EVENT CALENDAR - Fresno Audubon Society
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Introduction to Birding Saturday Dec. 21, 2024 9:00 am
Introduction to Birding Saturday Dec. 21, 2024 @ River Center
Dec 21 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Introduction to Birding Saturday Dec. 21, 2024 @ River Center
Introduction to Birding at the River Center 11605 Old Friant Rd Fresno, CA 93730     Registration link  All registrants must agree to the FAS Liability Waiver Form when they register. Use the QR code below or the form can also be found here Description...
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Apr
16
Sat
2022
Introduction to birding at the River Center @ River Center
Apr 16 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am

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 Wisteria Shade Arbor just north 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.

Apr
23
Sat
2022
Introductory Bird Walk at the River Center @ River Center
Apr 23 @ 8:00 am – 12:00 pm

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.

Please register for the event here.

May
10
Tue
2022
General Meeting – “Dan Airola – Yellow-billed Magpies” @ Zoom
May 10 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

 Virtual General Meeting

Dan Airola

Yellow-Billed Magpie Population Status in Urban Sacramento

Register for Fresno Audubon General Meeting May 10th, 7:00pm
This meeting will be broadcast online via Zoom
 Register to receive login information.

New to Zoom? Check out all you need to know here before the meeting.

Program Description

Dan’s talk covers his studies of the Yellow-billed Magpie population that occupies parks and other open space areas within the urban Sacramento area. Dan documents the previously unstudied ecology of Central Valley magpie populations. He also describes new information that explains the occurrence and abundance of magpies in this area. He also solves the mystery of how magpies appear to have maintained stable and healthy populations in this urban area, while populations in more rural areas have been decimated by West Nile virus.

Speaker Bio:

Dan Airola is a Wildlife Biologist and Ornithologist,  who has lived in the Central Valley since 1985. Dan conducts research and conservation efforts for birds of concern in northern California, often with a community science component. He began studies of Yellow-billed Magpies during 2020 after discovering that almost no ecological study of the species had occurred in the Central Valley. His other research and conservation program species include the Tricolored Blackbird, Purple Martin, Swainson’s Hawk, Osprey, and migratory and wintering songbirds. He is a Board member and Conservation Chair of the Central Valley Bird Club, and Editor of the journal Central Valley Birds. His recent book on 30 years of Purple Martin research and management is available at cvbirds.org.



Fresno Audubon Society
Thank you for your continued involvement in and support of Fresno Audubon Society.
May
14
Sat
2022
China Creek Park and Avocado Lake Park, May 14, 2022 @ China Creek
May 14 @ 6:30 am – 3:00 pm

Register Here

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/

Please register for the event here.

 

May
21
Sat
2022
Introduction to birding at the River Center @ River Center
May 21 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am

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.

May
25
Wed
2022
Cricket Hollow Park in Reedley, May 25, 2022 @ Cricket Hollow Park
May 25 @ 8:00 am – 1:00 pm

Register Here

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

 

Please register for the event here.

 

May
28
Sat
2022
Introductory Bird Walk at the River Center @ River Center
May 28 @ 8:30 am – 12:30 pm

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.

 

Jun
11
Sat
2022
Swanson Meadow/McKinley Grove/Courtright Reservoir @ Swanson Meadow/McKinley Grove/Courtright Reservoir
Jun 11 @ 6:00 am – 3:00 pm

Western Tanager by Clayton Dahlen

Register Here

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.

 

Jun
12
Sun
2022
Let’s Go Birding Together @ Dinkey Creek Road and McKinley Grove Road
Jun 12 @ 7:00 am – 3:00 pm

Green-tailed Towhee by Gary Woods

Register Here

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”

 

Register Here

Jun
14
Tue
2022
General Meeting – Lily Douglas- The Central Valley Joint Venture – creating habitat for migrating birds @ Zoom
Jun 14 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

 Virtual General Meeting

Lily Douglas

The Central Valley Joint Venture

-creating habitat for migrating birds

 

Register for Fresno Audubon General Meeting June 14th, 7:00pm
This meeting will be broadcast online via Zoom
 Register to receive login information.

New to Zoom? Check out all you need to know here before the meeting.

Lily Douglas with Tricolored Blackbird

 

Program Description:

 

The Central Valley is a critically important part of the Pacific Flyway, which extends from the Arctic to South America, and is used by over 100 million birds of 400 species every year. Approximately 95% of natural habitat in the Central Valley has been transformed for human uses, and unpredictable water supplies and other climate change impacts threaten the future of farms, wetlands, and other bird habitats.

 

The Central Valley Joint Venture (CVJV) partners with private landowners, local governments, non-profit organizations, and others to conserve Central Valley birds and their habitats for current and future generations. In 2021, the CVJV released its updated Implementation Plan, laying out objectives to support healthy bird populations and benefit people and communities in the Central Valley. Lily Douglas, the CVJV’s Assistant Coordinator, will discuss the formation of the migratory bird joint ventures, the history and structure of the CVJV, the updated Implementation Plan, and how you can help.

 

Speaker Bio:

 

Lily Douglas is the Assistant Coordinator of the Central Valley Joint Venture for migratory bird habitat conservation. She has worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for nine years, previously in roles implementing the Endangered Species Act for species in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys. Prior to that she worked with Greater Sage-Grouse for the Bureau of Land Management and as a GIS Analyst with an environmental consulting firm. Lily also sits on the Board of Directors for the Central Valley Bird Club and co-authored the book Sacramento County Breeding Birds: A Tale of Two Atlases and Three Decades of Change, released last year.



Fresno Audubon Society
Thank you for your continued involvement in and support of Fresno Audubon Society.