Field Trip Leader Bios
Read all the biographies here.
A special note about Field Trips
Please arrive at the location indicated 20 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. 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.
Field Trip: Dye Creek Preserve
- Sold Out!
$45 Adult; $20 Youth
Friday, Jan 23, 2026
Meet at Patrick Ranch - Pat's Barn (Map) at 8:45 am
Meet at Dye Creek Preserve (Map) at 9:30 am
More vigorous hiking, some elevation gain/loss
Description
In the Lassen Foothills of eastern Tehama County, scenic Dye Creek Preserve will be an out and back trip of low-moderate difficulty where we peer into the treetops of Dye Creek's riparian corridor. Our route follows graded dirt roads alongside Dye Creek and across its floodplain, giving our group excellent vantage points into the creek and its riparian forest. At the midpoint we will walk through open grassland, where we might see burrowing owls using an abandoned culvert. Along the way we will discuss land management efforts by The Nature Conservancy, Yana Cultural History, local geology, and the ecosystem. Expect to see birds common to oak woodlands and riparian habitats in January, such as the Belted Kingfisher, Lewis's and Acorn Woodpeckers, Oak Titmouse, Brown Creeper, and Western Bluebird. Sightings of raptors could include Kestrel, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Golden and Bald Eagles. The route we are taking this year follows graded, compacted gravel and dirt roads for 4.5 miles and goes cross-country through rocky grasslands for 0.5 miles (the round-trip will be 5 miles). We will cross Dye Creek by foot or in a TNC vehicle; the depth of the water crossing is subject to weather conditions. Boots/sturdy footwear are recommended.
Field Trip Leaders
Scott Hardage
Scott Hardage is a land steward for The Nature Conservancy in the Lassen foothills area. Scott organizes outreach activities at the Dye Creek and Vina Plains Preserves, and manages a group of volunteer Docents who help to lead the activities. In his spare time he enjoys photography and woodworking. You can find him on iNaturalist as DyeCreekScott.
Scott Hardage's Events
- Dye Creek Preserve (1/23/2026)
Chris Brown
Chris Brown is a retired environmental consultant and part-time lecturer (Geology and Environmental Science) at CSU Chico. Now that she doesn't have a 9-5 job, she enjoys hiking, gardening, and doing mosaics. Chris would be thrilled to answer your geology questions. While she enjoys watching birds, she jokes that she won't be of much use for ornithological questions.
Chris Brown's Events
- Dye Creek Preserve (1/23/2026)
Phillip Filbrandt
Phil is a docent at Dye Creek Preserve, a nearly retired physician, Sierra Club outings leader, biker, gardener, birder and history aficionado.
Phillip Filbrandt's Events
- Dye Creek Preserve (1/23/2026)
Azure Kurth
Lover of Beauty. Lover of Light. Let me Guide you on a Hike. I Naturalist. Gather with Intention, Joy , Knowledge and More. To Navigate on an Adventure Trail to Discover. Extensive Background in Mountains and Wilderness, Islands and Coastal Environs. Curiosity Abounds. Manifester, Traveler and Hike Expertise, Environmental Specialist, Outdoor Adventure Coordinator, Ethnobotanist, Birder. With ease of mind and Humor galore, you will be in Good Hands with Azure.
Azure Kurth's Events
- Dye Creek Preserve (1/23/2026)