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Wednesday Bird Walk at Lost Lake

Registration is required for this event.

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Join trip leader Judy Johnson at Lost Lake Park during spring migration. Possible species include Western tanager, phainopepla, Western bluebird, spotted towhee, lark sparrow, spotted sandpiper, kingfisher, red breasted sapsucker, various warblers, and many more. We will meet at the southwest end of the loop, at 8:00am, near the start of the nature trail. Be aware that there is a $5 fee for entering the park. Expect to be finished by 1:00 pm.

The walking will be easy and flat. Bring water, sunscreen, a hat, snacks, lunch (optional), binoculars and bird guides, and dress in layers.

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 Judy Johnson (559) 977-2787 (voice or text)

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Wednesday Bird Walk at Sycamore Island

Registration is required for this event.

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Join trip leader George Folsom to explore Sycamore Island. Sycamore Island is along the San Joaquin River in Madera County downstream form River West open space. It offers a variety of habitats: ponds, riparian, grasslands, oak woodlands and wetlands. We can expect ducks, raptors, herons, egrets, orioles, woodpeckers and perhaps migrating warblers and vireos among may others.

Meet at the access gate off Ave 9, Madera County at 8:00 a.m.. See map below. 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 559-435-9374 or geofolsom@gmail.com

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Join Fresno Audubon on Saturday, May 14 as we celebrate World Migratory Bird Day 2022 by exploring China Creek Park and Avocado Lake Park. We will meet at 06:30 in the Wal-Mart parking lot at Blackstone and Ashlan (36.793565, -119.789792, near El Pollo Loco), where we will arrange carpooling.

From there, we will make the approximately 30 minute drive to China Creek Park in Centerville (36.722578, -119.502003). Entry is free at China Creek Park, but parking is a little limited near the entrance. We will hike around China Creek for about 3 to 4 hours. At this location, our target species will be Black-headed Grosbeak, Bullock’s Oriole, Western Tanager, Yellow Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, and many more!

After birding at China Creek, we will head to Avocado Lake (36.782435, -119.407550), where we will have a picnic lunch before birding. Be advised that there is a $5 fee per vehicle to enter Avocado Lake Park. Our target species at Avocado Lake will be Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Violet-green Swallow, Oak Titmouse, Phainopepla, Lesser Goldfinch, Ash-throated Flycatcher, and several others! We will plan to wrap up around 2:00 or 3:00 PM.

Participants should bring snacks, lunch, water, hat, sunscreen, and binoculars, and should dress in layers. Registration is required for all participants.

We ask that all participants register individually. This trip is limited to 25 participants. Please reach out to trip leader Rachel Clark at 515-357-0122 or tanagergirl@gmail.com if you have any questions or concerns. 

Meeting Place Map

China Creek Park Map

For anyone curious about World Migratory Bird Day, here is a link to more information: https://www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/

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Join the River Parkway Trust and Fresno Audubon for an Introduction to Birding Class at the Coke Hallowell Center for River Studies.

Class participants will learn how to use binoculars, why birding is a fun and valuable hobby, and about the resources available to help identify birds. After the initial class work, participants will accompany Fresno Audubon experts on a bird walk around the River Center property including the Hidden Homes Trail. This class will begin at the picnic tables just south of the Ranch House.

Participants should bring binoculars, snacks, water, and sun protection. Fresno Audubon will have binoculars to loan for anyone who doesn’t have their own pair.

There is no cost to attend. Children are welcome.

Please register for the event here.

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The FAS Wednesday Walk on May 25 will be to Cricket Hollow Park in Reedley, on the bank of the Kings River. This should be a good opportunity to see Spring migrants, as well as riparian, woodland, and river birds. Birding at the park is an easy walk on level ground. The trip should last about three hours. If time permits, the trail along the Kings River next to nearby Reedley College will also be covered. Participants will meet at the Walmart at Blackstone and Ashlan at 8 a.m. and caravan to Reedley. Maps from Fresno to Cricket Hollow will be provided. Bring a lunch. Participants are responsible for arranging any carpooling beforehand.

Participants should bring snacks, lunch, water, hat, sunscreen, and binoculars, and should dress in layers. Registration is required for all participants.

We ask that all participants register individually. This trip is limited to 25 participants. Please reach out to trip leader Larry Parmeter at lanpar362@gmail.com if you have any questions or concerns. 

Meeting Place Map

Cricket Hollow Park Map

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Join Fresno Audubon Society experts for an entry-level bird walk at the River Center. This is a follow-on birding trip for our Introduction to Birding class, but all (including children) are welcome. Bring your own binoculars or borrow a pair from Fresno Audubon. Also bring sun protection such as a hat and sunscreen, plus water and snacks. This class will begin at the picnic tables just south of the Ranch House.

Please register for the event here.

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Western Tanager by Clayton Dahlen

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Swanson Meadow/McKinley Grove/Courtright Reservoir

Join Fresno Audubon on Saturday, June 11 as we journey up Dinkey Creek Road and McKinley Grove Road to visit various birding hotspots. We will meet at 6:00 AM in the Wal Mart parking Lot at Ashlan and Blackstone (36.793565, -119.789792, near El Pollo Loco) to arrange carpooling. The group will depart by 6:15 AM. Our first stop will be the Edison Rest Area (located just outside the town of Shaver Lake at 37.104806, -119.309209). We will bird around the rest area for approximately 30 minutes. Goal birds at this location include Fox Sparrow, Mountain Chickadee, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Western Tanager. From there, we will head to Swanson Meadow (37.095708, -119.291487), where we will bird for approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. Goal birds at Swanson Meadow include Green-tailed Towhee, Lazuli Bunting, Cassin’s Vireo, Chipping Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, and many more!

Our next stop will be McKinley Grove (37.022900, -119.108313), where we will bird for approximately 1.5 hours. Goal birds at McKinley Grove include Hermit Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Pacific Wren, Purple Finch, and White-headed Woodpecker.

Our next stop will be Courtright Reservoir (37.076151, -118.974566), where we will sit down for a picnic lunch and spend approximately 2 hours birding. Goal birds at Courtright Reservoir include Hermit Thrush, Mountain White-crowned Sparrow, Violet-green Swalllow, Clark’s Nutcracker, Cassin’s Finch, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Williamson’s Sapsucker, and Black-backed Woodpecker. The plan is to depart the Courtright area around 3:30 or 4:00 PM.

Participants can certainly leave earlier if they’d prefer. Participants should bring snacks, lunch, water, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and binoculars, and should dress in layers.

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

Please reach out to trip leader Rachel Clark at 515-357-0122 or tanagergirl@gmail.com with any questions. 

Meeting Place Map

Please register for the event here.

Green-tailed Towhee by Gary Woods

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Let’s Go Birding Together!

Fresno Audubon Society (FAS) President Rachel Clark will be leading a beginning birding trip exploring various locations along Dinkey Creek and McKinley Grove Roads in the Sierra National Forest, near Shaver Lake. This event is co-sponsored with LGBT Fresno. Stop by our booth at Fresno Pride on June 4th!

FAS invites the Fresno LGBTQIA++ community to join us in celebrating not just the diversity of the birds in area, but also our people. Let’s Go Birding Together! is a birding walk intentionally welcoming of the LGBTQIA++ community and is designed to be a space where people can be themselves without fear of judgment. Let’s Go Birding Together! bird walks are held nationwide during June to build community and create diversity, reflecting the biodiversity in our ecosystems.

 Our FAS leaders will point out birds, enthusiastically identify them and share their knowledge about the birds. All ages, allies, and families are welcome, but youth under 18 years should be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Loaner binoculars will be available.

Even if you have never been birding before, you are specifically welcome to join!

We will be meeting at 7:00 AM in the Walmart parking lot at Blackstone and Ashlan, near the El Pollo Loco, to arrange carpooling (36.793721, -119.789637). The plan will be to depart Fresno by 7:15 AM. We will wrap the birding festivities up around 2:30 PM and head back down to Fresno.

Participants should bring plenty of water, snacks, a lunch, sunscreen, a hat, binoculars (if you have them), and should dress in layers. We will have some loaner binoculars available for participants’ use. Registration is required for this event, and is limited to 30 people, so sign up as soon as you can!

Please reach out to trip leader Rachel Clark at 515-357-0122 or tanagergirl@gmail.com if you have any questions or concerns. 

Meeting Place Map

For more perspective on this topic, feel free to check out the following article:

“For the LGBTQ Community, Birding Can Be a Relief—and a Source of Anxiety”

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