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Full Day
Field Trips
Big Sur Ornithology
Lab (Sat & Sun)
“BSOL” is one of the prime birding locations in the entire state of
California. Home of the Big Sur Ornithology lab and banding station, the
BSOL trip is actually three trips in one; vagrant chasing and riparian
birding along the Big Sur River; a tour of the lab and a demonstration
of mist netting and banding birds; and, lastly, special van trips to
view California Condors. Participants will be split up into three
sub-groups to insure that each person gets to experience each of the
“mini-trips” in a small group setting.
Meet at the Red Roof Inn Registration tent to caravan to Big Sur.
Pinnacles National
Monument (Sat & Sun)
Pinnacles provides the birder with a chance to look for specialties of
the California interior landscape, including a chance at Yellow-billed
Magpie, Canyon Wren, Lawrence’s Goldfinch, Greater Roadrunner, Prairie
Falcon and Loggerhead Shrike. After Big Sur, Pinnacles offers the best
chance of seeing a California Condor. A full day trip. Make sure you
have a full tank of gas.
Meet at the Red Roof Inn Registration tent; caravan to San Benito County.
Shearwater Journeys
Pelagic Trip (Fri, Sat, Sun)
Monterey Bay’s incredible submarine canyon hosts a variety of sea-life
and bird-life within just a few miles of shore. Debi Shearwater has been
conducting these trips for more than 30 years, and her tours attract
seabirders from all over the globe. We can expect to see whales and
dolphins in addition to Sooty, Pink-footed, and Buller’s Shearwaters,
Rhinoceros Auklets, Pomarine & Parasitic Jaegers, and maybe a South
Polar Skua. Black-footed Albatross, Black & Ashy Storm-Petrels, Sabine’s
Gull, and Arctic Tern are just a partial list of our possibilities.
Meet at the end of Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey, at 7 a.m.
Santa Cruz & the
North Coast (Sat, Sun)
This full-day trip encompasses a variety of destinations to the north
end of Monterey Bay. Neary’s Lagoon, West Cliff Drive, Antonelli’s Pond,
Wilder Ranch, and Swanton Road are all productive destinations showing
off the gems of the area. Landbirds, raptors and shorebirds are all
likely to be seen in good numbers on this tour which is designed to
allow the leader to adjust the trip based on current conditions.
Meet at the Red Roof Inn Registration tent.
California
Specialties (Saturday Only)
This trip will focus on seeing birds unique to California and the
Western United States, such as Yellow-billed Magpie, California
Thrasher, Wrentit, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Snowy Plover, California
Towhee, Lawrence’s Goldfinch, Clark’s Grebe, White-tailed Kite, etc.
Ranging from Pacific beaches to the foothills to the Salinas Valley,
this fast-paced trip will help maximize your list of western birds.
Perfect for the out of state birder, but fun for anyone.
Meet at the Red Roof Inn Registration tent.
Searching for
Eastern Warblers at Point Reyes (Sunday only)
Point Reyes is one of the most renowned vagrant traps in all of
California, and late September is prime time for visiting in search of
an eastern vagrant. Spectacular at any time of year, visiting Point
Reyes in the fall is a long-standing tradition among California birders.
In addition to the chance of finding just about any eastern passerine,
possibilities include Pacific Golden Plover and western migrants. Be
prepared for a 2-1/2 hour drive to reach the outer point.
Meet at the Red Roof Inn Registration tent.
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Elkhorn Slough
Reserve. (Interior) (Fri Sat Sun AM)
Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, in the heart of
Elkhorn Slough, is one of the premier birdwatching sites in the western
United States. Birding from the Reserve offers an excellent sampling of
some of the many habitats and over 340 species that visit or take refuge
throughout this watershed. Elkhorn Slough's importance as part of the
great fall and spring migrations has led the American Birding
Conservancy to declare it a "globally important" area.
Meet at the Red Roof Inn Registration tent.
Elkhorn Slough/Moss
Landing (Coastal) (Fri Sat Sun AM & PM)
This half-day trip will find us scouring locations such as the
mudflats of Moss Landing, visiting the famous Moon Glow Dairy, or
checking the fresh-water pond of Zmudowski State Beach for the many
migrating and wintering shorebirds, gulls, and waterfowl of the region.
Peregrine Falcons and Merlin are often attracted to the large flocks of
shorebirds, and California Sea Otters are usually in the area. Come see
why Elkhorn Slough has long been a target destination for birders from
around the world. Exact itinerary will be determined based on local
conditions.
Meet at the Red Roof Inn Registration tent.
Watsonville Sloughs
(Fri Sat Sun AM & PM)
Harkins, East & West Struve, Hanson, Gallighan and Watsonville Sloughs
comprise the heart of the Watsonville Slough system. A variety of
shorebirds, raptors, gulls, ducks, sparrows, and songbirds are present
at the varied habitats of the sloughs and their associated uplands.
Learn the local access sites for finding birds in Watsonville's front
yard.
Meet at the
Red Roof Inn Registration tent.
Pajaro Dunes /
Sunset Beach (Fri Sat Sun AM & PM)
Shorebirds, songbirds, and waterfowl are all likely as we visit the
varied habitats of Sunset Beach and Pajaro Dunes. Snowy Plovers nest on
the dunes themselves, and the Pajaro River Mouth has long been one of
the premier locations for rare shorebirds, gulls and terns. Stands of
Monterey Cypress and willow patches provide habitat for a variety of
passerines. This trip highlights some of the richest birding areas of
the entire Pajaro Valley.
Meet at the Red Roof Inn Registration tent.
Pinto Lake and
Local Hotspots (Fri Sat Sun AM)
Pinto Lake's many trails and wetlands harbor the Red-shouldered and
Red-tailed Hawk, White-tailed Kite, California Thrasher, woodpeckers,
ducks, and songbirds. We’ll visit Pinto Lake City Park for a “birds
quick-fix” view of the lake, then wander the trails of Pinto Lake County
Park for a more intensive birding experience. Recommended for both
beginners and experienced birders.
Meet at the Red Roof Inn Registration tent.
Salinas Rivermouth
(Sat Sun AM)
The Salinas
Rivermouth offers an excellent opportunity to find a vagrant shorebird,
observe several species of terns, study Snowy Plovers, catch a Northern
Harrier or a Peregrine Falcon on the wing, or just enjoy a walk to the
Pacific Ocean. Fall is the premier time of the year to visit this
locale.
NOTE:
Water
levels are often high in the riverbed, and rubber boots are strongly
recommended for trip participants.
Meet at the Red Roof Inn Registration tent.
Vagrant Chasing at
the Carmel Rivermouth (Sat Sun AM)
September and fall migration is the time birders head to “hot spots”
such as the Carmel Rivermouth to search for vagrants and rarities not
found in the area at any other time of the year. The Carmel Rivermouth’s
riparian corridor is a fine example of coastal Monterey Bay birding. In
addition to the passerines along the river, the mouth of the river
itself often provides excellent shorebird habitat.
Meet at the Red Roof Inn Registration tent.
Rancho Del Oso
Birding at this beautiful and historic locale brings together birds of a
variety of habitats in a limited area. Turning from the birds of
the ocean, beach, creek mouth and marsh, one can search amid riparian,
Monterey pine, mixed evergreen and coast redwood forests. Along with
local favorites, such as Wrentit, Pygmy Nuthatch, Purple Finch, House
Wren, Hermit Warbler, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Marbled Murrelet, and various
woodpeckers, this is a good place to encounter raptors and a chance for
rare migrants and vagrants. Plan for a few miles of walking on mostly
gentle slopes.
Meet
at the Red Roof Inn Registration tent.
Vagrant Chasing at
Pt. Piños & the Monterey Peninsula (Sat Sun AM)
Besides being one of the premier birding destinations of the area, Point
Piños has the added bonus of being one of the most scenic destinations
of the region. The crashing waves and rocks are a great place for birds
like Black Turnstones, Black Oystercatchers, and other rocky shorebirds,
Coastal cypress trees are often excellent for migrant songbirds, and
even true seabirds can sometimes be seen from some of the westernmost
points of land.
Meet at the Red Roof Inn Registration tent.
Natural Bridges
State Park (Sat Sun AM)
Natural Bridges is another location that combines the appeal of vagrant
warblers with easy access to the beach and ocean. Three species of
cormorants are almost automatic; rocky shorebirds are expected, and a
fine variety of warblers, sparrows, and other songbirds likely along the
riparian corridor trail.
Meet at the Red Roof Inn Registration tent.
UCSC Arboretum (Sat
Sun AM)
The University of California Santa Cruz Arboretum attracts birders and
botanists alike. Spectacular in spring for hummingbirds, fall can
provide a wide variety of warblers, vireos, and birds of prey. Time
permitting, easy access to West Cliff Drive allows participants to
include some rocky shorebirding once the arboretum is covered.
Meet at the Red Roof Inn Registration tent.
New Brighton State
Beach (Sat Sun AM)
New Brighton State Beach includes patches of willows, oaks, and a fine
Monterey Pine forest, all of which are attractive to both migrating and
wintering birds. Townsend’s Warblers, Pygmy Nuthatches, Downy & Hairy
Woodpeckers, and Brown Creepers are all likely to be seen. The adjacent
waters of Monterey Bay are a good place to view Caspian, Elegant, and
Forster’s Terns, and sometimes even a Parasitic Jaeger!
Meet at the Red Roof Inn Registration tent.
Elkhorn Slough
Safari (Fri Sat Sun PM)
Elkhorn Slough Safari is a birding adventure
aboard an open 27-foot pontoon boat, allowing for exploration of the
slough from a perspective usually experienced only by birds and sea
otters. This tour will provide you with a unique opportunity to observe
these species in their native habitats, close-up and personal.
Shorebirds, raptors, grebes, and both harbor seals and sea otters are
highlighted.
Meet at the Red Roof Inn Registration tent.
Elkhorn Slough Kayaking
(Fri, Sat, Sun pm, Sat am)
Here’s your chance to take a birding tour of Elkhorn Slough and enjoy a
kayaking adventure – courtesy of Kayak Connection in Moss Landing.
Shorebirds, sea otters, grebes, pelicans and all the rarities of fall
migration are possible on this trip. Some of the most intriguing spots
of the slough are ONLY accessible by kayak. Beginning kayakers are
welcome and encouraged to sign up.
Meet at the Red Roof Inn Registration tent.
Monterey Bay
Kayaking (Fri Sat PM)
Explore the near shore waters of Monterey Bay on this kayaking adventure
on the great Pacific Ocean itself! The protected waters inside the bay
make for an easy yet exciting kayaking experience for beginners and
experienced kayakers alike. Kelp beds host a variety of aquatic life,
including sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals, and, of course, birds!
Exercise, an ocean adventure, and birding, all rolled into one fun
event.
Meet at the Red Roof Inn Registration tent.
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Workshops,
Short Trips and Lectures
Beginners Birding
Trip. (2 hours) (Fri PM; Sat Sun AM & PM)
Unsure about how to find birds in your binoculars? Don't know a Great
Blue Heron from a Mourning Dove? Or, just looking for some tips about
how to improve your identification skills? Come join us for an
introductory bird walk emphasizing the ABC's of identifying and
observing birds in the wild.
Meet at the Red Roof Inn Red Roof Inn Registration tent.
Lecture/Slide Show
- Shorebird Identification Made Easy--Or Easier (Fri PM)
The mudflats of the Pajaro Valley’s sloughs and river mouths provide a
wealth of food and habitat for both migrating and wintering shorebirds.
Many of the most exceptional shorebird rarities have been found in our
local area. But how do you know when you’ve found something truly
unusual? Start by coming to this workshop, and learning the common
shorebirds well, and then progressing to the rarities. This slide show
and lecture will take you from Long-billed Curlews to Least Sandpipers,
and everything in between.
Meet at Patrick J. Fitz Wetlands Educational Resource Center, Pajaro
Valley High School Campus
Lecture/Slide Show
- Identification of Birds of Prey (Fri PM)
Birds of prey are often the favorite birds of both beginners and experts
alike. From accipiters to eagles, their beauty and command of the sky
inspire us all. Learn the keys to identifying these masters of flight,
from the basics of buteos vs. falcons to the intricacies of telling
immature accipiters apart. And if you don’t know what a buteo or an
accipiter is, this workshop & slide show will change all that!
Meet at Patrick J. Fitz Wetlands Educational Resource Center, Pajaro
Valley High School Campus
Natural History of Our
Local Owls (Sat PM)
Explore the lives of the nine species of owls that live in the
Monterey Bay region, learning about natural history, vocalizations,
habitat needs, seasonal cycles, and how to find and enjoy them in the
field. Presenter David Suddjian has over 20 years of experience with
owling in the Santa Cruz Mountains and has recently been
studying habitat associations and seasonal patterns of calling by forest
owls.
Meet at the
Red Roof Inn Red Roof Inn Registration tent.
Getting Started –
Basic Skills for new Birders (Sat, Sun AM)
Everything you need to know to start birding – but were afraid to ask.
From binocular basics to bird books, this workshop will give you a
jump-start on learning how to better observe and identify birds.
Examples of field guides, optical equipment and tips to get you started
in enjoying birds will be featured. We’ll also provide you with
information on how to continue to enjoy birds once the festival ends, be
it in your backyard, at a local park, or by joining a nature walk or
even a local bird club.We recommend taking this class in conjunction
with a Beginning Bird Walk, but you’ll enjoy it even if you take it
alone.
Meet at the
Cypress House, Pajaro Dunes North – Shorebirds Complex.
What’s That Bird at
my Feeder? (Fri Sat PM)
This class will review which birds are most likely to show up at a local
feeder, why the bird is there, and how you can increase the appeal of
your yard and the birds visiting it. Not only will we cover what
the bird is, but, more importantly, you’ll learn how to tell is
apart from other species. A great workshop for folks just starting to
look at birds
Meet at the Cypress House, Pajaro Dunes North – Shorebirds
Complex.
Big Year via
Bicycle, Boats & Boots (Fri PM)
Meet 15 yr old Malkolm Boothroyd during his 10,000-mile quest for birds
using only bicycles, boats and boots. This incredible journey is
Malcolm’s version of a Big Year minus the impact of consuming fossil
fuels. Come hear the latest update on Malcolm’s project, and the
progress he’s made to date. Malkolm was featured in the June edition of
Winging It.Items for the Festival’s Silent Auction will also be on
display and available for bidding.
Meet at the Cypress House, Pajaro Dunes North – Shorebirds Complex.
Digital Photography
with Ron LeValley (Sat PM)
Nature photography has been turned inside out by the
development and subsequent use of digital cameras. Ron will review basic
photographic principles, emphasizing those that have been modified by
the use of digital media. The new and exciting process of digiscoping
will also be covered. Participants who have digital cameras should bring
them. A review of camera features specific to cameras that participants
bring will be valuable to everyone. Film camera enthusiasts will still
learn valuable techniques, so bring all of your equipment. Visit
www.LeValleyPhoto.com for
close-ups of Ron’s work.
Meet at the Cypress House, Pajaro Dunes North – Shorebirds
Complex.
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Friday Evening
Author’s
Reception at Pajaro Dunes
Steve N.G. Howell,
birder extraordinaire, and well-known author will be our honored guest
and available to meet you and sign his books. Several of his works will
be available for purchase at the event, including the just-released “Gulls
of the Americas”, co-authored by
Jon Dunn.”
Steve
has authored and co-authored several outstanding works (including A
Bird-finding Guide to Mexico; Hummingbirds of North America: the
Photographic Guide; and A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and
Northern Central America) and about 200 scientific and popular
articles ranging from the identification of petrels and frigatebirds, to
the taxonomy of tapaculos and hummingbirds, to molt in woodpeckers and
gulls. He serves on the editorial board of Cotinga (the journal of the
Neotropical Bird Club), is book review editor for the journal Western
Birds, and is a past member of the California Bird Records Committee.
Steve holds the position of Research Associate at PRBO and at the
California Academy of Sciences. His current projects include writing a
photographic identification guide to North American tubenoses, and, with
Peter Pyle, working on part 2 of the Identification Guide to North
American Birds, a manual for ageing and sexing non-passerines. His
“chronic’ writing habit was recognized in 2005 when the American Birding
Association (ABA) awarded him the Robert Ridgeway Award for publications
contributing to field ornithology.
Join us in welcoming
Steve and in sharing hors d’ourves & beverages at this evening event at
Pajaro Dunes, just down the road from our registration tent.
Items
for the Festival’s Silent Auction will also be on display and available
for bidding.
Meet at the
Cypress House, Pajaro Dunes North – Shorebirds Complex.
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Presentation: Conversations with
a Snowy Plover" and Other Shorebird Writings of William Leon Dawson
Illustrated and
presented by Ron LeValley
Join us for a
wonderful presentation by Ron LeValley, featuring the shorebirds of
California. Ron is a world-traveled wildlife and bird photographer, and
he’ll share his knowledge of shorebirds and wonderful photography with
us. His presentation even includes a dialogue between a Snowy Plover and
a Least Sandpiper. Well known among birders, photographers, biologists,
and naturalists around the state and beyond, Ron’s lecture is sure to be
a huge hit for all those in attendance. With Elkhorn Slough a featured
destination of our local area and many of the festival trips, what
better topic is there for our keynote presenter than shorebirds?
Ron LeValley, senior
biologist and founder of Mad River Biologists, a biological consulting
and research firm specializing in birds, wildlife, and plants of special
concern. Ron is best known for his identifying and
studying birds and their Pacific Coast distribution patterns. He has been one
of the leads in the management and recovery efforts for the Snowy Plover
in Northern California. He gathered a global perspective on ecological
issues when he founded and for 15 years directed Biological Journeys, a
pioneering eco-tourism company. For three decades Ron has led natural
history travel programs, photographic safaris, and bird surveys in
Africa, Australia, Mexico, Ecuador and the Galapagos, the high Arctic of
Canada, and throughout most of California. In 2006, he sailed across the
Pacific Ocean to Tahiti and traveled around much of Europe. Ron is an
associate editor of Western Birds and he currently serves on numerous
wildlife conservation and management committees including the Aleutian
Cackling Goose Working Group. He is also the California Coordinator of
the Pacific Coast Joint Venture, and treasurer of the Pacific Seabird
Group. One of Ron's exceptional attributes is sharing his knowledge and
enthusiasm with others. His beautiful photographs are on view on his
website www.LeValleyPhoto.com.
Ron will have some
of his photos and postcards available for purchase.
Items
for the Festival’s Silent Auction will also be on display and available
for final bidding. Winning bids will be announced during the evening.
Meet at the
Cypress House, Pajaro Dunes North – Shorebirds Complex. |
