Presentations/Workshops: Saturday, Jan. 26

Most birders learn to identify birds by jumping in and learning field marks for a few species at a time. But there are some general principles that apply to identifying all birds, and often we don't learn these until much later in the process. There are also some common pitfalls that can trip us up occasionally, no matter how well we've memorized field marks. This workshop is aimed at exploring these principles and pitfalls, to enhance our understanding of what we see in the field and improve our ability to identify all birds. This workshop is a pre-requisite to attending Kenn’s Practicing the Principles and Pitfalls of Bird Identification field trip (requires separate registration) held immediately after this workshop.

Presenter: Kenn Kaufman

Kids! This exciting program will begin at the Chico Creek Nature Center's non-releasable living animal museum where you will be able to see raptors up close. Learn exactly what a raptor is and other fun facts about them. The program will include a short hike into the Park where we will look for evidence of raptor activity. Kids will also build and paint a wooden birdhouse (snap-together kit) that they can take home! Small children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult.

Presenter: Chico Creek Nature Center

Northern California's unique climate allows the creation of wonderful foods that, far too often, are overlooked. A group of local farmers and ranchers, in conjunction with the local Slow Food convivial, have joined together to celebrate and promote the unique and wonderful food that our area produces. Two producers will discuss how their individual operations evoke the uniqueness of our climate in their products. They understand that the health of the landscape directly affects the health of wildlife and humans. Big Bluff Ranch in Red Bluff produces grass-fed beef and lamb.

Presenter: Tyler Dawley

Perhaps one of the most accessible and varied birding experiences can be found in the corridor along Hwy 49 from Sierra City to Sierra Valley. In a relatively short distance of 25 miles a birder can experience a variety of habitats from mixed oak/coniferous forest to lodgepole/red fir and high altitude fresh marshes where you’ll see the bird species like Western Tanager, Evening Grosbeak, Black-backed & Lewi's Woodpecker, Calliope Hummingbird, Mountain Bluebird, Townsend’s Solitaire, Hermit Warbler, Green-tailed Towhee, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Black Tern, and Golden Eagle. Mac will give you a snapshot of these exciting Sierran birds along with suggestions for identifying the more difficult to identify species.

Presenter: Mac McCormick

Snow Geese, Ross’ Geese, Blue Morphs – it can be overwhelmingly white in the sky! Come learn how to tell the difference between all these white geese. Through exquisite pictures and lively narration you can become much more knowledgeable about our Mascot of the Festival.

Presenter:  Mike Peters

This program is an introduction to some of the locations scattered throughout California and nearby southern Oregon that provide excellent opportunities to photograph nature, particularly birds. The presentation will be an illustrated tour of various photography locations including famous scenic areas such as Yosemite National Park and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, birding hotspots like Point Reyes National Seashore and Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, and lesser known but excellent bird photography areas. Photo opportunities on the refuges of the Sacramento Refuge Complex will be discussed in addition to recommended methods of photographing at other locations.

Presenter:  Steve Emmons

Here's an opportunity for glimpses into the mysterious Sutter Buttes. Travel through the Buttes without ever leaving your chair as you enjoy this fascinating slide presentation on the many facets and wonders of the remarkable landscape that makes up the Sutter Buttes.

Presenter:  Mike Hubbartt

Gardens can be more than just lawns bordered by shrubs and flowers. By considering the needs of birds and other wildlife, our gardens can be designed to attract more birds, bees, butterflies, and still satisfy our desire to have a pleasing garden space. In this workshop we will discuss the critical elements for planning a garden for wildlife: providing food, water, space and shelter, along with how to incorporate these elements into the garden. We will discuss specific native plants, useful for attracting birds, that can be planted in the north valley and foothill region.

Presenter: John Wittlesey