EVENT CALENDAR - Fresno Audubon Society
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
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3
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Field Trip to River West Madera 8:00 am
Field Trip to River West Madera @ River West Madera
Dec 4 @ 8:00 am – 12:30 pm
Field Trip to River West Madera @ River West Madera
Field Trip to River West Madera Wednesday December 4, 2024 REGISTRATION Link    All participants must agree to the FAS Liability Waiver Form when they register. Use the QR code below or the form can also be found here River West Madera December 4, 2024 ...
5
6
7
Saturday Field Trip – Merced Grasslands & Merced NWR 6:45 am
Saturday Field Trip – Merced Grasslands & Merced NWR
Dec 7 @ 6:45 am – 5:45 pm
Saturday Field Trip - Merced Grasslands & Merced NWR
Saturday Field Trip – Merced Grasslands & Merced NWR Registration required for all FAS field trips. All participants must agree to the FAS Liability Waiver Form when they register. Use the QR code below or the form can also be found here Registration for this...
8
9
10
11
Merced Wildlife Refuge  (off Sandy Mush Rd) Location Change 10:00 am
Merced Wildlife Refuge  (off Sandy Mush Rd) Location Change @ Merced Wildlife Refuge
Dec 11 @ 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
Merced Wildlife Refuge  (off Sandy Mush Rd) Location Change @ Merced Wildlife Refuge
Audubon Field Trip to Merced Wildlife Refuge Location changed from Eastman OR Hensley (TBD) due to lack of birds in this location. All participants must agree to the FAS Liability Waiver Form when they register. Use the QR code below or the form can also...
12
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28
Field Trip to River West Open Space 8:00 am
Field Trip to River West Open Space @ River West Open Space
Dec 28 @ 8:00 am – 12:30 pm
Field Trip to River West Open Space @ River West Open Space
Field Trip to River West Open Space Saturday, December 28, 2024 Event Details Subject to Change All participants must agree to the FAS Liability Waiver Form when they register. Use the QR code below or the form can also be found here Register here! Join...
29
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Apr
24
Wed
2024
Birding at the Ruth Mckenzie Preserve @ Ruth Mckenzie Preserve
Apr 24 @ 7:15 am – 12:30 pm

Birding at the Ruth Mckenzie Preserve

Registration is required for this event.

 Registration link

 

MCKENZIE PRESERVE BIRDING

HIKE DATE: April 24, 2024

HIKE START: Please arrive by 7:15AM  for a 7:30AM start.

HIKE END: 12:30

NOTE: The Preserve is closed to the public and the entrance gate will be locked during the outing. Therefore, late arrivals will not be able to join the hike and early departure will not be possible except in case of emergency.

 

Join John McDaniel and Gary Woods of Fresno Audubon Society (FAS) for birding on the McKenzie Preserve to observe resident and migrant foothill birds. Please arrive no later than 7:15 so the walk can proceed from the parking lot by the corrals at 7:30am. This is a relatively easy walk of about 2 miles from the corrals to the waterfall/spring and back.  FAS will provide binoculars if you need them, and a spotting scope will also be available.  

 

McKenzie Preserve is the best chance for you to see a Gray Flycatcher out of all the SFC preserves in Fresno County and they mostly come through the foothills in migration between April 20-30. Bring a hat, sunscreen, water, binoculars (if you have them), bird guide and snacks/lunch.

 

 

Directions to the Ruth McKenzie Table Mountain Preserve
From Fresno, take Freeway 41 north. Exit at Friant Road and turn right at the bottom of the off-ramp. Take Friant Road to the town of Friant. You will see Friant Dam ahead of you. Follow Friant Road uphill, past the dam. At this point, Friant Road bends to the right and changes its name to Millerton Road. Stay on Millerton Road for 5 or 6 miles until you come to a stop sign at Auberry Road.

At Auberry Road you will see a gas station on your left. Using the gas station as your benchmark, note your mileage and turn left. Go slightly over 3 miles on Auberry Road. You will see some table mountain formations ahead. When you reach the 3 mile mark, slow down and turn left onto the preserve property.

The entrance to the preserve is on the left, where you will see a large corral and a gate. Drive in at the gate and park in the parking area.

 

Apr
27
Sat
2024
Birding at Roeding Park @ Roeding Park (meet in parking in front of zoo)
Apr 27 @ 8:00 am – 12:00 pm

Birding at Roeding Park

Registration is required for this event.

 Registration link

 

Join trip leader Maureen Walsh for birding at Roeding Park.  We will start at Lake Washington where we will see Wood ducks among other waterfowl in the lake and see the Cattle egret, Black-crowned night herons, and Double-crested cormorants in the rookery on the island. There are hundreds of birds nesting in the rookery.  Then we will walk other areas of the park to see a variety of woodpeckers, raptors, warblers, etc.  

 

We will meet at the parking lot in front of the zoo, across from Lake Washington.  There is a $5.00 entry fee to the park and a new automated parking system.  

 

If you wish to bring lunch, there are plenty of picnic tables available for eating and calculating our bird count.  

 

Participants should bring snacks, lunch (if desired), water, hat, sunscreen, and binoculars, and should dress in layers. Registration is required for this event. If you have any questions, please reach out to trip leader Maureen Walsh at mewnew10@yahoo.com or (559) 706-4980.

 

 Registration link

May
1
Wed
2024
Wednesday Walk – Laton-Kingston Park
May 1 @ 7:30 am – 1:00 pm

 

Registration is required.

Registration link

 

On Wednesday, May 1, Fresno Audubon will travel to Laton to visit Laton-Kingston Park along the Kings River. This trip was first scheduled for Spring 2020, then had to be cancelled twice due to the Covid Pandemic. Now, it’s finally a go. This 102-acre park is located along the Kings River in the town of Laton. In and around this riverine habitat, our target species will include Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Acorn Woodpecker, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Bullock’s Oriole, Lazuli Bunting, Bewick’s Wren, and many other Central Valley species. We will also look for migrating warblers.

 

We will meet in the Walmart parking lot on Blackstone and Ashlan and leave no later than 7:30AM. As there is a $5/vehicle to enter Laton-Kingston Park, we will carpool as much as possible. Participants are responsible for making their own carpool arrangements beforehand. This trip is expected to last until approximately 1:00 PM.

 

Please be sure to bring binoculars, a hat, sunscreen, lunch, snacks, and water.

 

Please reach out to trip leader Larry Parmeter at lanpar362@gmail.com, or at 559-288-3456 with any questions.

 

Map to meeting location:

Registration is required.

Registration link

May
3
Fri
2024
Cancelled due to high winds: Weekend field trip: Kern County Spring Migration
May 3 – May 5 all-day

 

Cancelled due to high winds in the area.

Weekend field trip: Kern County Spring Migration – America’s late April/early May Birdiest Inland County contest winner 7 years in a row!

 

Leaders: Penny Stewart (559) 978-7182, and Bob Barnes (760) 382-1260

 

For multiple reasons this trip will be limited to 14 people including leaders.

Event is currently full. Email admin@fresnoaudubon.org if you would like to know if there are any cancelations. 

 

Saturday: meet and depart from Ridgecrest Econo Lodge parking lot, at 5:30. A secondary meeting spot, (for those not staying in Ridgecrest), will be 6:10 at Jawbone Station Visitor Center.

Meeting Place: Econo Lodge Inn, Ridgecrest, CA

Secondary Meeting Place: 

 

This is located at the entrance to Jawbone Canyon Rd, just off Hwy 14. From here we will head to Butterbredt Spring, (part of the designated Souther Sierra Globally Important Bird Area (IBA). This spring is an excellent migrant hot spot, and may have vagrants this time of year. The drive is approximately 6 miles paved, and 6 miles of dirt road, from Jawbone Canyon Rd entrance.

 

After spending the morning and lunch at the spring, we will continue on a loop, traveling through Joshua tree habitat, toward the Kern River Preserve. This is an extensive Riparian corridor, and is one of the first ten Globally Important Bird Areas designated in the United States.We return to Ridgecrest for dinner via 178.

 

Sunday: Meets and departs at the same location and time as Saturday. We will bird along Hwy 178 for some higher elevation areas, and to various Kern River Valley locations missed Saturday. Expect to have lunch in the field again, and bird till about 3:00. We can leave for home from the Kern Valley area.

 

Friday option: Meet Bob Barnes at City Park parking lot, in California City at 11:00. Here we will look for migrants, and eat lunch. Second meeting will be at 3:00 at the Ridgecrest Walmart parking lot. Go to the corner nearest to Panda Express. This is on E. Bowman Rd. Bob Barnes will take us to some local spots for desert birds we may not see during the main trip, as well as migrants.

 

Recommendations:

Participants arrive Friday night, as we will start early Saturday. Bring lunches (all lunches will be in the field) snacks, sun screen, insect repellent, a hat, and lots of water (with a way to carry water on the trail). s The desert can be very cold in the morning and very hot in the afternoon. Bringing gloves and a warm cap is not unrealistic. If able, carpooling from Fresno will be helpful as we will not be returning to some of the meeting spots. No cars with particularly low ground clearance. We encourage people to stay at Econo Lodge as they will serve us breakfast at 5AM, allowing for early departure. This will also allow carpooling for Saturday. When booking a room, mention that you are part of the Fresno Audubon birdwatching group. If we book 7 rooms we can get a discount.

 

Target birds: Chukar, Costa’s Hummingbird, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Cassin’s Kingbird, Pinyon Jay, Verdin, Cactus Wren, Black Throated Sparrow, Scott’s Oreole, Summer Tannager, Spring Migrants, and possible eastern vagrants.

 

Bob Barns is a well known leader in the birding community. His list of conservation projects along with community building is so extensive that I cannot list all here. He has resided on the Kern River Preserve where he was the president of the Kern River Valley revitalization project, and co founded the Southern Sierra Research Station, amongst many other positions. He currently resides in Ridgecrest, and is an expert in the Kern County area.

 

Checklist: binoculars, scope, field guide, snacks, lunch, water, sunscreen, hat, radios

 

May
18
Sat
2024
Saturday Bird Walk at Lost Lake May 2024 @ Lost Lake
May 18 @ 8:00 am – 11:00 am

Lost Lake Audubon Field Trip Wednesday May 18th

Registration is required for this event.

 

Registration closes 24 hours before the event or when full.

 

Registration link

 

Location: Lost Lake , Fresno County Park

                  Lost Lake Rd, Friant, CA 93626

Date and Meeting time: 8:00 am, May 18th

Meeting location in park: Audubon Trailhead at the west end (down stream end) of the park. There is a small parking area at the trailhead, and a larger one a few hundred yards further into the park.

 

Duration of walk: 8:00 am – 11 am

 

Special instructions: the park entrance fee is usually enforced. Fee is $5. Please follow instructions at the entry kiosk if there is no attendant at the kiosk. 

 

What to bring: Binoculars, check weather report for comfortable clothing, (this is the month of March, almost any weather is possible), walking shoes, sunscreen / hat, water, snacks ( or lunch if staying beyond noon), free downloads of Audubon and/or Merlin Apps are very useful, western bird identification field guides are also useful. Be advised , there may be insects such as mosquitos, gnats etc. 

 

Walk Description: walking on mostly flat park grass, or on paved park road, from west ( at the trailhead) to east ( toward Friant Dam and the park campground). We will bird river, river lined grass/ shrub and oak tree habitat, and on the upper road the grassland leading into the park, using binoculars but also using the Merlin Sound ID app as an enhanced identification tool. In the park, there are picnic benches for rest stops, and the restrooms are usually open.

 

Possible birds: Egrets (several species), Cedar Waxwing, Hawks (several species) Varied Thrush, Bald Eagle,  Common Merganser , Acorn Woodpecker, Canada Goose, Ring- necked Duck, Anna’s Hummingbird, Great Blue Heron, Wood Duck, Phainopepla, Black Phoebe, and many others.

 

Other possible sightings…Coyotes, Bobcats…on the other side of the river.

Registration is required for this walk.

Hard Rain or flooding cancels this walk.

Trip Leader: Rick Grijalva

Contact information

Email: rickgrijalva2@gmail.com

Registration link

May
22
Wed
2024
Wednesday Walk – Balsam Meadows Snow-Park and Forebay
May 22 @ 7:45 am – 2:00 pm

Wednesday Walk – Balsam Meadows Snow-Park and Forebay

 

Registration is required.

Registration closes 24 hours before the event or when full.

Registration link

 

 

George Folsom will lead this trip to Balsam Meadows Snow-Park and Forebay on Southern California Edison Company property, just off Highway168, nine miles above Shaver Lake.  The elevation is 6,500 feet.  We will be walking a loop trail of about 2 miles with very little elevation change.  Parts of this area were burned in the Creek Fire leaving a mixture of burned and unburned habitats.

 

There are restrooms at the parking lot and at the Forebay, about halfway through our walk.  Parking is available at the Snow-Park just off Highway168 on the left as you pass the sign.

 

We can expect woodpeckers, raptors, finches, warblers, swifts, sparrows among may others.

 

Participants should bring snacks, lunch (if desired), water, hat, sunscreen, and binoculars, and should dress in layers.  We will meet at Walmart, Ashlan and Blackstone, at 7:45 for an 8:00 AM departure.  For those driving directly to Balsam Meadows we should be there by 9:30.

 

 

Checklist: binoculars, scope, field guide, snacks, lunch, water, sunscreen, hat.

 

 

Trip Leader: George Folsom georgefolsom@icloud.com (559)351-7192

 

 

Map to Fresno meeting location, 7:45 AM

Map to Balsam Meadows Sno-Park, 9:30 AM

Registration is required.

Registration link

 

Jun
1
Sat
2024
Camp Edison, Shaver Lake
Jun 1 @ 7:45 am – 1:00 pm

Camp Edison, Shaver Lake Walk

 

Registration is required for this event.

Registration closes 24 hours before the event or when full.

Registration Link

 

On Saturday, June 1, Fresno Audubon will head to Camp Edison at Shaver Lake for a look at mountain birds. Camp Edison is always a good place to see mountain species, including White-headed Woodpecker, Gold-crowned Kinglet, Fox Sparrow, Western Tanager, Yellow and MacGillivray’s Warblers, Black-headed Grosbeak, and many others. With luck, we may also see Pileated Woodpeckers, and hear, if not see, Mountain Quail. Shaver Lake, as well, has its resident Ospreys and Bald Eagles, among several other raptors.

 

We will meet in the parking lot in front of the Target at Riverpark at 7:30AM and go from there. Camp Edison does require a fee to enter, so carpooling is recommended. Participants are responsible for making carpool arrangements beforehand.

 

Bring warm clothing(even in June, the mountains can still be cold), optics,  lunch, and snacks.

 

For more information or questions, contact trip leader Larry Parmeter at lanpar362@gmail.com or at 559-288-3456.

 

For more information, contact Larry Parmeter at lanpar362@gmail.com or at 559-288-3456.

 

Map to meeting place.

 

Registration is required for this event.

 

Registration Link

 

Jun
15
Sat
2024
Saturday Field Trip – Morro Bay June 15, 2024 @ Walmart
Jun 15 @ 5:30 am – 4:00 pm

Long-billed Curlew by Rachel Clark

Registration is required for this event for each participant.

Registration closes 24 hours before the event or when full.

Event is full if you want to be added to the wait list email admin@fresnoaudubon.org.

 

Please join Fresno Audubon on Saturday, June 15 as we escape the Valley heat and journey to Morro Bay.

 

We will meet at 5:30 AM at the Walmart parking lot on the southeast corner of Blackstone and Ashlan to arrange carpooling. The plan is to depart by 5:45 AM.

 

The first destination will be Montaña de Oro State Park. Goal birds at this location will be Brown Pelican, Western Gull, Brandt’s Cormorant, Pelagic  Cormorant, Black Oystercatcher, Pigeon Guillemot, Wrentit, California Thrasher, California Towhee, Spotted Towhee, Bewick’s Wren, California Quail, and many more!

 

Next, we will visit Morro Bay State Park, where we will visit the Marina/Boardwalk Trail and the heron rookery. Our goal birds at these locations will be Heermann’s Gull, Caspian Tern, Long-billed Curlew, Marbled Godwit, Willet, Black-crowned Night Heron, and many more.

 

Sometime while in Morro Bay State Park, we will sit down for lunch. Our next birding destination will be Sweet Springs Nature Preserve, where our goal birds will be Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Common Yellowthroat, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Violet-green Swallow, Black-bellied Plover, Snowy Egret, and many more. If there is time, we will stop by Morro Rock to look for Peregrine Falcons and various shorebirds.

 

The plan is to leave Morro Bay around 3:30 or 4:00 PM and be back in Fresno by 6:30 PM. Participants should bring snacks, lunch, water, hat, sunscreen, and binoculars, and should dress in layers. Please be aware that there is poison oak along the trails at Montaña de Oro State Park and other locations along the coast; long pants and poison oak/ivy wipes are recommended.

 

Registration is required and there is a limit of 25 participants.

Registration is required for this event for each participant.

Event is full if you want to be added to the wait list email admin@fresnoaudubon.org.

 

Checklist: binoculars, scope, field guide, snacks, lunch, water, sunscreen, hat, radios

Trip leader: Rick Grijalva at 559-578-6168 or rickgrijalva2@gmail.com.

 

 

Aug
17
Sat
2024
FAS Field Trip Leader Planning Meeting @ Zoom & in person meeting
Aug 17 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Owl walk by Nancy Gilmore

FAS Field Trip Leader Planning Meeting

If you would like to be a part of this planning meeting please register at this link.

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We meet with our trip leaders twice a year to schedule our bird walks for the upcoming season. Our next meeting to plan for this Fall is set for August 17, 2024.
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At this time, we have around twelve or thirteen individuals who lead field trips, sharing their passion and expertise, providing wonderful birding experiences for our members and the general public.  But, we are in need of more trip leaders and/or individuals who would like to share their knowledge of favorite birding locations.
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If you are interested in becoming a trip leader for FAS or would like to participate in the scheduling process, you are welcome to attend our next trip planning meeting on Saturday, August 17, from 9 am to 12 noon. If you cannot attend in person, you may attend via Zoom. We sincerely hope you will join us.
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If you would like to be a part of this planning meeting please register at this link.
Sep
11
Wed
2024
Wednesday Bird Walk at Lost Lake Sept. 2024 @ Lost Lake
Sep 11 @ 8:00 am – 11:00 am

Lost Lake Audubon Field Trip Wednesday Sept. 11th

Registration is required for this event.

 

All participants must agree to the FAS Liability Waiver Form when they register. Use the QR code below or the form can also be found here

FAS Release of Liability Form

FAS Release of Liability Form

Registration closes 24 hours before the event or when full.

 

Registration link

 

Location: Lost Lake , Fresno County Park

                  Lost Lake Rd, Friant, CA 93626

Date and Meeting time: 8:00 am, Sept. 11th

Meeting location in park: We will meet at the parking lot just before the campground. Not at the Audubon Trailhead at the west end (down stream end) of the park. 

 

Duration of walk: 8:00 am – 11 am

 

Special instructions: the park entrance fee is usually enforced. Fee is $5. Please follow instructions at the entry kiosk if there is no attendant at the kiosk. 

 

What to bring: Binoculars, check weather report for comfortable clothing, (this is the month of March, almost any weather is possible), walking shoes, sunscreen / hat, water, snacks ( or lunch if staying beyond noon), free downloads of Audubon and/or Merlin Apps are very useful, western bird identification field guides are also useful. Be advised , there may be insects such as mosquitos, gnats etc. 

 

Walk Description: There will be the active warbler migration in progress throughout the campground and we will be spending more time beyond the campground up near the State Fish Hatchery  at the “canopy of trees” where great views are possible with the warblers visible  in the bushes circling the area of trees.

 

From there,  we will explore the downriver part of the park and work our way down to the Lost Lake Nature Trail.
As the time will be approaching 11:00AM,   we can break for lunch in that part of the park.

 

Possible birds: Egrets (several species), Cedar Waxwing, Hawks (several species) Varied Thrush, Bald Eagle,  Common Merganser , Acorn Woodpecker, Canada Goose, Ring- necked Duck, Anna’s Hummingbird, Great Blue Heron, Wood Duck, Phainopepla, Black Phoebe, and many others.

 

Other possible sightings…Coyotes, Bobcats…on the other side of the river.

 

Hard Rain or flooding cancels this walk.

Trip Leader: Fred Peterson fjppet@gmail.com

Co-Trip Leader: Susan Heidebrecht  sunheidebrecht@comcast.net

 

Registration is required for this walk.

All participants must agree to the FAS Liability Waiver Form when they register. Use the QR code below or the form can also be found here

FAS Release of Liability Form

FAS Release of Liability Form

Registration link