This walking trip focuses on the migrating songbirds passing through Davis. Willowbank Ditch in South Davis has a fantastic mix of mature trees, dense understory, and diverse fruiting and flowering plants. Early May is at the tail end of sparrow migration, but still in the heart of warbler and flycatcher migration through the area. We will hope for foraging groups of warblers and flycatchers as we practice learning the songs and calls of an array of local songbirds. Some targets will include Wilson’s, Yellow, and MacGillivray’s Warblers, Western Wood-Pewee, Western Tanager, and Lazuli Bunting. We will also practice thinking from a birds-eye view, discussing habitat, food sources, and tips and tricks for predicting the best spots to find migrating songbirds.
The trip will leave from the junction of Almond Lane and Rosario Street in Davis. There is street parking on streets by this junction, and this intersection has a walking path that leads to the footbridge over the Willowbank Ditch. We will meet at 7am and the trip will end around 9 or 9:30am. Expect ~1 mile of walking, although we will never be more than 1/2 of a mile from the meeting spot. Please bring binoculars as well as any desired snacks and water. Heavy rain will cancel the trip.
For more information contact trip leader Rob Furrow at robertfurrow@gmail.com or 610-715-9123.