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Past Festivals
2026
Celebrating 26 years!
The 26th Annual Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyway was a tribute to the joy of birding and the organization of local birders and friends of birders that gathered to celebrate this festival. Jennifer Patten, one of several co-founders of the festival, stepped down from her role as Festival Director for the first 25 years and finally enjoyed the roles of field trip attendee and co-leader.
Some highlights of the 2026 Snow Goose Festival
- The Snow Goose Festival Headquarters at Patrick Ranch Museum provided a venue rich in the heritage and architecture of a 19th century farm.
- Birds of Prey were a big force during West Coast Falconry Assembly on Sunday. Families and adults had an unforgettable experience seeing raptors in flight right over their heads!
- 134 bird species sighted or heard
- “Gathering of Wings” banquet, silent auction & keynote speaker Kate Marianchild, who spoke of the secrets of the oak woodlands. There were 223 banquet attendees, live music by John Seid and friends, and 43 silent auction and raffle donors.
- 23 Outstanding, Dedicated, and Generous Sponsors
- 370 people attended the free Museum of Northern California Art “Perch, Flutter, Soar” Snow Goose Festival Art Reception. The exhibit featured a 100 pieces of art and a variety of media.
- 106 California cities represented, and interstate travelers came from Oregon, Nevada, and New York.
- 59 field trips and 4 workshops; 37 field trips sold out.
- Mauricio and Jeremy Schrader led a birding walk in Lower Bidwell Park specifically for group of ten developmentally disabled adults from the Little Red Hen program in Chico, CA.
- 81 excellent and experienced field trips leaders and workshop presenters, who volunteered their time and energy.
- We had awesome “Super Snow Goose” Volunteers
- Field Trip Coordination: Trish & Tom Reilly
- Exhibitor Coordinator: Karen Smith
- Silent Auction: Celeste Garcia, Sandy Makau, Jennifer Patten, Tammie Loftin, Bill Bynum, Dave Garcia, Marcie Ligammarie, Annette Roth, Craig Roth , Cathy Mueller, Shelby Hebert
- Art Reception: Cathy Carter, Paula Sunn, Tania Aguilar
- Jr Naturalist Activities: Tania Aguilar and National Charity League-Mother/Daughter
- Publicity: Carla Resnick
- Facebook: Claire Green
- Patrick Ranch Set-Up and Operation: Brent Blake, Cassie Corridoni, Diana Hoffmeister, Elena Ferch, Ellie Mahoney, Gabrielle Broche, Hilary Locke, Jean Kesthely, Jimi Logsdon, Joan Mitchell, Liz Webster, Maria Christoff, Mark Hooper, Mary Wrysinski, Pam Scheideman, Ryan Schwalm, Shelby Hebert, Stephen Muser, and Wendy Pine
2025
Celebrating 25 years!
2025 Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyway flew to success with the sights,sounds, and wonders of birds!
On beautiful clear wintery days, attendees viewed and got up close and personal with the geese, ducks, cranes, herons, egrets, ibis, swans, songbirds, gulls, and raptors in all their natural splendor.
Birding memories were made that will last a lifetime and many found a new passion like no other: Birds & Birding!
Some highlights of the 2025 Snow Goose Festival
- Snow Goose Festival Headquarters, Patrick Ranch Museum: a delightful and birdy venue. And a newly added venue for workshops, the Vintage Iron Museum
- Birds of Prey were a big force during West Coast Falconry Assembly on Sunday. Families and adults had an unforgettable experience seeing raptors in flight right over their heads!
- Thursday’s Raptor Run Cottonwood/Nelson Rd, record number of raptor species sightings: 11
- “Gathering of Wings” banquet, silent auction and keynote speaker Benny Isaac Jacobs-Schwartz, Keynote Address: “Feathers and Flight: A Journey to the New World Tropics”. 285 banquet attendees, 43 silent auction donors
- 19 Outstanding, Dedicated, and Generous Sponsors
- Over 400 people attend the free Museum of Northern California Art “Birds, Birds, & More Birds, Snow Goose Festival Art Reception, Friday night.
- 79 California cities represented, and people came from 4 other states, Nevada, Hawaii, Arizona, Pennsylvania and British Columbia, Canada.
- 52 field trips, and 12 workshops, most field trips sold out.
- 82 excellent and experienced field trips leaders and workshop presenters, who volunteered their time and energy.
- We had awesome “Super Snow Goose” Volunteers
- Field Trip Coordination - Trish & Tom
- Exhibitor Coordinator - Karen
- Silent Auction - Celeste, Dave, Lollie, Sandy, Tammie, Bill, Craig, Annette, Shelby
- Art Reception - Cathy
- Publicity & Numerous SGF jobs - Carla
- Facebook - Claire
- Patrick Ranch volunteers - Hilary, Melainie, Patricia, Chelsea, Devin, Rebecca, Ilani, Marcia, Sam, Lydia, Gayle, Steven, Rachel, Adin, Stephen, Diana, Liz, Calvin, Cyndi, Claire, Steve, Carolyn, Bryce Cathy, Maggie, David, Paula, Russ, and * National Charity League-Mother/Daughter volunteer teams Youth Activities
- The staff were outstanding - Jennifer, Cathy, Jared, Ryan
2024
The Wild & Winged 2024 Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyway flew to success with the sights,sounds, and wonders of birds!
On beautiful balmy winter days, attendees viewed and got up close and personal with the geese, ducks, cranes, herons, egrets, ibis, swans, songbirds, gulls, and raptors in all their natural splendor.
Birding memories were made that will last a lifetime and many found a new passion like no other: Birds & Birding!
Some highlights of the 2024 Snow Goose Festival
- Snow Goose Festival Headquarters, Patrick Ranch Museum: a delightful and birdy venue
- 151 bird species sighted or heard
- Glenn County Big Day field trip species count: 110
- “Gathering of Wings” banquet, silent auction & keynote speakers Bryce & Brita Lundberg “In Partnership with Nature: The Power of Regenerative Organic Farming Practices to Provide Habitat, Heal Soil, and Support Communities”
- 19 Outstanding, Dedicated, and Generous Sponsors
- 67 California cities represented, and people came from 4 other states, Oregon, Nevada, Wisconsin, and Arizona, and two from Ottawa, Canada.
- 62 field trips, and 5 workshops, most sold out.
- 67 excellent and experienced field trips leaders and workshop presenters, who volunteered their time and energy.
- We had awesome “Super Snow Goosers” volunteers: Trish, Tom, Debbie, Celeste, Lollie, Sandy, Morgan, Cathy, Sue, John, Carla, Hilary, Brent, Maria, Diana, Satsie, Jan, Liz, Calvin, Cyndi, Claire, John, Karen, Lisa, Cathy, Richard, Renee, David, and the National Charity League-Mother/Daughter volunteer teams, plus Butte College interns Kayley & Ryan
- Staff was outstanding - Jennifer, Cathy, Mary, Jared
2023
The 2023 Snow Goose Festival
of the Pacific Flyway spread its wings and
flew to success with the sights, sounds, and wonders of birds!
On beautiful sunny winter days, except for a rainy Sunday morning, attendees viewed and got up close and personal with the geese, ducks, cranes, herons, egrets, ibis, swans, songbirds, and raptors in all their natural splendor.
We were glad to bring back the Saturday night “Gathering of Wings” banquet & silent auction. Always a magical night, especially with an exceptional speaker, Julie Rentner, president of River Partners.
Patrick Ranch Museum was a perfect fit with the addition this year of 15 exhibitors and the free family activities.
Birding memories were made that will last a lifetime and many found a new passion like no other: Birds & Birding!
Some highlights of the 2023 Snow Goose Festival
- NEW (2nd year) Snow Goose Festival Headquarters, Patrick Ranch Museum: a delightful and birdy venue
- 151 bird species sighted or heard
- Butte County Big Day field trip species count 114, with the added rare sighting of the Long-tailed Duck on the Feather River
- Special films, Urban Owl, and Refuge, by a film maker, Mark Lipman, at the Museum of Northern California Art “For the Love of Birds” Snow Goose Festival Art Exhibit, January 27 – March 19
- 18 Outstanding, Dedicated, and Generous Sponsors
- 709 total registrants
- 90 California cities represented, and people came from 8 other states which includes: Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, and Washington
- 67 field trips were offered, and one workshop, most sold out.
- 76 excellent and experienced field trips leaders and workshop presenters, who volunteered their time and energy
- We had awesome volunteers, the “Super Snow Goosers” of the festival, Trish, Tom, Zachary, Debbie, Amber, Celeste, Lollie, Morgan, Cathy, Sue, John, Carla, Terri, Hilary, Maria, Colette, Diana, Satsie, Jan, Liz, Calvin, Kasey, Claire, John, Karen Lisa, Cathy, Sami, Shi Fae, Dhoua, Richard, Renee, David, Cindy, and the National Charity League-Mother/Daughter volunteer teams, plus a great crew who also helped with the family and youth activities
- Staff was outstanding (Jennifer, Mary, Cathy, Jared)
2022
Th 2022 Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyway soared to success with the Sights, Sounds, and Wonders of Birds!
Centered in Chico, California the festival expanded out to include field trips to Butte, Glenn, Tehama, Colusa and Sutter Counties. With the current challenges due to the ongoing pandemic, it was a great way for people to connect outdoors one of the safer places to be. With exceptional sunny winter days all during the festival, attendees viewed and got up close and personal with the geese, ducks, cranes, herons, egrets, ibis, swans, songbirds, and raptors in all their natural splendor.
Birding memories were made that will last a lifetime and many found a new passion like no other: Birds & Birding!
Some Highlights of the 2022 Snow Goose Festival
- NEW Snow Goose Festival Headquarters, Patrick Ranch Museum: a delightful and birdy venue.
- 159 bird species sighted or heard
- Record sightings of Golden Eagles, exciting sightings of Red-necked Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser, Short-eared Owl, and Northern Shrike
- Butte County Big Day field trip species count 123 (2nd best record)
- A free showing of a film by a local photographer and videographer, “Birds in Sacramento Valley’s Winter Wetlands” at the Museum of Northern California Art during the Snow Goose Festival Art Exhibition
- 15 Outstanding, Dedicated, and Generous Sponsors
- 401 total registrants
- 73 California cities represented, and three from out of state: Alaska, Oregon, and Nevada
- 60 field trips were offered, most sold out!
- Most people registered for multiple trips over the 4 days.
- 55 excellent and experienced field trips leaders volunteered their time and energy
- We had awesome volunteers who helped at Patrick Ranch (Trish, Tom, Laura, Wendy, Liz, Cassie, Cindy, Cris, Steve) and at the Art Reception (Cathy, Celeste, John, Sue).
- Staff was outstanding (Jennifer, Carla, Mary)