Yolo Bird Alliance

Bobcat Ranch
2022-05-08 08:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Join us for a Mother’s Day morning of hiking at Audubon California’s Bobcat Ranch, located in the foothills of the Coast Range just west of Winters. Our moderately easy hike will be roughly two miles round-trip, following ranch roads through the Blue Oak grasslands. The final route for the hike has not been set, but no matter where we go, it will be a treat to wander around this working ranch that is not normally open to the public.

We will meet in Winters at Steady Eddy’s Coffeehouse in Winters at 8:00 am on Sunday, May 8, 2022. We should be done hiking by 1:00 pm, and there are lots of great lunch options in Winters for that after-hike snack. Space is limited to 12 people. May be muddy – come prepared to possibly get dirty if it has been raining. Significant rain on the day, or heavy rain prior to the day of the hike will cancel.

Please contact Stan Hunter for more details and to sign up for this hike at stanton.hunter@gmail.com

Members' Memories
2022-05-18 19:00 - 20:30
Olive Warbler; © Joanne Fillatti

The final Yolo Audubon General Meeting for the 2021-22 year will be our annual “Members’ Memories” program. Five members will share their birding adventures from the year using photos or drawings and/or stories.

DETAILS ON JOINING THIS ZOOM MEETING

You must register (no cost) in advance for this meeting.

Register for Program on Zoom

An account with Zoom is NOT necessary to join a meeting. Zoom limits the number of participants to 100. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Registrants will receive email updates about this online event, as well as periodic email updates about Yolo Audubon’s conservation work and how you can help birds. (you can unsubscribe at any time.)

During the presentation, you will be able to ask questions via Zoom’s chat feature for the Q&A afterwards.

Please note: Participants must have the Zoom desktop client downloaded on their computer or on their Apple or Android mobile phone or tablet to access the meeting.

Visit to learn how to join a Zoom meeting. You may email Yolo Audubon Program Chair Ken Ealy before the meeting if you need assistance.

Cache Creek Nature Preserve
2022-05-28 07:00 - 10:00 | Cache Creek Nature Preserve, 34199 County Rd 20, Woodland, California, United States
Wood Duck; © JoAnne Fillatti

Western Kingbird; © Deb Ford

On this trip we will visit Cache Creek Nature Preserve, a private/non-profit outdoor preserve that has gone through more than 25 years of habitat restoration work located just off the Cache Creek Watershed in Woodland, CA. We will be looking for resident species and those that breed here in the area. A combination of wetland, riparian forest, creek, and grassland habitats will provide an opportunity to see a variety of birds such as Wood Ducks, Tree Swallows, Western Kingbirds, Pied-billed Grebes, and lots of Red-winged Blackbirds. There are also occasional sightings of Ash-throated Flycatchers, American White Pelicans, White-faced Ibises, and Common Gallinules.

Meet at 7:00 AM at the parking lot of Cache Creek Nature Preserve, 34199 Co Rd 20, Woodland, CA. All levels of birders are welcome. Trip will conclude at around 10:00 AM.

Bring water, binoculars and spotting scopes if you have one. We will also provide additional binoculars, but it’s STRONGLY RECOMMENNDED to bring your own. There won’t be much walking on uneven terrain. Much of the walk will be on established trails that are mostly flat. Rain and strong winds will cancel trip.

More info: Harnawaz Boparai (916) 871-9093 (cell) or hsboparai@ucdavis.edu

Sierra Valley
2022-06-04 06:00 - 20:00
Yellow-headed Blackbird; © Deb Ford

Please note: This trip was initially planned as an overnight, two-day trip but due to changed circumstances it has been rescheduled for one day only, Saturday June 4th.

Please join us on this one-day trip to the Sierra Valley. We will be looking for special mountain birds including Williamson’s Sapsucker, White-headed Woodpecker, and Calliope Hummingbird. In Sierra Valley, we will be treated to the spectacle of dozens of displaying Yellow-headed Blackbirds as well as Great Basin nesting species such as Sage Thrasher, Vesper Sparrow and Brewer’s Sparrow.

Please bring several layers of clothing, sunscreen, insect repellent, plenty of water and food enough at least for breakfast and lunch.

This trip will be limited to 12 participants and spaces will be filled on a first come/first served basis, so please sign up early. You can make a reservation by contacting johnmottsmith@comcast.net.

Trip leaders are Kevin Guse and Mary Scheidt. We will meet at the Ikeda Market Park-N-Ride Lot in South Davis (off of Mace Blvd) at 6:00 AM on Saturday, June 4th.

Point Reyes
2022-09-18 06:00 - 18:00
This is the annual Terry Colborn Memorial trip to Pt. Reyes. This is an all-day trip limited to 3 vehicles and no more than 12 participants. Fall migration at Pt. Reyes can be spectacular and makes this area a well-deserved birding hot spot. Depending on the weather, the numbers and diversity of songbirds passing through the “Outer Point” can be impressive. In addition to the passerines there are usually plenty of raptors, other migrants, and several species of mammals to enjoy.

All participants are expected to be vaccinated. Masks are not required while out of doors but may be required in vehicles depending on preferences of the driver and passengers.

Please bring a lunch, plenty of fluids and dress in layers. Be prepared for cool temperatures, wind and maybe fog, though Pt. Reyes can also be warm at this time of year. There will be easy walks and possible bird photo opportunities on the trip.

Trip Leader: Kevin Guse.

For reservations contact John Hansen at jjhindavis@yahoo.com

Five Advocacy Actions to Benefit Birds in California
2022-09-21 19:00 - 20:30
American Kestrel; © Gary Grossman/Audubon Photography Awards

Mike Lynes, Director of Public Policy for Audubon California, will share five issues that concerned citizens can act on to help birds, other wildlife, and people in California. With ecosystems imperiled and many bird populations in significant decline, policy makers in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. must act now to address climate change, protect sensitive species and habitats, and more equitably expand access to nature for everyone. Concerned citizens can engage on several fronts, including advocacy to protect and enhance the last remnants of California’s wetlands, supporting efforts to benefit grassland birds, contributing to California’s “30 by 30” initiative, pushing for responsibly-planned renewable energy projects, and supporting policies to create more natural spaces throughout the state, especially in disadvantaged and climate-vulnerable communities that lack access to nature and its benefits. Environmental problems can sometimes feel overwhelming, and many are intimidated by advocacy efforts, but Mike will offer simple steps anyone can take that will help birds and improve our communities.

Mike Lynes is the Director of Public Policy for Audubon California, the state office of the National Audubon Society. He is responsible for Audubon California’s legislative agenda and works on large-scale policy issues that include California water policy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and important bird areas such as the Klamath National Wildlife Refuge complex and the Salton Sea. From 2008 to 2014, Mike was the Conservation Director and then Executive Director of the Golden Gate Audubon Society. He began his career as a biologist with Point Blue Conservation Science before attending law school and becoming an attorney that focused on environmental enforcement and policy.

DETAILS ON JOINING THIS ZOOM MEETING

You must register (no cost) in advance for this meeting.

Register for Program on Zoom

An account with Zoom is NOT necessary to join a meeting. Zoom limits the number of participants to 100. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Registrants will receive email updates about this online event, as well as periodic email updates about Yolo Audubon’s conservation work and how you can help birds. (you can unsubscribe at any time.)

During the presentation, you will be able to ask questions via Zoom’s chat feature for the Q&A afterwards.

Please note: Participants must have the Zoom desktop client downloaded on their computer or on their Apple or Android mobile phone or tablet to access the meeting.

Visit to learn how to join a Zoom meeting. You may email Yolo Audubon Program Chair Ken Ealy before the meeting if you need assistance.

Bodega Bay
2022-10-16 06:30 - 17:00
Red Knot; © Kevin Gusé

You are cordially invited to join us for a trip to one of the crown jewels of Northern California birding, Bodega Bay. We will be looking for fall migrant passerines as well as shorebirds, loons, grebes, ducks, raptors and wading birds. Birders of all skill levels are welcome! There will be short walks on fairly level terrain.

This outing will be limited to 12 people in 3 cars. It will be an all-day trip, beginning at 6:30 AM. Please bring a lunch, sunscreen, water and layers of clothing. To sign up, please contact John Hansen at jjhindavis@yahoo.com. Contact the leader, Kevin Guse at 916-616-8835, for more information.

Bolivia and Argentina: Diversity and Rare Birds
2022-10-19 19:00 - 20:30
Red-ruffed Fruit Crow; © John Sterling

John Sterling will take you on a virtual tour of the diverse landscapes, habitats and birds (and mammals) of these two amazing countries. Bolivia has the highest species list for a landlocked country. Argentina is huge and stretches from sub-Antartica to tropical rainforests to high elevation Andes. John led tours to both countries this summer and photographed many rare and endangered birds, as well as the endemic species.

John has been a hard core birder in California since he was shown a Pileated Woodpecker in 5th grade camp in 1971. He is a professional ornithologist and has worked for the Smithsonian Institution, US Forest Service research stations, HT Harvey & Associates, Arizona and Oregon state universities among other organizations since 1981. John has traveled extensively throughout California learning about local bird distribution and is an authority on that state’s avifauna. In 2015 he set the California’s new big year record with 501 species and has many big day records as well. He has traveled internationally as a guide and ornithologist for many institutions including projects as a Smithsonian ornithologist to Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, The Philippines, Sumatra, Canada and Russia. John currently has his own company, Sterling Wildlife Biology, specializing in tours, birding classes, research and environmental consulting for The Nature Conservancy, the Kern Water Bank, the California Rice Commission, the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, National Audubon’s International Alliance Program, CA Dept. of Water Resources among other organizations.

DETAILS ON JOINING THIS ZOOM MEETING

You must register (no cost) in advance for this meeting.

Register for Program on Zoom

An account with Zoom is NOT necessary to join a meeting. Zoom limits the number of participants to 100. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Registrants will receive email updates about this online event, as well as periodic email updates about Yolo Audubon’s conservation work and how you can help birds. (you can unsubscribe at any time.)

During the presentation, you will be able to ask questions via Zoom’s chat feature for the Q&A afterwards.

Please note: Participants must have the Zoom desktop client downloaded on their computer or on their Apple or Android mobile phone or tablet to access the meeting.

Visit to learn how to join a Zoom meeting. You may email Yolo Audubon Program Chair Ken Ealy before the meeting if you need assistance.

Sparrow Bingo
2022-10-22 08:00 - 15:00
Fox Sparrow; © Zane Pickus

Fall migration is largely over and the winter birds are settling in. Join Bart Wickel and Zane Pickus for a local jaunt around Yolo County on Saturday, October 22, from 8 AM until around 3 PM. The challenge: to find as many species of sparrows as possible. To further the fun of this trip, participants will be able to check sparrows off of a bingo card!

As believers in the rule that when you search for one bird, you discover another, expect anything on this trip– the sparrows are just the excuse to get out and about. This will also be a good trip to practice birding by ear. The route will be determined as conditions warrant. There will be short walks, some on moderately uneven terrain.

The trip is limited to 20 people in 5 cars. All participants are expected to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Drivers and passengers will decide whether masks are required while in the vehicles.

Bring binoculars, scopes, cameras, snacks, lunch, and beverages. High winds or a significant rainstorm cancel this trip.

Contact John Hansen at jjhindavis@yahoo.com for more details and to reserve a spot .

Lake Solano County Park & Putah Creek
2022-10-29 08:00 - 14:00
Lewis’s Woodpecker at Lake Solano; © Ann Brice

On this trip we will visit Lake Solano County Park where Putah Creek runs between Yolo and Solano Counties. We will be looking for resident species as well as those that spend the winter in the area. The oak woodland, riparian habitat and creek can result in bird sightings that include Osprey, Phainopepla and Wood Duck. There could be some surprises like Lewis’s Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker and Bald Eagle.

Participants will meet at Lake Solano County Park when the park opens at 8:00 am. Park in the day use area near the boat dock. A $8.00/car fee will be needed for parking in the day use lot.

All levels of birders are welcome. Trip will conclude early afternoon. Bring water, binoculars and spotting scopes if you have one. We will not be stopping for a designated lunch break. There is some walking on uneven terrain but for the most part it is flat. Rain and strong wind cancels trip. NO reservations are necessary.

More info: Sharon Kirkpatrick (530) 220-3735 (cell) or sckirkpa@gmail.com

Cosumnes River Preserve
2022-11-13 07:00 - 13:00
Snowy Egret; © Kelli O’Neill

The Cosumnes River Preserve has an array of important valley floor bird habitats including wetlands, floodplains, agricultural land, and rare valley oak riparian. Birding at the interface of these habitats provides a unique opportunity to view a diverse list of species with relative ease. We will follow the flat and well-maintained walking trails through these habitats to view woodpeckers, raptors, wetland birds, wintering sparrows, ducks, geese, and shorebirds. We will also bird the agricultural fields along Desmond Road which is renowned for Sandhill Cranes.

Expect two to three hours of walking in the preserve plus standing for shorebird viewing. This trip welcomes all levels of birding experience, especially beginners. Please bring binoculars, plenty of fluids, and dress in layers for cooler temperatures expected at this time of year, especially in the morning. We expect to finish in the early afternoon. We will not have a planned lunch break, but if you want to enjoy your lunch at the preserve, there are picnic tables at the visitor center good birding-while-eating opportunities. Bathrooms available at the visitor center.

We will depart at 7:00am from the Park & Ride behind Ikeda’s in Davis. Please arrive beforehand and carpool when possible. Heavy rain cancels the trip.

Trip Leader: Ryan Janke (rhjanke29@gmail.com)

City of Davis South Fork Preserve - An Ecological Treasure and Conservation Success
2022-11-16 19:00
South Davis Preserve; ©Marc Hoshovsky

The Yolo Audubon Society invites the public to join its November program meeting on November 16 at 7:00 pm. This hour and a half event will feature Davis’s own Marc Hoshovsky speaking on the history of the South Fork Preserve, located along Putah Creek a few miles southeast of downtown Davis. The Preserve is a publicly accessible City of Davis open space area. This 192-acre preserve is one of the best examples of riparian and floodplain forest along Putah Creek. It is a special place because over 95% of California’s riparian habitat has been converted to farm and urban lands since the mid-1800s.

Marc will illustrate the beauty of this Preserve and describe some of its ecological and hydrological features. His talk will cover the history of the Preserve and lower Putah Creek, from pre-settlement conditions, to early ranching efforts, to 20th century struggles to control flooding and divert water and to the substantially restored condition allowing the return of salmon (after a 70-year absence) and, a thriving riparian forest and oak woodland now popularly enjoyed by both wildlife and people.

This event is free, and you do not need to be a member of Yolo Audubon. If you would like to join click here. If you only want to receive the monthly newsletter, click here.

About SpeakerMarc is a local naturalist who has volunteered for Putah Creek Council and the City of Davis’ open space program for many years. He retired from the State of California, after working on endangered species conservation for almost 30 years, which now allows him to pursue his other long-term interest in geology. In 2020, he co-authored the local guidebook “Exploring the Berryessa Region: A Geology, Nature, and History Tour”.

DETAILS ON JOINING THIS ZOOM MEETING

You must register (no cost) in advance for this meeting.

Register for Program on Zoom

An account with Zoom is NOT necessary to join a meeting. Zoom limits the number of participants to 100. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Registrants will receive email updates about this online event, as well as periodic email updates about Yolo Audubon’s conservation work and how you can help birds. (you can unsubscribe at any time.)

During the presentation, you will be able to ask questions via Zoom’s chat feature for the Q&A afterwards.

Please note: Participants must have the Zoom desktop client downloaded on their computer or on their Apple or Android mobile phone or tablet to access the meeting.

Visit to learn how to join a Zoom meeting. You may email Yolo Audubon Program Chair Ken Ealy before the meeting if you need assistance.

2022 Christmas Bird Count Bird ID Workshop
2022-12-14 19:00 - 20:30
Fox Sparrow; © Zane Pickus

Please join Yolo Audubon at its December 14th Members’ Meeting, the annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) Bird ID Workshop, via Zoom, with Compiler Bart Wickel and Area Leader Zane Pickus. The CBC is scheduled for Sunday, December 18th, and marks the 52nd annual Putah Creek Christmas Bird Count.

Bart will share data and trends from previous counts, focusing on climate change and the fire history of the count area.

The 15-mile diameter count circle centers on Putah Creek and is divided into ten different areas, each with its own plan regarding coverage, teams, start time, and method of travel (car, foot, hiking, bike, etc.). Up-to-date information about the count and contact information for the Area Leaders is here on the Yolo Audubon website.

The CBC Bird ID workshop will be conducted via Zoom. There is no cost to attend but advance registration is required.

This program will be recorded and made available for viewing on the YAS YouTube Channel.

SPEAKER BIO

Bart Wickel has been birding Yolo County for almost 10 years now and is serving as compiler for the Putah Creek Christmas Bird Count.

Zane Pickus, a freshman at UC Davis, has been interested in birds his entire life, and as he has gotten older, that interest has morphed into a passion through his passion of birdwatching, Zane values the opportunity to teach others about birds through field trips and presentations in furtherance of the sense of community found in sharing birds with others. Zane is a member of the Yolo Audubon Society’s Board of Directors and a regional reviewer for eBird in Yolo County.

DETAILS ON JOINING THIS ZOOM MEETING

You must register (no cost) in advance for this meeting. Zoom limits the number of participants to 100. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Registrants will receive email updates about this online event, as well as periodic email updates about Yolo Audubon’s conservation work and how you can help birds. (you can unsubscribe at any time.)

Please note: Participants must have the Zoom desktop client downloaded on their computer or on their Apple or Android mobile phone or tablet to access the meeting. An account with Zoom is not necessary to join a meeting.

Visit to learn how to join a Zoom meeting. You may email Yolo Audubon Program Chair Ken Ealy before the meeting if you need assistance.

Christmas Bird Count 2022
2022-12-18 08:00
Northern Pygmy Owl,
Photo by Bart Wickel

The 52st annual Putah Creek CBC is scheduled for Sunday, December 18th, regardless of weather.

THE 2022 PUTAH CREEK CBC IS NOW CLOSED TO NEW VOLUNTEERS.

Our annual pre-count and Bird ID workshop was held Dec 14th (watch the presentation here). The workshop consists of a primer on bird identification and a discussion of recent count trends, including a review of climate change and forest fire impacts on the count circle.

Also join us Sunday, December 18th for the Count Compilation at the Davis Senior Center, Valente Room, 646 A Street. Doors open at 5pm, potluck at 6pm and compilation meeting from 7pm – 8:30pm.

The 15-mile diameter count circle is centered southwest of Winters, California. It is divided into 10 areas and spans parts of Yolo, Solano, and Napa Counties. This interactive map shows the areas we cover and associated birding hotspots.

Putah Creek CBC Area Leaders

Sunday, December 18th, 2022

Organizer and CompilerBart WickelEmail BartPre-CBC Bird ID WorkshopZane PickusEmail ZaneArea 1: Lake Berryessa, Thompson Canyon, & Quail RidgeArea Leader: Bobby WalshEmail BobbyArea 2: Bray CanyonArea Leader: Ian TaylorEmail IanArea 3: North Side (Chickahominy Slough)Area Leader: Ryan JankeEmail RyanArea 4: Winters to Monticello DamArea Leader: Michael PerroneEmail MichaelArea 5: East Side (Putah Creek & Hwy 505)Area Leader: Kevin GuseEmail KevinArea 6: English Hills NorthArea Leader: Zane PickusEmail ZaneArea 7: English Hills SouthArea Leader: Cameron TescherEmail CameronArea 8: Mt. Vaca (Mix & Gates Canyons)Area Leader: Sean SmithEmail SeanArea 9: Solano ParkArea Leader: Chris DunfordEmail ChrisArea 10: Wragg & Cold CanyonArea Leader: Jasen LiuEmail Jasen

Background

Yolo Audubon Society’s Putah Creek Christmas Bird Count dates from 1971 and is one of California’s longest-running CBCs. In our 51 consecutive years of solid data collection, we have been able to identify trends for several species and to relate them to conservation issues.

We typically have about 80 participants, making it one of the largest inland counts in California and the Central Valley.

We typically see over 140 species.

We have led the nation in Northern Pygmy-Owl, Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Yellow-billed Magpie, Oak Titmouse, American Robin, Lark Sparrow, and Lesser Goldfinch counts.

We have provided important data on the effects of West Nile Virus on some species (especially Yellow-billed Magpie).

We have generated data useful for illustrating impacts of climate change and loss of grasslands.

Wrentit – Observed in Area 8 shortly before the LNU fire in 2020); © Bart Wickel

In 2020 during the “LNU” fire, approximately 60% of the count circle burned, including all (or nearly all) of Areas 1, 2, 8, 9, and 10, and large sections of Areas 3, 4, 6, and 7. In addition, the Central Valley has been experiencing severe drought conditions, with the period from 2020 to 2022 being the driest on record since 1896. While the counts in 2020 and 2021 revealed dramatic impacts on the bird populations, we anticipate witnessing signs of recovery in 2022.

If you are interested in the history of Christmas Bird Counts, this page on the Audubon website is helpful. Summary: instead of killing as many birds as possible during the holiday season, we now count as many as we can.

2021 Putah Creek CBC Summary

By Bart Wickel

The 51st Putah Creek Christmas Bird Count was held on December 19, 2021. Area leaders sought to cover all usual routes with teams of experienced birders accompanied by new or less experienced birders. While the count was open to the public we adhered to a modified protocol due to covid recommendations, which resulted in lower participation than in pre-covid years with 73 participants compared to the usual average of 85.

The count was successful in covering all the usual routes with a combined 187 party hours during which we collectively traveled 110 miles on foot and 209 miles by car. Conditions were colder than usual and foggy, especially in the early hours of the day.

A new eBird feature that was introduced this year was the trip-report function. This allows the creation of a summary of all lists for a particular day, which turned out to be particularly helpful for a Christmas Bird Count. While not all of the observations this year were covered, we managed to get close to the count totals for most species. The day report can be found at: https://ebird.org/tripreport/26130

During this year’s count we observed unusually high numbers of waterfowl and gulls, likely due to these foggy conditions. In contrast to previous years, owl-counts were low.

Among waterfowl, record high-counts were observed for: Snow Goose (826), Greater White-fronted Goose (693), Green-winged Teal (449), Common Merganser (357), Lesser Scaup (25), and a first observation of a mute Swan on Putah Creek.

Among gulls we observed record high counts for: California Gull (316), Herring Gull (54) as well as a first observation of two Glaucous-winged Gulls in two distinct locations.

Multi-year trends of increasing numbers of insectivores and fructivores, correlated with warmer winters and a lack of overnight freezes, seem to persist with continued high counts for Western Bluebird, Anna’s Hummingbird, White-breasted Nuthatch, Sora and Virginia Rail. A record number of Common Raven (679) was also observed.

The impacts of the LNU Lightning Complex megafire in August 2020, which burned approximately 60% of the count circle, are clearly marked by sustained low numbers of American Robin, Wild Turkey, Wrentits, Canyon Wrens and an all-out absence of Pileated Woodpeckers.

Thanks to all the area leaders for assembling thorough coverage under pandemic conditions. We hope next year we can invite all birders and birders-to-be and finish the day with the traditional potluck

COSUMNES RIVER PRESERVE - Trip Cancelled
2023-01-14 07:00
EVENT CANCELLED

Snowy Egret; © Kelli O’Neill

The preserve is currently closed and, given the forecast, it seems highly unlikely to reopen before the trip.

If you have any questions, contact your leader, Kevin Guse at (916) 616-8835 or harpy12@icloud.com .

Yolo Audubon Society field trips are free and open to the public. Heavy rain or high winds may cancel any trip.

Birding with Cache Creek Conservancy - Presentation
2023-01-18 19:00
Cache Creek Nature Preserve; ©Courtesy Photo

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Nancy Ullrey will talk about the habitat improvements at the Cache Creek Nature Preserve and Capay Open Space Park, the expansion of bird boxes and bird box monitoring in those areas (some in partnership with YAS). She will also discuss how the Conservancy was created and how the Conservancy may move forward. Nancy will share her hopes for the future of birding at the Cache Creek Nature Preserve and future partnerships with the Yolo Audubon Society.

This event is free, and you do not need to be a member of Yolo Audubon. If you would like to join click here. If you only want to receive the monthly newsletter, click here.

SPEAKER BIO

Nancy Ullrey is a long-time Woodland resident and has been the executive director of the Cache Creek Conservancy since 2015. She is fascinated with the diversity of birds at the Nature Preserve and has learned a great deal about them during her tenure there. She considers herself a neophyte birder.

VISIT CACHE CREEK CONSERVANCY
ATURE PRESERVE WEBSITE (here) for directions and hours of operation.

To learn more about the Capay Open Space Park click here.

DETAILS ON JOINING THIS ZOOM MEETING

You must register (no cost) in advance for this meeting. An account with Zoom is NOT necessary to join a meeting. Zoom limits the number of participants to 100. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Registrants will receive email updates about this online event, as well as periodic email updates about Yolo Audubon’s conservation work and how you can help birds. (you can unsubscribe at any time.)

During the presentation, you will be able to ask questions via Zoom’s chat feature for the Q&A afterwards.

Please note: Participants must have the Zoom desktop client downloaded on their computer or on their Apple or Android mobile phone or tablet to access the meeting.

Visit to learn how to join a Zoom meeting. You may email Yolo Audubon Program Chair Ken Ealy before the meeting if you need assistance.

An account with Zoom is NOT necessary to join a meeting. Zoom limits the number of participants to 100. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Registrants will receive email updates about this online event, as well as periodic email updates about Yolo Audubon’s conservation work and how you can help birds. (you can unsubscribe at any time.)

During the presentation, you will be able to ask questions via Zoom’s chat feature for the Q&A afterwards.

Please note: Participants must have the Zoom desktop client downloaded on their computer or on their Apple or Android mobile phone or tablet to access the meeting.

Visit to learn how to join a Zoom meeting. You may email Yolo Audubon Program Chair Ken Ealy before the meeting if you need assistance.

Robinson Road, Hawks & Plovers
2023-01-21 08:00
Red-tailed Hawk; © Kelli O’Neill

This trip is by reservation only. There will be a maximum of 12 people in 4 cars. Sharon Kirkpatrick will lead us on a trip to the pastures of southeastern Solano County to search for overwintering raptors & other winter visitors. We will search fields, perches and farm equipment. Prior trips have seen prairie falcons, merlins, golden eagles, ferruginous hawks, rough-legged hawks and mountain plovers. We hope to see these and many more species during this trip.

Beginning birders are welcome. Bring binoculars, water, snacks or lunch (though we don’t stop for this) and layers for winter weather. Please bring a spotting scope if you have one. Rain or high winds will cancel the trip.

The group will meet at 8:00 am, returning by early afternoon. This trip involves mostly driving and stopping, little walking is anticipated.

Please contact John Hansen at jjhindavis@yahoo.com for reservations.

Raptor Ramble - Event Full
2023-01-29 07:30
Burrowing Owl; © Kelli O’Neill

California’s Central Valley has one of the largest wintering raptor populations in the country. Our goal will be to see how many species of raptors we can find on this annual trip. Highlights of past trips include Ferruginous Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, Bald Eagle and Prairie Falcon.

Birders of all ages and skill levels are welcome! Please bring binoculars, a spotting scope if have one, lunch, plenty of liquids, layers of clothes and be prepared for a full day trip.

This trip is limited to 15 people on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please contact Ryan Janke (rhjanke29@gmail.com) to reserve your spot and to receive information on where to meet.

Call the leader Kevin Guse (916-616-8835) or email harpy12@icloud.com for more details.

Local and International Bird Research and Conservation Using Nesting Boxes- Presentation
2023-02-15 19:00
Alison Ke with Friend; ©Alison Ke

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

In the last few years, Yolo Audubon and its volunteers have recognized the importance of nest boxes to aid cavity-nesting species by placing and monitoring nest boxes at the Woodland Regional Park, as well as along the North Davis Channel (aka North Davis Ditch). Alison Ke, a UC Davis graduate student, will share highlights on three different projects she has been involved with during her PhD studies that are related to nest boxes. Nest boxes are a tool that can be used to conserve and research cavity-nesting birds. Farmers also use nest boxes to attract certain bird species to control rodent and insect pests. Alison will talk about a local conservation project that she started in collaboration with the UC Davis Museum of Fish and Wildlife and the City of Davis where nest boxes were used to help conserve Western Bluebirds and Tree Swallows in Davis, CA. High levels of nest box use and success occurred, which increased over the four years that she monitored the boxes. Next, Alison will present a research project that she conducted in Northwest Ecuador to understand if land conversion from tropical forest to pastures leads to a limitation of nesting habitat for cavity-nesting birds. While nest boxes are commonly used in temperate areas, little is known about how effective they are in the tropics. Nest boxes were experimentally added to forests and pastures to measure how often birds used the nest boxes, and if they could be a successful conservation strategy for certain species. Finally, Alison will present a collaborative project from her lab (the Karp lab at UC Davis). They used a citizen science dataset of 317,147 nests of 287 species over 24 years, and 92,896 unique locations across the continental U.S. to understand how habitat conversion to agriculture and climate change affect avian nest success. Many of these observations took place in nest boxes, and it was found that birds nesting in cavities or nest boxes responded differently to habitat and climate than birds using open-cup nests.

Western Bluebird; ©Alison Ke

SPEAKER BIO

Alison Ke is finishing up her Ph.D. in the Graduate Group in Ecology at the University of California, Davis. She received a B.A. in statistics and a B.S. in forestry and natural resources from the University of California, Berkeley in 2017. Alison’s research focuses on how converting forest to agriculture affects bird abundance, behavior, and reproduction in Central and South America. For her graduate work she conducted field research in Costa Rica, Colombia, and Ecuador. She currently lives in Boulder, CO and is passionate about bird conservation and rock climbing.

This event is free, and you do not need to be a member of Yolo Audubon. If you would like to join click here. If you only want to receive the monthly newsletter, click here.

DETAILS ON JOINING THIS ZOOM MEETING

You must register (no cost) in advance for this meeting. An account with Zoom is NOT necessary to join a meeting. Zoom limits the number of participants to 100. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Registrants will receive email updates about this online event, as well as periodic email updates about Yolo Audubon’s conservation work and how you can help birds. (you can unsubscribe at any time.)

During the presentation, you will be able to ask questions via Zoom’s chat feature for the Q&A afterwards.

Please note: Participants must have the Zoom desktop client downloaded on their computer or on their Apple or Android mobile phone or tablet to access the meeting.

Visit to learn how to join a Zoom meeting. You may email Yolo Audubon Program Chair Ken Ealy before the meeting if you need assistance.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife Embraces Collaboration and Technology in a Climate Change Context
2023-03-15 19:00 - 20:30
Cooper’s Hawk ©Kelli O’Neill

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

This presentation will feature an overview of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s efforts and plans related to creating Sentinel Sites on select properties throughout the state. Sentinel Sites are locations where biological and climate sensors will track climate change, ecosystem health and wildlife diversity over long time frames. These sites will supplement a larger network set up by partner conservation entities which will together improve our understanding of climate change and related impacts to wildlife.

A key component of the Department’s Sentinel Sites are Motus Wildlife Tracking System (Motus) stations. Motus is a worldwide network of stationary automated telemetry receivers that collect data on tagged wildlife as it moves through the landscape. This technology will allow future researchers to answer questions about the movement behavior of many taxa that were previously exceedingly difficult to study at large spatial scales. The Department’s investment in Motus is a significant benefit to wildlife research and many partner non-governmental organizations that focus heavily on conservation.

Motus Tracking System ©Levi Souza

SPEAKER BIO

Levi Souza has been a biologist for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for over 10 years. He works in land management and monitoring. He is involved in the Department’s efforts to establish Sentinel Sites at selected properties throughout the state, specifically the installation, management and coordination of Motus stations.

This event is free, and you do not need to be a member of Yolo Audubon. If you would like to join click here. If you only want to receive the monthly newsletter, click here.

DETAILS ON JOINING THIS ZOOM MEETING

You must register (no cost) in advance for this meeting. An account with Zoom is NOT necessary to join a meeting. Zoom limits the number of participants to 100. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Registrants will receive email updates about this online event, as well as periodic email updates about Yolo Audubon’s conservation work and how you can help birds. (you can unsubscribe at any time.)

During the presentation, you will be able to ask questions via Zoom’s chat feature for the Q&A afterwards.

Please note: Participants must have the Zoom desktop client downloaded on their computer or on their Apple or Android mobile phone or tablet to access the meeting.

City of Davis' South Fork Preserve
2023-04-01 09:00 - 11:00
South Fork Preserve; © Marc Hoshovsky

Event postponed to April 1 due to poor weather predicted on original date – March 15.

Please join Marc Hoshovsky, a local volunteer naturalist, for a guided interpretive walk at the City of Davis’ South Fork Preserve.

The Preserve is located along the South Fork of Putah Creek, a few miles southeast of Davis. Almost 200 acres in size, it is one of the best stands of riparian and floodplain forest along Putah Creek, with some old trees over 5 feet in diameter! The Preserve’s 30-year-old restored oak woodland nicely demonstrates how fast woodlands can recover, given a nearby creek and some loving care. This nice diversity attracts a lot of birds and other wildlife, so visitors will be sure to enjoy themselves.

Marc will explain how the South Fork became the new course of Putah Creek in historical times and how the Creek has been restored since then; help visitors learn about the creek’s aquatic and upland ecosystem; describe the City’s continued investments in the Preserve; and highlight the ongoing conservation challenges of Putah Creek.

The walk will be a relatively slow paced one-mile loop walk (all flat), allowing plenty of birding opportunities. The first few hundred feet is on a wheelchair accessible gravel path to a new observation deck over the creek. The walk then continues through the riparian forest on a single-track dirt path, returning on an old farm road along the restored oak woodland to the parking lot.

This hike is appropriate for all ages. Please prepare for the weather and variable conditions by bringing water and snacks, and wearing sturdy shoes. The tour may be rescheduled in the event of heavy rain. A camera and binoculars are recommended.

We will meet in the Preserve parking lot 2.3 miles south of Interstate 80 along Mace Boulevard.

Contact Ryan Janke rhjanke29@gmail.com for additional information. No signup required.

Bobcat Ranch Tour
2023-04-16 07:30
House Finch; © Kelli O’Neill

Join Yolo Audubon Society for birds and wildflower tour of Bobcat Ranch. This sprawling blue oak woodland property sits in the hills of the coastal range just north of Berryessa Gap. The hills are green, flowers are blooming, and we should have some early spring migrants showing up. Bobcat Ranch is great for spotting woodpeckers, raptors, and the occasional resident bald eagle as well as lupine, blue dicks, and a variety of other wildflowers. We will climb to a natural spring where warblers and small passerines are often abundant.

This trip will involve moderate-strenuous hiking with portions of sustained uphill on uneven, unpaved surfaces. We will hike a loop approximately 2 miles long and gain about 300-400 feet in elevation. Bring binoculars, plenty of water, snacks, hiking poles if needed, and sturdy hiking shoes. Dress in layers as it can be cool in the morning and warm in the afternoon. Trails may be muddy depending on the weather. Heavy rains or high winds cancels the trip.

We’ll meet at 7:30 a.m. and likely return to Davis by noon. Location and further details will be provided to those who have reserved a spot on the trip.

Trip leaders are Ryan Janke and Sonjia Shelly.

This trip has limited space. Please reserve a spot by emailing Ryan Janke (rhjanke29@gmail.com).

Flight Calls to Monitor Nocturnal Migration in the Central Valley
2023-04-19 19:00
Rob Furrow & Cameron Tescher

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Most of the migration of songbirds happens while we’re sleeping, as warblers, sparrows, and other birds pass overhead during their nocturnal flights. These migrating birds are not entirely silent during the night; many species repeatedly make short calls as they fly, referred to as nocturnal flight calls. In this presentation we will outline the basics of how bird migration can be monitored using audio recordings of nocturnal flight calls. Then we will describe the methods and some preliminary results of a study assessing migration timing and intensity at sites ranging from the Coast Range near Lake Berryessa to the town of Davis and nearby natural areas. We focus on a few species that are common migrants that regularly give nocturnal flight calls: Lazuli Bunting, Yellow Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, and Swainson’s Thrush. In addition to describing our initial findings and many challenges, we will teach the audience a bit about when and where they might be able to hear these flight calls, and how to identify a few of the most common ones.

Rob Bio. Rob Furrow is an Assistant Professor of Teaching in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology at UC Davis. He has been birding since his youth, and revels in early mornings with migrating songbirds. Nocturnal flight calls have long been an interest of his, so he was thrilled when Cameron proposed a project systematically assessing local bird migration using these calls.

Cameron Bio. Cameron Tescher is a fourth year majoring in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology at UC Davis who is interested in migration of songbirds, especially those in the Central Valley. Through multiple years of birding across the state including in Yolo County for four years as a college student, he has always wanted to learn more about nocturnal migration. He planned this project with support from Rob Furrow and the Yolo Audubon Society to help understand the when’s, where’s, and how’s of the massive number of migrants that travel across the Central Valley.

This event is free, and you do not need to be a member of Yolo Audubon. If you would like to join click here. If you only want to receive the monthly newsletter, click here.

DETAILS ON JOINING THIS ZOOM MEETING

You must register (no cost) in advance for this meeting. An account with Zoom is NOT necessary to join a meeting. Zoom limits the number of participants to 100. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Registrants will receive email updates about this online event, as well as periodic email updates about Yolo Audubon’s conservation work and how you can help birds. (you can unsubscribe at any time.)

During the presentation, you will be able to ask questions via Zoom’s chat feature for the Q&A afterwards.

Please note: Participants must have the Zoom desktop client downloaded on their computer or on their Apple or Android mobile phone or tablet to access the meeting.

Capay Open Space Park - Lesser Nighthawks
2023-04-30 18:00 - 21:00
Lesser Nighthawk; © Zane Pickus

Nighthawks are a family of cryptically colored, primarily nocturnal bird species that are a favorite of many birders. Cache Creek is the summer home of the Lesser Nighthawk, which winters in Central and South America before returning to California’s Central Valley to breed. Lesser Nighthawks primarily feed on insects under the cover of darkness, but in the spring they routinely engage in dusk courtship rituals. Capay Open Space Park is the perfect place to observe nighthawks as they chase each other in acrobatic flights and sing their eerie trilled songs.

You can learn more about Lesser Nighthawks and listen to their song here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Lesser_Nighthawk/overview. Join Zane Pickus and Frank Fabbro in a dusk birding trip to Capay Open Space Park. While this trip will be focused on the nighthawks, there should be plenty of other birds to see. California Thrashers, though inconspicuous, nest here. Western Meadowlarks, California Quail, and a variety of swallows will be abundant. Given the date, we could encounter a neotropical migrant or two!

We’ll meet at 6:00pm at the Marketplace Shopping Center (near Big 5 Sporting Goods, 1301 W.Covell, just east of Hwy 113). We will plan to bird until dark, and should return to Davis between 8:30pm and 9:00pm. Bring binoculars, cameras, snacks, and water. The trip will include a short walk along the gravel creekbed. High winds or a significant rainstorm will cancel the trip. Yolo Audubon Society field trips are free and open to the public. Carpooling is strongly encouraged, but all rides are private arrangements between driver and riders.

Trip leaders: Frank Fabbro and Zane Pickus.

Contact Zane for more information – zanep987@gmail.com

(Late) Spring Migration at Willowbank Ditch
2023-05-06 07:00 - 09:30
Warbling Vireo; © Zane Pickus

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.

Putah Creek at Kusch Home
2023-05-07 07:30
Barn Swallow; © Zane Pickus

Tour Manfred Kusch’s birding gardens between Davis and Winters. He has cultivated his home garden and surrounding area, which border on Putah Creek, into a true birding extravaganza. He attracts a wide variety of birds in the gardens and habitat around the house, especially hummingbirds and orioles. The multi-layered vegetation on either side of the creek hosts spring migrants and residents such as grosbeaks, tanagers and a variety of warblers and vireos.

Bring binoculars, scopes, cameras, snacks and beverages. High winds or a significant rainstorm cancel this trip.

Space is limited; RSVP early. Contact John Hansen to secure your spot (jjhindavis@yahoo.com)

Searching for Rare Birds in South America
2023-05-17 19:00
Santa Marta Parakeet©John Sterling

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Bird expert and world traveler John Sterling will share his adventures in looking for and photographing some of the rarest birds in the world including those he found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Guyana, Argentina and Paraguay. John will take us to these exotic places and describe how he found the elusive wonders.

John’s Bio: John has been birding very actively since 1971 and embarked on a career in ornithology while as a student at Humboldt State University in 1979. Since then he has worked for the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center in Washington DC, research labs of the US Forest Service (Redwood Sciences Lab and PSW Fresno), H.T. Harvey and Associates, Arizona State University, Oregon State University, and many other organizations in Latin America and California. As an avid California birder, he has accumulated detailed knowledge of bird distribution and status throughout the state. As an ornithologist and environmental consultant, He has studied the ecology and conservation of birds as well as the regulatory processes that seek to preserve them.

For more information on John’s projects and tours, check out his website at sterlingbirds.com.”

This event is free, and you do not need to be a member of Yolo Audubon. If you would like to join click here. If you only want to receive the monthly newsletter, click here.

DETAILS ON JOINING THIS ZOOM MEETING

You must register (no cost) in advance for this meeting. An account with Zoom is NOT necessary to join a meeting. Zoom limits the number of participants to 100. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Registrants will receive email updates about this online event, as well as periodic email updates about Yolo Audubon’s conservation work and how you can help birds. (you can unsubscribe at any time.)

During the presentation, you will be able to ask questions via Zoom’s chat feature for the Q&A afterwards.

Please note: Participants must have the Zoom desktop client downloaded on their computer or on their Apple or Android mobile phone or tablet to access the meeting.

South Fork Preserve - Putah Creek
2023-05-20 07:00 - 11:00
Hermit x Townsend’s Warbler; © Konshau Duman

Join us for a morning of late spring migrants and riparian breeders next Saturday, May 20th, at the Putah Creek South Fork Preserve parking lot. We will walk the trail west of Mace into Solano County before returning to the Yolo side to walk the South Fork Preserve trails. This area has great valley riparian habitat with a dense mixed canopy of Valley Oak and Oregon Ash with scattered Cottonwood and Willow. The Yolo side will have similar habitat in a narrower strip along with open weedy grassland with Valley Oak and Mulefat plantings.

We can expect to see some later spring migrants like Yellow Warbler, Swainson’s Thrush, and Western Wood-Pewee plus riparian breeders like Tree Swallow, Bewick’s Wren, House Wren, California Towhee, and Spotted Towhee. The number of breeding Spotted Towhees on the Solano side is quite stunning compared to other riparian sites in our area, and there are abundant cavity nesters on the Yolo Side due to a wealth of natural and artificial cavity nest sites. Swainson’s Hawks will likely be very abundant as well.

We will cover about 1.9 miles of trail, ~.35 miles (one way) on the Solano side and a ~1.2 mile loop on the Yolo Side. The Yolo side trails are well established dirt trails, and the Solano side trail is a narrower dirt path with occasional stick and log debris brought in by last winter’s flooding to step around.

This trip will be led by Konshau and Lynette Williams Duman (konshaud@gmail.com, lynettebarbarawilliams@gmail.com). Feel free to email us with any additional questions regarding the trip or transportation from Davis to the South Fork Preserve.

Yolo Audubon Society field trips are free and open to the public. Carpooling is strongly encouraged, but all rides are private arrangements between driver and riders.

Sierra Valley/Yuba Pass 2-day Trip
2023-06-03 12:00
Red-breasted Sapsucker; © Kelli O’Neill

Do you enjoy mountain birding? Then this trip is for you. We will explore the birdlife of the Sierras on this two day, (June 3-4) overnight trip.

We will be looking for mountain specialties such as Williamson’s Sapsucker, Black-backed Woodpecker, White-headed Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Townsend’s Solitaire, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Mountain Bluebird and Calliope Hummingbird.

We will also enjoy the wonders of the marsh in Sierra Valley, with a cacophony of sound led by the amazingly beautiful Yellow-headed Blackbirds. We will also hope to see and hear displaying Willets, Wilson’s Snipes and American Bitterns.

Please bring plenty of warm clothes and dress in layers. Bring enough food for breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday. We will have a group dinner on Saturday evening in Portola and we will be spending the night at the Sierra Motel (530-832-4223).

This trip is limited to 10 participants, so please contact our field trip chair, John Hansen, to sign up at jjhindavis@yahoo.com.

Trip is full.

For more information, please contact either Kevin Guse (harpy12@icloud.com) or Mary Schiedt (maryolo1@netscape.net).

The Magic of Central America: Costa Rica's Birds and Ecology
2023-09-20 19:00 - 20:30
Three-wattled bellbird ©Benjamin Jacobs-Schwartz

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Costa Rica has long been regarded as one of the top tropical birding destinations in the world and with good reason. This small Central American country is roughly the size of West Virginia yet is home to ~5% of the world’s biodiversity, 900+ species of birds with 47 avian endemics to the country.
During our presentation, we’ll visit a variety of ecosystems including the cloud forest, the Caribbean lowlands, the Pacific dry forest, and the ecological factors that have made Costa Rica the international birding mecca that it is!
This event is free, and you do not need to be a member of Yolo Audubon. If you would like to join, click here. If you only want to receive the monthly newsletter, click here.

SPEAKER BIO
Benny Isaac Jacobs-Schwartz owns and runs a bird-guiding business and lifestyle brand called BIRDS by BIJS (pronounced Bee-jus). Working professionally for over 10 years as a naturalist guide, expedition trip leader, and international bird guide, Benny has worked in a variety of locations coast to coast, including exotic places such as coastal Alaska, Central America, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Ecuadorian Amazon.
Benny is a passionate educator and photographer, specializing in birds! Benny uses his ample collection of nature-based content to leverage an active social media presence. BIJS uses his passion for the natural world to inspire others to put down their phone and pick up their Binos.

This event is free, and you do not need to be a member of Yolo Audubon. If you would like to join click here. If you only want to receive the monthly newsletter, click here.

DETAILS ON JOINING THIS ZOOM MEETING

You must register (no cost) in advance for this meeting. An account with Zoom is NOT necessary to join a meeting. Zoom limits the number of participants to 100. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Registrants will receive email updates about this online event, as well as periodic email updates about Yolo Audubon’s conservation work and how you can help birds. (you can unsubscribe at any time.)
Please note: Participants must have the Zoom desktop client downloaded on their computer or on their Apple or Android mobile phone or tablet to access the meeting.
Visit to learn how to join a Zoom meeting. You may email Yolo Audubon Program Chair Ken Ealy before the meeting if you need help.
