Yolo Bird Alliance

Point Reyes Field Trip
2023-10-01 07:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Chestnut-sided Warbler; © Kevin Guse

Join us for this is the annual Terry Colborn Memorial trip to Pt. Reyes. 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. Federal, state, and local health guidelines will be followed.
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 good bird photo opportunities on the trip.
This is an all-day trip. Due to safety and liability reasons Yolo Audubon Society will be limiting this trip to 8 participants and no more than 3 vehicles. For reserving a spot or for any logistics questions please contact rhjanke29@gmail.com. You must have a reservation to participate in this trip.
Trip Leader: Kevin Guse
For questions related to reservations and trip logistics contact Ryan Janke: rhjanke29@gmail.com

Bodega Bay Day Trip
2023-10-15 06:30 - 17:30
Red Knot ©Kevin Guse

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 8 people in 3 cars. It will be an all-day trip, beginning at 6:30 AM. Due to safety and liability reasons Yolo Audubon Society will be limiting this trip to 8 participants and no more than 3 vehicles. For reserving a spot or for any logistics questions please contact rhjanke29@gmail.com. You must have a reservation to participate in this trip.
Please bring a lunch, sunscreen, water and layers of clothing. Masks are not required while out of doors but may be required in vehicles depending on preferences of the driver and passengers. Federal, state, and local health guidelines will be followed.
Trip Leader: Kevin Guse
There is still room on this popular Yolo Audubon trip. Contact Ryan below to reserve your spot soon.
For reservations contact Ryan Janke: rhjanke29@gmail.com

Southern Africa--Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, plus a little bit of South Africa.
2023-10-18 19:00 - 20:30
White-quilled Bustard ©Chris Conard

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

In August 2023, Chris Conard joined a group largely composed of Sacramento-area birders to southern Africa. The birds were wonderful, and the mammals were absolutely mind-blowing. We moved east from the Namib Desert on the Atlantic Coast, through Etosha National Park, the Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls, with a single day in South Africa before heading home. Highlights are too many to catalog, but include a great diversity of hornbills, kingfishers, and shrikes in starkly beautiful settings, with a cavalcade of large mammals coming to and interacting at waterholes. Lions, leopard, 17 species of antelope, elephants, and both species of rhino jockeyed for first prize as most spectacular–the rhinos won!
SPEAKER BIO
Chris Conard is a Natural Resource Specialist at the Bufferlands in Sacramento County. He regularly leads field trips for Sacramento Audubon, serves as a county reviewer for eBird, and is a past president of the Central Valley Bird Club.

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 help.

Lake Solano County Park/Putah Creek Trip
2023-10-21 08:00
Yellow-rumped Warbler ©Sharon Kirkpatrick

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 come to spend the winter in the area. The oak woodland, riparian habitat and creek can result in bird sightings that include Osprey, Phainopepla, Wood Duck and hopefully several species of woodpeckers. There could be some surprises like Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker and Bald Eagle.
Meet at 8:00 AM at Lake Solano County Park day-use parking lot, on Pleasants Valley Road. There is a $6 fee per vehicle for parking. All trip participants should be vaccinated. Federal, state, and local health guidelines will be followed. 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. Beginning birders are welcome. Rain and strong wind cancels trip.
Trip Leader: Sharon Kirkpatrick (530)220-3735 (cell) or sckirkpa@gmail.com

Ed Whisler Memorial Bird Walk at Davis Cemetery
2023-10-28 08:00 - 10:00
Ed Whistler ©Ken Kemmerling

Yolo Audubon will sponsor a bird walk on Saturday, October 28, 2023, from 8am to 10am, at the Davis Cemetery in honor of our friend Ed Whisler. Ed was one of the top birders and wildlife biologists in our area for the past forty years. He was very generous in sharing his vast knowledge with the Davis community. He was a former president of Yolo Audubon, co-designer of West Pond and North Ponds, a conservationist, activist and educator. The Halloween trip to the Davis Cemetery was led by Ed for many years and is a favorite among Yolo Audubon members. This walk will retrace Ed’s steps to look for late fall migrants and incoming winter resident birds including warblers, woodpeckers, and sparrows.
Twenty years ago, in June 2003, Ed Whisler discovered Western Bluebirds nesting in the old tree at the eastern edge of the Davis Cemetery, the first time in thirty years that Bluebirds had nested in Davis. It was Ed who first suggested a nest box trail along the greenbelt from Veterans Memorial to North Davis Ponds. With the nest box programs, nesting Western Bluebirds (and Tree Swallows) are now common in Davis and along Putah Creek.
Ed was also an excellent teacher because he was so in-tuned with birds, especially their calls. Even during conversations, he was always aware of birds, and would interrupt a conversation to point out and identify any of our feathered friends, who happened to be in the area. Sadly, Ed Whisler passed away on July 4, 2023. His earthly remains were interred in the Davis Cemetery, alongside his parents.
Anyone interested in birds is welcome. The event is free and for all age levels. The cemetery has some uneven ground and wet grass. Recommended: binoculars. Suggested: water, hat. Heavy rain or wind cancels event.
Once you arrive at the Davis Cemetery entrance (820 Pole Line Rd, Davis, CA 95618), there will be a stone statue which has a few parking spaces adjacent. You can also park along the cemetery road.
Co-leaders and coordinators are Joshua Greenfield, Donna Jury and Ken Kemmerling. For logistical questions please contact Ryan Janke: rhjanke29@gmail.com

Sparrow Bingo 2023
2023-11-05 07:30 - 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. 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. Route to be determined as conditions warrant.
We’ll meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Marketplace Shopping Center (near Big 5 Sporting Goods, 1301 W. Covell, just east of Hwy 113). Bring binoculars, scopes, cameras, snacks, lunch, and beverages. High winds or a significant rainstorm cancel this trip. We will return by 3:00pm.
*Note that Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday, November 5th at 2:00am.*
Contact trip leader Zane Pickus for more details: zanep987@gmail.com
Yolo Audubon Society field trips are free and open to the public. Car-pooling is encouraged, but all rides are private arrangements between driver and riders.”

Project Phoebe: Studying and Supporting a Uniquely Urban Flycatcher
2023-11-15 19:00 - 20:30
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Most of us have enjoyed sharing our neighborhoods with Black Phoebes, whether nesting in a park or on a ledge attached to one of the houses, we are entertained by their antics and pleased with their diet of insects. Project Phoebe is a research program started by a team of UC Davis graduate students in 2022 to shed light on the experiences of the Black Phoebe, one of our familiar but ecologically surprising urban neighbors. Two members of Project Phoebe, UC Davis students Alia Tu and Ian Haliburton, will discuss the research program as a whole, introducing its unifying themes and emphasizing the accomplishments of its first year. Additionally, Alia and Ian will each present on their sub-projects within Project Phoebe. More than anything, Ian and Alia hope to show how extraordinary these backyard flycatchers are, fostering an appreciation for the challenges they overcome and encouraging participation in Project Phoebe’s continuing efforts to understand them and promote their success.
Please join us for an illuminating session on urban Black Phoebes!
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

Alia is a third year undergraduate student at UC Davis, majoring in Mathematics with a minor in Wildlife Fish and Conservation Biology. She is excited about working in the field, observing bird behavior, and learning more about the scientific process and how birds and humans can coexist in an increasingly urbanized world. She greatly appreciates the many wonderful opportunities for exploring the world of research and ecology in the Davis and surrounding area. Along with her studies, Alia is also an artist, musician, aspiring educator, and overall nature-lover.
Ian is a second-year PhD student in the UC Davis Animal Behavior Graduate Group. He is interested in the role of behavior in wild birds’ responses to anthropogenic challenges as well as the ways that behavior research can inform bird conservation, especially within urban environments. His focus is on the challenges of chemical pollution, and he is exploring ways to bridge the fields of ecotoxicology and behavioral ecology in his research. Working with the dapper Black Phoebe and its nestlings, Ian is planning to pick apart relationships between an individual’s environment, behavior, reproductive success and risk of exposure to chemical pollutants. He is thrilled to be doing work where he gets to think about and interact with the local birds he loves every day, and he is infinitely grateful that he no longer spends so much time in windowless laboratories like when he was an undergrad studying neuroscience at UCLA. Outside of his grad student life, Ian is an illustrator, a climber and a bird dad to two adorable budgies.

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 help.

2023 Christmas Bird Count Bird ID Workshop
2023-12-06 19:00 - 21:00
Hutton’s Vireo©Kelli O’Neill

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Please join Yolo Audubon at its December 6th Members’ Meeting, the annual Putah Creek Christmas Bird Count (PCCBC) Bird ID Workshop, with Compiler Bart Wickel and Area Leader Zane Pickus. This program will start at 7:00 pm and will be held at the Davis Senior Center, 646 A Street, Davis, CA 95616.
The PCCBC is scheduled for Sunday, December 17th, and marks the 53rd Count. To participate in the bird count contact a leader who assembles a team for each designated zone in the Putah Creek count circle. Click here to find a leader.
The workshop consists of a primer on bird identification and an introduction to logging birds using eBird as well as a discussion of recent count trends, including a review of climate change and forest fire impacts on the count circle.
Bart will share data and trends from earlier 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.
SPEAKER BIO
Bart Wickel, member of the Yolo Audubon Society’s Board of Directors, has been birding Yolo County for almost 10 years now. He is the compiler for the Putah Creek Christmas Bird Count.
Zane Pickus is an undergraduate at UC Davis studying Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology. Zane has been interested in birds his entire life, and as he has gotten older, that interest has morphed into a passion. He values the opportunity to teach others through field trips and presentations, appreciating the sense of community found in sharing birds with others. Zane is a member of the Yolo Audubon Society’s Board of Directors, is an officer of the Birdwatching Club at UC Davis, and is a regional reviewer for eBird in Yolo County.

2023 Christmas Bird Count and Potluck Dinner
2023-12-17 08:00
Snowy Egret©Kelli O’Neill

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The 53rd annual Putah Creek CBC is scheduled for Sunday, December 17th, regardless of weather.
For more information about the Christmas Bird Count and to volunteer click here.
After the count please join us for the Summary & Potluck to be held at the Davis Senior Center, 646 A Street, Davis, CA 95616. The doors will open at 5:00 pm for early finishers and for food set-up. Whether you were able to join the count or not, we invite you to join us to socialize and share the highlights of the day.
This event is free, but please bring a dish to share with others. You do not need to be a member of Yolo Audubon to attend however, if you would like to join, click here. If you only want to receive the monthly newsletter, click here.
PCCBC Compiler Bart Wickel and the Area Leaders will compile the field data at a later date.
SPEAKER BIO
Bart Wickel, member of the Yolo Audubon Society’s Board of Directors, has been birding Yolo County for almost 10 years now. He is the Compiler for Yolo Audubon’s Putah Creek Christmas Bird Count.

Yolo County American Kestrel Nest Box Program: Program Description and Kestrel Status, Science, and Management
2024-01-17 19:30 - 20:50
American Kestrel©Kelli O’Neill

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The public is invited to join Yolo Audubon and its members for the monthly general meeting on January 17, 2024. The meeting is free and is held at the Davis Senior Center at 646 A Street in Davis. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. and runs until 8:50 p.m. Folks are welcome to arrive at 7:00 p.m. for a pre-meeting gathering with other attendees.
This meeting will mark Yolo Audubon’s first attempt to allow online participants to join the in-person attendees via Zoom, i.e., a Zoom Hybrid meeting. While we have had a successful practice session, there is no guarantee for a problem-free event on the 17th. Thank you for your understanding! Here is the Zoom registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcqcu6orD8qHty0IqvwaEjI6z3dvjIiAyUa“
The speakers are Kevin Hunting of the American Kestrel Parentship, and John McNerney, City of Davis Wildlife Resource Specialist, and they will talk about a project involving American Kestrels.
The American kestrel (Falco sparverius) is California’s smallest and previously most abundant falcon species. Kestrel populations have been in decline for several decades in California, the west, and nationally. The reasons for this decline are varied and range from exceptional predation rates to pesticide poisoning. In 2023, we created and launched an American Kestrel nest box program with the goals of supporting local and regional kestrel populations, gathering data for the international American Kestrel Partnership effort, and learning more about how Kestrels use the landscape. Kevin & John will discuss the program including deploying and managing nest boxes, first year successes and lessons learned, and how this program is part of a larger national and international American Kestrel research and conservation effort.
This event is free, and you do not need to be a member of Yolo Audubon to attend. If you would like to join, visit https://yoloaudubon.org/join-renew-donate. If you only want to receive the monthly newsletter, visit https://yoloaudubon.org/yolo-audubon-newsletter.
SPEAKER BIO
Kevin Hunting is retired after a career with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Resources Agency as a biologist, administrator, and policy lead. He has worked in wildlife management, conservation planning, and resource assessment, for over 30 years. He has authored documents related to bird conservation for Partners-in-Flight, California Bird Species of Special Concern, and technical assessments for several bird species. He is active in wildlife policy efforts including development of the California 30X30 Biodiversity Conservation framework and most recently led an effort to update the Wildlife Conservation Board’s Strategic Plan and was the primary author of the document. Kevin spends his free time birding and enjoying the outdoors.
John McNerney is the staff wildlife biologist for the City of Davis. He has over 25 years of experience in habitat conservation, planning and restoration, wildlife management, CEQA review, human v. wildlife conflict resolution, and natural resource interpretation. His professional interests include birds-of-prey, human and wildlife relationships, and wetlands and grasslands conservation, restoration and management.

Raptor Ramble 2024
2024-01-27 07:30 - 17:00
Merlin©Kevin Guse

Raptor Ramble
The popular trip is full and YAS is no longer taking participants in event.
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.

Cosumnes River Preserve 2024
2024-02-11 07:00 - 13:00
Sandhill Cranes ©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/aquatic bird 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. 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)

Bridgeway Island Pond Field Trip
2024-02-17 07:30 - 10:00
Blue-winged Teal ©JoAnne Fillatti
As winter winds down join us as we bird Bridgeway Island Pond and theDeepwater Ship Channel in West Sacramento. Bridgeway Island Pond isone of the best places in Yolo County to see species such asBlue-winged Teal, Spotted Sandpiper, Common Gallinule, Cinnamon Teal,and American Avocet. But, as with everything in life, you never knowwhat shorebird or waterfowl may be sitting on the muddy spit waitingto be discovered! We will then walk up the levee and scan theDeepwater Ship Channel. Our targets will be water-loving birds such asBald Eagle, Osprey, and Western Grebe. A small stand of trees andbushes could yield passerines such as Spotted Towhee, Orange-crownedWarbler, and who knows what else!We will meet at 7:30 am at the cul-de-sac at the end of Pender IslandRd in West Sacramento, here: 38.540733, -121.577855. Bring binoculars,a scope (if you have one), water, and snacks. Please note that thereare no restrooms at the pond. We will begin on a level path, and walkup a graveled levee to reach the ship channel. There will be a smallstretch where the path is quite narrow but still largely level. Highwinds or significant rain will cancel this trip. Beginners arewelcome and no sign-ups are necessary! We will conclude at approximately 10am.Contact trip leaders Lynette Williams Duman and Konshau Duman atlbwilliams@ucdavis.edu and kduman@ucdavis.edu respectively.Yolo Audubon Society field trips are free and open to the public.Carpooling is highly encouraged, but all rides are private arrangementsbetween drivers and riders.

Four weeks in the Falkland Islands with Manfred Kusch
2024-02-21 19:30 - 20:50
King Penguins©Manfred Kusch

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The public is invited to join Yolo Audubon and its members for the monthly general meeting on February 21, 2024. The meeting is free and is held at the Davis Senior Center at 646 A Street in Davis. The program begins at 7:30 p.m. and runs until 8:50 p.m. Folks are welcome to arrive at 7:00 p.m. for gathering with other attendees before the program.
This program can also be attended over Zoom where the meeting starts at 7:30pm.
In January 2018 and again in December 2022, Manfred Kusch joined a group of 6 bird and wildlife photographers exploring several islands of the Falkland archipelago, moving from the capital of Stanley and the famous penguin colonies at Volunteer Point on East Falkland to Sealion, Saunders, and Bleaker islands before returning to Stanley. Transfers between the islands were provided by sturdy two-engine Islander planes capable of landing and take-off on dirt or grass landing strips. His group stayed in, for the most part, comfortable guest houses run by the sheep ranching families that were typically the only occupant of the island they visited. Located off the tip of South America in the South Atlantic, the treeless and wind-swept islands offer rare solitude and an austere beauty that form the backdrop for their rich birdlife and sea mammal breeding colonies. Besides five species of penguins, large colonies of albatrosses, cormorants, various predators like skuas and petrels, raptors like Southern Crested and Striated caracaras, various species of geese, swans, grebes, and ducks, sea mammals like large Southern Elephant Seals and Sea Lions could be found everywhere and be easily approached and photographed. Manfred will present some of the wildlife photos from his trips and also include photos of the landscapes taken from the ground and the air.
Zoom meeting registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYucemgqDIiEtTGzlXy6X9Co9XgHoDtgFPB
This event is free, and you do not need to be a member of Yolo Audubon to attend. If you would like to join, visit https://yoloaudubon.org/join-renew-donate. If you only want to receive the monthly newsletter, visit https://yoloaudubon.org/yolo-audubon-newsletter.
SPEAKER BIO
Manfred is a retired UCD faculty member who taught in the departments of French & Italian and Comparative Literature. He has had a life-long interest in birds and took up bird photography in his retirement. He has traveled with small groups of international bird photographers throughout the Americas from Patagonia and the Falklands to Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska, as well as more recently to Borneo and Australia. Locally, his large garden adjacent to Putah Creek west of Davis has hosted many Yolo Audubon bird walks and has been the site of a by now 12-year hummingbird study undertaking by UCD faculty and students.

2024 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area “Big Sit”
2024-02-24 06:45 - 13:00
Snowy Egret ©Zane Pickus
THE EVENT IS CANCELLED AS THE WILDLIFE AREA IS FLOODED.
Join the Yolo Audubon Society, Yolo Basin Foundation, and the Birdwatching Club at UC Davis for a joint event at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area. On Saturday, February 24th, we will be hosting a “Big Sit!” You may have heard of a “Big Day” or “Big Year,” where birders attempt to see as many species as possible in a given time frame, but a Big Sit is different – instead the challenge is to detect as many species as possible while staying in one stationary location. Big Sits are popular elsewhere in the U.S., and some additional information about the concept can be found below. For our event, we will be staking out Parking Lot C at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, which will put us right in the middle of excellent marsh habitat – perfect for seeing a great variety of species. Those who attend can expect to see or hear a variety of waterfowl, rails, sparrows, herons, and shorebirds. It is certain to be a fun day for all involved!
Unlike many birding field trips, this event is special in that participants may come and go as they please. Feel free to drop by for a few minutes, an hour, or longer! We want this trip to be accessible to as many people as possible, and hope that everyone interested can come to share in enjoying the birds and the wildlife area. Bring binoculars, a scope if you have one, and excitement about birds! Besides our Big Sit area, the rest of the Yolo Bypass auto tour loop is sure to be full of birds and worth exploring on your own.
Birders from Yolo Audubon Society, Yolo Basin Foundation and the Birdwatching Club at UC Davis will plan to arrive at Parking Lot C at the Yolo Bypass just after sunrise (6:45am) on the morning of February 24th. We will have a table with information on local birds, the organizations involved, and extra binoculars to share. No prior birding experience is necessary, and the area is handicap accessible.
Additionally, we will keep a running list of species detected throughout the day. The Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Big Sit will conclude at 1:00pm.
Winter birding events are always at risk of bad weather. A postponement will occur in the event that the wildlife area is closed due to flooding, or if heavy rain is projected on the day of the Big Sit. Please check back on the Yolo Audubon Society’s website and facebook page for more details, or contact Zane Pickus, zanep987@gmail.com for the latest information.
Traditional Big Sit! Information: https://www.thebigsit.org/
A map of the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=99259&inline

Montane Riparian Birds and Their Habitat in The Great Basin
2024-03-20 19:00 - 20:50
Red-napped Sapsucker©Frank Fogarty

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The public is invited to join Yolo Audubon and its members for the monthly general meeting on March 20, 2024. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. and runs until 8:50 p.m. The meeting is free and is held at the Davis Senior Center at 646 A Street in Davis. Folks are welcome to arrive at 7:00 p.m. for pre-meeting gathering with other attendees.
Dr. Frank Fogarty will provide a presentation over Zoom. Attendees in the Senior Center will view the presentation on the monitor.
Riparian areas around creeks, seeps, and snow pockets cover just a small fraction of the Great Basin’s mountains but are a key resource for much of its avian diversity. Dr. Fogarty will discuss his work on these systems, with a focus on better understanding how avian communities are structured in these naturally patchy and fragmented riparian areas. He will also discuss how changes due to climate change and human activity potentially will drive future changes to these communities.
SPEAKER BIO
Dr. Frank Fogarty is currently an Assistant Professor of Applied Avian Ecology at Cal Poly Humboldt. He and his graduate students work on a variety of projects including Snowy Plover predator behavior and ecology, Lewis’s Woodpecker conservation and management, and strategies for maximizing bird diversity in active timber lands. Frank’s most extensive experience comes from his work on bird communities in the mountains of the Great Basin, which was the topic of his doctoral research at UC Davis.
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 on joining the meeting. Do not lose this email. 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.
This event is free, and you do not need to be a member of Yolo Audubon to attend. If you would like to join, visit https://yoloaudubon.org/join-renew-donate. If you only want to receive the monthly newsletter, visit https://yoloaudubon.org/yolo-audubon-newsletter.

Using Bird Song to Learn about Migration
2024-04-17 19:00 - 20:50
Ed Pandolfino©Ed Harper

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The public is invited to join Yolo Audubon and its members for a presentation on Using Bird Song to Learn about Migration by Ed Pandolfino at the monthly general meeting on April 17, 2024. This free meeting is held at the Davis Senior Center at 646 A Street in Davis. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. and runs until 8:50 p.m. Folks participating at the Senior Center are welcome to arrive at 7:00 p.m. for a pre-meeting socialization with other in-person attendees. Zoom attendees will be admitted a little before 7:30 p.m.
A host of techniques from banding to the more recent tracking devices (geolocators, satellite tags, etc.) have revealed much about bird migration. However, all these approaches require capturing a bird (usually twice), can be quite expensive, and are limited to tracking small numbers of individual birds. What if you could learn about migration without ever capturing a bird and gather data across a huge expanse of geography about many different individuals? Ed will talk about a “low tech” way of doing exactly that by using bird song dialects.
SPEAKER BIO
Ed Pandolfino earned a Ph.D. from Washington State University and, since retiring from a career in the Medical Device industry in 2000, has devoted himself to bird research and conservation. He has served as president of Western Field Ornithologists, vice-president of San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, and on the boards of the Institute for Bird Populations and Sierra Foothills Audubon Society. He has co-authored two books, Birds of the Sierra Nevada: Their Natural History, Status, and Distribution from U.C. Press and Breeding Birds of Sacramento County from the Central Valley Bird Club, and has published more than four dozen research papers, many of which focus on bird vocalizations.
DETAILS ON JOINING THIS ZOOM MEETING
You do not need to be a member of Yolo Audubon. If you would like to join, visit https://yoloaudubon.org/join-renew-donate. If you only want to receive the monthly newsletter, visit https://yoloaudubon.org/yolo-audubon-newsletter/.
This meeting will be a hybrid session with Ed making his presentation at Davis Senior Center. Participants can join the meeting on-site at Davis Senior Center or from the comfort of their home via Zoom.
Attend the Meeting in Person
Registration is not necessary to attend the meeting at the Senior Center.
Davis Senior Center646 A StreetDavis CA
Attend the Meeting online via Zoom.
The presentation will be streamed in real time on ZOOM from the Senior Center. To attend the meeting via Zoom you will need to register for the meeting.
REGISTER TO ATTEND VIA ZOOM
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.)Visit to learn how to join a Zoom meeting.
Please note one can join Zoom meetings from their web browser and bypass downloading the Zoom desktop client or the mobile app. Visit http://tiny.cc/3m3jxz to learn how to join a Zoom meeting on a web browser. FULL LINK: https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0064261 – h_d058aa08-10b5-4c9f-b029-4ce9603bb2d1)
Participants can also download the Zoom desktop client to their computer or download the mobile app to their Apple or Android device to access the meeting.
You may email Yolo Audubon Program Chair Ken Ealy before the meeting if you need assistance.

Putah Creek at Kusch Home
2024-04-27 08:00
Hooded Oriole ©Manfred Kusch
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 Ryan Janke to secure your spot (rhjanke29@gmail.com)

Capay Open Space Park - Lesser Nighthawks
2024-05-04 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.
Contact Zane for more details. zanep987@gmail.com

Avian Habitat Use of a Yolo County Sustainable Ranching Landscape
2024-05-15 19:00 - 20:50
Bobcat Ranch Phenology Volunteers ©Autumn Turner

Please join us for Yolo Audubon’s Members’ Meeting and Monthly Presentation.
Business Meeting: Ann Brice, President
Prior to start of the program, President Ann Brice will lead Yolo Audubon’s annual business meeting, where a vote will be taken via zoom and in person on the Articles of Incorporation to reflect the new name – Yolo Bird Alliance. In addition, there will be a vote to confirm the slate of 2024-2025 Board of Directors. Participants on Zoom will vote on both actions via polls.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The public is invited to join Yolo Audubon and its members for a presentation on Avian Habitat Use of a Yolo County Sustainable Ranching Landscape by Autumn Turner, Wildlife Management and Conservationist at the monthly general meeting on May 15, 2024. The meeting is free and is held at the Davis Senior Center at 646 A Street in Davis, and via Zoom. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. and runs until 8:50 p.m. People attending at the Senior Center, are welcome to arrive at 7:00 p.m. for pre-meeting gathering with other attendees. Zoom attendees will be admitted a little before 7:30 p.m.
Following a brief background of the phenology project by Sonjia Shelly, Yolo Audubon Phenology Project Coordinator, our main speaker, Autumn Turner, will present the results of her Master’s Capstone Project, which focused on evaluating the habitat features of the avian phenology route at Bobcat Ranch in Winters. As part of the National Phenology Network, Yolo Audubon Society has conducted biweekly bird surveys on Audubon California’s Bobcat Ranch, since 2016. The 6,800-acre property is the state’s demonstration ranch for National Audubon’s Conservation Ranching Program. Autumn will discuss interesting highlights from the study including habitat relationships of key oak woodland and grassland bird species found on the Ranch, and how birds have been observed using the different route sections.
SPEAKER BIO
Autumn Turner: A native Woodland resident, Autumn recently received her master’s in wildlife management and Conservation from Unity Environmental College while continuing to work in the field of wildlife conservation. With a background in habitat restoration and wildlife rehabilitation in northern California, Autumn previously worked on several conservation breeding and reintroduction programs in southern California including recovery efforts for the San Clemente loggerhead shrike and Mexican gray wolf. She currently works in the Napa Valley with a large-scale collaborative songbird research project in vineyards and maintains a position on the Yolo Audubon Board as the Newsletter Editor, assisting with bird surveys, nest box monitoring, and local events.
Sonjia Shelly: graduated from THE Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine 44 years ago. Her career focused on diseases of fur/hair bearing friends rather than feathered friends. Thus, her interest in birding began later in life (compared with many Yolo Audubon members) and she considers herself to be a perpetual beginner. Since retirement she has been active as a board member for Yolo Audubon Society and has participated in the YAS phenology survey at Bobcat Ranch, helped organize and monitor nest box projects and volunteered for other organizations. She is a certified CA naturalist.
DETAILS ON JOINING THE MEETING
You do not need to be a member of Yolo Audubon. If you would like to join, visit https://yoloaudubon.org/join-renew-donate. If you only want to receive the monthly newsletter, visit https://yoloaudubon.org/yolo-audubon-newsletter/.
Attend the Meeting in Person
Registration is not necessary to attend the meeting at the Senior Center.
Davis Senior Center646 A StreetDavis CA
Attend the Meeting online via Zoom.
The presentation will be streamed in real time on ZOOM from the Senior Center. To attend the meeting via Zoom you will need to register for the meeting.
REGISTER TO ATTEND VIA ZOOM
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 one can join Zoom meetings from their web browser and bypass downloading the Zoom desktop client or the mobile app. Visit http://tiny.cc/3m3jxz to learn how to join a Zoom meeting on a web browser. FULL LINK: https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0064261 – h_d058aa08-10b5-4c9f-b029-4ce9603bb2d1)
Participants can also download the Zoom desktop client to their computer or download the mobile app to their Apple or Android device to access the meeting.
You may email Yolo Audubon Program Chair Ken Ealy before the meeting if you need assistance.

Bobcat Ranch - Birds and Wildflower Tour
2024-05-18 08:30 - 12:00
Bullock’s Oriole ©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 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 also visit one of the largest native milkweed stands in the area.
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 early morning and warm in the late morning.
We’ll meet at 8:30 a.m. and aim to return to Davis by noon. Location and further details will be provided to those who have reserved a spot on the trip.
This trip has limited space. Please reserve a spot by emailing Ryan Janke (rhjanke29@gmail.com).

Public-Private Conservation Efforts of Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius Tricolor) Colonies on Agricultural Lands in California’s San Joaquin Valley
2024-09-18 19:00 - 20:50
Tricolored Blackbird ©Ian Souza-Cole

Please join us for Yolo Audubon’s Members’ Meeting and Monthly Presentation.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The public is invited to join Yolo Bird Alliance and its members for the monthly general meeting on September 18, 2024. The meeting is free and is held at the Davis Senior Center at 646 A Street in Davis. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. and runs until 8:50 p.m. This event is free, and you do not need to be a member of Yolo Bird Alliance
Ian Souza-Cole, a Project Manager in the Working Lands group of Audubon California will speak on the conservation efforts for tricolored blackbirds. Ian will discuss the successes of Regional Conservation Partnership Program (the Program) in terms of reduced loss of colonies nesting in silage fields.
Ian will walk us forward from the early 1990s when much of the population of the Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor) began nesting in field crops grown for dairy silage in the San Joaquin Valley. Many colonies were inadvertently destroyed during harvest.
After previous inconsistent efforts, in 2015 the Program brought the dairy industry, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Audubon California, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and other partners together in an effort to stem the losses. The Program compensated farmers for losses due to delayed harvest. In addition to encouraging creation of alternative nesting habitat to attract nesting birds away from agricultural fields.
Ian will discuss the successes of Partnership Program in terms of reduced loss of colonies nesting in silage fields. Protection of colonies in silage fields since 2015 likely contributed to the substantial increase in the numbers of birds nesting in this habitat and perhaps to an increase in California’s Tricolored Blackbird population as a whole. However, continued effort is needed to achieve the species’ recovery
SPEAKER BIO
Ian Souza-Cole is a Project Manager with Working Lands, Audubon California.
You do not need to be a member of Yolo Bird Alliance. If you would like to join, visit https://yolobirdalliance.org/join-renew-donate. If you only want to receive the monthly newsletter, visit https://yolobirdalliance.org/yolo-birdalliance-newsletter/.
DETAILS ON JOINING THE MEETING
Attend the Meeting in Person (In-Person Only)
Registration is not necessary to attend the meeting at the Senior Center.
Davis Senior Center646 A StreetDavis CA

Point Reyes - Annual Terry Colborn Memorial Trip
2024-09-22 06:00
Chestnut-sided Warbler ©Kevin Guse
This is the annual Terry Colborn Memorial trip to Pt. Reyes. 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.
This is an all-day trip limited to 3 vehicles and no more than 10 participants. To attend please contact rhjanke29@gmail.com to reserve a spot on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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 good bird photo opportunities on the trip. Participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation.
Trip Leader: Kevin Guse
For reservations contact Ryan Janke: rhjanke29@gmail.com

Differences in Movement and Habitat Use Between Two Call Types of Red Crossbills
2024-10-16 19:00 - 20:50
Red Crossbill ©Konshau Duman

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The public is invited to join Yolo Bird Alliance and its members for the monthly general meeting on October 16, 2024, where Konshau Duman will give a presentation on the bird species, Red Crossbill. This event is free, and you do not need to be a member of Yolo Bird Alliance. The meeting is held at the Davis Senior Center at 646 A Street in Davis. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. and runs until 8:50 p.m.
The Red Crossbill is a species complex containing 12 vocal, or call types in its North American range. Specialization to key conifers during periods of late winter scarcity has been the primary theory proposed to explain the evolution of these call types, yet the ecological differences between them remain elusive. Studies have shown different call types frequently overlap in breeding and nonbreeding distributions and are observed associating with many resources beyond their key conifer species, even during the critical periods. By assessing resource use and habitat associations of these call types and the associated movement patterns, Konshau will discuss how his research shows that Type 2 and Type 5 Red Crossbills show quite different patterns of occurrence in an area of frequent overlap in northwestern Wyoming. In addition, he will explain how habitat associations, migratory distance, and the associated behaviors could provide a barrier to gene flow between these populations. The findings of Konshau’s research will add to a small but growing body of literature on nomadic migration and adaptive radiation.
SPEAKER BIO
Konshau is a 3rd year PhD student at UC Davis. He has broad natural history oriented interests which are currently focused on vocal development and learning, nomadic migration, and diet. Konshau became interested in researching birds during his undergrad studies at UCD, and started birding in the area at that time as well.
The Yolo Bird Alliance fosters an appreciation of birds and other wildlife through educational programs and field trips, brings conservation issues to public awareness, and acts to preserve Yolo County bird life and habitat. To learn more about the Yolo Bird Alliance, visit its web page at https://yolobirdalliance.org/. You can also visit the Yolo Bird Alliance on Facebook. If you would like to join and the monthly newsletter, visit https://yolobirdalliance.org/join-renew-donate/.
DETAILS ON JOINING THE MEETING
Attend the Meeting in Person (In-Person Only)
Registration is not necessary to attend the meeting at the Senior Center.
Davis Senior Center646 A StreetDavis CA

Birdability Trip to Lake Solano County Park
2024-10-26 08:00 - 11:00
Phainopepla ©Zane Pickus
Birdability Week is a celebration of birding and inclusivity put on by the National Audubon Society. On Saturday, October 26th, join Yolo Bird Alliance for its own celebration of Birdability Week at Lake Solano County Park. This location is known to birders far and wide for its impressive diversity of bird species, all of which can be viewed from the many paved, flat paths which meander through the park. It is an excellent place to spend a morning, and on this day we will come together to share the joy of birdwatching at our own pace. Once at the park, we will take a few relaxing walks and observe the birds and nature around us. Everyone is welcome!
Participants may expect to see charismatic species such as Common Merganser, Oak Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, and Acorn Woodpecker. If we’re lucky, perhaps a Phainopepla or Osprey will stop by. No matter what we see, it is certain to be a good time and is an opportunity to ensure birding is accessible to all. This trip is open to everyone whether mobility impaired or not.
Bring snacks, water, and binoculars or a camera if you have them. All walking will be on paved, even terrain, and walking distances short. The group will return to its meeting location in Davis around 11:00am.
For additional information about Birdability Week and the Birdability initiative, please see:
https://www.audubon.org/get-involved/birdability-week
https://www.birdability.org/
This trip will be limited to 20 participants. Contact Zane Pickus for more details or to sign-up at:
zanep987@gmail.com
Yolo Audubon Society field trips are free and open to the public. Some trips may be limited by number of participants, if stated in the description. Car-pooling is encouraged, but all rides are private arrangements between driver and riders. Heavy rain or high winds may cancel any trip.

Lake Solano County Park/Putah Creek
2024-11-02 08:00

Sparrow Bingo
2024-11-10 07:30 - 15:00
Song 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. 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. Route to be determined as conditions warrant, but often includes a variety of habitats including Putah Creek Canyon and select locations around Winters and Esparto.
We’ll meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Marketplace Shopping Center (near Big 5 Sporting Goods, 1301 W. Covell, just east of Hwy 113). Bring binoculars, scopes, cameras, snacks, lunch, and beverages. High winds or a significant rainstorm cancel this trip. We will return by 3:00pm.
This trip will be limited to 15 participants. Contact Zane Pickus for more details or to sign-up at:
zanep987@gmail.com
Yolo Audubon Society field trips are free and open to the public. Some trips may be limited by number of participants, if stated in the description. Car-pooling is encouraged, but all rides are private arrangements between driver and riders. Heavy rain or high winds may cancel any trip

California’s Wintering and Breeding Waterfowl
2024-11-20 19:00 - 20:50
Photo Courtesy of Cliff Feldheim

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The public is invited to join Yolo Bird Alliance for its monthly meeting on November 20, 2024. Cliff Feldheim, a Fish and Wildlife Biologist with Ducks Unlimited, Inc., will talk about “California’s Wintering and Breeding Waterfowl” This event is free, and you do not need to be a member of Yolo Bird Alliance. The meeting is held at the Davis Senior Center at 646 A Street in Davis. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. and runs until 8:50 p.m. People are welcome to arrive around 7:00 for casual socializing.
We are fortunate to have Cliff speak in November because the period between October and March is prime for viewing migrating waterfowl, and other migratory birds in nearby wetland habitats, such as the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area. The Central Valley of California is one of the most important wintering waterfowl areas in North America. California is unique among major North American wintering waterfowl areas in that it is also a particularly important breeding habitat for some species of ducks. From 2014-2021, GPS cell tower transmitters were attached to 14 species of waterfowl to better understand their movements during winter, migration, and breeding. This talk will highlight the results of that work as well as ongoing conservation efforts and challenges facing California’s waterfowl populations.
SPEAKER BIO
Cliff has worked as a Fish and Wildlife Biologist in the Central Valley for over 30 years. He is an award-winning, nationally recognized waterfowl scientist. Cliff has published 17 papers on California’s wintering or breeding waterfowl in the last 7 years. Cliff works at Ducks Unlimited on waterfowl and wetland conservation projects including multi-benefit projects such as the creation of floodplain and off channel habitats that benefit salmon and waterfowl while incorporating the needs of other special status species. For ten years, he served on the Management Board of the Central Valley Joint Venture, a migratory bird conservation partnership. Cliff sits on the Board for Sacramento Audubon where he also serves as the Conservation Chair and on the Board of the Environmental Council of Sacramento where he also serves on the Habitat 2020 Committee.
The Yolo Bird Alliance fosters an appreciation of birds and other wildlife through educational programs and field trips, brings conservation issues to public awareness, and acts to preserve Yolo County bird life and habitat. To learn more about the Yolo Bird Alliance, visit its web page at https://yolobirdalliance.org/. You can also visit the Yolo Bird Alliance on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/YoloBirdAlliance. If you would like to join visit https://yolobirdalliance.org/join-renew-donate/. To receive the monthly newsletter Burrowing Owl visit https://yolobirdalliance.org/yolo-birdalliance-newsletter/.
DETAILS ON JOINING THE MEETING
Attend the Meeting in Person (In-Person Only)
Registration is not necessary to attend the meeting at the Senior Center.
Davis Senior Center646 A StreetDavis CA

Sacramento and Colusa Wildlife Refuges
2024-11-30 08:00 - 16:00
Sacramento Wildlife Refuge ©Genevieve Colborn
Trip Leaders: Genevieve Colborn and Kelli O’Neill
Description:
This post-Thanksgiving trip will feature iconic Central Valley wintering birds at two national wildlife refuges. Depending on water conditions, late November at the Sacramento and Colusa National Wildlife Refuges can be a phenomenal birding location. These refuges host hundreds of thousands of wintering geese and ducks, as well as many other birds. We will have good chances of seeing bald eagles and other raptors. We will bird the auto loops at both refuges, stopping at the observation tower in Sacramento NWR and the observation deck at Colusa NWR. Depending on the weather, we may take a short trail walk.
All participants are expected to be vaccinated. Masks may be required in vehicles depending on preferences of drivers and passengers. Current health guidelines will be followed. Please bring a lunch and water and dress in layers. Participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation. Driving time from Davis is approximately one hour each way.
Accessibility:
Most birding will be done by car, with a couple of short walks on flat, mostly even terrain.
Meeting Location and Registration:
Please contact Genevieve Colborn at tlcgdc@gmail.com, or 916-764-5796, to register and for details regarding where to meet. This trip will be limited to 12 participants in a maximum of 4 cars. A one-day pass ($6) or National Parks pass is required for each vehicle. It can be purchased beforehand online or at the kiosk to the refuge on the day of the trip.

2024 Putah Creek Christmas Bird Count – ID Workshop
2024-12-04 19:00 - 20:50
Savannah Sparrow ©Kelli O’Neill

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The public is invited to join Yolo Bird Alliance and its members for the monthly general meeting on December 4, 2024, for the annual Putah Creek Christmas Bird Count (PCCBC) Bird ID Workshop, with Compiler Bart Wickel and Area Leader Zane Pickus. This event is free, and you do not need to be a member of Yolo Bird Alliance. The meeting is held at the Davis Senior Center at 646 A Street in Davis. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. and runs until 8:50 p.m.
The PCCBC is scheduled for Sunday, December 15th, and marks the 54th year for this local Count.
The workshop consists of a primer on bird identification and an introduction to logging birds using eBird as well as a discussion of recent count trends, including a review of climate change and forest fire impacts on the count circle.
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 https://yolobirdalliance.org/christmas-bird-count/ on the Yolo Bird Alliance website.
SPEAKER BIO
Bart Wickel, a member of the Yolo Bird Alliance’s Board of Directors, has been birding Yolo County for almost 11 years now. He is the compiler for the Putah Creek Christmas Bird Count.
Zane Pickus, a member of the Yolo Bird Alliance’s Board of Directors, is an undergraduate at UC Davis studying Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology. Zane has been interested in birds his entire life, and as he has gotten older, that interest has morphed into a passion. He values the opportunity to teach others through field trips and presentations, appreciating the sense of community found in sharing birds with others. Zane is an officer of the Birdwatching Club at UC Davis, and also a regional reviewer for eBird in Yolo County.
The Yolo Bird Alliance fosters an appreciation of birds and other wildlife through educational programs and field trips, brings conservation issues to public awareness, and acts to preserve Yolo County bird life and habitat. To learn more about the Yolo Bird Alliance, visit its web page at https://yolobirdalliance.org/. You can also visit the Yolo Bird Alliance on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/YoloBirdAlliance. If you would like to join visit https://yolobirdalliance.org/join-renew-donate/. To receive the monthly newsletter Burrowing Owl visit https://yolobirdalliance.org/yolo-birdalliance-newsletter/.
DETAILS ON JOINING THE MEETING
Attend the Meeting in Person (In-Person Only)
Registration is not necessary to attend the meeting at the Senior Center.
Davis Senior Center646 A StreetDavis CA
