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

FAS Release of Liability Form

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 13 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 below) 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). 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, Black and Say’s Phoebes, White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows, American Pipits, Northern Shovelers, Northern Pintails, Gadwalls, Green-winged and Cinnamon Teals, Greater White-fronted Geese, Snow Geese, Ross’s Geese, American White Pelicans, Great and Snowy Egrets, Great Blue Herons, American Coots, Black-necked Stilts, White-faced Ibis, Long-billed Dowitchers, Dunlin, Wilson’s Snipe, Least Sandpipers, Long-billed Curlews, Red-tailed Hawks, and Northern Harriers. Also possible are Cackling Geese, Red-shouldered Hawks, Cooper’s Hawks, Bald Eagles, Kestrels, and Great-horned Owls. Both a Burrowing Owl 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 is required for this event.

Registration Link

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

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

Register Here

Note: Payment is now a part of the registration process. 

When: Saturday, November 16, 2024
Time: 1:30 on the Private Chartered Boat (22 people)

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

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.

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

FAS Release of Liability Form

Registration is required for this event.

Registration Link

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

FAS Release of Liability Form

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On November 29, Fresno Audubon will sponsor the annual #optoutside Bird Walk as a fun alternative to Black Friday Christmas Shopping.

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We will meet in front of the Target at Riverpark Shopping Center at 7:45am and leave no later than 8am.

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Our first stop will be the parking lot at Friant Road and Highway 145, where the bridge goes over the San Joaquin River. In the past, this area has been good for waterfowl, woodpeckers, sparrows, and more. Then we will drive over to the Madera(West-camping) side of Millerton Lake State Recreation Area. Just inside the entrance kiosk(there is an entrance fee), we will stop to look for both Rock and Canyon Wrens, more sparrows, Say’s Phoebes, and other birds, as well as scan the reservoir for waterfowl and gulls. We will then go to the camping areas, looking for more sparrows, woodpeckers, hawks, phoebes, finches, and shrikes, among many other birds.

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Bring a lunch. Participants are responsible for carpool arrangements beforehand.

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

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

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

FAS Release of Liability Form

River West Madera

December 4, 2024 

Time: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Leaders: John McDaniel/George Folsom

(559) 779-7186/(559) 351-7192

mandomac@comcast.net /georgefolsom@icloud.com

Carpooling arrangements (unless Wildwood Nature Park is open—check with trip leaders):

Location: Target Parking Lot (see River Park Shopping Center map)

7600 N Blackstone

Time: 8:00 a.m.

Destination (see Golf Center Trailhead map for both locations):

Location: Intersection next to Valley Golf Center 

41445 Ave 9, Fresno, CA 93720

Alternate location if open (check with trip leaders):

Wildwood Native Park

Madera, California

Time: 8:15 a.m.

We will meet at 8:00 a.m. in the Target parking area in River Park Shopping Center to carpool to our destination due to limited parking at the destination. We will proceed from Target to Valley Golf Center (which is south of and down the hill from Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera County). 

Directions from Fresno: 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. Park along either side of the road or under the bridges. Do not park in the Golf Center parking area or in the posted no parking areas immediately to the south.

If the Wildwood Native Park is re-opened by the the time of the trip, we will instead rendezvous at Wildwood and avoid the carpooling arrangements. The route to Wildwood Park is the same as the Golf Center, except you turn left at the Avenue 9 intersection and proceed around the corner to the park entrance. See accompanying maps.

Weather and trail conditions permitting, the plan is to walk on Palm Avenue from the golf course, 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 service road can be followed instead. Total distance is about 3.5 miles. 

Although this is directly across the river from River West Open Space, be prepared for some different birds on the Madera County side, including black-crowned night heron, wigeon, gadwall, green-wing teal, cinnamon teal, phainopepla, wrens, and acorn, Nuttall’s and downy woodpeckers. Expect also to see the usual assortment of white-crowned, song and Lincoln sparrows, several flavor of egrets, red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks,  On our spring walks we may see signs of nesting activity by the returning osprey and great-horned owls, and perhaps an appearance by a bald eagle. 

Bring suitable clothing (layers) and walking shoes (depending on the season, the trail may be sloppy in some areas), 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. 

Leader: John McDaniel

Phone: (559) 779-7186

Email: mandomac@comcast.net

REGISTRATION Link 

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

FAS Release of Liability Form

Registration for this trip is here.

Event details subject to change.

Jeff Seay will lead this trip through the Merced Grasslands Important Bird Area finishing at Merced National Wildlife Refuge. Meet at that Walmart parking lot at Ashlan and Blackstone at 6:45 am for a 7 am departure. The trip will cover the Madera County’s foothill Grasslands on the way to the Merced Wildlife Refuge. We expect to see wintering raptors and other birds of the low foothills and grasslands. We will mostly be driving and getting out of the car periodically with possible small walks. At the end of the trip we will enjoy the spectacle of sandhill cranes, snow and Ross’s geese, and other waterfowl. It will last most of the day, ending about 5:45 at the refuge.

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

Registration for this trip is here.

Directions to the assembly point are here.

Trip leader: Jeff Seay, ‭(559) 960-0849‬, jeffseay@sbcglobal.net

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

FAS Release of Liability Form

Register here!

Join Fresno Audubon for a bird hike at River West Open Space on Saturday December 28. We will meet at River View Dr and W Bluff Ave at 8 a.m.

This is a rich area with many target species. We can expect to see a wide variety of ducks, including Goldeneye, Mergansers, and Bufflehead. There are many resident raptors – including Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks, and occasional Osprey and Bald Eagle sightings. There are many songbirds waiting to be discovered as well – sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Anna’s Hummingbirds, and Loggerhead Shrikes. It is not unusual to log more than 40 species.

Participants should bring snacks, water, hat, sunscreen, and binoculars, and should dress in layers. There really isn’t anywhere to eat lunch at this property; we will likely be wrapping up by 12:30.  Registration is required for this event.

The trip leader is George Folsom. He can be reached at georgefolsom@icloud.com if you have any questions. There is plenty of on street parking available on River View Dr and W Bluff Ave. It is about a 3-mile loop of flat walking. There are no restrooms or water available so come prepared!

Register here!

Lake Yosemite in Merced

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

FAS Release of Liability Form

The Fresno Audubon Society Wednesday Walk to Lake Yosemite in Merced will be on January 4. 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

Pixley NWR Field Trip

Details subject to change.

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

Registration Link

 Date: January 9, 2025

Trip Leaders: Susan Heidebrecht & Lowell Young

Meeting time: 7:00 AM

Meeting location: Target in Riverpark Shopping Center parking lot.

Duration of Field trip: 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Weather: We will go rain or shine. So, be prepared for any weather.

Please carpool. The fewer cars on the refuge the better. We will have walkie-talkies available.

Location: Pixley National Wildlife Refuge: For directions please see link

https://maps.app.goo.gl/fRTKEtGJjkdA9cRBA

What to bring: Binoculars, clothing, (this is the month of January, almost any weather is possible), walking shoes, sunscreen / hat, water, snacks and lunch, 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.

Walking will be limited and will be on dirt roads. Driving will be on dirt and/or graveled roads. Rest rooms are available in the parking area of the Refuge.

Using the Merlin Sound ID app as an enhanced identification tool. In the parking lot.

Possible birds: Over 100 bird on the wildlife refuge in January. Approximately 300 acres (120 ha) of managed wetlands provide habitat for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. 

Other possible sightings…Threatened and endangered species include the San Joaquin kit fox, blunt-nosed leopard lizard, Tipton kangaroo rat, and the vernal pool fairy shrimp.

Contact:

Lowell Young

(209) 617-9921

yosemite.birder@gmail.com

Susan Heidebrecht

(559) 313-1777

email: sunheidebrecht@comcast.net

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