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Field Trip Leader Biographies
Read all the biographies here.
Field Trip Ratings
The following rating system for field trips will give you an idea for the rigors involved.
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Mostly birding by car and/or easy walking |
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Walking, could involve distance but largely flat |
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More vigorous hiking, some elevation gain/loss |
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A true adventure trip, lots of driving and hiking |
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Wheelchair accessible |
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. All field trips will be limited to the first 20 reservations. After that, a waiting list will be generated. Walk-in registration may be available for some events
during the weekend of the Festival, but cannot be guaranteed.
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 50°-65°F.
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 their habitats. Turn off cell phones or other electronic devices. If you are taking children with you, explain to them proper etiquette before the trip.
- 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.
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Sutter Buttes – Dean Ranch
$45-40 per person
8 am - 4 pm
Meet at the Waffle Shop in Live Oak by 8

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. This hike will
focus primarily on bird watching so be sure to bring your binoculars. Enjoy a leisurely trip back into a time gone by. Bring lunch and water. Limit 15. Level 3. Allow 40-minute driving time from Chico.
Field Trip Leader: Peter Sands
“Waterfowl Fly-Off” Photo Opportunity
Visit Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge to photograph the evening spectacle as thousands of duck and geese leave
the refuge after sunset. We will leave Chico in the afternoon with time to stop on the way to photograph geese, swans, and possibly cranes at a few locations near the Llano Seco unit of the Sacramento River NWR. Arriving at Sacramento NWR around 4:30pm
in time to set up camera equipment in anticipation of the daily fly-off when tens of thousands of birds are in flight silhouetted against the sunset sky. You will be leaving the refuge around 6:30pm so dress warmly and bring a film or digital camera with
wide angle, zoom and telephoto lenses, a tripod, and lots of film or digital cards. Limited to 20.
Field Trip Leader: Steve Emmons
Uptown-Downtown Welcome Reception and Art Show
More information here.
Family Owl Prowl
This family-geared field trip offers a unique glimpse into the amazing nocturnal world of owls. Scott Toricelli has been leading the ever-popular Owl Prowls into Bidwell
Park for the Chico Creek Nature Center since 1986. The Prowl, a leisurely hike into Bidwell Park, will start and end at the Chico Creek Nature Center. Dress warm and bring a flashlight. The Prowl will definitely be a night to remember!
Field Trip Leader: Scott Toricelli
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