Field Trips and Tours
Free and open to the public
Altacal scheduled field trips are a great way to experience a variety of birding areas, with an experienced trip leader.
Occasionally “Pop-up” Birding Field Trips, that aren’t listed here, will be posted on the Altacal Facebook Page
Saturday, February 6th, 9 am – 2 pm
Gray Lodge Wildlife AreaSaturday
Leader: Mary Muchowski
Let’s head to Gray Lodge after the waterfowl hunting season ends and catch the last of the geese! We will walk the Discovery Trail where there are usually plenty of passerine species to add to the list including the possibility of Phainopeplas! Then we’ll drive the auto
loop with walkie-talkies. There should still be plenty of raptors (Peregrine falcon, bald eagles) to see on the drive in and around the refuge. Heavy rain cancels. Light rain and we might just do the auto loop. Meet at the Chico Park & Ride at 8:30am. Pack a lunch and bring appropriate clothing.
Contact Mary at director@altacal.org or (530) 228-0625.
_________
Sunday, February 7th, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm
Maxwell and Colusa National Wildlife Refuge
Leader: Joyce Bond
We’ll leave the Chico Park & Ride at 8:30 am and stop at theMaxwell Cemetery to look for the Vermilion Flycatcher. From there, we’ll drive a few miles to a spot along Maxwell-Sites Road where
Canyon Wrens hang out. Then we’ll head to the nearby Colusa NWR, where we’ll first visit the viewing platform. After a lunch break, we’ll drive around the auto tour loop. The refuge hosts huge numbers of wintering waterfowl and shorebirds, and you can see a large roost of Black-crowned Night Herons along the auto loop.
Heavy rain cancels, but we could still do just the auto loop in light rain. Limit of 5 vehicles.
Contact Joyce Bond at chantedor@gmail.com or (530) 720-0986 to reserve a spot.
_________
Sunday, February 7, 8:30 am – 9:30 am
Verbena Field: Beginner Bird Walk
Leader: Lisa Winslow
We will take a short walk around Verbena Field (all level ground) and hope to see birds such as the Yellow-rumped Warbler, Whitecrowned and Golden-crowned Sparrow, Nuttal’s Woodpecker and more. Meet at the Verbena Field sign at 8:30 am. (Verbena Field is located on E. 1st Ave. and Verbena). Heavy rain cancels. this trail is
wheelchair accessible.
Contact Lisa at lisawinslow@aol.com or (530) 864-7040 (text)
_________
Saturday, February 13, 10 am
Slacker Saturday at the Genetic Resource Center
Leader: Skip Auger
Sleep in and still be able to join us at 10 am, for Slacker Saturday!
Walk the paths and treat your eyes and ears to our wintering birds on this leisurely morning walk at the Genetic Resource Center.
Meet at the GRC entrance, which is owned by the Mendocino National
Forest and is located at 2741 Cramer Lane. (From Skyway, go south
on Notre Dame, then left on Morrow Rd, then right on Cramer.
Meet at the gate to the GRC).
Contact Skip Augur at wba@acm.org for more information.
_________
Saturday, March 6, 8:30 am – 11 am
Genetic Resource Center
Leader: Mary Muchowski
We’ll take a short walk around the trails and roads (all level
ground) and see birds such as the Red-breasted Sapsucker, Hermit
Thrush, Bewick’s Wren, and Western Bluebird. If we’re lucky
we may catch a glimpse of a Varied Thrush, Brown Creeper, or
Red-breasted Nuthatch. Heavy rain cancels. Meet at the Genetic
Resource & Conservation Center (Cramer Lane in Chico) at the
front gate. This trail is wheelchair accessible. Contact Mary at
director@altacal.org or (530) 228-0625.
_________
Saturday, March 20, 10 am
Slacker Saturday at the SNWR Pine Creek Unit
Leader: Skip Auger
Sleep in and still be able to join us at 10 am, for Slacker Saturday!
Walk the paths and treat your eyes and ears to our wintering birds on this leisurely morning walk at the Pine Creek Unit of the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge. Meet at the entrance
off of Highway 32 on the way to Hamilton City.
Contact: Skip Augur at wba@acm.org for more information.New Paragraph
_________
Saturday, February 6th, 9 am – 2 pm
Gray Lodge Wildlife AreaSaturday
Leader: Mary Muchowski
Let’s head to Gray Lodge after the waterfowl hunting season ends and catch the last of the geese! We will walk the Discovery Trail where there are usually plenty of passerine species to add to the list including the possibility of Phainopeplas! Then we’ll drive the auto
loop with walkie-talkies. There should still be plenty of raptors (Peregrine falcon, bald eagles) to see on the drive in and around the refuge. Heavy rain cancels. Light rain and we might just do the auto loop. Meet at the Chico Park & Ride at 8:30am. Pack a lunch and bring appropriate clothing.
Contact Mary at director@altacal.org or (530) 228-0625.
_________
Sunday, February 7th, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm
Maxwell and Colusa National Wildlife Refuge
Leader: Joyce Bond
We’ll leave the Chico Park & Ride at 8:30 am and stop at theMaxwell Cemetery to look for the Vermilion Flycatcher. From there, we’ll drive a few miles to a spot along Maxwell-Sites Road where
Canyon Wrens hang out. Then we’ll head to the nearby Colusa NWR, where we’ll first visit the viewing platform. After a lunch break, we’ll drive around the auto tour loop. The refuge hosts huge numbers of wintering waterfowl and shorebirds, and you can see a large roost of Black-crowned Night Herons along the auto loop.
Heavy rain cancels, but we could still do just the auto loop in light rain. Limit of 5 vehicles.
Contact Joyce Bond at chantedor@gmail.com or (530) 720-0986 to reserve a spot.
_________
Sunday, February 7, 8:30 am – 9:30 am
Verbena Field: Beginner Bird Walk
Leader: Lisa Winslow
We will take a short walk around Verbena Field (all level ground) and hope to see birds such as the Yellow-rumped Warbler, Whitecrowned and Golden-crowned Sparrow, Nuttal’s Woodpecker and more. Meet at the Verbena Field sign at 8:30 am. (Verbena Field is located on E. 1st Ave. and Verbena). Heavy rain cancels. this trail is
wheelchair accessible.
Contact Lisa at lisawinslow@aol.com or (530) 864-7040 (text)
_________
Saturday, February 13, 10 am
Slacker Saturday at the Genetic Resource Center
Leader: Skip Auger
Sleep in and still be able to join us at 10 am, for Slacker Saturday!
Walk the paths and treat your eyes and ears to our wintering birds on this leisurely morning walk at the Genetic Resource Center.
Meet at the GRC entrance, which is owned by the Mendocino National
Forest and is located at 2741 Cramer Lane. (From Skyway, go south
on Notre Dame, then left on Morrow Rd, then right on Cramer.
Meet at the gate to the GRC).
Contact Skip Augur at wba@acm.org for more information.
_________
Saturday, March 6, 8:30 am – 11 am
Genetic Resource Center
Leader: Mary Muchowski
We’ll take a short walk around the trails and roads (all level
ground) and see birds such as the Red-breasted Sapsucker, Hermit
Thrush, Bewick’s Wren, and Western Bluebird. If we’re lucky
we may catch a glimpse of a Varied Thrush, Brown Creeper, or
Red-breasted Nuthatch. Heavy rain cancels. Meet at the Genetic
Resource & Conservation Center (Cramer Lane in Chico) at the
front gate. This trail is wheelchair accessible. Contact Mary at
director@altacal.org or (530) 228-0625.
_________
Saturday, March 20, 10 am
Slacker Saturday at the SNWR Pine Creek Unit
Leader: Skip Auger
Sleep in and still be able to join us at 10 am, for Slacker Saturday!
Walk the paths and treat your eyes and ears to our wintering birds on this leisurely morning walk at the Pine Creek Unit of the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge. Meet at the entrance
off of Highway 32 on the way to Hamilton City.
Contact: Skip Augur at wba@acm.org for more information.New Paragraph
Field Trips
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