Field Trip to River West Madera

Wednesday

March 6, 2024

Register here!

We will meet at 8:00 a.m. just outside the Valley Golf Center (which is south and down the hill from Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera County). The walk will mostly follow along the San Joaquin River downstream toward Sycamore Island. Although the river is also accessible from Wildwood Native Park, we will start from the Golf Center as the status of the Park is uncertain at this time.

We plan to take Palm Avenue south toward the river from the golf course, past the pipe gate, then following the river downstream, first on the service road to Sycamore Island, then along the Riverfront Trail, ultimately emerging at a grouping of several ponds and a large lagoon just north of the river channel. The Riverfront Trail follows a berm next to the river and is somewhat narrow and uneven. For anyone not comfortable with it, the Sycamore Island road can be followed instead. Total distance is about 3.5 miles.

We hope to see a variety of waterfowl, raptors, swallows, sparrows, kinglets, bluebirds, meadowlark and warblers. We will be on special lookout for nesting activity, as this has been an active area for breeding osprey, red-tailed hawks, and great-horned owls in recent years.

Bring suitable clothing (layers) and walking shoes, snacks, water, head covering, sunscreen, and binoculars. The ponds and lagoon will be quite amenable to spotting scopes, although they are more than a mile and a half from the assembly area.

Directions: Take Highway 41 north from Fresno, to the first exit north of the San Joaquin River (Exit 138A). Turn right at the intersection and follow Cobb Ranch Road back toward Fresno until you get to the first intersection. Turn right and proceed under the Highway 41 bridges to the parking area just outside the golf course where we will assemble.

Leader: John McDaniel

Phone: (559) 779-7186

Email: mandomac@comcast.net

Register here!

Long-billed Curlew, Marbled Godwit and Willet by Peter Nagayama

Event is full.

If you would like to be placed on a waiting list, please send an email to admin@fresnoaudubon.org with the subject line- Elkhorn Waiting List.

When: Saturday, March 9, 2024
Time: 1:15 on the Private Chartered Boat (22 people)

Cost: $40 per person (NON-REFUNDABLE) Does not include gratuity for Naturalist.

Please Note: Registration Closes February 15, 2024

HOW LONG?

Our tours take approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.

WHERE & WHEN
Please check in with your naturalist, 30 minutes prior to the departure time, at our Office/Gift Shop located at 7981 MOSS LANDING ROAD, STE.E., AT THE CROSSROAD OF SANDHOLDT RD. The naturalist on duty will get you checked in and tell you where to go from there. It’s a short, 1 minute to walk from our Gift Shop to our boat in the harbor.

PARKING
FREE PARKING is available on Moss Landing Rd., near our Office/Gift Shop at 7981 Moss Landing Rd. Ste E. As long as you park on the shoulder of the road, without blocking any entrances to the local businesses, parking will be free all day. Parking is also available in the Moss Landing Harbor lot at 7881 SANDHOLDT RD., MOSS LANDING, CA. The cost is $12.00, payable at the harbor office near the flag poles. Parking in the harbor lot is free with a handicap placard.

DO NOT ENTER “ELKHORN SLOUGH” INTO GOOGLE MAPS, THIS WILL DIRECT YOU AWAY FROM OUR LOCATION AND WE WILL NOT BE ABLE HOLD THE DEPARTURE IF YOU ARE LATE.

WHAT TO WEAR/BRING? -BE SURE TO CHECK THE WEATHER THE DAY OF YOUR TOUR -DRESS IN LAYERS, even on warm days it can get quite chilly on the water, be prepared so you stay warm and comfortable. -BINOCULARS, We do offer complimentary binoculars for our guests to use during their tour, but do bring your own if you have a pair. -We recommend comfortable, closed toed shoes. Please, no high heels. -Sunscreen -Blanket, for extra warmth or to cushion your seat -Camera -No food or drink on board please. Bottled water is ok.

Please keep in mind that there are NO restrooms on the boat, consuming lots of beverages before the tour is not recommended. There are public restrooms available at the Moss Landing Harbor parking lot, as well as at our Office/Gift Shop.

We look forward to showing you the wonders of Elkhorn Slough!

Elkhorn Slough Safari
www.elkhornslough.com
831-633-5555

Contact: Maureen Walsh
mewnew10@yahoo.com
(559) 706-4980

Checklist: binoculars, bird guide, water, layered clothing and sun protection.

Introduction to Birding at the River Center

11605 Old Friant Rd
Fresno, CA 93730

Please register for the event here.

Please register for the event here.

Clovis Botanical Garden: Dry Creek Park and Cottonwood Park

Register Here

The Fresno Audubon Society will be hosting a Bird Walk on Saturday March 23,  at the Clovis Botanical Gardens. The walk will include the Botanical Gardens, Dry Creek Park as well as Cottonwood Park and ponding basin.

The walk will be about 1-1/2 hours and will be led by Susan Heidebrecht.

We expect to see a good variety of birds including warblers, bushtits, raptors and waterfowl.

We will meet for the walk at the entrance to the Botanical Gardens.

Registration is required.

Register Here

Contact Info:

Susan Heidebrecht sunheidebrecht@comcast.net (559) 313-1776

Contact admin@fresnoaudubon.org for login credentials

The Fresno Audubon Society Wednesday Walk to Lake Yosemite in Merced will be on March 27. Registration is required for this event.

Register Here

To get there-Take Hwy 99 north to Campus Parkway/Mission Road, turn right, go east on Campus Parkway past one roundabout, at the second roundabout, go north on Lake Avenue all the way to the UC Merced campus-just beyond it is Lake Yosemite Park-

Register Here

Wednesday Bird Walk at Sycamore Island 

Registration is required for this event.

 Registration link

Meeting location:  Sycamore Island (36.8590560, -119.8230324)

Meeting time: 8:00 AM

End time:  Noon, or you may stay and have lunch with the group 

Sycamore Island, part of the San Joaquin River Parkway, is along the San Joaquin River in Madera County downstream from River West open space. It offers a variety of habitats:  river, ponds, riparian, grasslands, and wetlands.  We can expect ducks, raptors, herons, egrets, owls. woodpeckers, finches, swallows, sparrows among many others. 

This is a large property and we will do a combination of driving and  walking.  Walking distance will be 1 to 2 miles but those who don’t care to walk can drive to most of the areas.  There are picnic shelters with tables for lunch and restrooms on the property. 

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 at 559.351.7192 or geofolsom@gmail.com

 Registration link

The Raptor Trail on The Kings River at Pine Flat Dam

Registration is required for this event.

Register Here

Join FAS for birding along the Kings River. The trail begins across from the parking lot on the south side of the bridge just below Pine Flat Dam. The trail is basically an easy walk of approximately a mile and a quarter each way, but there is some uneven terrain and river rocks create a cobblestone surface in parts. Some of our target species include Golden Eagles, Bald Eagles, and Osprey.

Meet in the parking lot at the south side of the bridge. If you want to look for directions from the eBird map, the Raptor Trail is just across the river from the North Riverside Access Park eBird Hotspot. GPS Coordinates 36.8298592686927, -119.33621274737327.

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 the trip leader.

Contact:

Susan Heidebrecht

(559) 313-1777

email: sunheidebrecht@comcast.net

Register Here

Registration link 

Evening Owl Walk at Jensen River Ranch

Event 1 (There will be 2 owl walks in April)

Registration is required for this event.

Join FAS for an evening Owl Walk on the Jensen Trail.  We plan to start close to sunset to be on the Jensen Trail at dusk when the Great Horned owls and Barn owls come out to hunt. The outing should take about 1 1/2 hours.  We will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the parking lot adjacent to the Art of Life Healing Garden in Woodward Park.

The $5.00 City entrance fee applies if you park in Woodward Park. Alternative parking may be available in the Fort Washington Shopping Center.

Registration is required for this event. Any questions, please contact trip leader Susan Heidebrecht at sunheidebrecht@comcast.net.

Registration link 

Postponed due to threat of rain. 

Check their website for more information: https://ecocencal.org/earth-day-fresno-2/

Earth Day Fresno is putting on a celebration on the Fresno City College campus from 10 AM to 4 PM.

This is a free, family-friendly outdoor festival that will feature various educational exhibits and activities.

Fresno Audubon will be running one of the educational booths. Be sure to stop by and say “Hello”!