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Kings River Mitigation Site 8:00 am
Kings River Mitigation Site
Nov 9 @ 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Kings River Mitigation Site
Kings River Mitigation Site   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 Link Leader: Rick Grijalva, rickgrijalva2@gmail.com . Field Trip Description:   Join us for...
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General Meeting – Nov 2024 Rich Cimino 7:00 pm
General Meeting – Nov 2024 Rich Cimino @ Zoom
Nov 12 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
General Meeting - Nov 2024 Rich Cimino @ Zoom
 Virtual General Meeting Rich Cimino Topic: Birds of the Western Andes Mountains of Colombia Register for Fresno Audubon General Meeting Nov. 12th, 7:00pm This meeting will be broadcast online via Zoom  Register to receive login information. New to Zoom? Check out all you need to...
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Field Trip to Merced National Wildlife Refuge 2024 11:45 am
Field Trip to Merced National Wildlife Refuge 2024 @ Merced National Wildlife Refuge
Nov 13 @ 11:45 am – 5:30 pm
Field Trip to Merced National Wildlife Refuge 2024 @ Merced National Wildlife Refuge
Merced National Wildlife Refuge Wednesday, November 13, 2024 Registration Link 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   With winter migrants filling...
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Elkhorn Slough, November 16, 2024 1:30 pm
Elkhorn Slough, November 16, 2024 @ Elkhorn Slough
Nov 16 @ 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Elkhorn Slough, November 16, 2024 @ Elkhorn Slough
    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 Note: Payment is now a part of the registration process.  When: Saturday, November 16, 2024...
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Field Trip to Kern National Wildlife Refuge 2024 6:45 am
Field Trip to Kern National Wildlife Refuge 2024 @ Kern National Wildlife Refuge
Nov 21 @ 6:45 am – 3:00 pm
Field Trip to Kern National Wildlife Refuge 2024 @ Kern National Wildlife Refuge
Kern National Wildlife Refuge Thursday, November 21, 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     November 21, join trip leader Judy Johnson...
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#optoutside Opt Outside Bird Walk 7:30 am
#optoutside Opt Outside Bird Walk @ Friant Cove/Millerton Lake
Nov 29 @ 7:30 am – 1:30 pm
#optoutside Opt Outside Bird Walk @ Friant Cove/Millerton Lake
Opt Outside November 29, 2024 Registration is required for this event. 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 . On November 29, Fresno...
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Nov
8
Wed
2023
Wednesday Walk – Millerton Lake (Madera West Side) @ Millerton Lake (Madera Side)
Nov 8 @ 8:00 am – 1:15 pm

Registration Required.

Link to Registration.

 

The Wednesday Walk on November 8 will be to the Madera(west) side of Millerton Lake and its campgrounds. We will meet at the Target parking lot at Riverpark at 8am and go from there. People are responsible for arranging carpools and rides in advance.

Our first stop will be the Highway 145 bridge at Friant and the Millerton forebay. We will look for waterfowl and wading birds, among other species.
Then we will head to the west side of Millerton Lake. We will first stop just inside the entrance kiosk and look for Rock Wrens and thrashers along the rocky shore. Then we will head to the parking area with the trailer facilities. The campgrounds in and around that area are good for raptors, sparrows, thrushes, towhees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, finches, and possible roadrunners.
Finally, we will go to the end of the road and the boat ramp area for more waterfowl, grebes, and possible loons. The weather will probably have turned cooler by then, so bring warm clothing and lunch.

 

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

 

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

Registration Required.

Link to Registration.

 

Nov
14
Tue
2023
General Meeting – Nov. 2023 Gail Patricelli, Robots, Telemetry, & the Sex Lives of Wild Birds @ Zoom
Nov 14 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

 Virtual General Meeting

Gail Patricelli

Robots, Telemetry, & the Sex Lives of Wild Birds:

Using technology to study courtship and conservation

Register for Fresno Audubon General Meeting Nov. 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.

Female greater sage-grouse soliciting copulation

Description: 

Animals use a dizzying array of sounds, smells, colors, dances, electrical fields and seismic vibrations to convince each other to mate. These elaborate courtship signals were a mystery until Darwin’s theory of sexual selection, which proposed that the courting sex (often, but not always the males) must be elaborate because the courted sex (often, but not always the females) demands it. But how do scientists study the conversations males and females in non-human animals have about mating? One way to do this is to participate, controlling one side of the conversation with a robot. Gail Patricelli will talk about using robotic females to study courtship behaviors in two spectacular species of birds, the satin bowerbird and the greater sage-grouse.

Bio:

Gail Patricelli is a professor in the Department of Evolution and Ecology and Chair of the Animal Behavior Graduate Group at the University of California, Davis. Members of the Patricelli Lab study the evolution of courtship and other forms of communication in birds and the impact of human activities, like urban development and noise pollution, on communication, breeding ecology, and reproductive success. This research uses technology such as biomimetic robotics, microphone arrays, acoustic monitoring, and remote telemetry to study populations in the wild, from local songbirds to species of conservation concern, such as greater sage-grouse.



Fresno Audubon Society
Thank you for your continued involvement in and support of Fresno Audubon Society.
Nov
24
Fri
2023
#optoutside Opt Outside Bird Walk @ Friant Cove/Millerton Lake
Nov 24 @ 7:30 am – 1:30 pm

Opt Outside November 24, 2023

Please register here.

Thanksgiving this year is on Thursday, November 23, and the day after is Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year. Instead of heading to the stores and braving the hordes of shoppers on Friday November, 24, please join Fresno Audubon for our #OptOutside event in and around the Friant area! We will be meeting at 7:30 AM at Friant Cove at the intersection of Millerton Road and North Fork Road (36.991123, -119.711654).

 

We will bird at Friant Cove for approximately 30 minutes, and after that, we will head to the Friant Interactive Nature Site, just down the road. After spending approximately an hour at the Friant Interactive Nature Site, we will head to the Fresno County side of Millerton Lake State Recreation Area (36.986393, -119.684266) and explore some of the habitat near the boat launch, and a part of the nature trail that parallels the road.

 

 

At Millerton Lake State Recreation Area, there is a $10 entry fee per vehicle (up to 9 people per vehicle). The cost for seniors is $9 per vehicle. If you have a State Parks pass, definitely bring it along! To reduce costs, we would like to encourage carpooling. Parking vehicles outside the entrance and walking in is not allowed per park rules. Our target species will include Bewick’s Wren, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Rock Wren, Canyon Wren, California Towhee, California Quail, White-breasted Nuthatch, Spotted Towhee, Eared Grebe, Western Grebe, Bald Eagle, and many more! We will likely be wrapping up at Millerton Lake around 1:30 or 2:00. Please note that this itinerary is subject to change. We will keep registrants informed of any changes.

 

 

Participants should bring day packs, hats, sunscreen, sunglasses, plenty of water, snacks, lunch (if desired), and binoculars, and should dress in layers. Hiking shoes are recommended.

 

 

Registration is required for this event. Please register here.

 

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

 

 

Even if you’re not able to join us, we hope that you are able to Opt Outside on Friday following Thanksgiving!

 

 

 

 

Nov
29
Wed
2023
Wednesday Walk – Merced NWR @ MNWR
Nov 29 @ 11:45 am – 8:00 pm

Merced National Wildlife Refuge

Nov. 29, 2023

 

Registration required: Please register here.

 

 

With winter migrants filling local refuges and putting on a tremendous show, it is a wonderful time to bird Central Valley wetlands. Join Fresno Audubon on Wednesday, November 29 for a tour of the Merced National Wildlife Refuge. We will meet at the MacDonald’s parking lot in the Marketplace at El Paseo (6741 N Riverside Dr, Fresno, CA 93722, see map) at 11:45 for a noon start. Secondary meet up is at the first parking lot of the refuge, near the bathrooms and the first observation deck, at 1:00pm (see map).

Map to McDonald’s

Map to MNWR

After driving the auto tour, we will gather at the second observation deck at sundown for the spectacular crane fly-in, which should end around 5:30pm.
Target birds include lesser sandhill cranes, phoebes, various sparrows, American pipits, numerous species of ducks and geese, American white pelicans, wading birds and shore birds, egrets, American coots, red-tailed hawks, northern harriers and other hawks. Also possible are bald eagles, great-horned owls, and vermillion flycatchers.

 

Participants should bring day packs, hats, sunscreen, sunglasses, plenty of water, snacks, lunch (if desired), and binoculars, and should dress in layers. We probably will not be doing much hiking, but comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Please bring radios (walky-talkies) if you have them.

 

Registration required: Please register here.

Checklist: binoculars, spotting scopes, cameras, jackets, snacks, water, insect repellent, and radios.

Trip Leader: Judy Johnson  (559)977-2787

 

Dec
2
Sat
2023
Saturday Bird Walk at Sumner-Peck Ranch @ Sumner-Peck Ranch
Dec 2 @ 8:30 am – 12:30 pm

Saturday Bird Walk at Sumner-Peck Ranch

Registration is required for this event.

Register Here

Join trip leader Susan Heidebrecht for birding along the San Joaquin River on the beautiful  Sumner-Peck Ranch property.  It is mostly flat terrain with good trails. The walk will be approximately 1 ½ miles each way.  Expect to see a variety of waterfowl, warblers, raptors, Belted kingfishers, and woodpeckers.  

We will meet at the parking area at the end of the drive (do not turn left into the parking lot near the entrance, but drive straight ahead). 

If you wish to bring lunch, there is a small picnic area near the parking lot.  Seating, however, is limited, so it is recommended you bring a chair.

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

Register Here

Dec
6
Wed
2023
Wednesday Walk – Pinnacles National Park @ Pinnacles National Park
Dec 6 @ 7:00 am – 5:00 pm

California Condor

California Condor

 

Please register for the trip here so we know how many to expect.

 

Pinnacles National Park Walk

Join George Folsom for a trip to Pinnacles National Park; there’s good chance you will see California Condors. We will meet in the parking lot at the Target Store located in the Marketplace at El Paseo (Herndon and Golden State Blvd.) at 7:00 AM and carpool to the park. The trip will take 2.5 hours of drive time, so we will stop along the way to bird and stretch our legs.  We will meet at the Camp Ground Store parking lot in the Park.  For those who choose to spend the night near the Park, we should arrive about 9:30 AM depending on traffic.  Please note that this is a national park, and thus a fee is charged.  Bring your National Park Pass, if you have one.  This will be a long day trip, returning around 5 pm, so plan accordingly.

 

 

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

 

 

The Fresno Target Store meeting location is here:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/fdh27zLZKgfoGzye6?g_st=ic

 

 

The Panicles National Park Campground Store meeting location is here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/nUWrCib7VrBW76kEA?g_st=ic

 

 

 

Please register for the trip here so we know how many to expect.

 

Dec
12
Tue
2023
General Meeting – Dec 2023 Rich Cimino, Birds of the Sierra Nevada @ Zoom
Dec 12 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

 Virtual General Meeting

Rich Cimino

Favorite Birds of the Sierra Nevada

Register for Fresno Audubon General Meeting Dec 12th, 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.

Rich Cimino, Favorite Birds of the Sierra Nevada

 

Bio:

Rich lives in Larkspur and is an active member of the Marin Audubon Society, where he participates in three Marin CBC’s and the Marin County Breeding Bird Atlas.

 

He has been birding Northern California for 55 years, leading Bay Area Audubon field trips for 43 years, and Marin Audubon field trips for 10 years.

 

Having volunteered for GGRO Hawk Watch for 12 years and Audubon Canyon Ranch Heron and Egret counts, he now surveys for the Vaux’s Swift migration through Marin County.

 

Habitat preservation is always on his mind, and he is currently active in different capacities with conservation groups in Northern California, emphasizing preserving habitat. 

 

He has led the Eastern Alameda Breeding Bird Atlas, The Altamont Pass Wind Turbine Area Golden Eagle & Raptor stakeholder group, and the Eastern Alameda County CBC as its compiler. 

 

He is the field guide for Yellowbilled Tours (www.yellowbilledtours.com), which offers annual birding tours to Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Belize, Guatemala, Panama, and France. 



Fresno Audubon Society
Thank you for your continued involvement in and support of Fresno Audubon Society.
Dec
13
Wed
2023
Wednesday Bird Walk at Jensen River Ranch @ Jensen River Ranch
Dec 13 @ 8:00 am – 12:00 pm

Wednesday Bird Walk at Jensen River Ranch

Registration is required for this event.

 

Register Here

 

Join trip leader Wes Beal to explore Jensen River Ranch. We will meet at 8:00 a.m. the Art of Life Healing Garden next to the north east parking lot in Woodward Park.

 

 

From there we will walk down the Tom MacMichael Senior Trail to the San Joaquin River and along its bank upstream until we meet the Flood Control District’s ditch. We will continue along the MacMichael Trail following the ditch back toward the bluff, and circle back to the parking area. We hope to see many of our usual suspects including scrub jays, black phoebes, house finches, lesser goldfinches, red-tailed hawks, red-shouldered hawks, turkey vultures, American kestrel, great blue herons, double-crested cormorants and great egrets. Some of the fall returnees may show up as well, including cedar waxwing, northern flickers, various and sundry sparrows as well as migrating waterfowl.

 

Depending on time and interest, we may walk over to the large pond near the Park entrance, which should be populated with Canada geese, mallards, American coots, and pied-billed grebes, among others.

 

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. If you have any questions, please reach out to trip leader Wes Beal at (559) 250-2988 or beal4farms@gmail.com

Register Here

Dec
20
Wed
2023
Evening Owl Walk at Jensen River Ranch EVENT FULL @ Jensen River Ranch
Dec 20 @ 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm

Event is full!

Evening Owl Walk at Jensen River Ranch

 

Registration is required for this event.

Register Here

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 4:00 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 Larry Cusick at (559) 313-1777, larrywcusick@gmail.com.

Register Here

Dec
23
Sat
2023
Saturday Bird Walk at Lost Lake/Fin Trail @ Lost Lake
Dec 23 @ 8:30 am – 12:00 pm

Lost Lake Audubon Field Trip 

Registration is required for this event.

Register Here

Location: Lost Lake , Fresno County Park

                  Lost Lake Rd, Friant, CA 93626

Date and Meeting time

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.

TBD, visit to FINS  ( Friant Interactive Nature Site, .2 miles east of Lost Lake Park) after birding Lost Lake location.

 

 

Duration of walk: 8:30 am – 12 pm

 

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,  (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.

 

Hard Rain or flooding cancels this walk.

Trip Leader: Lynda Schafhauser

Contact information: cell for voicemail or text:  559-377-8427

Email: rufusradar@att.net

Registration is required for this walk.

Register Here