20th 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 :: 20th Annual Snow Goose Festival :: Field Trips :: Field Trip: Understanding Bird Language

Field Trip: Understanding Bird Language

$25 Adult; $10 Youth

Sunday, Jan 27, 2019 7:30 am - 12:00 pm

Meet at Chico Masonic Family Center (Map)

Mostly birding by car and/or easy walking

Description

The wild birds around us have a deeply varied communication system which our ancestors understood and which we too can understand with practice. This field workshop will take a different angle on birding by attempting to slow down, focus on observation, turn on our senses, and to try to understand the meaning behind all the sound and movement of our feathered companions. We will begin with a short introduction of this topic, then participants will choose a spot on the landscape to sit and observe. We will then come together and make a large map with all the observations the group collects and see if we can weave a picture of what the birds are telling us. ALL LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE WELCOME!! You do not need to know the calls of all the birds to get a lot out of this field workshop. Please bring a chair or something to sit on as the ground can be very wet and a snack to share during the mapping process. Be prepared for cold weather and dress appropriately. Rain cancels this event only. All other Snow Goose Festival events go on as scheduled, rain or shine.

Field Trip Leaders

Wyatt Hersey

Wyatt Hersey is a seasonal Avian Ecologist with Point Blue Conservation Science, an artist, and an environmental educator with Earthbound Skills in Chico.

Wyatt Hersey's Events

Bird the Shores of Black Butte Lake (1/24/2019)
Understanding Bird Language (1/27/2019)

Anasuya Basil

Anasuya Basil is a certified California naturalist and a certified wildlife tracker. She has studied bird language and nature connection with Jon Young, author of What The Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal The Secrets of The Natural World. She has co-facilitated bird language workshops on her property in Forest Ranch, as well as in Nurture in Nature retreats. As a holistic health practitioner of 22 years she believes nature connection and bird language are an intrinsic part of mental and physical health.

Anasuya Basil's Events

Understanding Bird Language (1/27/2019)