video the owner's duck hunting.

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Donald Beers

Don Beers worked for the California State Park System for over 30 years. The Roads, Trails and Resource Section that he supervised were responsible for the District's trail construction and maintenance, backcountry road re-engineering and maintenance, and watershed restoration project implementation. Don has been one of the lead instructors in the National Trails Training Program, and the California State Park Trails Training Program. This included working on developing the curriculum for these two programs. He has lectured and presented workshops at State, National and Professional trail conferences. Don is currently working on the California State Park's Trails Handbook revision and is one of the principal authors of that handbook.

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Joyce Bond

Joyce Bond has been an avid birder for more than two decades and is a member of Altacal Audubon Society. She teaches a class called "Birding in the Chico Area" for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at CSU, Chico, leading birding field trips to locations all around the area and helping students learn how to ID birds from field marks and by ear. She also enjoys painting and photographing birds.

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Keith Book

Keith Book and his family are owners of the Book Family Farms.

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Jim Burcio

Jim Burcio graduated from Humboldt State College with a degree in Wildlife Management and Biology. Jim carved his first decoy in 1974 and since then has competed nationally, judged at the three major carving shows on the west coast, as well as the World Championships in Ocean City, Maryland. His work has been displayed at several museums. Since the early 1990's, Jim has taught bird carving seminars for the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association. In 2010, and 2012, Jim was selected by the Ward Foundation in Salisbury, Maryland to be an instructor in their National Endowment for the Arts Grant.

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Carol Burr

Carol Burr, PhD, is Professor Emerita from Chico State, where she taught literature in the English Department for 37 years and served in a number of administrative positions. Married to Roger Lederer, an ornithologist, she learned about birds and became an active bird watcher on travels around the world. In retirement, she returned to a childhood love of drawing and illustrated Dr. Lederer's The Birds of Bidwell Park (2009), using pen and colored pencils. She is also the co-author with her husband of Latin for Bird Lovers, published by Timber Press in 2014.

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Andrew Conlin

Andrew Conlin has worked as a Soil Scientist for the NRCS for over 30 years. After mapping soils in IL, MN, NY and the San Joaquin Valley, he completed the Soil Surveys of Butte County and Lassen Volcanic National Park. Andrew has provided soils tours for over 25 years, explaining the relationships between soils, geomorphology, and vegetation.

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Brad Cooke

Brad Cooke has a California Chico State University degree in Recreation Administration. Since 1999, he has been an associate faculty at Butte Community College in outdoor education and has worked for 25 years in Butte County supporting natural history, native ways, and environmental education with an appreciation and knowledge for the hidden gems in Northern California. He has been a consultant for National Wildlife Refuges and an education programs director throughout Northern California. He has served as an experiential educator for thousands of students and teachers throughout Northern California. Brad is a eco-tour and raft guide with a huge variety of knowledge on our amazing North State.

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Emiliano Cornejo

Emiliano, originally from Jujuy (Northern Argentina), moved to Chico 10 years ago. He likes to say he is a recovered economist, and now his passion is working with and around people. He is the lead trainer for the Resiliency Program at The Training Place, Butte College, where he works with many organizations in Butte and Glenn, building a trauma-informed and resiliency-focused workforce and community. He also works as a coach for the CARE team with their suicidal youth prevention program and co-facilitates the Cancer Support Group at Enloe's Cancer Center.

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David Dahnke

Dave Dahnke has been actively birding since 1980. He has birded throughout the United States and Eastern Europe.

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April Damanti

April is a Restoration Biologist for River Partners, specializing in side-channel and floodplain restoration and reconnection on the Sacramento River. Her work focuses on restoring riparian habitat for native species, habitat connectivity, carbon sequestration and aquifer recharge, encouraging natural river processes on restored floodplains, invasive species management and site monitoring. April received a B.S. in Ecology and Evolution of Organisms from California State University, Chico.

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Colin Dillingham

Colin has been an active birder and raptor enthusiast for 32 years. His first work was with Peregrine Falcon cross-fostering work for Alturas Bureau of Land Management in 1987 as a volunteer and has been active with monitoring Peregrine Falcons in California and Oregon ever since. He has worked as a wildlife biologist for the US Forest Service - first in Brookings and Gold Beach, Oregon from 1988 - 2001 and then on the Plumas National Forest from 2001 to present. Colin has birded extensively around the world. His favorite local birds are the Peregrine Falcon and Pileated Woodpecker.

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Anton Dresler

Anton Dresler grew up exploring Bidwell Park and the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve from the time before he could walk. He has spent most of his observing and learning about the natural world around him, and sharing both his knowledge of and enthusiasm for all the newts, birds and butterflies with those around him. And dad jokes.

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Dan Dugan

Dan Dugan is best known as the inventor of the automatic microphone mixer. He has been a technical mentor for the Nature Sounds Society since 1990. Dugan has recorded surround sound in many national parks including Muir Woods, Joshua Tree, and Yosemite. He has published six "relaxation CD's" of nature sounds with naturemusicdownload.com and a full-length dawn chorus from Mariposa Grove in Yosemite with listeningearth.com.

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Dan Efseaff

Dan Efseaff has over 20 years of experience as a restoration ecologist and land manager. Currently, he is the District Manager for the Paradise Recreation and Park District. Mr. Efseaff has experience with a wide variety of restoration projects, conservation and agricultural lands management, education and outreach, water conservation, and overseeing watershed programs.

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Steve Emmons

Steve Emmons previously served as the Wildlife Refuge Manager for Sacramento and Delevan National Wildlife Refuges (Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Willows, CA) from 1996 to 2020 prior to retiring. Previously, he served as the Assistant Refuge Manager at the Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge in Lake Arthur, LA (1990-1996) and the Fish and Wildlife Specialist at the Fort Carson Military Reservation, Colorado Springs, CO (1982-1990). He currently resides in southwestern Oregon. Steve's primary interests include nature photography (particularly wildlife photography) and observing birds.

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Holly Ferrara CWB

Holly Ferrara is a Certified Wildlife Biologist working as a Restoration Biologist for River Partners. She has worked for River Partners for five years. Before that she worked for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for five years as a Scientific Aid and Turkey Hunt Coordinator. She received her Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management and Conservation from Humboldt State University in 2013.

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Matt Forster

Matt Forster is an avid outdoorsman and birder whose love of the land has him interested in conservation of habitat and restoration. He studied waterfowl biology and wetland management as well as ornithology at CSUChico.

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Dave Garcia

Dave Garcia is a retired 28 year veteran of California State Parks. He worked on Lake Oroville as a boating safety officer for 20 years and led kayaking, biking, and hiking tours at the 6 state parks he worked at. Dave is an environmental advocate who has worked on local issues with Frack Free Butte County, Chico 350 Crude Oil Bomb Train Committee, and Save Oroville Trees.

Dave was also a National Sierra Club Outings Leader for 10 years, leading week long service trips to the Channel Islands; Pt Reyes National Seashore; Cayo Costa Barrier Island, Florida; rafting down Utah's Green River; Big Sur; Hells Canyon; Devils Postpile; and Lassen Volcanic National Park. Join Dave and learn about some of the wild and wacky nature experiences he's had.

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Charlie Giannini

Charlie Giannini was born and raised in Chico, California. He has always had a love for the outdoors and began birdwatching in 5th grade. Now a senior at CSU, Chico majoring in Biology with a minor in Studio Arts, Charlie plans on going to grad school with the goal of eventually working as a researcher and teacher.

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Gaylord Grams

Gaylord Grams is an avid local birder and has led many field trips for the Altacal Chapter of the Audubon Society.

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Scott Hardage

Scott Hardage is a land steward for The Nature Conservancy in the Lassen foothills area. Scott organizes public outreach hikes at the Dye Creek Preserve and manages a group of volunteer docents who help to lead the hikes. He enjoys hiking and photography, and has recently used camera traps to document burrowing owl activity on the preserve.

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Liam Huber

Liam Huber started bird-watching at age 5 and has become accomplished at bird identification by sight and by ear. He spends much of his free time, as well as most of his not-free time, photographing and exploring every inch of Butte County.

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Phil Johnson

Phil Johnson has been a long time board member of the Altacal Audubon Society, and he has coordinated the Oroville and Chico Christmas Bird Counts.

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Larry Jordan

Larry Jordan moved from the Bay Area to Oak Run in 1980 to escape the crowded, noisy, hustle and bustle of city life. Among the gray and ponderosa pine, and the oak savannah, he found himself surrounded by nature. Coyotes howled in the winter evening, deer and fox were abundant and birds seemed to be everywhere. On the way home from an evening out, he and his wife found a tiny owl standing in the middle of the road to his home. He didn't know what it was and had to look it up in his first edition Peterson Field Guide. It was his spark bird - a Burrowing Owl! Larry joined the Wintu Audubon Society and became the group's webmaster in 2008. He is the Shasta County Coordinator for the California Bluebird Recovery Program and monitors an active Burrowing Owl habitat in the Chico area.

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Shelly Kirn

Shelly Kirn teaches conservation biology, ecology, evolution, and several other classes at CSU, Chico and is faculty co-advisor to the biology honor society (Omicron Theta Epsilon). Shelly has been birding for almost 25 years and enjoys traveling throughout the US (and occasionally beyond) to see birds and other wildlife.

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Roger Lederer

Dr. Roger Lederer is Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences at California State University, Chico, whose expertise is ecology, science education, and ornithology. He has published over thirty scientific research papers and seven books, including Ecology and Field Biology, Amazing Birds (in seven languages), Birds of Bidwell Park, Latin for Bird Lovers, and Beaks, Bones, and Birdsongs.

Dr. Lederer has served as a consultant to governments, private organizations, and schools on environmental issues, and presented hundreds of public presentations to a wide variety of audiences. He has been consulted by BBC, National Geographic, National Public Radio, National Canadian Television, Guinness World Records, and many other organizations, publications, and individuals for his expertise on birds.

He is still active as a member of the local science fair board, maintaining his popular website, Ornithology.com, and exploring the world. He has traveled to 100 countries and has been a guest speaker and naturalist on several cruise lines across the world, speaking on ecology, natural history, and geology.

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Asya Lesly

Asya Lesly is an occupational therapist who has lived in Forest Ranch for 7 years. She loves to spend her time looking for birds, feeding the birds, reading about birds, photographing birds, and painting birds.

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Brita Lundberg

Brita Lundberg is Chief Storyteller at Lundberg Family Farms. As a fourth-generation farmer, Brita has boots-on-the-ground experience in the fields, where she learned the importance of working in partnership with nature. After growing up on the farm and gaining experience in different areas of the company, Brita studied literature and spent several years honing her storytelling skills in the New York publishing world, most recently at Simon & Schuster. However, Brita's favorite story to tell is her family's. Now, as a resident expert on the brand's rich history and heritage, Brita shares the Lundberg story with a broad base of eco-conscious consumers and advocates for regenerative organic farming practices as part of the climate solution. Brita also serves on the boards of Audubon California and AltaCal.

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Bryce Lundberg

Bryce Lundberg is Vice President of Agriculture at Lundberg Family Farms and a third-generation rice farmer. He serves as chair of the Northern California Water Association, on the board of the Western Canal Water District, and on the California State Board of Food and Agriculture. Bryce has previously served on the boards of California Certified Organic Farmers, the California Organic Food Advisory Board, and the California Rice Research Board, as well as on the standards committee of the Organic Crop Improvement Association. As passionate advocates of regenerative organic farming, Bryce and his family aspire to follow in their founding fore-farmers' footsteps by leaving the land better than they found it.

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Laura Lush

Laura Lush is a life-long Yuba-Sutter resident, artist, retired high school teacher, nature enthusiast, and avid birder. She has been active with Middle Mountain Interpretive Hikes for over 20 years as guide, board member, and charter hike coordinator. Sharing the wonder of the Sutter Buttes is one of her favorite activities, whether it's looking for birds, flowers, or just enjoying the day with hikers.

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Chad Mackie

Chad Mackie is a Forestry Aide with California State Parks. He is excited to share his knowledge about the natural and cultural history of the Sutte Buttes and the role State Parks plays in preserving the beauty of this special region.

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Christine MacShane

Christine Mac Shane has been painting for over 40 years and teaching for more than 15. Her easy step-by-step guidance will have you painting in no time! Christine has been a muralist in the Northern California region for 30 years and loves that the rich wildlife and landscapes provide such ongoing inspiration for her original artwork, murals and classes. She offers classes in her studio and on location. She is very involved in creating accessible art opportunities for the community and teaches at the Autism Center, schools and through OLLI as well as the California Conservation Corps. Christine's goal is to encourage the creative spark in us all.

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Jan Martinez

Jan Martinez is an active member of the Altacal Audubon Society. She has taken part in the Chico and Oroville Christmas Bird Count and Grebe counts on Lake Almanor. She enjoys birding and hiking in the Northstate and plans to expand her "birding horizons" in the future.

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Clark Masters

Clark has been in the industry as a cemeterian and a funeral director for the past 17+ years. He became particularly interested in the historical significance of Chico Cemetery and it's residents as it became clear that there is a wealth of history contained in the records regarding the notables we have in our care. Clark has made it his mission to speak with families and learn their stories so that their memories will continue on as he shares them with others. The tours are entertaining, and he enjoys seeing people react as they learn more about the people that helped make Chico what it is today.

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Tess McGuire

Tess McGuire has been birding and making hats for the last twenty years. She became an avid kayaker when she bought a house on Clear Lake. Now that she lives near Mendocino she paddles the local rivers and birds the coast. Perhaps some day she'll be brave enough to go out on the ocean.

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Gary Moeller

Gary Moeller is an avid birder and has been with Altacal for 6 Years.

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Mary Muchowski

Mary Muchowski has worked as a wildlife technician/biologist since 1988 with the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. She has lived in the Chico area since 1983, and really enjoys the bird-life of the area, especially in the winter!

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Marvey Mueller

Marvey Mueller began sketching while living and hiking in the Eastern Sierras twenty years ago. She has continued to keep a watercolor sketch journal wherever she goes. Being able to sit with nature and enjoy its beauty through the act of sketching is one of Marvey's greatest pleasures. She has taught sketching classes for Elderhostel and the Chico Art Center.

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Tom Myers

Tom Myers is a retired elementary teacher who has been birding for over 25 years. He is a board member of the Stanislaus Audubon Society and birds mostly in Stanislaus and Merced Counties. He enjoys long walks with his dog, birding, hiking and exploring wild places.

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Ken Nelson

Ken Nelson has been actively carving for six years and has participated in many seminars, first as a student and now as an instructor. He has worked with and learned from several Master Carvers from the PFDA, and competes in both novice and open competitions. Currently he is a Board Member and Auction Chairperson for the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association.

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Gary Nielsen

Gary Nielsen has birded for more than 40 years in Butte county and beyond. A particular love are birds of open horizons, be they raptors or seabirds. Since retiring from teaching in 2007, he has spent more than a year in the seabird colonies of the NW Hawaiian Islands, including 11 months on Midway, among the 2 million Albatross.

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Owl Monitoring Team

Bio to be provided soon.

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Asher Perla

Asher Perla is a 17 year old high school student and birder from Yuba county. He started birding in early 2019, after going on a Snow Goose Festival field trip! Since then he's gone all over the country in search of birds, and is completely obsessed! Asher goes birding every day, and loves to observe new behaviours in common birds as well as finding unusual species. He plans to pursue a career in Ornithology!

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Sharon Perry

Sharon Perry has worked as an environmental educator. She is currently the chair of the Nature Sounds Society.

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John Seid

John Seid taught elementary school children for 35 years and made it a point to teach them about the wonders of our natural world and our place in this amazing world. Since we live in the Pacific Flyway, many units were done around birds that migrate here and also our local ones. John believes that if you know the name of something it brings you closer. He is an avid photographer, and you can find him all summer kayaking and all winter at the refuges around us with his faithful dog Lucy.

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Ty Shaeffer

Ty is a fourth-generation landowner in the Sutter Buttes. He has developed an interest in geology as well as the flora and fauna in the Buttes. Ty enjoys sharing his acquired knowledge with hikers, especially information about Native Americans, his family's footprints in the Buttes and hopefully an appreciation for the smallest mountain range in the world.

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Joe Silveira

Joe Silveira spent 36 years as a professional in natural resources conservation -- over 29 years with the US Fish & Wildlife Service. He was stationed at Sacramento National Wildlife (NWR) Refuge Complex, where he served as a Wildlife Biologist, and later Wildlife Refuge Manager, for Sacramento River NWR and the Steve Thompson North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area --Llano Seco Unit. He lead habitat restoration and management programs, and associated monitoring surveys and research investigation for riparian, floodplain, and basin habitats, such as mixed and oak forests, valley oak woodland, elderberry savanna, managed emergent marshes, native perennial grasslands, wildflower fields, vernal pools, and alkali meadows. He worked with diverse agencies, organizations, universities, and local ranchers, developing partnerships to create and maintain well functioning refuge habitats, which represent the best of these remaining Great Valley Ecosystems.

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Bethany Slattery

After chasing the dream of success through conformity for her first 30 years, Bethany found herself weary, disillusioned and disconnected. At this pivotal time in her life she met her mentor, ANFT founder, Amos Clifford. With his guidance she found her secret song within, renewed her relationship with the More than Human World, and discovered her authentic life path. Today she follows her calling of bringing people to Nature by guiding Forest Therapy walks and sharing the wisdom of the natural world with her students at Wildflower Open Classroom Middle School.

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Bill Smith

Bill Smith is a retired Professional Forester who has resided in in Chico since 1975. He has a BS in Forest Management from Michigan Technological University and retired as the "Forest Silviculturist" from the Plumas National Forest in 2010. His forte in the Forest Service was large reforestation project logistics and Service Contract Administration. Notable accomplishments include serving on the Bidwell Park Commission, securing the three acre "Blue Oak Reserve" within Hillview Terrace Subdivision, and spearheadimg the design and build-out of Baroni Park, a Chico Neighborhood Park.

Bill leads a Chico Meetup Hiking Group and stays active in Community affairs. Currently, Bill is a docent at the Abbey of Our Lady of New Clairvaux, in Vina, Ca., where he leads tours. The Abbey is home to 25 Trappist monks, and the property played an important role in California history.

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Karen L. Smith

Karen L. Smith is a lifelong birder and nature lover. Five years ago, after attending the annual Snow Goose Festival, she moved to Chico from the bay area due to Chico's rich habitat of bird life and its location on the Pacific Flyway. She has traveled to Baja, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama and several locations within the United States to learn about birds. Karen currently co-leads a birding group with Newcomers Club of Chico and taught a Beginner's Birding course with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at CSU, Chico. She enjoys teaching new birders how to identify and appreciate the birds around them.

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Lorraine Smith

Lorraine Smith grew up in rural Northern California. She went on her first camping trip at age 7 months, and has taken every opportunity to get outdoors ever since. After enjoying a career in higher education, Lorraine is thrilled to have more time now to pursue her love of all things outdoors - hiking, birding, camping, kayaking, and learning something new every day about the natural world. Since retiring, Lorraine has guided nature walks, and hiking and backpacking adventures, with an emphasis on amateur birding and botanizing. Recently she has lead hiking and camping outings with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at CSU, Chico.

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Ken Sobon

Ken Sobon is an avid birder and has been a science teacher to middle school students in Oroville since 1995. He is the President of AltaCal and is the Northern California representative on the California Audubon state board.  He has also been the Director of the Northern Saw-whet Owl Research Project for the past seven years.

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Vickie Stoll

Vickie is an East Coast transplant who came West to pursue a dream career with the United States Forest Service. Now retired, and still a firm believer in the Forest Service motto "Caring for the land and serving people," she believes getting outdoors is a wonderful way to share a love for nature and to serve the community.

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Michele Swartout

Michele Swartout, has been a nature lover all her life, but birds are the most interesting to her. She birds everyday and currently surveys shorebirds for Point Blue, is the compiler for both Mineral and Red Bluff Christmas Bird Counts, participates in many more and is a California County Birder. Michele is an avid eBird user and is getting close to submitting a checklist everyday for seven years straight. Tehama County, is where she calls home and knows the birds in her county very well.

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TBA

Bio to be provided soon.

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Charlie Thieriot

Charlie Thieriot is a sixth generation owner of Rancho Llano Seco and the CEO of Llano Seco Meats. He is an avid conservationist, hunter and fisherman. He is on the board of the Northern California Water Association and Reclamation District 2106. He is a member of NCWA's Conservation Task Force working to deepen communication, understanding and common goals between farmers and conservation groups in Northern California.

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Scott Thomas

Scott Thomas is a raptor biologist and project manager for Kidd Biological, Inc, a small consulting firm located in southwestern California. Scott maintains state and federal permits authorizing capture and take of various threatened and endangered species ranging from California Gnatcatchers to Golden Eagles. Since 1985 Scott has concentrated his efforts in raptor research and banded approximately 5,000 nestling and adult raptors throughout the western U.S. and Scandinavia with an emphasis in northern and southern California.

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Josh Trout

I became interested (more like obsessed) with wellness after nearly dying from Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever when I was 8. Today, I promote physical activity as a Kinesiology Professor, but I am growing more interested in the need for mental wellness and rest. I love how Nature isn't rushed and I want more of that feeling. After every Forest Therapy walk, I'm just a better version of myself for the next several days. I have more of a calm, clear, and decisive demeanor that makes life easier and more pleasurable.

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Chaye VanKeuren

Chaye VanKeuren is a Environmental Scientist with the California State Parks. She is excited to share her knowledge about the natural and cultural history of the Sutter Buttes and the role State Parks plays in preserving the beauty of this special region.

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Pamela Waldsmith

Pamela Waldsmith enjoys a variety of interests: birding; hiking; yoga; kayaking; painting; travel; local, national, and world affairs; reading; pickleball; and photography. As an educator of thirty-five years, she most enjoyed teaching science and expanding her young students' educational experience through field trips. Fueled by her passion for science, she coached her students for the annual Nature Bowl, a fun environmental competition, with her students often placing very high in the final state competition. Since her retirement, she misses the youngsters yet has had more time to pursue her many interests, and she continues learning every day in new ways.

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Bruce Webb, Swarovski Optik Field Tech

When Bruce Webb was a student at Chico State, he worked with Tim Manolis to write the "Annotated List of Birds of Butte County." Currently, he is California's Field Technician for Swarovski Optik.

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Greg Weddig

Greg Weddig has been recording and documenting natural soundscapes since 2003. He is a member of the Nature Sounds Society, a founding member of the Maryland Nature Recordists, and has taught field recording and editing classes. Greg is currently a volunteer recordist for Lassen Volcanic National Park.

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Karen White

Karen White has always felt a kinship with wildlife and the outdoors. She has been a backyard birder since childhood, moved to Chico in 1980, and after retirement has taken up photography to further enjoy birds and their behavior. She enjoys visiting the many refuges and birding hotspots in our area.

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David Wimpfheimer

David Wimpfheimer is a professional naturalist, guide and biologist who is very passionate about our natural world. He has particular interests in birds and the natural history of the American West. Since earning a degree in Biology from Beloit College, David has studied seabirds and shorebirds in Alaska, raptors in Egypt and a variety of birds in Point Reyes and other regions of California. Since the mid-1980s, David has shared his extensive knowledge about all aspects of the natural world with hundreds of groups. His educational programs have focused on Point Reyes, Alaska, Arizona, Baja California, Yosemite, Death Valley and other parts of California. Although the majority of David's field trips are geared toward teaching and interpreting birds and bird habitats, he is just as experienced and enthusiastic sharing the full diversity of the natural world. From whale watching expeditions to wildflower hikes, David's seasoned focus and knowledge make every outdoor visit memorable and enjoyable. For over thirty years he has worked for many organizations; the Smithsonian Institution, California Academy of Sciences, Point Reyes Field Institute, Road Scholar, Oceanic Society, Speyside Wildlife, and Wild Wings. Learn more at https://www.calnaturalist.com/.

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Lisa Winslow

Lisa Winslow has a lifelong love for birds, wildlife and nature. She was a School Counselor for many years in the Chico community. She often spends her weekends out birding and hiking and is a member of the local Altacal Audubon Society. One of her favorite hot spots in the Chico area is the Oxidation Ponds.

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Mary Wrysinski

Mary Wrysinski is a retired accountant, a Butte County Master Gardener, and a member of the Altacal Audubon Society. She began birding in 2008 and has been a member of the Snow Goose Festival steering committee since 2009. One of her goals is assisting people in the appreciation of our local natural resources. The Pacific Flyway is an outstanding example of those resources, and the Snow Goose Festival is a great path to appreciation!

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