Yolo Bird Alliance

2024 Putah Creek Christmas Bird Count – ID Workshop
2024-12-04 19:00 - 20:50 (America/Los_Angeles)
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

2024 Putah Creek Christmas Bird Count – Summary and Potluck
2024-12-15 17:00 - 21:00
Anna’s Hummingbird ©Kelli O’Neill

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The traditional Putah Creek Christmas Bird Count (PCCBC) Summary & Potluck will 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 to join us to socialize and share the highlights of the day. Please bring a dish to share and whatever you would like to drink.
PCCBC Compiler Bart Wickel and the Area Leaders will compile the field data at a later date.
This event is free, and you do not need to be a member of Yolo Bird Alliance to attend.
SPEAKER BIO
Bart Wickel, 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 Yolo Bird Alliance’s Putah Creek Christmas Bird Count.
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/.

Bridgeway Island Pond
2025-01-11 08:00 - 10:30
Trip Leaders: Lynette Williams Duman and Konshau Duman
Description:
In the heart of winter waterfowl season, please join us as we bird Bridgeway Island Pond and the Deepwater Shipping Channel in West Sacramento. Bridgeway Island Pond is one of the premier locations in California to observe large concentrations of Blue-winged and Cinnamon Teal at close range. Additionally, it is a great place to look for Spotted Sandpiper, Common Gallinule, American White Pelicans, and American Avocet. But, as with everything in life, you never know what shorebird or waterfowl may be sitting on the muddy spit waiting to be discovered! After covering Bridgeway Island Pond, we will walk up the levee and scan the Deepwater Shipping Channel. Our targets here will be water-loving birds such as Bald Eagle, Osprey, Common Merganser, and Western Grebe. A small stand of trees and bushes could yield passerines such as Spotted Towhee, Orange-crowned Warbler, and who knows what else!
Accessibility:
Most birding will be done on foot. We will begin on a level path, and walk up a graveled levee to reach the ship channel. There will be a small stretch where the path is quite narrow but still largely level. Bathrooms are unavailable at this location.
Meeting Location and Registration:
We will meet at 8:00am at the cul-de-sac at the end of Pender Island Rd in West Sacramento, here: 38.540733, -121.577855. Bring binoculars, a scope (if you have one), water, and snacks. High winds or significant rain will cancel this trip. Beginners are welcome and no sign-ups are necessary! We will conclude at approximately 10am.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/JSFKhM9MD8TMxoB27
Please contact trip leaders Lynette Williams Duman and Konshau Duman with any questions at lbwilliams@ucdavis.edu and kduman@ucdavis.edu.
Yolo Audubon Society field trips are free and open to the public. Carpooling is highly encouraged, but all rides are private arrangements between drivers and riders.

Speaker Presentations - Project Phoebe and The Evolution of the Flamingo's Smile
2025-01-15 18:30 - 20:30
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The public is invited to join the Yolo Bird Alliance at its January 15 virtual program meeting featuring “Phoebes & Flamingos”. The program is via Zoom and runs from 6:30 to 8:30 pm on January 15. Participants must register with Zoom, at no cost, in advance for this meeting. This meeting will feature two speakers, Finn Velisaris & Christopher Torres, PhD and will start at 6:30 pm.
Black Phoebes ©Kelli O’Neill
Project Phoebe: How Do Songbird Nest Predator Communities and Predation Rates Change Across an Urban Gradient?
At 6:30 pm, recent UC Davis grad and Yolo Bird Alliance Small Grant recipient, Finn Velisaris, will speak about his independent project, “How do Songbird Nest Predator Communities and Predation Rates Change Across an Urban Gradient?” This project was conducted within the larger effort, Project Phoebe, a research effort led by three graduate students in the Patricelli and Hahn labs at UC Davis. Finn will first introduce you to Project Phoebe and its main goals before getting into the meat of his talk, his independent project conducted during his time with Project Phoebe. Finn’s project focused on predators of the Black Phoebe’s eggs and nestlings, and how their community composition and the rate at which they predate Phoebe nests might be affected by the level of urbanization. Above all, Finn hopes to present on the unique challenges that the Black Phoebe faces as an urban-living species, as well as foster an appreciation for these tactful Tyrannids (flycatchers).
SPEAKER BIO:
Finn Velisaris is a recent graduate of UC Davis with a degree in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology. Throughout his academic career, Finn contributed to a variety of research projects, including work in the Patricelli and Hahn Labs on extra-pair copulation in white-crowned sparrows and effects of urbanization on the Black Phoebe, and work in the Furrow Lab on using nocturnal flight calls to track migration As an avid birder with a passion for songbird ecology, his current research investigates how predation rates and songbird communities shift across the urban gradient.

The Evolution of the Flamingo’s Smile
Flamingo ©Christopher Torres
At 7:00 pm, Christopher Torres, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Biological Sciences at the University of the Pacific, will talk about “The Evolution of the Flamingo’s Smile”. Flamingos are among the most iconic birds on the planet – with their ostentatious coloration and perpetually inverted smile, it’s easy to understand why they are featured in zoos (and front yards) the world over. Flamingos are also among the world’s most highly specialized birds, employing an approach to filter-feeding utterly unlike anything else. As such, flamingos provide an ideal model system for studying what drives the evolution of beak shape, what drives birds to become increasingly specialized at the ever-increasing risk of extinction, and how those shifts in ecology and morphology correspond to shifts in Earth history. But flamingo evolutionary history remains shrouded in mystery, being marked by enigmatic origins, cryptic fossils, and repeated brushes with extinction. In this talk, Chris will share current understanding of that history, and will tell several tales about how he and his colleagues are seeking to dispel many of those mysteries, including: How, after two centuries of study, it was only relatively recently discovered that grebes are the closest living relatives of flamingos. How the understanding of what came before flamingos and grebes remains poor, despite the existence of a nearly complete fossil documenting that exact moment in evolutionary time. How a lineage of bizarre, prehistoric ‘straight-beaked flamingos’ managed to achieve a near-global distribution… and then vanished from the fossil record. How the ancestors of modern, ‘curved-beaked flamingos’ nearly met the same fate… before spreading back out across the globe. How California – along with the rest of North America’s West Coast – was covered in flamingos as recently as a few tens of thousands of years ago. How baby flamingos undergo one of the most unique post-hatching changes in beak morphology known among birds. And how watching those baby flamingos grow up might provide insights to the earliest stages of flamingo evolution.
SPEAKER BIO
Christopher Torres is a bird paleontologist whose research focuses on questions about the evolution of the skull and brain, the evolution of bird ecology, and what influences extinction. His projects involve studying various groups of birds (like flamingos, ratites and relatives, rails, and early prehistoric birds) from various slices of time in Earth’s history.
This event is free, and you do not need to be a member of Yolo Bird Alliance. 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 and receive the monthly newsletter, visit https://yolobirdalliance.org/join-renew-donate/.
DETAILS ON JOINING THIS ZOOM MEETING
You must register (no cost) – https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYpdeCsrTkjH9bkfq3z02FNdOiORZ_58sPA – 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 Bird Alliance’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 https://bit.ly/3hNyP8h to learn how to join a Zoom meeting. You may email Yolo Bird Alliance Program Chair Ken Ealy before the meeting if you need assistance.

Raptor Ramble 2025 - TRIP IS FULL
2025-01-19 07:30 - 17:00
Merlin ©Kevin Guse
Trip Leader: Kevin Guse
Description: TRIP IS FULL
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. Route to be determined as conditions warrant.
Accessibility:
This trip will have a mix of birding by car and on foot, and involves a full day in the field. Bathrooms may be limited depending on the route.
Meeting Location and Registration:
Birders of all ages and skill levels are welcome! Please bring binoculars, a spotting scope if you have one, lunch, plenty of liquids, layers of clothes and be prepared for a full day trip. High winds or significant rain will cancel this trip. The trip will return to its meeting location by 5:00pm.
The Raptor Ramble will be limited to 15 participants. This is a popular trip and spaces fill up fast, so sign-up early if you are interested! Please contact Zane Pickus with any questions or to sign-up at yolobirdalliance@gmail.com
Yolo Bird Alliance field trips are free and open to the public. Carpooling is highly encouraged, but all rides are private arrangements between drivers and riders.

Robinson Road: Raptors and Plovers -TRIP IS FULL
2025-01-25 08:30 - 15:00
Mountain Plover ©Zane Pickus
Trip Leader: Sharon Kirkpatrick
Description: TRIP IS FULL
Join us for a trip to the pastures of southeastern Solano County to search for overwintering raptors & other winter visitors. The fields in the vicinity of Robinson and Flannery Roads can be a fantastic location to observe locally uncommon grassland species. We will search fields, perches and farm equipment for raptors, and scan pastures for Mountain Plovers, Horned Larks, and Burrowing Owls. Prior trips have also seen Prairie Falcons, Merlins, Golden Eagles, Ferruginous Hawks, and Rough-legged Hawks. We hope to see these and many more species during this trip.
Accessibility:
Most birding will be done by car, with frequent stops to get out and scan for birds. There may be a few short walks along the gravel roads, but they will be on level ground. Bathrooms are unavailable at this location.
Meeting Location and Registration:
Birders of all ages and skill levels are welcome! Please bring binoculars, water, snacks or lunch (though we don’t stop for this), and layers for winter weather. A spotting scope is worth bringing if you have one. High winds or significant rain will cancel this trip. The trip will return to its meeting location by 3:00pm.
The Robinson Road field trip will be limited to 11 people in 3 cars. Since this is a popular trip and spaces fill up fast, sign-up early if you are interested. Once you have signed up the meeting location will be confirmed. Please contact Zane Pickus with any questions or to sign-up at yolobirdalliance@gmail.com
Yolo Bird Alliance field trips are free and open to the public. Carpooling is highly encouraged, but all rides are private arrangements between drivers and riders.

Bird Walk for Beginners - Putah Creek Riparian Reserve - TRIP POSTPONED
2025-02-02 08:30 - 12:00
Western Bluebird ©Zane Pickus
Trip Leaders: Autumn Turner, John Hansen, Sonjia Shelly, Lynette Williams Duman, Zane Pickus
Description: TRIP POSTPONED DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. Check back for rescheduled date.
Have you always been interested in birds and want to learn more? This field trip is intended for beginning and inexperienced birders. Several Yolo Bird Alliance board members will lead this visit to the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve. The location along Putah Creek, on the west edge of the UC Davis campus, is a wonderful oak woodland and riparian strip, bordered by agricultural land. This diversity of habitat allows birders to find an impressive diversity of species in a small area. We will be looking for both resident species as well as wintering birds. The group may see hawks, Wood Ducks, Western Bluebirds, various woodpeckers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, American Robins, and more. The walk will take a slow pace to ensure everyone gets good looks at the birds we find.
Accessibility:
All birding will be done on foot. Expect a roughly 2-mile walk on fairly level terrain. Bathrooms are available at the picnic area near Hopkins Road.
Meeting Location and Registration:
Participants will meet at the gravel parking lot at the end of Hopkins Road at 8:30 AM. Parking here is free on weekends. The trip will end by 12:00pm. Please bring plenty of water and binoculars. The club does have some binoculars for loan, as well as a spotting scope to share. Rain or strong wind will cancel the trip. No reservations are necessary, everyone is welcome!
https://maps.app.goo.gl/owcMbXwbssSGnetx8
Yolo Bird Alliance field trips are free and open to the public. Please contact Zane Pickus with any questions at yolobirdalliance@gmail.com

POSTPONED
2025-02-08 08:00 - 12:00
Northern Harrier ©Zane Pickus
Event Organizers: Yolo Bird Alliance, Yolo Basin Foundation, Birdwatching Club at UC Davis.
Description:
Note: This event has been postponed.
Map of Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area
You are invited to join the Yolo Bird Alliance, Yolo Basin Foundation, and the Birdwatching Club at UC Davis for a joint event at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area! On Saturday, February 8th, we will be hosting a “Big Sit!” You may have heard of a “Big Day” or a “Big Year” – birding challenges where birders attempt to see as many species as possible in a given time frame, but a Big Sit is different. The challenge is to detect as many species as possible while staying in one stationary location. For our event, we will be looking for birds from Parking Lot C of the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area. This will put us right in the middle of excellent marsh habitat, perfect for seeing a great diversity of species! Those who stop by can expect to see or hear a variety of geese, ducks, 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 can come and go as they please. Feel free to drop by for a few minutes, an hour, or longer! The intention behind this trip is that it is accessible for as many people as possible. We hope that anyone interested will come and share in enjoying the birds of the wildlife area. Bring binoculars, a scope if you have one, and excitement about birds!
The organizations listed above will have representatives happy to chat about birds and the wildlife area. Additionally, we will keep a running list of species detected throughout the day. The Big Sit will conclude at 1:00pm.
Accessibility:
This is a stationary event in which participants can come and go as they please. No prior birding experience is necessary, and the area is handicap accessible. Outhouses are available nearby. Besides our Big Sit area, the rest of the auto tour loop is sure to be full of birds and is worth exploring on your own (please see the attached map from Yolo Basin Foundation).
Meeting Location and Registration:
The Big Sit will take place at Parking Lot C of the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, beginning at 8:00 am on February 8th. We will have a table with information on local birds, the organizations involved, and extra binoculars to share. Anyone can stop by! Parking Lot C is here:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/hJjX2xCg3PhEgZyP6?g_st=i&utm_campaign=ac-im
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 Bird Alliance’s website and Facebook page for more details, or contact Zane Pickus yolobirdalliance@gmail.com
Yolo Bird Alliance field trips are free and open to the public.

Winter Field Trip to Bodega Bay
2025-02-16 06:30 - 17:30
Red Knot ©Kevin Guse
Trip Leader: Kevin Guse
Description:
You are cordially invited to join us for a trip to one of the crown jewels of Northern California birding: Bodega Bay. On this trip we will be looking for a wide variety of winter bird species, including shorebirds, gulls, loons, grebes, ducks, raptors and wading birds. Previous trips have seen Brant, Long-tailed Duck, Red-necked Grebe, over a dozen shorebird species, and a “cormorant sweep” of Brandt’s, Double-crested, and Pelagic Cormorants. This trip frequently finds over seventy species and is one of Yolo Bird Alliance’s most popular events.
Accessibility:
A mix of birding by car and on foot. There will be a few short walks on level terrain. Bathrooms are available in a few locations, but not at all stops.
Meeting Location and Registration:
Birders of all ages and skill levels are welcome! Please bring binoculars, water, snacks, lunch, and layers for winter weather. A spotting scope is worth bringing if you have one, though Yolo Bird Alliance will have one for the group to share. High winds or significant rain will cancel this trip. This will be a full day of birding, meeting at 6:30 AM and returning to the meeting location by 5:30pm.
This is a popular trip, so don’t hesitate to sign up! Participants will be limited such that the trip is limited to 5 cars. The meeting location will be distributed upon signing up. Please contact Zane Pickus with any questions or to register at yolobirdalliance@gmail.com
Yolo Bird Alliance field trips are free and open to the public. Carpooling is highly encouraged, but all rides are private arrangements between drivers and riders.

Speaker Presentation - American Kestrel Nest Box Initiative- Napa, Solano, and Yolo Counties
2025-02-19 19:00 - 20:30
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
American Kestrel ©Ryan Bourbour
American Kestrels are declining across much of their North American range, yet scientists are struggling to understand why. Join the Yolo Bird Alliance (YBA) for an informative presentation about local American Kestrel populations, by Dr. Breanna Martinico, PhD student Mary Badger. (In January 2024, the YBA’s program featured a different local initiative led by John McNerney and Kevin Hunting. Tonight’s program gives us insights on local collaborative efforts to advance American Kestrel conservation.) To increase our understanding of local American Kestrel populations, Dr. Martinico and Ms. Badger, along with multiple partners, launched the American Kestrel Nest Box Initiative. In 2023, they engaged landowners and agricultural producers to install American Kestrel nest boxes on their properties, and in 2024, began monitoring 132 new and existing nest boxes in Napa, Solano, and Yolo counties. They hope to gather data to understand nest site selection, habitat use, and their interactions on farms as pest control agents to guide further nest box installations in the region. In 2025 they are expanding their research to address questions regarding climate change, diet, dispersal, and toxicology. American Kestrels are an important natural resource and together we can contribute to their conservation.
SPEAKER BIO
Dr. Breanna Martinico is a wildlife biologist and ecologist, specializing in ornithology, and received her Master’s in Avian Sciences and PhD in Ecology from UC Davis. She works with University of California Agriculture and Natural resources as a Human-Wildlife Interactions Cooperative Extension Advisor. Her research focuses on the impacts of beneficial and pest birds in agricultural settings, and how agroecosystems provide critical wildlife habitat for many species. In her program she aims to provide practical management tools to maximize ecosystem services from birds while promoting practices that help conserve bird populations. She is compelled by the co-existence and mutual benefits of humans and wildlife in agroecosystems and is committed to working to find solutions that benefit both people and wildlife.
Mary Badger is a PhD student in the Graduate Group in Ecology at UC Davis. Her research explores how climate change and human land use affect the ecology of native raptors across different stages of their annual life cycle. Mary investigates how environmental factors, such as landscape composition and climate, influence raptor behavior and resource use. Through her work, she aims to highlight the vital ecosystem services provided by raptors, such as pest control, and contribute to conservation efforts for these important predators. Using tools like environmental DNA metabarcoding and GPS tracking, Mary uncovers hidden species interactions and movement patterns, providing novel insights into raptor ecology. Passionate about serving local communities, she emphasizes the importance of community engagement with growers, conservation groups, and student volunteers. Mary believes in the power of collective action to protect wildlife and promote sustainable land-use practices that benefit both ecosystems and people.
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 and receive the monthly newsletter, visit https://yolobirdalliance.org/join-renew-donate/.
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 Bird Alliance’s conservation work and how you can help birds. (You can unsubscribe at any time.)
Please note: Participants may join the meeting from the Zoom desktop client downloaded on their computer or on their Apple or Android mobile phone or tablet to access the meeting. Participants may also join from a browser (Visit https://bit.ly/3hNyP8h to learn how to join a Zoom meeting).
You may email Yolo Bird Alliance Program Chair Ken Ealy before the meeting if you need assistance.

Speaker Presentation - The Putah Creek Nestbox Highway: 25 years and 18,000 Fledglings
2025-03-19 19:00 - 20:30
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Western Bluebird ©Evelien DeGreef
Join the Yolo Bird Alliance to learn about the history and evolution of the Putah Creek Nestbox Highway, which is the largest nestbox highway west of the Rockies. This program will be presented via Zoom.
Since 2000, the project has aimed to restore Western Bluebirds, banding ~700 songbirds of six species annually and training 40 interns. It creates nesting habitats, studies songbird life history, combats invasive species, and offers internships and education. The presentation will cover resighting efforts, dispersal data, nestbox conflicts, and species-specific life histories, including nest-site preferences and reproductive success.
This event is free, and you do not need to be a member of Yolo Bird Alliance.
SPEAKER BIO
Amanda Kindel is a research biologist at the UC Davis Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology (MWFB). She received her Bachelor of Science degree from UC Davis in 2021 and has been affiliated with MWFB since 2023. Her responsibilities encompass multiple projects, including coordinating the terrestrial biomonitoring program on Putah Creek and managing the Putah Creek Nestbox Highway. Additionally, she conducts avian and herpetological surveys within the California Delta, analyzes bat acoustic data from local ecosystems, and contributes to specimen curation and preparation at the museum.
Maggie Bourda is the Putah Creek Biologist at UC Davis Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology. She earned her B.S. in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology from UC Davis in 2024 and has been with MWFB since. Maggie manages the Putah Creek Nestbox Highway, supervises interns, and bands nestlings. Outside nesting season, she works on data analysis, terrestrial biomonitoring along Putah Creek and in the California Delta, and writes manuscripts and reports for the nestbox project.
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 and receive the monthly newsletter, visit https://yolobirdalliance.org/join-renew-donate/.
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 Bird Alliance’s conservation work and how you can help birds. (You can unsubscribe at any time.)
Please note: Participants may join the meeting from the Zoom desktop client downloaded on their computer or on their Apple or Android mobile phone or tablet to access the meeting. Participants may also join from a browser (Visit https://bit.ly/3hNyP8h to learn how to join a Zoom meeting).
You may email Yolo Bird Alliance Program Chair Ken Ealy before the meeting if you need assistance.

eBirding the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve
2025-03-29 08:00 - 11:00
Bullock’s Oriole ©Zane Pickus
Trip Leader: Zane Pickus, Emmett Iverson
Description:
This trip will focus on the ins and outs of the eBird app. Since its inception in 2002, eBird has become the largest citizen science project in the world. Every day, birders from around the world submit their sightings and contribute to the massive database of bird distributions, simultaneously tracking their personal notes and bird lists. eBird has tremendous value to birders of all levels, and the app makes it easy to create checklists and log bird sightings wherever you go. This trip will be geared towards those with little eBird experience, specifically with the benefits of using the eBird app.
As for the birds, spring migration will be well underway for many species and just beginning for others, so we can expect an exciting morning on the creek. Sparrows, goldfinches, swallows, nuthatches, and wrens should all be singing and searching for nest sites, and by this date we can hope for a beautiful Bullock’s Oriole or other neotropical migrant!
Accessibility:
This trip will involve 2-3 miles of walking along well-maintained reserve trails. Most of these are flat, but there are small slopes in a few spots. There will be frequent stops to talk about birds and log sightings in the eBird mobile app. Outhouses are available at the meeting location
Meeting Location and Registration:
Birders of all ages and skill levels are welcome! Please bring binoculars, water, and a mobile phone capable of downloading the eBird mobile app. Yolo Bird Alliance will have a scope to share, though this trip will mostly be in creek riparian habitat. High winds or significant rain will cancel this trip. This trip will be capped at 15 participants.
Trip leaders ask that participants have created an eBird account and download the eBird app for iOS or Android prior to the trip. Information on how to do this can be found here: https://ebird.org/about/ebird-mobile/. Additional information about eBird and how it can be used to learn about birds can be found at this recorded Yolo Bird Alliance speaker series presentation from 2022: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujLAMPCToqg.
Please contact Zane Pickus with any questions or to sign-up at yolobirdalliance@gmail.com
Yolo Bird Alliance field trips are free and open to the public. Carpooling is highly encouraged, but all rides are private arrangements between drivers and riders.

Spring Migration at Willowbank Ditch
2025-04-12 07:00 - 09:00
Wilson’s Warbler ©Julian Johnson
Trip Leader: Rob Furrow
Description:
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. In mid-April, insects abound and plants burst with flowers and new vegetation, attracting migratory warbler species such as Wilson’s, Orange-crowned, Nashville, Black-throated Gray, and Townsend’s. There will still be some lingering winterers; we’ll hope for kinglets, Hermit Thrushes, and assorted sparrows. Overhead we’ll keep an eye out for swallows, swifts, and locally nesting Swainson’s Hawks. While birding we will practice thinking from a bird’s-eye view, identifying habitat structure and key food sources that attract birds.
Accessibility:
Expect 1-1.5 miles of walking along flat greenbelt and trails, although we will never be more than ½ of a mile from the meeting spot.
Meeting Location and Registration:
The trip will leave from the junction of Almond Lane and Rosario Street in Davis. There is street parking around this junction, and this intersection has a walking path that leads to the footbridge over the Willowbank Ditch. https://maps.app.goo.gl/RGoAEvynKv9u3kN26
We will meet at 7:00am and the trip will end around 9:00am. Please bring binoculars as well as any desired snacks and water. Heavy rain will cancel the trip. For more information contact Rob Furrow at robertfurrow@gmail.com or 610-715-9123.
Yolo Bird Alliance field trips are free and open to the public.

Birding, Botanizing, and Rock Hounding: Genesis and Natural History at Bobcat Ranch - TRIP IS FULL
2025-04-13 08:00 - 12:00
Bobcat Ranch ©Marc Hoshovsky
Trip Leaders: – TRIP IS FULL
Matt Allshouse, Marc Hoshovsky, Chase Kautz, Ina Rommeck, and Autumn Turner
Description:
Take part in this limited opportunity to explore Audubon California’s Bobcat Ranch near Winters on April 13th. Join geologist Marc Hoshovsky, Yolo Bird Alliance volunteer Autumn Turner, native plant specialists Ina Rommeck and Chase Kautz, and ranch manager Matt Allshouse for a special guided nature hike. Bobcat Ranch is a 6,800-acre working ranch that uses regenerative grazing management to restore and manage natural diversity in grassland and oak woodlands. It is Audubon California’s largest landholding and is the first certified Ranch in California under Audubon’s Conservation Ranching Program. To aid in monitoring the outcomes of sustainable grazing practices, YBA volunteers have conducted biweekly bird surveys as part of an ongoing phenology study since 2016.
Springtime at Bobcat Ranch is a special time of year, with lots of new grass growth and showy wildflower displays, and typically the best weather of the year for this region. It is also a great time of year to observe birds. Resident birds are beginning to nest and raise young, and late-season winter migrants are preparing to fly off to their breeding grounds.
Leaders will guide participants on a short 1.5 mile interpretive hike (elevation gain 350’) from the ranch HQ to Buckhorn Spring. The trip will be partially along a ranch road and partially on stock trails through open blue-oak woodland. Marc will highlight some interesting geological features, Matt will cover the history of the ranch, and Autumn, Ina, and Chase will help participants identify birds and wildflowers and talk about the seasonal changes that have been observed on the ranch in the spring.
Accessibility:
Please note that the 1.5 miles of trail includes some rocky and/or slippery terrain, and short portions with steep inclines. A port-a-potty will be available at the trailhead. Cell phone service is limited at the Ranch.
Meeting Location and Registration:
Nature enthusiasts from all backgrounds are welcome to join. Please prepare for the weather and variable conditions by bringing water and snacks, wearing sturdy, close-toed shoes, and dressing in layers. The tour may be rescheduled in the event of heavy rain. A camera and binoculars are recommended.
We have special permission to lead the group on Bobcat Ranch, which has limited public access. Maximum group size is 20. Participants will need to sign an Audubon liability waiver prior to entering the Ranch in addition to the YBA field trip waiver. Participants will rendezvous in Davis and carpool/caravan to the property. Carpooling is highly encouraged, but all rides are private arrangements between drivers and riders.
Please contact Yolo Bird Alliance Field Trip Coordinator Zane Pickus with any questions or to sign up at yolobirdalliance@gmail.com.
Yolo Bird Alliance field trips are free and open to the public.

Speaker Presentation - Audubon California’s Conservation Work at Kern River Preserve since 1997
2025-04-16 19:00 - 20:30
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Reed Tollefson ©Kathy Dwyer
The public is invited to join the Yolo Bird Alliance at its monthly virtual program meeting on April 16th, from 7:00 – 8:30 P.M., featuring Reed Tollefson, Manager, Kern River Preserve, who will tell us about the work of Audubon California’s Kern River Preserve. This meeting will occur via Zoom, and details on how to participate are below.
Audubon accepted the ownership and stewardship responsibilities for the 1,115-acre Kern River Preserve in 1997. Since that time Audubon’s ownership has increased threefold to over 3,300 acres. More importantly we have worked with state and federal agencies, non-profits, private foundations, Native American groups and chapters to help bring over 56,282 acres of land in our region into permanent protection. Over 400 acres of our Kern River Preserve have been revegetated with native plants providing improved habitat for many local species of bird and wildlife.
This event is free, and you do not need to be a member of Yolo Bird Alliance.
SPEAKER BIO
Reed started at Kern River Preserve in 1987 as a seasonal Restoration Ecologist and worked up to the position of Preserve Manager for The Nature Conservancy. In 1997 he transferred with the Preserve to the National Audubon Society. Since that time, he has worked to triple the size of the Preserve from 1,100 to 3,330 acres and raised 4.5 million dollars to establish dedicated management endowments. He works with private, public and tribal partnerships to support the protection of over 56,000 acres of land in Kern County with an emphasis on the South Fork Kern River Watershed and Transverse Range Wildlife Corridor. Reed has a B.S. in wildlife management from Arizona State University.
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 and receive the monthly newsletter, visit https://yolobirdalliance.org/join-renew-donate/.
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 Bird Alliance’s conservation work and how you can help birds. (You can unsubscribe at any time.)
Please note: Participants may join the meeting from the Zoom desktop client downloaded on their computer or on their Apple or Android mobile phone or tablet to access the meeting. Participants may also join from a browser (Visit https://bit.ly/3hNyP8h to learn how to join a Zoom meeting).
You may email Yolo Bird Alliance Program Chair Ken Ealy before the meeting if you need assistance.

Bird Drawing and Nature Journaling at the UC Davis Arboretum - TRIP FULL
2025-04-19 08:30 - 10:30
Nature Journaling ©Alia Tu
Workshop Leader: – Alia Tu
Description: TRIP IS FULL
This outdoor workshop will focus on developing nature journaling practices and skills, with a special focus on drawing and observing birds. Nature journaling is a wonderful way to sharpen your observation skills, document your experiences, learn about your surroundings, and deepen your connection with birds and nature. Nature journals use pictures, notes, and numbers to keep records of observed species, counts, and behaviors, as well as personal ideas and questions. This can help fuel your curiosity, expertise, and gratitude for the amazing natural world that we live in.
This workshop is open to artists and birders of all experience levels, including those new to nature journaling or drawing, as well as those looking to meet up with others and journal in good company. We will cover the basics of observational drawing and bird form and anatomy, as well as tips for directing and expanding our attention to various levels of detail. Then we will put it all to practice by exploring the UC Davis Arboretum, discovering what catches our eye, and capturing it all in drawing and writing in a friendly, supportive environment.
Accessibility:
Expect minimal to short amounts of walking along paved paths, with ample spots to sit and draw. There are public restrooms and street parking nearby. It may be chilly or damp in the morning, so dress comfortably for sitting outside.
Meeting Location and Registration:
Please bring something to draw on such as a notebook or sketchbook and portable drawing supplies such as pens and pencils. Binoculars are not required or necessary, but may be a useful tool if desired. High winds or significant rain will cancel this trip. This popular event will be capped at 12 participants, so sign-up early!
Please contact Zane Pickus with any questions or to sign-up at yolobirdalliance@gmail.com
Yolo Bird Alliance field trips are free and open to the public.

Bird Walk for Beginners - Putah Creek Riparian Reserve
2025-04-27 08:30 - 11:30
Western Bluebird ©Zane Pickus
Workshop Leaders: –Autumn Turner, John Hansen, Sonjia Shelly, Lynette Williams Duman
Description:
Have you always been interested in birds and want to learn more? This field trip is intended for beginning and inexperienced birders. Several Yolo Bird Alliance board members will lead this visit to the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve. The location along Putah Creek, on the west edge of the UC Davis campus, is a wonderful oak woodland and riparian strip, bordered by agricultural land. This diversity of habitat allows birders to find an impressive variety of species in a small area. We will be looking for both resident species as well as migrating birds. The group may see hawks, Yellow-billed Magpies, Wood Ducks, Western Bluebirds, various woodpeckers, American Robins, orioles, and more. The walk will take a slow pace to ensure everyone gets good looks at the birds we find.
Accessibility:
All birding will be done on foot. Expect a roughly 2-mile walk on fairly level terrain. Bathrooms are available at the picnic area near Hopkins Road.
Meeting Location and Registration:
Participants will meet at the gravel parking lot at the end of Hopkins Road at 8:30 AM. Parking here is free on weekends. The trip will end by 11:30am. Please bring plenty of water and binoculars. Yolo Bird Alliance does have some binoculars for loan, as well as a spotting scope to share. Rain or strong wind will cancel the trip. No reservations are necessary, everyone is welcome!
https://maps.app.goo.gl/owcMbXwbssSGnetx8
Please contact Zane Pickus with any questions at yolobirdalliance@gmail.com
Yolo Bird Alliance field trips are free and open to the public.

Putah Creek at the Kusch Gardens - TRIP FULL
2025-05-04 08:00 - 11:00
Hooded Oriole ©Manfred Kusch
Workshop Leader: – Manfred Kusch
Description: TRIP IS FULL
Tour Manfred Kusch’s birding gardens between Davis and Winters. Kusch has cultivated his home garden and surrounding area, which borders 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 a variety of spring migrants, including grosbeaks, tanagers, warblers, and vireos.
Accessibility:
This trip will involve some walking around in the Kusch gardens, along with a stroll along well-maintained trails paralleling the creek. Most of these are flat, but there are small slopes in a few spots. There will be frequent stops to look for and photograph birds.
Meeting Location and Registration:
Birders of all ages and skill levels are welcome! Please bring binoculars, a camera and scope if you wish, water, and snacks. High winds or significant rain will cancel this trip. This popular event will be capped at 12 participants, so sign-up early!
Please contact Zane Pickus with any questions or to sign-up at yolobirdalliance@gmail.com
Yolo Bird Alliance field trips are free and open to the public.

Capay Open Space Park - Lesser Nighthawks - TRIP IS FULL
2025-05-16 18:00 - 21:00
Lesser Nighthawk ©Zane Pickus
Trip Leaders: – Zane Pickus, Bart Wickel, Julian Johnson
Description: TRIP IS FULL
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 to breed. Lesser Nighthawks primarily feed on insects under the cover of darkness, but in the spring they routinely engage in dusk courtship rituals. Sunset at 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 Yolo Bird Alliance 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!
Accessibility:
This trip will involve some walking around in the Cache Creek floodplain, which is mostly even ground but includes loose gravel and branches. Much of the trip will involve standing and listening for birds, while also angling the group for nighthawk photo-ops. Restrooms are available in the Capay Open Space Park parking area.
Meeting Location and Registration:
Birders of all ages and skill levels are welcome! Please bring binoculars, a camera if you wish, water, and snacks. High winds or significant rain will cancel the trip. This popular event will be capped at 15 participants, so sign-up early! Our Davis meeting location will be shared once an RSVP has been made. Carpooling may be available but will be arranged day-of, and all ridesharing will be private agreements between drivers and riders.
Please contact Zane Pickus with any questions or to sign-up at yolobirdalliance@gmail.com
Yolo Bird Alliance field trips are free and open to the public.

Spring Migration at the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve
2025-05-17 07:30 - 10:30
Black Phoebe ©Aaron Haiman
Trip Leader: – Aaron Haiman
Description:
Spring migration is in full swing and what better place to go than the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve? A morning of birding on this date can produce dozens of neotropical migrants, including warblers, vireos, tanagers, orioles, and grosbeaks. The Putah Creek Riparian Reserve includes trails both immediately adjacent to the stream as well as on the levee above, which borders agricultural fields and vineyards, offering birders access to a diverse range of vegetation and bird species.
Naturalist Aaron Haiman is the author of a recently released book, Birds of the California Delta, which showcases the vast avian diversity in the region. Learn more about Aaron and his book below!
Birds of the California Delta: https://www.heydaybooks.com/catalog/birds-of-the-california-delta/
“A Birding Naturalist” on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABirdingNaturalist
Accessibility:
This trip will involve 2-3 miles of walking along well-maintained reserve trails. Most of these are flat, but there are small slopes in a few spots. There will be frequent stops to look for and talk about birds. Outhouses are available at the meeting location.
Meeting Location and Registration:
Birders of all ages and skill levels are welcome! Please bring binoculars, water, snacks, and sunscreen. This trip will be limited to 15 participants. Contact Zane Pickus with questions or to sign-up at yolobirdalliance@gmail.com
Yolo Bird Alliance field trips are free and open to the public.

Speaker Presentation - Birding in the Mountain Kingdom of Bhutan
2025-05-21 19:00 - 20:30
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Long-tailed Minivet ©John Sterling
Join Yolo Bird Alliance on a virtual journey to Bhutan with John Sterling, ornithologist and tour leader, to learn about its culture and birds This program will be presented via Zoom.
John will present the majestic Himalayan kingdom with its culture and wildlife that will enchant you. Springtime birding in Bhutan is excellent with many gorgeous and exotic species amongst the backdrop of the Himalayan rhododendron and other montane and subtropical forests. John will illustrate his talk with photos of many of these birds along with other wildlife and scenes of the intact culture of this Buddhist kingdom.
This event is free, and you do not need to be a member of Yolo Bird Alliance.
SPEAKER BIO
John began his journey as a birder when he spotted a Pileated Woodpecker in Napa County during a fifth-grade environmental education camp. He pursued wildlife science at Humboldt State University and commenced his ornithological career in 1981. Since then, he has traveled to over 50 countries in pursuit of bird species, often serving as a researcher or tour leader. John extensively observes birds across all 58 counties of California and has developed a growing interest in iNaturalist, aiming to document a diverse array of life forms. His website can be visited at www.sterlingbirds.com.
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 and receive the monthly newsletter, visit https://yolobirdalliance.org/join-renew-donate/.
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. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information, specific to the registrant, about joining the meeting. Registrants will receive email updates about this online event, as well as periodic email updates about Yolo Bird Alliance’s conservation work and how you can help birds. (You can unsubscribe at any time.)
Please note: Participants may join the meeting from the Zoom desktop client downloaded on their computer or on their Apple or Android mobile phone or tablet to access the meeting. Participants may also join from a browser (Visit https://bit.ly/3hNyP8h to learn how to join a Zoom meeting).
You may email Yolo Bird Alliance Program Chair Ken Ealy before the meeting if you need assistance.

Point Reyes - Annual Terry Colborn Memorial Field Trip - TRIP IS FULL
2025-09-13 06:00 - 18:00
Black and White Warbler ©Zane Pickus
Trip Leader: – Kevin Guse and Zane Pickus
Description: TRIP IS FULL
This is the annual Terry Colborn memorial field trip to Point Reyes. Fall migration at Point Reyes can be spectacular and makes this area a well-deserved birding hotspot. Depending on the weather, the numbers and diversity of songbirds passing through the “Outer Point” can be impressive. While Point Reyes is most famous for giving birders a chance to search vagrant songbirds, there should be plenty of shorebirds, raptors, other migrants, and several species of mammals to enjoy.
Accessibility:
This trip will involve around two-hours of driving each way, with a restroom stop at the halfway point to and from the destination. Much of the Outer Point can be birded in short walks, but the terrain can be uneven in places and appropriate footwear is recommended. Restrooms are available at some of the stops, but not all.
Meeting Location and Registration:
Please bring 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 limited to 3 vehicles and no more than 10 participants. To attend, please contact Zane Pickus (yolobirdalliance@gmail.com) to reserve a spot on a first-come, first-serve basis. This trip fills quickly and there is usually a waiting list so respond as soon as possible!
Yolo Bird Alliance field trips are free and open to the public.

Speaker Presentation - Feathered Palettes: The Science of Bird Colors
2025-09-17 19:00 - 20:50
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
White vent of a Blackpoll Warbler ©Jenna McCullough
Have you ever wondered how birds produce their dazzling hues? September’s Yolo Bird Alliance program features Dr. Jenna McCullough, who will take us behind the science of feather coloration—from the pigments that turn Northern Flicker feathers red or yellow to the surprising mechanisms birds use to create pure white plumage. Expect an evening that blends birdwatching wonder with cutting-edge, museum-based science.
The public is invited to join the Yolo Bird Alliance and its members for the monthly general meeting on September 17, 2025. The featured speaker is Dr. Jenna McCullough. Her topic is Feathered Palettes: The Science of Bird Colors. She will present via Zoom, and attendees can be on Zoom or in-person at the Davis Senior Center at 646 A Street in Davis. The meeting is free, and the presentation begins at 7:00 p.m. & the meeting ends 8:50 p.m. People attending in-person are welcome to mingle following the conclusion of the Q&A portion, until 8:50.
SPEAKER BIO
Dr. McCullough grew up in Boise, Idaho, and earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Biology, and in Wildlife Resources at the University of Idaho. She went on to complete her MSc and PhD at the University of New Mexico, where she studied kingfisher evolution. She recently moved to Los Angeles to begin a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellowship at UCLA and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County where she will be studying how birds produce white colors.
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 and receive the monthly newsletter, visit https://yolobirdalliance.org/join-renew-donate/.
You can attend the meeting in person at: Davis Senior Center, 646 A Street, Davis CA
Or, Register to Attend the Meeting online via Zoom.
Click here for the Zoom registration link, or you can copy & paste this link in your browser – https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/8ok7YgSRTEO25HVmwuAWMQ
Please note: Participants may join the meeting from the Zoom desktop client downloaded on their computer or on their Apple or Android mobile phone or tablet to access the meeting. Participants may also join from a browser (Visit https://bit.ly/3hNyP8h to learn how to join a Zoom meeting).
You may email Yolo Bird Alliance Program Chair Ken Ealy before the meeting if you need assistance.

Speaker Presentation - The Best Bird Sounds You’ve Never Heard
2025-10-15 19:00 - 20:50
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Nathan Pieplow ©Will Anderson
This presentation will delve into the surprising world of bird sounds that are hidden, underappreciated, and sometimes flat-out denied to exist. You’ll discover the concealed complexity inside a so-called “chirp”; hear the surprising sound of a vulture’s flight display; and learn about many common birds whose song you may have missed, including singing ducks, hooting sandpipers, and clapping owls. Your guide will be Nathan Pieplow, the author of the Peterson Field Guide to Bird Sounds, who will unravel the mysteries of some of the rarest and most startling sounds in his collection after two decades of nature sound recording.
The public is invited to join Yolo Bird Alliance and its members for the monthly general meeting on October 15, 2025. The featured speaker is Nathan Pieplow, and his topic is “The Best Bird Sounds You’ve Never Heard”. Nathan will present via Zoom, and attendees can be on Zoom or in-person at the Davis Senior Center at 646 A Street in Davis. The meeting is free, and the presentation begins at 7:00 p.m. & the meeting ends 8:50 p.m. People attending in-person are welcome to mingle following the conclusion of the Q&A portion, until 8:50.
SPEAKER BIO
Nathan Pieplow is the author of the Peterson Field Guide to Bird Sounds, published in two volumes, one for Eastern and one for Western North America. An avid bird sound recordist, he is the author of the bird sound blog Earbirding.com, a board member of the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, an author of the Colorado Birding Trail, and former editor of the journal Colorado Birds. He teaches writing and rhetoric at the University of Colorado in Boulder.
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 and receive the monthly newsletter, visit https://yolobirdalliance.org/join-renew-donate/.
You can attend the meeting in person at: Davis Senior Center, 646 A Street, Davis CA
Or, Register to Attend the Meeting online via Zoom.
Click here for the Zoom registration link, or you can copy & paste this link in your browser – https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/fbG05J3pRpKTlsLwrMUApA
Please note: Participants may join the meeting from the Zoom desktop client downloaded on their computer or on their Apple or Android mobile phone or tablet to access the meeting. Participants may also join from a browser (Visit https://bit.ly/3hNyP8h to learn how to join a Zoom meeting).
You may email Yolo Bird Alliance Program Chair Ken Ealy before the meeting if you need assistance.

Lake Solano County Park
2025-10-18 08:00 - 13:00
Acorn Woodpeekers ©Marsha Hand
Trip Leader: – Sharon Kirkpatrick
Description:
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.
Accessibility:
This trip will involve a moderate amount of walking along mostly flat trails. Bathrooms are available on site. Parking at the county park is $6 per day.
Meeting Location and Registration:
Birders of all ages and skill levels are welcome! Please bring binoculars, a spotting scope if you have one, and plenty of liquids. High winds or significant rain will cancel this trip.
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. This trip will conclude in the early afternoon. Bring water, binoculars and spotting scopes if you have one. We will not be stopping for a designated lunch break.
Please contact Zane Pickus with any questions at yolobirdalliance@gmail.com
Yolo Bird Alliance field trips are free and open to the public. Carpooling is highly encouraged, but all rides are private arrangements between drivers and riders.

Sparrow Bingo 2025 - TRIP IS FULL
2025-11-02 07:30 - 15:00
White-throated Sparrow ©Zane Pickus
Trip Leader: – Zane Pickus and Bart Wickel – TRIP IS FULL
Description:
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.
Accessibility:
This trip will have a mix of birding by car and on foot. Bathrooms may be limited depending on the route.
Meeting Location and Registration:
Birders of all ages and skill levels are welcome! Please bring binoculars, a spotting scope if you have one, lunch, and plenty of liquids. High winds or significant rain will cancel this trip. The trip will return to its meeting location by 3:00pm.
Sparrow Bingo will be limited to 15 participants. Please contact Zane Pickus with any questions or to sign-up at yolobirdalliance@gmail.com
Yolo Bird Alliance field trips are free and open to the public. Carpooling is highly encouraged, but all rides are private arrangements between drivers and riders.

2025 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area “Big Sit” - TRIP POSTPONED
2025-11-16 08:00 - 13:00
Northern Harrier ©Zane Pickus
Event Organizers: Yolo Bird Alliance, Yolo Basin Foundation, Birdwatching Club at UC Davis
Description: Trip Postponed
You are invited to join the Yolo Bird Alliance, Yolo Basin Foundation, and the Birdwatching Club at UC Davis for a joint event at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area! On Sunday, November 16th we will host a “Big Sit!” You may have heard of a “Big Day” or a “Big Year” – birding challenges where birders attempt to see as many species as possible in a given time frame, but a Big Sit is different. The challenge is to detect as many species as possible while remaining in one stationary location. For our event, we will be looking for birds from Parking Lot C of the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area. This will put us right in the middle of excellent marsh habitat, which is perfect for seeing a great diversity of species! Those who stop by can expect to see or hear a variety of geese, ducks, 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 can come and go as they please. Feel free to visit for a few minutes, an hour, or longer! The intention behind this trip is for it to be accessible to as many people as possible. We hope that anyone interested will stop by and share in enjoying the birds of the wildlife area. Bring binoculars, a scope if you have one, and excitement about birds!
The organizations listed above will have representatives who are happy to talk about birds, wetlands, and the wildlife area. Additionally, we will have binoculars and spotting scopes out to share. We will keep a running list of species detected throughout the day, consistent with Big Sit birding guidelines. The event will conclude at 1:00pm.
Accessibility:
This is a stationary event in which participants can come and go as they please. No prior birding experience is necessary, and the area is handicap accessible. Outhouses are available nearby. Besides our Big Sit area, the rest of the auto tour loop is sure to be full of birds and is worth exploring on your own (please see the attached map from Yolo Basin Foundation). When visiting the wildlife area, please stay in the public areas denoted on the map and do not block roadways, as there can be increased vehicle traffic during hunting season. There are plenty of maintained public trails along the auto tour loop to enjoy. Feel free to ask for recommendations from the groups tabling at the Bit Sit.
Meeting Location and Registration:
The Big Sit will take place at Parking Lot C of the Yolo Bypass WIldlife Area, beginning at 8:00am on February 8th. We will have a table with information on local birds, the organizations involved, and extra binoculars to share. Anyone can stop by! Parking Lot C is located here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hJjX2xCg3PhEgZyP6?g_st=i&utm_campaign=ac-im
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 Bird Alliance website and Facebook page for more details, or contact Zane Pickus at yolobirdalliance@gmail.com
Yolo Bird Alliance field trips are free and open to the public. Carpooling is highly encouraged, but all rides are private arrangements between drivers and riders.

Speaker Presentation - Birds Through the End - Cretaceous Mass Extinction
2025-11-19 19:00 - 20:50
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The 69-million-year-old Vegavis lived in a rich Antarctic ecosystem. © Mark Witton, 2025
The Yolo Bird Alliance presents “Birds Through the End – Cretaceous Mass Extinction”. 66 million years ago, an asteroid hit Earth and killed more than 75% of all life on the planet. That turned out to be a really good day for birds, who went on to become the world’s most diverse group of terrestrial vertebrates. In this talk, Christopher Torres, PhD will explore some surprising new stories that some incredibly old birds are telling us about why birds alone among known dinosaurs survived that mass extinction event, why the earliest divergence among living birds is marked by a 100-fold difference in species diversity, and how we might predict which species are most likely to be “extinction-proof” in the future.
The public is invited to join Yolo Bird Alliance and its members for the monthly general meeting on November 19, 2025, at the Davis Senior Center at 646 A Street in Davis. The meeting is free, and the presentation begins at 7:00 p.m. and the meeting ends 8:50 p.m. People attending in-person are welcome to mingle following the conclusion of the Q&A portion. The meeting will also be on Zoom, see below to register to attend online.
SPEAKER BIO
Chris Torres is an avian paleontologist and evolutionary morphologist. His research focuses on questions about extinction and survivorship dynamics, the evolution of beak function, and the evolution of “loss” (like the loss of flight, the loss of sensory systems, or the loss of niche space). Bird groups he works on include early pre-modern birds, the so-called ratites (and their flying relatives), rails, and flamingos (his favorites). He is an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of the Pacific.
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 and receive the monthly newsletter, visit https://yolobirdalliance.org/join-renew-donate/.
You can attend the meeting in person at: Davis Senior Center, 646 A Street, Davis CA
Or, Register to Attend the Meeting online via Zoom.
Click here for the Zoom registration link, or you can copy & paste this link in your browser – https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/lvelMjFBQXmzjVfETcWxug
Please note: Participants may join the meeting from the Zoom desktop client downloaded on their computer or on their Apple or Android mobile phone or tablet to access the meeting. Participants may also join from a browser (Visit https://bit.ly/3hNyP8h to learn how to join a Zoom meeting).
You may email Yolo Bird Alliance Program Chair Ken Ealy before the meeting if you need assistance.

Sacramento and Colusa Wildlife Refuges
2025-11-29 08:00 - 16:00
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge ©Genevieve Colborn
Trip Leader: – 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.
For further information regarding species may be encountered on this field trip, check out the eBird Trip Report from last winter’s edition of the event: https://ebird.org/tripreport/298336
Accessibility:
Most birding will be done by car, with a couple of short walks on flat, mostly even terrain. Bathrooms will be available at each of the refuge headquarters.
Meeting Location and Registration:
Please contact Zane Pickus at yolobirdalliance@gmail.com 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 for the refuge on the day of the trip.
Yolo Bird Alliance field trips are free and open to the public. Carpooling is highly encouraged, but all rides are private arrangements between drivers and riders.

Speaker Presentation - 2025 Putah Creek Christmas Bird Count – ID Workshop
2025-12-10 19:00 - 20:50
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The annual Putah Creek Christmas Bird Count (PCCBC) is scheduled for Sunday, December 21st, and marks the 55th year for this local count. In preparation for the Count, Yolo Bird Alliance (YBA) will hold the annual Bird ID Workshop, with Compiler Bart Wickel and Area Leader Zane Pickus on December 10th, 2025. This 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.
Please join us for the annual Bird ID Workshop. This public is invited, and the event is free. You do not need to be a member of YBA to participate. The meeting will be held at the Davis Senior Center, 646 A St, Davis, CA 95616. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. and runs until 8:50 p.m. The meeting will also be on Zoom. You can register to attend online below.
The PCCBC occurs in a 15-mile diameter count circle centering 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.). For up-to-date information about the count, and contact information for the Area Leaders, visit https://yolobirdalliance.org/christmas-bird-count/ on the YBA website.
SPEAKER BIO
Bart Wickel, PhD is an environmental scientist and 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 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 and receive the monthly newsletter, visit https://yolobirdalliance.org/join-renew-donate/.
The meeting will be held in person at the Davis Senior Center, 646 A St, Davis, CA 95616.
Or, Register to Attend the Meeting online via Zoom.
Click here for the Zoom registration link, or you can copy & paste this link in your browser – https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Y103RYBIStqn1P3DitDJCw
Please note: Participants may join the meeting from the Zoom desktop client downloaded on their computer or on their Apple or Android mobile phone or tablet to access the meeting. Participants may also join from a browser (Visit https://bit.ly/3hNyP8h to learn how to join a Zoom meeting).
You may email Yolo Bird Alliance Program Chair Ken Ealy before the meeting if you need assistance.
