Saturday Walk – Merced NWR Feb 2025

08 Feb Saturday Walk – Merced NWR Feb 2025

Merced National Wildlife Refuge

February 8, 2025

Registration required: Please register here.

Co-leaders: Judy Johnson  & Lowell Young

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 Saturday, February 8 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 7:45 for a 8:00 am departure. Secondary meet up is at the first parking lot of the refuge, near the bathrooms and the first observation deck, at 9:00am (see map).

Map to McDonald’s

Map to MNWR

The stars of this trip will be the geese. We are hoping to see snow, Ross’s, white-fronted and cackling geese in flocks numbering in the thousands. Other target birds include lesser sandhill cranes, phoebes, various sparrows, American pipits, numerous species of ducks, American white pelicans, wading birds and shore birds, egrets, American coots, red-tailed hawks, northern harriers and other hawks. Also possible are bald eagles, and great-horned owls.

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 & Lowell Young (209)617-9921