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: Yana Trail
$45 Adult; $20 Youth
Sunday, Jan 25, 2026 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Meet at Patrick Ranch - Pat's Barn (Map)
A true adventure trip, lots of driving and hiking
Description
The Yana trail explores the blue oak savannah along the Sacramento River Bend unit of the BLM. The trail crosses ponds, riparian zones, rolling blue oak woodlands, and lava rock canyons. On the drive to the trailhead, we will stop at ponds off Bend Ferry Road to look for waterfowl. We then continue to the trailhead and make a diversion to the Perry Riffle on the Sacramento River to view birds in this riparian zone. We rejoin the Yana trail and hike north toward Massacre Flats. Woodland and riparian birds found in this area in winter include White-breasted Nuthatches, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Common Mergansers, Herons, egrets, and possible sighting of Lewis's Woodpeckers. If we're lucky, Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, and Prairie Falcons will be flying overhead. The hills should be very green by late January, and this trail offers stunning views of the Sacramento River and snow-capped Mt. Lassen. Bring trekking poles if desired, sturdy hiking footwear, plenty of food and water and pack a raincoat. It's a lovely hike in the rain! Approx. 9 miles round trip.
Field Trip Leaders
Phil Johnson
Phil Johnson has been a North Valley birder since 1989 and is a lover of local geology and natural history.
Phil Johnson's Events
- Paskenta C & R Ranch with Lunch (1/23/2026)
- Yana Trail (1/25/2026)
Rich Reiner
Rich Reiner, PhD, is a retired ecologist having worked for almost 30 years with the Nature Conservancy of California. His expertise includes landscape conservation, grassland fire ecology, grazing effects, and riparian restoration. He was a member of the teams that created the Cosumnes River Preserve and the Carrizo Plains National Monument. He also worked as a team member of the Lassen Foothills Project in eastern Tehama County which protected and currently manages over 48,000 acres of vernal pool grasslands and blue oak woodland. This project also protects over 100,000 acres of woodland in ranchland conservation easements.
Rich Reiner's Events
- Yana Trail (1/25/2026)