Yolo Bird Alliance

Double-Crested Cormorants
2017-11-15 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Davis Senior Center, 646 A Street, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) are seabirds known to use urban structures as nesting habitat. The old east span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the eastern portion of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge have hosted the two largest colonies of this species in the region. However, now these colonies are declining, and structures they once used to nest on are either being dismantled or blocked off for maintenance activities. So it begs the question: where will the cormorants nest in the future? Will they move to new areas of the bridges, adopt the artificial platforms we designed for them on the new bay bridge, on leave the central bay altogether? Come learn what our research for the past three decades tell us about the population dynamics of this resilient species and learn about our efforts to study the Bay Area population of this adaptable, yet maligned, bird.
Mark Rauzon was with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, where he studied sea birds and endangered marine mammals in Hawai’i, Alaska, and California. He is also an expert in the effects of invasive animals and plants on tropical islands. His latest book Isles of Amnesia details his experiences. http://www.amazon.com/dp/0824846796/ref=pe_825000_114660910_TE_item
Mr. Rauzon is also a research associate with Point Blue and a Geography professor at Laney College in Oakland.
Meredith Elliott is a Senior Scientist at Point Blue Conservation Science and has worked on a variety of seabird monitoring and diet projects, as well as researching zooplankton communities in Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries.
The Yolo Audubon meeting will be held at the Davis Senior Center, 646 A Street in Davis, from 7:30 to 9 pm on November 15th. The meeting is open to the public, and people are invited to arrive at 7 pm for conversation and refreshments.

Bobcat Ranch Tour
2017-11-12 08:30 - 12:00
Join us for a morning of hiking at Audubon California’s Bobcat Ranch, located in the foothills of the Coast Range just west of Winters. Our moderately easy hike will be roughly two miles round-trip, with an elevation gain of about 300 ft. We will meet in Winters at 8:30 am, and will be done hiking around 12:00 pm. Space is limited to 16 people. Please contact Stan Hunter for more details and to sign up for this hike at stanton.hunter@gmail.com

Sacramento and Colusa National Wildlife Refuges
2017-11-04 07:30 - 16:00
We will visit the Sacramento NWR north of Colusa and then the Colusa NWR. Both have driving tours so we will spend most of the time in cars. SNWR has a short walking tour on level ground as well as a very nice visitor center with restrooms. Colusa has a large, accessible observation deck. These two refuges host thousands of wintering waterfowl, as well as resident and migrant songbirds, owls and raptors. There is easy viewing for birders – never disappointing! The rare Falcated Duck has been seen at Colusa in the past. Bring lunch, snacks, water, layers of clothing, binoculars and a spotting scope if you have one. Rain cancels trip. Meet to carpool at 7:30 a.m. at the parking lot at Big 5 in the Marketplace Shopping Center in Davis, 1301 W. Covell Blvd. Please plan to contribute to $6 per-car fee at the Sacramento refuge. More info: Betty Berteaux, (530)756-1686, birdtrax@dcn.org

West Pond Walk
2017-11-01 09:00 - 11:00
Join a 2-hr birding walk with the Friends of West Pond the first Wednesday of every month. Meet at the park at the west end of Isle Royale Lane in Davis, 9 a.m. October through May, 8 a.m. June through September. For more information contact Gene Trapp, (530)756-6291.1

Davis Cemetery Halloween Trip
2017-10-29 08:00 - 11:00
Sunday, October 29 Davis Cemetery
Come look for birds and friendly goblins at the Davis Cemetery on this Pre-Halloween bird walk. The 28-acre cemetery is a National Wildlife Federation certified wildlife habitat. Many species of birds are attracted to this suburban woodland and the historic swale. The cemetery is well known for a large flock of Wild Turkeys. Several species of raptors are regular at the cemetery, including the White-tailed Kite, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, and Barn Owl. Western Bluebirds, Nuttall’s Woodpeckers, Red-breasted Sapsuckers, Dark-eyed Juncos, and Yellow-rumped Warblers also winter at the cemetery.
Birders at all skill levels are welcome. This will be a morning trip. Since it can be wet, sturdy shoes are recommended. We will meet in the Davis Cemetery at 820 Pole Line Road, Davis (the corner of Pole Line Rd and East 8th St.) at 8:00 AM. We should be finished by 11:00 A.M. The main entrance is on the East 8th Street side of the cemetery. There is limited parking in the cemetery; therefore, carpool, bike, or walk if you can. We will meet at the mini-parking area on the east driveway (on the right as you enter the cemetery). Contact the trip leader, Ed Whisler (916-204-0471 [cell phone] or edwhisler@yahoo.com), for more information.

Lake Solano/Putah Creek
2017-10-21 07:30 - 14:00
On this trip we’ll go to Lake Solano where Yolo County borders Solano County to look for Fall regulars. Bird sightings may include residents such as Osprey, Phainopepla, Wood Duck and hopefully several woodpeckers. There could be some surprises like Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker and Golden Eagle. Meet at 7:30 AM at the parking lot at Big 5 in the Marketplace Shopping Center, in Davis, 1301 W. Covell Blvd. All levels of birders are welcome. Trip will conclude early afternoon. Bring water, snacks, binoculars and spotting scopes if you have one. A $6.00/car fee will be needed for parking at the picnic grounds. Rain and strong wind cancels trip. More info: Sharon Kirkpatrick, (530)220-3735 or sleclark@ucdavis.edu

Birds of the Great Basin
2017-10-18 19:30 - 21:00
The October 18th Yolo Audubon meeting will feature Frank Fogarty, an ecology doctoral student at the University of California, Davis, who will present a talk on the natural history and ecology of Great Basin birds, with a focus on his research in riparian communities.
In the central Great Basin, montane riparian areas exist as small islands within the larger, arid landscape. Although riparian areas cover less than 1% of the total land area in the Great Basin, more than 50% of breeding bird species in the region are associated with riparian habitats. These riparian areas occur mostly in canyons, either along the canyon bottom or in the form of seeps, and the total area of riparian vegetation in individual canyons can vary by orders of magnitude. Frank will discuss his recent work evaluating the extent to which the total area of riparian vegetation and the degree of fragmentation of this riparian area explains both variation in breeding riparian bird species richness and the likelihood that a given riparian species is present in a given canyon.
The Yolo Audubon meeting will be held at the Davis Senior Center, 646 A Street in Davis, from 7:30 to 9 pm on October 18th. The meeting is open to the public, and people are invited to arrive at 7 pm for conversation and refreshments.

The Big Chase
2017-10-07 06:00 - 18:00
Please join us for our annual Big Chase field trip. Fall migration should be in full swing and there should be many shorebirds, raptors and passerines to see. The locations that we visit and the rare birds that we try to see are dependent on what has been reported on the Northern California RBA and local listservs. We are looking forward to another wonderful day this fall!
We will meet at 6:00 AM in the Park and Ride lot off of Mace Boulevard (northeast of Highway 80 and just down from Ikeda’s Market) in Davis. Bring binoculars, lunch and plenty of liquids and dress in layers. Please call the trip leader, Kevin Guse (916-514-0685) with any questions.

West Pond Walk
2017-10-04 09:00 - 11:00, 2017-09-06 08:00 - 10:00
Join a 2-hr birding walk with the Friends of West Pond the first Wednesday of every month. Meet at the park at the west end of Isle Royale Lane in Davis, 9 a.m. October through May, 8 a.m. June through September. For more information contact Gene Trapp, (530)756-6291.

Point Reyes
2017-09-30 06:00 - 18:00
Please come join us for our annual fall field trip to Pt. Reyes. Fall migration at Pt. 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. In addition to the passerines, there are usually plenty of raptors and other migrants to enjoy!
We will meet at 6:00 AM in the Park-N-Ride lot off of Mace Boulevard (northeast of Highway 80 and just down from Ikeda’s Market) for carpooling. Please bring a lunch, plenty of fluids and dress in layers. Be prepared for a full day of birding. Contact the trip leader, Kevin Guse, at 916-514-0685 for more details.

Babel Slough Migrant Roundup
2017-09-24 06:45 - 12:00
We will walk the riparian corridor along Babel Slough in West Sacramento in search of a variety of migrant species. Babel Slough is an excellent spot for migrating warblers, sparrows, and flycatchers, nesting raptors, and one of the better locations in Yolo County to see Sandhill Cranes. Late September is also the best time to luck into vagrant songbirds, so we’ll hope to spot something unusual. In previous years, fall migration at the Slough has yielded Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Black-chinned Sparrow, Northern Parula, Bay-breasted and Blackpoll Warbler. The trip will involve a moderate amount of walking (1-3 miles total) on flat ground. If you would like to meet in Davis to carpool/caravan, we will meet at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area entrance at 6:45am (off Chiles Rd: 38.561831, -121.638599). Alternatively, you can meet the group at the parking area for Babel Slough at 7:10am (South River Rd: 38.480348, -121.549539). Please be sure to park on the east side of South River Rd across from the Babel Slough intersection. Do not park on Babel Slough Road. The trip should last 2-3 hours and we will be away from our vehicles the entire time, so a small bag to carry water and snacks might be a good idea. Bring binoculars (a spotting scope probably isn’t necessary and will get heavy). All levels of birders welcome.
Leader: Frank Fogarty – (352)-455-9372 or fogartyfa@gmail.com

The Okavango: Africa’s Inland Delta
2017-09-20 19:30 - 21:00 | Davis Senior Center, 646 A Street, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
A UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, Botswana’s Okavango Delta is a landscape of exceptional and rare beauty. Not unlike California’s historic Central Valley, the Okavango is a watery mosaic of islands and meandering channels that sustain an ecosystem of abundant habitat and species diversity. A biodiversity hotspot, the Okavango harbors 24 species of globally-threatened birds and sustains robust populations of some of the world’s most endangered large mammals. Join UC Davis ecologist Dr. Melanie Truan as she celebrates the beauty and biodiversity of this region and discusses some of the ways that people are working to better manage its resources. 7:30 pm, Davis Senior Center Valente Room, 646 A Street, Davis, CA. Come early for cookies and conversation and to peruse the large collection of used books in ornithology, ecology, and natural history that will be available for purchase before and after the program.

Putah Creek Riparian Reserve
2017-09-12 07:15 - 10:00
We will look and listen for migrating songbirds and anything else that shows up. We will walk the dirt trails along the north bank of Putah Creek. 5The trail is steep in a few places. Bring binoculars and water.
Meet at 7:15 at the intersection of Levee Road and Hopkins Road on the UC Davis campus. We will likely finish by 10 AM. Leader is Michael Perrone, 530 753-0441 or michaelperrone10@yahoo.com.

Babel Slough
2017-09-10 07:00 - 12:00
Babel Slough, near the Sacramento River between West Sac and Clarksburg, offers one of the best riparian corridors in the area. As such, it is a haven for migrant flycatchers, vireos, warblers, buntings, tanagers, and grosbeaks. Our date, near the apex of migration diversity, is prime time for rare migrants and eastern strays, and Babel Slough has a rich history of them. Just the past four years have produced Chimney Swift, Least Flycatcher, Northern Parula, American Redstart, Blackpoll, Tennessee, and Bay-breasted Warblers, Indigo Bunting, and Black-chinned Sparrow. May the odds be ever in our favor.
We will walk about two miles, birding fairly slowly and methodically. This trip will take a few hours. Unfortunately, there are no bathrooms in the area. Plan on carpooling as parking at Babel Slough is limited. All levels of birders are welcome.
Meet at the Marketplace Shopping Center (near Big 5 Sporting Goods, 1301 W. Covell just east of Hwy 113) at 7:00am, returning by noon. Leader: Steve Hampton (916-956-0949) or stevechampton@gmail.com.

Bodega Bay
2017-09-09 06:30 - 18:00
Come see the harbor mudflats, ocean beach, and rocky headlands of Bodega Bay, Bodega Harbor and Head, and Doran Beach for post-breeding seabird and shorebird migration and possible passerine vagrants. Bodega Bay can be surprisingly warm or foggy, windy and downright cold, so wear sunscreen and be prepared for wind chill with layers, hat and gloves. This trip will have easy walks, and provide good bird photo opportunities around the harbor.
Meet 6:30 AM at Marketplace Shopping Center, in parking lot for Big 5 Sporting Goods (W. Covell & Highway 113 in Davis). Bring binoculars (spotting scope provided), lunch & snacks and beverages (option to buy take-out clam chowder or crab sandwich). If you plan on driving please RSVP. The entrance to Doran Beach is $7 per car. There is a two-hour drive each way; you should be back by 6 pm. Leader: Chris Dunford [530 902-3576; christopher.j.dunford@gmail.com.

Birding the Western Edge of the Great Basin
2017-07-08 06:00 - 2017-07-09 15:00
Join us July 8th & 9th for a trip to the western edge of the Great Basin. We’ll be birding in the Sweetwater Mtns and on the east slope of the Sierra Nevada, some of the few places in California to experience the high desert avifauna of the Great Basin. We’re sure to see Dusky and Gray Flycatcher, Plumbeous Vireo, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Sage Thrasher, Sagebrush Sparrow, Green-tailed Towhee and Cassin’s Finch and will be targeting uncommon species including Greater Sage-Grouse, Pinyon Jay, Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay, Canyon Wren, Chukar, Northern Goshawk, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Virginia’s Warbler, and Red Crossbill.
It will be about a 3.5 hour drive from Sacramento to the area we are birding. Participants will have several options: stay in the area the night of the 7th and 8th and join us for birding starting at 7am on the 8th, or drive out on the 8th and meet up with the group around 11am. We’ll likely wrap up by mid-afternoon on the 9th to give folks time to get home before dark. There will be options to stay in a local motel or to camp, probably in the Bridgeport area (with a chance to hear Common Poorwill). Expect a mixture of driving and light to moderate hiking, sometimes at elevations above 8,000 feet. The trip will be led by Frank Fogarty, an avian ecologist and doctoral student at UC Davis who studies riparian bird communities in the Great Basin.
UPDATE 5/25
A word on accommodations; things are booking up, especially camping. The trip will start from Bridgeport, here are a few options:
There are first come-first serve campsites in the surrounding national forest.
A few of us will stay at Willow Springs resort, Willowspringsbridgeport.com 760 932 7725 They have tent and rv sites and a few motel rooms, but booking up FAST.
Walker River Lodge has good availability of motel rooms, walkerriverlodge.com, 760 932 7021.
There are many more motels in the Bridgeport area, and also a KOA in Coleville.
More details on logistics to follow. For information, contact Frank Fogarty (fogartyfa@gmail.com – limited internet after May 17th) or John Hansen (jjhindavis@yahoo.com or 530 750 9426).
If you’re interested in the birds of the region, please check out this free natural history guide written by Frank and Erica Fleishman (download link at the bottom of this post):
UPDATE 6/14
We will meet at the Shell station in Bridgeport, 76773 Main St. We will meet at 6 am on Sat, July 8, and again at 11 am for people arriving that day.
If you plan on arriving at 11 am, please contact John Hansen beforehand.
If you need a ride over, or could take someone else, please contact John Hansen. I can’t “arrange” carpools, but I can put you in touch.
Frank is already seeing lots of great birds over there!

https://www.serdp-estcp.org/Program-Areas/Resource-Conservation-and-Resiliency/Natural-Resources/Species-Ecology-and-Management/RC-2202/RC-2202-Guide

Birding Willow Slough at Conaway Ranch
2017-06-24 08:00 - 10:00
June 24, 2017 Birding at Willow Slough at Conaway Ranch
Yolo Audubon and Tuleyome, are offering a family beginning birder outing in eastern Yolo County on Saturday June 24th. The two-hour trip will introduce children and adults to the basics of bird identification as well as habitat preservation. The participants will walk through a Tricolored Blackbird easement of tule wetlands and past a recently planted organic rice field on their way to Willow Slough, all on Conaway Ranch. The slough has mature valley oaks and a large permanent, open water area with fish and turtles. The group will focus on large, easy to identify, bird species, including herons, egrets, kingfishers, Wood Ducks and Swainson’s Hawks.
Participants should wear hats and sturdy shoes, and bring water, snacks and insect repellant, if wanted. Yolo Audubon will provide binoculars for those who don’t have them.
The group will meet at 8am near the corner of County Roads 25 and 103. A parking area is indicated on a map at https://goo.gl/maps/sAsjH3uAoL92. Participants should sign up for the trip by going to http://tuleyome.org/events/.
There is no charge. This trip will be co-led by Bill Grabert, Tuleyome, and Ken Ealy, Yolo Audubon. For more information, Bill Grabert may be contacted at bgrabert@tuleyome.com, or (530)613-0317.

Putah Creek at Kusch Home
2017-05-07 07:30 - 11:30 | Marketplace Shopping Center (Meeting Place), 1301 West Covell, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
THIS TRIP HAS BEEN FILLED – WAITING LIST ONLY
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. 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 and beverages. High winds or a significant rainstorm cancel this trip. Space is limited; RSVP early. More info: Joe Clemens, jclemens211@yahoo.com (e-mail preferred; phone is 281-900-0808)

Mt. Diablo
2017-04-22 06:30 - 13:00 | Marketplace Shopping Center (Meeting Place), 1301 West Covell, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
Join us on Saturday April 22 for a walk in Mitchell Canyon at Mount Diablo, in Contra Costa County, one of the premier sites for spring migrant birding in the East Bay. The canyon bottom contains riparian habitat bordered by dramatic chaparral-covered slopes. A nice collection of warblers, tanagers, grosbeaks, vireos, and flycatchers are expected at this time of year, and there’s a good chance we will see Calliope Hummingbirds. A variety of wildflowers should also be present.
Meet Michael at 8:00 AM at the Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center ($6.00 entrance fee). OR join Sami LaRocca, leaving from Davis 6:30 AM @ Big 5 Shopping Center, to caravan to Mt. Diablo.
Please wear sturdy shoes for the unpaved trail and bring binoculars, water, and a lunch. We will stay along the relatively flat trail that follows the creek, but there is some elevation change. The trip will last until around noon, though some of us may stay out longer depending on the bird activity.
The trip leaders are Michael Strom (408-505-0328), masam321@yahoo.com and Sami LaRocca (530 908-0288), sami182@wavecable.com.

Birds of Costa Rica
2017-04-19 19:30 - 21:00 | Davis Senior Center, 646 A Street, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
Ted Beedy recently returned from a birding and bird photography tour of Costa Rica. Please join us for his photo-illustrated talk on the stunning diversity of birds and other wildlife that inhabit the cloud forests and tropical rainforests of the high mountains and coastal canyons. More than 900 species of birds have been observed in Costa Rica, including 20% of the world’s hummingbirds. During this trip, Ted was able to see 288 species and got photographs of 132 species. This show will be accompanied with sound recordings, some made by Barney Kroeger when he visited Guatemala with Ted in 2008. Ted will also address aspects of individual bird species including their taxonomy, natural history, and on-going efforts to conserve these tropical treasures. Ted received his Ph.D. in zoology from UCD in 1982 and was formerly an active member of Yolo Audubon.

Birds Through a Photographer’s Lens
2017-03-15 19:30 - 21:00 | Davis Senior Center, 646 A Street, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
Photographer Jim Dunn is the featured speaker at Yolo Audubon’s March 15th meeting. He will present a series of his stunning avian images and discuss what makes a compelling photograph and how he sets to get one. According to Dunn, “Making interesting bird photographs presents a unique set of challenges to the photographer. You don’t know for certain what or where your subject is going to be, you don’t have any control over the photographic environment, like light and background, and your subject is only going to be there for an instant.”
Dunn’s background includes years doing technical, wedding and portrait photography. He also developed camera and telemetry systems for various spacecraft including Voyager, the space shuttle, the International Ultraviolet Explorer and others. His transition to wildlife photography began in 1998 when he documented the life cycle of a nesting pair of Red-tailed Hawks. He has been a passionate avian portraitist since then.
The Yolo Audubon meeting will be held at the Davis Senior Center, 646 A Street in Davis, from 7:30 to 9 pm on March 15th. The meeting is open to the public, and people are invited to arrive at 7 pm for conversation and refreshments.

Yolo Agricultural Lands
2017-03-11 07:00 - 12:30 | Park-N-Ride (Meeting Place), 26295 Mace Boulevard, Davis, CA, 95618, United States
This trip will focus on birds found in agricultural fields. It will be primarily a driving tour along the rural roads of Yolo County with frequent stops. The group will look for raptors, waterfowl, birds of open fields, fences and hedges, as well as riparian birds, depending on the route and the weather. Up to 80 species have been seen on previous trips.
The trip will leave from the Davis Park-N-Ride off of Mace Blvd. just east of Ikeda’s. Participants will meet at 7am on March 11th for a half day trip. Everyone should bring binoculars and snacks and water as wanted. Heavy rain will cancel the trips. For more information contact Mary Schiedt at maryolo1@netscape.net or 530-400-7094.

Local Owling
2017-03-04 15:00 - 20:00 | Park-N-Ride (Meeting Place), 26295 Mace Boulevard, Davis, CA, 95618, United States
This trip is an outing to look specifically for owls. There are five owl species that the group may see: Great-horned, Barn, Burrowing, Short-eared, and Western Screech. All of the search locations are publicly accessible, so tour participants will be able to return on their own.
The trip will leave from the Davis Park-N-Ride off of Mace Blvd. just east of Ikeda’s. The owling participants will meet at 3pm on March 4th and plan to be out until dark. Everyone should bring binoculars and snacks and water as wanted. Heavy rain will cancel the trip. For more information contact Mary Schiedt at maryolo1@netscape.net or 530-400-7094.

Robinson Road: Hawks
2017-01-28 07:30 - 14:00 | Marketplace Shopping Center (Meeting Place), 1301 West Covell, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
Join us for a trip to the pastures of southeastern Solano County to search for overwintering raptors & Mountain Plovers. We will search fields, perches and farm equipment. Prior trips have spotted Prairie Falcons, Merlins, Golden Eagles, Ferruginous Hawks, Rough- legged hawks and Mountain Plovers. We hope to see these and many more species during this trip.
Little walking is anticipated. Wear appropriate winter wear, the area is generally windy. Bring water, snacks and/or lunch. Bring binoculars and a spotting scope, if you have one. STRONG winds or heavy rain cancels the trip. All levels of birders are welcome.
Plan on carpooling for this trip as most of the trip involves driving. Meet at the Marketplace Shopping Center (near Big 5 Sporting Goods, 1301 W. Covell just east of Hwy 113) at 7:30am, returning by early to mid-afternoon.

Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area
2017-01-21 07:30 - 13:00 | Marketplace Shopping Center (Meeting Place), 1301 West Covell, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
Join us for a morning of birding at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (YBWA)! The YBWA is one of the premier spots for wintering waterfowl and shorebirds in the central valley. We should see 14+ species of waterfowl and will put in special effort to look for locally uncommon to rare species including Ross’s Goose, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Eurasian Wigeon, and Blue-winged Teal. Besides waterfowl, we will expect to see American Bittern, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, and Long-billed Curlew and try for the blackbird grand slam (Brewer’s, Red-winged, Tricolored, and Yellow-headed). All of the areas we will be birding are accessible by car and minimal walking will be required. All levels of birder are welcome.
Packing list:
– Warm clothes and rain gear
– Binoculars and scope (if you don’t have one, we’ll have plenty to share)
– Snacks, water, and lunch (we may be out past 1pm if the weather and birds are good)
We will carpool to minimize the number of vehicles in our caravan and make it easier for everyone to see birds. We will meet at the Marketplace Shopping Center (near Big 5 Sporting Goods, 1301 W. Covell in Davis) at 7:30 am and return by mid-afternoon.

Galápagos Islands: Land of Magic and Enchantment
2017-01-18 19:30 - 21:00 | Davis Senior Center, 646 A Street, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
The Galapagos are truly a magical place of desert isles surrounded by fertile ocean waters. Most magical of all are the many species who have no fear of humans due to a lack of native predators on the islands. These volcanic islands, located 600 miles off the coast of South America, have never been connected to the mainland. All the plants and animals that arrived to the islands naturally had to cross large expanses of ocean either by swimming, flying, drifting on debris, or being carried by the wind. Thus, they evolved in isolation and minute differences in their morphology and behavior from island to island led Charles Darwin to develop his theory of natural selection.
Join former Yolo Audubon Society board member, Sid England, to learn about the ecology of these Islas Encantadas, to hear about his adventures there, and to marvel at the photographs taken by him and his wife, Randy Beaton.
Meeting begins at 7:30 but come early for cookies and conversation.

Raptor Ramble
2017-01-15 07:30 - 17:00 | Park-N-Ride (Meeting Place), 26295 Mace Boulevard, Davis, CA, 95618, United States
Please come join us to try and find as many raptor species as possible in a full day of birding. We will focus on Yolo County, but we may visit adjacent counties as well in our quest. In addition to the more common species, our targets will include Bald Eagle, Ferruginous Hawk, Golden Eagle, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Prairie Falcon and Rough-legged Hawk.
Bring binoculars, lunch, water and dress in layers. If you have one, a spotting scope would be really helpful. Please be prepared for a full day of birding.
We will meet at the Park-N-Ride Lot by the Ikeda Market in South Davis (off of the Mace Boulevard Exit) at 7:30 AM for carpooling.
Hope to see you there!

Bodega Bay
2017-01-14 06:30 - 18:00 | Marketplace Shopping Center (Meeting Place), 1301 West Covell, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
For winter birds of the coast–Bodega Bay, Harbor and Head, and Doran Beach offer ducks, grebes, loons, gulls and shorebirds in one compact area. Winter plumages offer interesting identification challenges. Good bird photo opportunities around the harbor. Weather can be surprisingly good in winter, but be prepared for cold and wet with layers, hat and gloves–easy walks. Only a major rainstorm will cancel the trip.
Meet at 6:30 AM at the Marketplace Shopping Center, in the parking lot for Big 5 Sporting Goods, at W. Covell & Highway 113 in Davis. Bring binoculars (spotting scope provided), lunch & snacks and beverages (option to buy take-out clam chowder or fish tacos). If you plan on driving please RSVP (entrance to Doran Beach County Park is $7 per car). Two-hour drive each way; you should be back by 6 pm.
