Field Trips: Saturday, Jan. 26

Enjoy great birding opportunities as you travel the back-roads of Chico to visit flooded agricultural fields, the Llano Seco Viewing Platform, Sacramento River NWR and the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. Jay will help you identify numerous avian species as he discusses the importance of wetland management and ecology. Along with snow geese we hope to see over 80 bird species on this trip. Anticipate a wide variety of waterfowl, raptors, and many other wetland species. This trip is most appropriate for intermediate to advance birders. Bring lunch, water, binoculars, and field guide.

Field Trip Leader: Jay Bogiatto

Visit two premier Sacramento Valley wildlife refuges.  Our first destination will be the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sacramento NWR near Willows. We'll make a stop at the visitor center, drive the auto tour route and visit the viewing platform. Next, we will travel to the CA Dept. of Fish & Game Gray Lodge Wildlife Area - birding along the way. Plan to see huge flocks of Snow Geese, American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Mallard, Green Winged Teal, and perhaps a Blue Winged Teal and Eurasian Wigeon. We should also see White-faced Ibis, Sandhill Cranes and a variety of raptors. A "honker meal" including sandwich, chips, cookie, and drink can be purchased for $5 the morning of this tour

Field Trip Leader: Skip Augur

Lema Ranch, the 200-acre headquarters of the McConnell Foundation, features four ponds with marshy borders set in an oak savannah landscape along a 2¼-mile paved trail. Expect close-up views of dabbling ducks, Common Moorhens and herons as well as a wide variety of wintering upland birds. This trip is designed for the intermediate birder but everyone is welcome. Bring binoculars, water and lunch

Field Trip Leader: Bill Oliver

We will begin with a drive almost directly into the center of the Buttes to visit the historic Dean Ranch. A three-mile gentle hillside walk will reveal the Buttes’ volcanic origins, Native American artifacts, and a hundred year old working cattle ranch. Enjoy a leisurely trip back into a time gone by. Bring lunch and water.

Field Trip Leader: Don Schmoldt

The Llano Seco Unit of the Sacramento River NWR offers sensational views from an elevated viewing platform. This is an ideal location for viewing a large number geese and ducks in one location! Other often-sited species include Sandhill Cranes, raptors (last year several Bald Eagles were seen), heron, and egrets. This is definitely a birding hot spot! (Repeats on Sunday.)

Field Trip Leader: Mary Muchowski and Mike Scram

A drive from Chico to the north end of Marysville will bring us into District 10 where traditionally hundreds of large tundra swans can be seen in the flooded agricultural fields. This trip offers very limited hiking as viewing will be mainly from the sides of backcountry roads. Bring binoculars and spotting scopes if you have them.

Field Trip Leader: Dale Whitmore

Explore Peace Valley, nestled in the Sutter Buttes. It is one of California’s newest state parks. Learn the interesting geological process that formed this Valley as well as its natural and cultural history. We will visit a Native American site used for grinding acorns. To traverse this undeveloped area please wear comfortable walking shoes or boots and bring a sack lunch and beverage. Participants must be in good hiking shape. Trip repeated on Sunday.

Field Trip Leader: Ranger Tim Davis

We will visit the Clear Creek riparian zone and wetlands that runs for approximately 1.5 miles through the Butte College Campus, 12 miles southeast of Chico. This easy to moderate hike follows an established flat trail along the stream. The streamside forest and adjoining wetlands and grasslands offers one a chance to observe the signature birds of the smaller tributaries of the northern Sacramento Valley. This protected natural area is a showcase of the wildlife refugee surrounding the college campus. We should see the following species: Belted Kingfisher, Acorn Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Western Scrub Jay, Golden- and Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-breasted Nuthatch, Bushtit, Oak Titmouse, Yellow-rumped Warblers, White- and Golden-Crowned Sparrows, Spotted Towhee, and California Towhee, among many others. Surprises may include a pair of Great-horned Owls and hopefully our resident Wood Ducks. If time permits, we will bird into the canyons and buttes in the upper campus under intact blue oak woodlands adjoining Tuscan Formation cliff faces.

Field Trip Leader: Mike Williams

Visit The Nature Conservancy's Vina Plains Preserve and observe winter plants and animals of unique vernal pool ecosystems. Learn why vernal pool landscapes are so important to migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. Next, travel to the Pine Creek Unit of Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge to see a riparian habitat restoration project and learn why it is critical for the survival of Chinook salmon, migratory songbirds, and endangered species

Field Trip Leaders: Joe Silveira and Dawit Zeleke

Just a short drive outside Durham, along the roadways bordering Rancho Esquon multitudes of Snow Geese, White-fronted Geese and Sandhill Cranes can usually be seen right from your vehicle! Bald Eagles are occasionally spotted perched in the snags along the agricultural wetlands. Upon arrival at Rancho Esquon we will visit the viewing platform, which offers a spectacular view of the surrounding wetlands with a high concentration of ducks. We will also be visiting the egg hatching facility as we learn about the diverse undertakings of this complex rice ranch.

Field Trip Leader: Phil Johnson

Visit the rugged Dye Creek Preserve in the Lassen Foothill region of eastern Tehama County. Depending on weather conditions we will hike the scenic Dye Creek Canyon or visit a streamside restoration site along the lower flood plain as we discuss land management efforts by the Nature Conservancy. Expect to see birds common to oak woodlands such as the Acorn Woodpecker, Oak Titmouse, and California Quail. Bring lunch and drink.

Field Trip Leader: Nature Conservancy Staff Naturalist

What a wondrous thing to view the world of birds through a child’s eyes! This workshop/field trip will focus on the basics of birding including bird anatomy and basic identification techniques. At the Nature Center each child will get a close-up view of some of the park’s avian residents. We will then venture into Bidwell Park to practice our new skills on the wild birds of the park. Bring field guides and binoculars if you have them. Some binoculars will be available to loan if needed.

Field Trip Leader: Scott Huber

The Book Family Farm is nestled in-between hundreds of acres of rice fields. With its rice fields and the crops, the Book Family Farm has become a sanctuary to large numbers of wildlife. Sandhill Cranes are frequent winter visitors.

Field Trip Leader: Dan McKnight

Learn about raptors of the North State and bird-friendly gardening from the expert staff at Turtle Bay Exploration Park in Redding. The first portion of this day includes a talk about the birds of prey at Turtle Bay, including the magnificent Turkey Vulture and majestic Golden Eagle. After, choose from one of two programs - bird-friendly gardening, presented by expert staff from the McConnell Arboretum & Gardens at Turtle Bay, or a history of Turtle Bay Program. Cost includes Park admission. Please allow for 90 minutes for driving time.

Field Trip Leader: Sharon Dale

Join Jackson Shedd for a trip to the Butte Creek Ecological Preserve where we’ll bird along CSU Chico’s one-mile site. The diverse riparian and upland habitat is a magnet for herons, kingfishers, bald eagles, woodpeckers, finches, sparrows, and other wintering and resident passerines. The outing will also include a visit to Dawn Garcia’s bird banding station to learn about banding as a science tool. She and volunteers have mist nets set up to band birds, take various measurements, record data, and then release the birds. The banding demonstration is weather dependent (no rain or high winds). Bring binoculars. You will want to be involved!

Field Trip Leader: Jackson Shedd, Dawn Garcia; Co-leaders Mike Fisher, Julie Nelson

Join the Chico Velo Club for this 3 to 4 hour flat bike ride out to the Indian Fishery Day Use Area of Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park, with a return stop at the City of Chico Water Pollution Control Plant (Oxidation Ponds), both great birding spots. Riders should have a reliable and safe bicycle. Helmets will be required for all riders. Chico Velo will provide snacks during the trip. Please bring your own water.

Field Trip Leader: Ed McLaughlin

The federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is offering a hiking tour of lands under its protection in a special management unit known as the Sacramento River Bend Outstanding Natural Area. Located to the northeast of Red Bluff, this area is currently under consideration for designation as a National Recreation Area. We will see a variety of upland habitats as well as spectacular scenic vistas of the Sacramento River and surrounding watershed lands. Wildlife viewing opportunities include wetland, upland and neo-tropical birds as well as deer and other mammals. This will be a moderate hike with half of it off trail on uneven ground. Please wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots and bring a sack lunch and beverage.

Field Trip Leader: Kelly Williams

Go into the field with Kenn Kaufman and practice the principles and skills that you just learned in his morning workshop. Kenn will take you to one of Chico’s nearby birding hot spots for a demonstration of his bird identification techniques. This field trip limited to 25 people. Must attend Principles and Pitfalls of Bird Identification Workshop held Sat 9 am – 10 am.

Field Trip Leader: Kenn Kaufman

It’s been said, “The best birdwatcher is another bird.” Whether it’s watching hummingbirds in your own back yard or penguins in Antarctica, bird watching is your lifetime ticket to the theater of nature. This presentation is a combination of classroom study and fieldwork - making it a must for anyone wanting to learn more about birding. After our workshop we'll head into the park to put our newly acquired birding skills to the test. Bring binoculars if you have them!

Field Trip Leaders: Roger Lederer

People in the Chico area are so lucky to have one of the largest city owned parks in the United States right in their back yards. The birds and other wildlife also appreciate it! After a short carpool to Horseshoe Lake we will walk up the Yahi trail, which runs along the side of Big Chico Creek. This area has some of the best birding in Bidwell Park. The many species of birds we will see should include Bewick's Wren, California Towhee, and maybe even a Phainopepla. On the return walk back to the car, we will move up a little higher on the north side of the canyon in order to search out birds that enjoy the more open habitat. Here we might see Western Bluebirds, Turkey Vultures, American Kestrels and maybe a Coopers or Sharp Shinned Hawk. Also, a Bald Eagle and a Osprey were seen about this time last year. We will then proceed to the riparian corridor of Upper Park and the Yahi Trail, where we are likely to find brown creeper, white breasted nuthatch, various song birds, green herons and many other winter residents.

Field Trip Leader: Steve King

Tour the farm famous for its specialty rice products and for attracting wildlife to it organic fields. Witness first-hand how valley farm practices, and ecological farming in particular can benefit migratory and non-migratory bird populations of the Pacific Flyway.

Field Trip Leader: Lundberg Family Farms Staff

In 2003 the Del Rio Preserve was planted with native grasses, riparian trees and shrubs. Come see and learn about this success story of habitat restoration. Our two mile hike will lead us into the interior of the Preserve where we can expect to see most of the upland birds characteristic of the Sacramento Valley at this time of year.

Field Trip Leader: Tom Griggs

Come visit a unique farm where history, wildlife conservation, organic farming and activism all come together. The Massa family has been growing rice in California’s Sacramento Valley for almost 100 years. Their 90 acres of certified organic fields surround their straw bale home where oak trees, sandhill cranes, wood ducks, hawks and owls call their land home too. You’ll also visit a historic graveyard where the leader of California’s Bear Flag Revolt is buried.

Field Trip Leader: Greg Massa

This well kept secret is one of Chico’s birding hot spots. The U.S. Forest service arboretum offers outstanding wildlife viewing as well as unique collection of trees and plants from around the world. Over 200 species of birds can be found here. Gary Norcross, Orchard Manager, will give you great information on the history of the Center, the tree nursery, and what birds and animals can be found at this site. Enjoy birding on a short walk along a creek, among the many trees, that make up this unique Center.

Field Trip Leader: Anna-Lise Feenstra, Gary Norcross

Just a short drive outside Durham, along the roadways bordering Rancho Esquon multitudes of Snow Geese, White-fronted Geese and Sandhill Cranes can usually be seen right from your vehicle! Bald Eagles are occasionally spotted perched in the snags along the agricultural wetlands. Upon arrival at Rancho Esquon we will visit the viewing platform, which offers a spectacular view of the surrounding wetlands and their habitants. We will also be visiting the egg hatching facility as we learn about the diverse undertakings of this complex rice ranch. (This is a repeat of the morning field trip for those who missed it!)

Field Trip Leader: Herman Gray and co-leader Bruce Webb