19th Annual Snow Goose Festival

Field Trip Leader Bios

Read all the biographies here.

A special note about Field Trips

Please arrive at the location indicated 30 minutes prior to your scheduled event. This will allow us time to check you in and ensure the trip leaves promptly. We ask that you follow your field trip leader from the meeting location to the final destination. Anyone arriving after the field trip leader has left may not be able to join the group. Most field trips will be limited to the first 20 reservations. Walk-in registration may be available for some events during the weekend of the Festival.

Weather may change a trip's itinerary, but most trips will be conducted rain or shine. The weather in the valley during January is variable. It is generally cold and sometimes rainy, with daytime highs ranging from 50F to 65F.

Be sure to bring the following on your field trips: rain gear, waterproof footwear, layered clothing, binoculars, camera, field identification guide, water and snack or lunch as needed. Please also check out the Tips & Etiquette below to help you enjoy your day to the fullest.

Tips & Etiquette for Bird Watchers

To make your trip more enjoyable for yourself and others, we ask you to please use these following etiquette tips:

Wear clothing suitable for the weather and area you'll be hiking in. It's practical to layer clothing to accommodate fluctuations in temperature. Wear comfortable shoes that have a good grip and are waterproof when necessary. You may want to take sunscreen, a hat or rain gear.
Bring binoculars or a scope for a better viewing experience.
Bring water on long outings to stay hydrated.
Bring a Field Guide if you are interested in learning more about the birds you see. If you are a beginning birder, look for a guide that specializes in birds of northern California.
Be courteous to other explorers. Stay with your group and pay attention to your trip leader. Walk quietly and slowly. Do not disrupt animals or damage their habitats (breaking branches, trampling vegetation). Turn off cell phones or other electronic devices. If you are taking children with you, explain to them proper etiquette before the trip. Always behave in a manner that will enhance the image of the birding communities in the eyes of the public.
Tune up your senses and listen carefully. Scan the horizon and tree canopies. Look to the ground for prints, feathers and other traces of wildlife. Please remove litter and leave natural items where they belong. This will keep it enjoyable for others when they visit.
No dogs or pets allowed on any Snow Goose Festival event, workshop, or program. Please leave Fido with friends or family and not in the car during a field trip.

Home :: Past Festivals :: 19th Annual Snow Goose Festival :: Field Trips :: Field Trip: Oxidation Ponds & Indian Fishery

Field Trip: Oxidation Ponds & Indian Fishery - Sold Out!

$25 Adult; $10 Youth

Wednesday, Jan 24, 2018 12:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Meet at Chico Masonic Family Center (Map)

Walking, could involve distance but largely flat

Description

This field trip will visit two of Chico's best birding sites and is appropriate for beginning to advanced birders. First we will explore the Oxidation Ponds Wildlife Sanctuary at the City of Chico Wastewater Treatment Plant, which now has limited access to the public. We'll spend a couple of hours walking the levees around the ponds where we hope to find many species of migrating waterfowl as well as resident birds and mammals. We will then go over to the Indian Fishery Day Use Area of Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park. There the half-mile trail winds through an oak woodland forest adjacent to an oxbow lake. Woodpeckers abound along with many other woodland and aquatic birds. If we are lucky we may also see river otter, beaver, and turtles. Bring binoculars, water, & snacks. This trip is also offered on Saturday and Sunday with different leaders.

Field Trip Leaders

Jerry Dirnberger

While living in the wilds of Montana in the fall of 1999, Jerry Dirnberger, the internationally unknown birder and adventurer, heard the 'not so quiet' whispers of the migrating snow geese saying "head south, head south". Since then he has spent his winters both in Colombia, SA and Chico (where he has homes) enjoying the friendship of the birds he has encountered along the way.

Jerry Dirnberger's Events

Oxidation Ponds & Indian Fishery (1/24/2018)
Foothill Bird Trek (1/25/2018)

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.

Lorraine Smith's Events

Oxidation Ponds & Indian Fishery (1/24/2018)
Foothill Bird Trek (1/25/2018)