CA Swan Festival

November 14-15, 2020

Feather River Academy
1895 Lassen Blvd.
Yuba City, CA
yubasutterchamber.com/swan-festival.html
Registration for field trips begins online on August 28, 2019

• Birding Tours & More, Workshops, Exhibitors, Children's Programs, & Keynote Speaker/Dinner
• 35+ guided tours
• experts in their respective fields
• wide range of waterfowl habitats
• natural assets of the beautiful Yuba-Sutter region

Field trips include Swan Sighting, Ag/Wildlife Educational Tours, Historic Tours, Nature Hikes and trips to the region's National Wildlife areas. Another great feature of the Festival is the free Junior Naturalist program, led by a team of Shady Creek Outdoor School naturalists. Children of all ages will enjoy hands-on learning experiences sure to inspire the budding birdwatcher. Activities include crafts, games, live animal presentations and much more. The festival also hosts a vendor fair, all day Saturday and Sunday, in the Swan Central building. Onsite vendors specialize in wildlife information and  merchandise.

This spectacular three day birding festival is a must-see for swan lovers. It's the season and the place to see the most swans of anywhere California! It's free to see these graceful birds any time but during the festival special opportunities to view them with experts in the field offer you additional insights and learning about what you are seeing.

The festival isn't limited strictly to swan viewing. You may see owls, geese, nearly a dozen species of ducks, wading birds, songbirds, and Pacific Flyway habitats that play host to over one million waterfowl!

Swan Sightseeing
Reclamation District 10 is a 40-square-mile land reclamation project established in 1914 in the flood basin of the Feather and Yuba rivers just north of Marysville. The flooded post-harvest rice fields of District 10 provide ideal temporary wetland habitat for thousands of Tundra Swans, huge flocks of White-faced Ibis, geese, ducks, shorebirds, hawks, and bald eagles. Expert birders and biologists from the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife lead a carpool/caravan tour along the back roads in District 10 to see the birds and learn about the compatibility of rice growing and waterfowl conservation.

Colusa National Wildlife
Colusa National Wildlife Refuge, part of the Sacramento Refuge Complex, in the Sacramento Valley, consists of intensively managed wetlands is one of the most important wintering areas for waterfowl in North America. Colusa Refuge supports wintering populations of more than 200,000 ducks and 50,000 geese. Rarities often show up at Colusa Refuge, including Eurasion Wigeon, blue morph Ross's Geese, and even a Falcated Duck. See raptors, shorebirds, and waders, as well.

Gray Lodge Wildlife Area 
Gray Lodge along the Pacific Flyway is a 9,100-acre a wintering site for waterfowl. The Sutter Buttes make a perfect backdrop for the flooded fields in which the birds congregate. See geese, nearly a dozen species of ducks, including Eurasion Wigeon, several raptor species, lots of wading birds, and songbirds in the riparian vegetation.

Sacramento Wildlife Refuge
California's premier waterfowl refuge of nearly 11,000 acres of seasonal marsh, permanent ponds, and uplands in the heart of the Sacramento Valley is teaming with wildlife. The marshes, with fish, frogs, and invertebrates, are attractive to grebes, white pelicans, egrets, herons, and bitterns. Shorebirds probe the mud flats for seeds, snails, and worms. Raptors find an abundance of waterfowl, rodents, or small birds on which to feed. Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, and Merlins are all regular visitors to the refuge. Woodpeckers, warblers, and other songbirds seek food and shelter in the cottonwoods and willows bordering the waterways and creeks. Deer, jackrabbits, and pheasants feed in the grasslands and on edges of wetlands. A six-mile auto tour, viewing platform, and short walking trail are featured in this extensive tour.

Sutter Buttes Hike to East Shaeffer Ranch and Wine Tasting
The Shaeffer Family hosts hikers on their ranch on the north side of the Sutter Buttes, the smallest mountain range in the world! Hikers explore this ranch that has been in the same family since the 1860's. Depending on visibility, the hike will include views of North Butte, Peace Valley, and an old Titan Missile site. Possible bird sightings include Golden Eagle, Phainopepla, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Mountain Bluebird, Varied Thrush, and the usual winter sparrows. Be sure to bring binoculars, lunch, water, and sturdy boots/shoes and hiking sticks, if you have them. After the hike, the leaders will provide an optional visit to the nearby Cordi Winery for a free wine tasting!
 
Raptor Ramble
A great time of year to see wintering raptors in the Sacramento Valley, expect to see Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Coopers Hawk, American Kestrel, Bald Eagle, and Northern Harrier, and maybe some Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, Ferruginous Hawk, and Sharp-shinned Hawk.

2019 SWAN FESTIVAL FIELD TRIPS

November 8-10, 2019 (Sunrise 6:45am-Sunset 4:55PM)
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH

November 8, 2019 Swan Car Sunset Tour 3:30-5:30 p.m. $15 general | youth $10, Each winter, tens of thousands of huge, beautiful Tundra Swans wing their way south from their breeding grounds in northwest Alaska to spend the winter in the Sacramento Valley. Leaders will take us along the back roads in District 10 to see the birds and their habitats.

November 8, 2019 Valley Owl Prowl 3:30-9 p.m. $15 general | youth $10, Enjoy this rare opportunity to join an experienced “owler” to see and/or hear several different species of owls and learn about their amazing adaptations as nocturnal predators! We’ll visit a couple locations to try to see little Burrowing Owls. Then we’ll explore some oak woodland habitat and attempt to call in a Western Screech Owl. Then, as it gets later, we’ll check out the roadsides and rice fields for Barn Owls and Great Horned Owls. Bring a traveling dinner with you so your growling stomach doesn’t scare away the owls! You may want to bring a small flashlight to gently illuminate the path when walking (the leader will have a large spotlight to view the owls). Quiet children age 10 and older are welcome.

November 8, 2019 Night Flight, No Fright 5:30-7:30 p.m. $10 general | youth $5.   Are you good at creeping around in the dark? Many interesting things are out and about in the night. Come use your senses to find out clues about the local plants and animals that make this night environment there home.
This tour is especially designed for families with young children. All ages welcome.
 

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH

November 9, 2019 Raptor Retreat (walking included in this event) 8 a.m.-1 p.m. $15 general | youth $10, This is one of California's premier waterfowl refuges, consisting of nearly 11,000 acres of seasonal marsh, permanent ponds, and uplands in the heart of the Sacramento Valley! Managed mainly for migratory waterfowl (numbering in the hundreds of thousands), the refuge also attracts other wildlife.. We’ll begin at the Refuge Visitor Center, where we can enjoy the wildlife exhibit, bookstore, and Discovery Room. Then we’ll explore the six-mile auto tour, viewing platform, and short walking trail. Bring a lunch, snacks, and water to fuel you through the trip!

November 9, 2019 Birding at Beale (walking included in this event) 7:30 a.m.-12 p.m. $15 general | youth $10, This is rare opportunity to look for birds across Beale Air Force Base's 23,000 acres. Department of Defense facilities preserve some of best remaining habitats in the U.S. and Beale is a great example. The base includes one of largest and best-preserved areas of Central Valley grassland, a habitat under severe threat from urban development and conversion to agriculture elsewhere. Two base biologists will accompany us as we search the grasslands for Burrowing Owls, Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawks, and other raptor species, and most likely either Bald or a Golden Eagles. Falcons likely will include American Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine and Prairie Falcon. Horned Larks, Mute Swans and Western Meadowlarks should be abundant. Surprises like Mountain Bluebirds, tricolored blackbirds or Steller's Jays are also possible this time of year. We will also visit some large ponds that can harbor several species of waterfowl and an oak riparian zone with its own suite of typical species like Acorn and Lewis's woodpeckers. Participants will caravan from Swan Central to the main gate of the base. After being checked in by base security, everybody will get into one large passenger van so we can travel around the base together. There will be a number of stops on base, including several short walks on flat ground. If there’s enough time, we may drive by some other points of interest on the base, including a SR71 Blackbird strategic reconnaissance aircraft that flew over Mach 3 to the UK in 2 hours!
Important Note:You will need to bring a second form of identification (Social Security Card, State ID, Birth Cert, or Passport) alongside their driver's license/identification card IF the driver's license/identification card is not REAL ID ACT COMPLIANT when arriving at the gate.

November 9, 2019 East Ridge Hike and Wine Tasting (age restrictions and / or hiking, climbing)7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. $35 general | youth N/A, This is a rare opportunity to gain access to the Sutter Buttes, the smallest mountain range in the world! The Shaeffer Family will host hikers to explore this ranch, on the north side of the Buttes, that has been in the same family since the 1860’s. Depending on visibility, the hike will include views of North Butte, Peace Valley, and an old Titan Missile site. In this beautiful oak grassland habitat, possible bird sightings include Golden Eagle, Phainopepla, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Mountain Bluebird, Varied Thrush, and many other winter visitors. The rock formations and the geology of this part of the Buttes is amazing. No early departures on this trip. After the hike, the leaders will provide an optional visit to the nearby Cordi Winery for a free wine tasting!

November 9, 2019 Raptor Retreat (walking included in this event) 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. $15 general | youth $10, This is one of California's premier waterfowl refuges, consisting of nearly 11,000 acres of seasonal marsh, permanent ponds, and uplands in the heart of the Sacramento Valley! Managed mainly for migratory waterfowl (numbering in the hundreds of thousands), the refuge also attracts other wildlife.. We’ll begin at the Refuge Visitor Center, where we can enjoy the wildlife exhibit, bookstore, and Discovery Room. Then we’ll explore the six-mile auto tour, viewing platform, and short walking trail. Bring a lunch, snacks, and water to fuel you through the trip!

November 9, 2019 Sierra Foothill Birding Bonanza (age restrictions and / or hiking, climbing)7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. $15 general | youth $10, Just east of Marysville, the narrow band of foothills that separate the Central Valley and the Sierra Nevada Range host an amazing diversity of bird species that rely on the Live Oak, Blue Oak, and Foothill Pine plant community. Visit birding hotspots including South Yuba River State Park in Bridgeport, and Spenceville Wildlife Area. As you explore the back roadsof this region, you’ll be amazed at the abundance of raptors wintering in the area. Be sure to bring a lunch, snacks, and plenty of water to keep you fueled and quenched on this exciting adventure

November 9, 2019 Swan Car Tour 8 a.m.-10 a.m. $15 general | youth $10, Each winter, tens of thousands of huge, beautiful Tundra Swans wing their way south from their breeding grounds in northwest Alaska to spend the winter in the Sacramento Valley. Leaders will take us along the back roads in District 10 to see the birds and their habitats.

November 9, 2019 Birding at Bobelaine Sanctuary (age restrictions and / or hiking, climbing)8 a.m.-12 p.m. $15 general | youth $10, Bobelaine is a 430-acre National Audubon Sanctuary along the Feather River, managed by Sacramento Audubon Society. It’s a rare remnant of the riparian forests that once extended two to five miles on either side of the rivers in the Central Valley. Bobelaine is listed as an "Important Bird Area" by the National Audubon Society and the extensive forest of giant cottonwood, valley oak, sycamore, and willow is home to a wide variety of birds and wildlife throughout the seasons. We’ll explore the trails and search for the resident and wintering birds.
see deer or a family of river otters frolicking along the river. Expect to walk about 2 miles on mostly level ground. Heavy rain will cancel trip.

November 9, 2019 Riparian Woodlands (walking included in this event) 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. $15 general | youth $10, Nestled at the base of the Sierra foothills, where Dry Creek meets the Yuba River, Hammon Grove Park affords visitors the opportunity to experience the essence of the Yuba County foothills and its natural splendor. A one-mile trail follows the circumference of the park through majestic oaks, California sycamores, and towering pines. Along the trail, we’ll see a wonderful diversity of birds that reside in this habitat, trail we’ll walk is easy and wide, however, there may be a few uneven sections so wear sturdy shoes.

November 9, 2019 Swan Car Tour 9 a.m.-11 p.m. $15 general | youth $10, Each winter, tens of thousands of huge, beautiful Tundra Swans wing their way south from their breeding grounds in northwest Alaska to spend the winter in the Sacramento Valley. Leaders will take us along the back roads in District 10 to see the birds and their habitats.

November 9, 2019 Nature Journaling w/Watercolors 9 a.m.-12 p.m. $35 general | youth $25, A nature journal with words and images becomes a personal response to travels and a wonderful memory. Actively record direct observations--what you see when you see it. Prepare for your swan tours with watercolor materials, techniques and ideas. We will have an hour of classroom instruction and then head out to the Gray Lodge Wildlife Refuge. We will settle with camp chairs, painting materials, and snacks. Emphasis will be on small, quick paintings. Class is open to anyone, any level. Come to get started or to adapt a new approach. Bring your own materials or borrow ours.

November 9, 2019 Budding Birders Bingo (Birdwatching for Kids) (walking included in this event) 10 a.m.-12 p.m. $5 general | youth $5.   Kids love getting out and exploring nature! Birdwatching is a wonderful way for your kids to do that. This trip will focus on the basics of birdwatching, while playing Budding Birders Bingo at a birding site just a short drive from Swan Central! Fun prizes will be awarded to participants! The children will learn what to look for on a bird that can be used as field marks and learn a bit about bird behavior. Your kids will get a chance to look through a spotting scope, binoculars (we’ll have a few to loan out), and field guides. They can practice identifying some of the common species we’ll see and then mark them off on their bingo cards. They’ll also learn some fun facts about these birds and be challenged to see how many species they can identify. We’ve never met a kid who doesn’t like a new and exciting challenge!

November 9, 2019 Historical Hay Wagon Tour 10 a.m.-11 a.m. $5 general | youth $5.   Did you know Marysville was the 3rd biggest city in California during the Gold Rush? Come on a relaxing ride through the streets of Historic Marysville. Learn about the pioneers who helped settle the Yuba-Sutter area and early California. The tours will be led by costumed docents, members of Yuba County Historic Resources Commission. Hear about survivors of the Donner Party, Macy brothers, Levi Strauss, James Beckworth, Black Bart and so much more...all stories about early Marysville. No walking, just a relaxing ride around Old Historic Marysville. Tours take about an hour. Meet at Swan Central 1895 Lassen Blvd. YC

November 9, 2019 The Essentials of Bird Photography with Stephen Fischer 10 a.m.-12 p.m. $15, Join professional nature and adventure photographer Stephen Fischer for this intensive introduction to Bird Photography. This workshop will cover the essentials for obtaining successful high quality photographs of birds in the wild. Photography skills such as focusing and panning, composition, lighting and weather, and field strategies for successful bird photography, will be discussed. Stephen will present and display some of his best photographs, and have his bird photography equipment on site for discussion. So bring your gear! DSLR’s and telephoto lenses are encouraged in this workshop for some hands on assistance. A follow up field trip to Colusa National Wildlife Refuge will be offered on Saturday afternoon, to further sharpen your skills. (Fieldtrip pre-registration is required. Space is limited.)

November 9, 2019 Gray Lodge Hike (walking included in this event) 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $15 general | youth $10, Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a jewel in the crown of the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife. Gray Lodge's habitat diversity and location along the Pacific Flyway make it a magnet for ducks, geese, and other wildlife. Surrounded by miles of rich agricultural land, this 9,100-acre area is intensively managed primarily for wintering waterfowl. The Sutter Buttes make a perfect backdrop for the wetlands in which the birds congregate. This is a great trip to see four or more species of geese, nearly a dozen species of ducks, including Eurasian Wigeon, several raptor species, lots of wading birds, and songbirds in the riparian vegetation.

November 9, 2019 Swan Car Tour Lunch w/Charlie Matthews (Rice Farmer) 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. $25 general | youth $20, Each winter, tens of thousands of huge, beautiful Tundra Swans wing their way south from their breeding grounds in northwest Alaska to spend the winter in the Sacramento Valley. Leaders will take us along the back roads in District 10 to see the birds and their habitats.

November 9, 2019 Swan Car Tour 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $15 general | youth $10, Each winter, tens of thousands of huge, beautiful Tundra Swans wing their way south from their breeding grounds in northwest Alaska to spend the winter in the Sacramento Valley. Leaders will take us along the back roads in District 10 to see the birds and their habitats.

November 9, 2019 Swan Car Tour 1-3 p.m. $15 general | youth $10, Each winter, tens of thousands of huge, beautiful Tundra Swans wing their way south from their breeding grounds in northwest Alaska to spend the winter in the Sacramento Valley. Leaders will take us along the back roads in District 10 to see the birds and their habitats.

November 9, 2019 Nature Photography @ Colusa National Wildlife Refuge (walking included in this event) 1:30- 5 p.m. $15 general | youth $10, Join professional nature photographer Stephen Fischer on a field trip to the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) to practice nature and wildlife photography techniques, many of which he will discuss begin with an indoor presentation and slide show Steve will share some “tricks-of-the-trade” with us regarding equipment and techniques to capture great photos of birds and other wildlife. Colusa NWR regularly has some of the best waterfowl photography opportunities in the region and Steve will guide participants to the ideal locations at the refuge for bird photography. He will review the essentials and, since it will be a small group, he will provide individual coaching and feedback on how to improve our results. At the Colusa NWR we expect to capture photographs of some of the typical birds found in the Central Valley wetlands during the winter months, including a variety of geese, ducks, and raptors. We’ll have the pleasure of being able to photograph during the “magic hour” right before sunset, when the light is at its best. Then we’ll enjoy sunset and twilight at the refuge. A perfect way to end your day in the field! Be sure to bring a camera that you are familiar with, such as a DSLR with a telephoto lens along with a tripod. Also bring warm clothes in layers, insect repellent, and water.

November 9, 2019 Nature Dectective (walking included in this event) 3-5 p.m. Free Chaperone general | youth $15
Are you a good detective? Good detective need to observe for clues. If you accept this mission, you will need to use all of your senses to find important clues about the critters that share this area with us. Why would there be a bird track here? Why is there a bird feather here? Find out more clues to solve why it is important to take care of our planet Earth. Designed specifically for children 5-10 and their parents.

November 9, 2019 Nature Photography
Panel 3-4 p.m. Free general | youth Free. Want to get some ideas on how to take better nature photos? Join Abbie Cesena of the Yuba-Sutter Art Council for discussion on tricks of the trade.

November 9, 2019 Swan Car Sunset Tour 3:30- 5:30 p.m. $15 general | youth $10, Each winter, tens of thousands of huge, beautiful Tundra Swans wing their way south from their breeding grounds in northwest Alaska to spend the winter in the Sacramento Valley. Leaders will take us along the back roads in District 10 to see the birds and their habitats.

November 9, 2019 Craning for Cranes (walking included in this event) 3:30- 6 p.m. $15 general | youth $10, Join a caravan and cruise the back roads in search of Sandhill Cranes! Winter in Sacramento Valley may seem cold, damp, and foggy to us, but thousands of Sandhill Cranes feel right at home in the Valley’s grasslands, marshes, and agricultural fields. This magnificent bird stands nearly 5 feet tall, with a wingspan of nearly 6 feet! The harvested rice fields and grasslands surrounding Sutter Buttes provide excellent foraging habitat for these living dinosaurs. Light rain will not deter us from this great trip.

November 9, 2019 Valley Owl Prowl 3:30- 9 p.m. $15 general | youth $10, Enjoy this rare opportunity to join an experienced “owler” to see and/or hear several different species of owls and learn about their amazing adaptations as nocturnal predators! We’ll visit a couple locations to try to see little Burrowing Owls. Then we’ll explore some oak woodland habitat and attempt to call in a Western Screech Owl. Then, as it gets later, we’ll check out the roadsides and rice fields for Barn Owls and Great Horned Owls. Bring a traveling dinner with you so your growling stomach doesn’t scare away the owls! You may want to bring a small flashlight to gently illuminate the path when walking (the leader will have a large spotlight to view the owls). Quiet children age 10 and older are welcome.

November 9, 2019 Beauty of Paint & Sip 5:30- 4:30 p.m. $45 general | youth N/A, Spend the evening painting while sipping on wine and relaxing. The subject will be a Tundra Swan. You will receive the help and instruction of local artist Christina May. Class fees are $45.00 and come with all the supplies you need to create your own work of art, light appetizers and beverages will be served. Classes fill quickly don’t wait to register.
All supplies are included for this project along with light appetizers and non-alcohol based beverages. Seating is limited, so don’t wait to register.

November 9, 2019 Night Flight, No Fright  (walking included)
5:30- 7:30 p.m. $10 general | youth $5.   Are you good at creeping around in the dark? Many interesting things are out and about in the night. Come use your senses to find out clues about the local plants and animals that make this night environment there home.
This tour is especially designed for families with young children. All ages welcome.
 

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH

November 10, 2019 Birding at Beale (walking included) 7:30 a.m.-12 p.m. $15 general | youth $10, This is rare opportunity to look for birds across Beale Air Force Base's 23,000 acres. Department of Defense facilities preserve some of best remaining habitats in the U.S. and Beale is a great example. The base includes one of largest and best-preserved areas of Central Valley grassland, a habitat under severe threat from urban development and conversion to agriculture elsewhere. Two base biologists will accompany us as we search the grasslands for Burrowing Owls, Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawks, and other raptor species, and most likely either Bald or a Golden Eagles. Falcons likely will include American Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine and Prairie Falcon. Horned Larks, Mute Swans and Western Meadowlarks should be abundant. Surprises like Mountain Bluebirds, tricolored blackbirds or Steller's Jays are also possible this time of year. We will also visit some large ponds that can harbor several species of waterfowl and an oak riparian zone with its own suite of typical species like Acorn and Lewis's woodpeckers. Participants will caravan from Swan Central to the main gate of the base. After being checked in by base security, everybody will get into one large passenger van so we can travel around the base together. There will be a number of stops on base, including several short walks on flat ground. If there’s enough time, we may drive by some other points of interest on the base, including a SR71 Blackbird strategic reconnaissance aircraft that flew over Mach 3 to the UK in 2 hours!
Important Note: You will need to bring a second form of identification (Social Security Card, State ID, Birth Cert, or Passport) alongside their driver's license/identification card IF the driver's license/identification card is not REAL ID ACT COMPLIANT when arriving at the gate.

November 10, 2019 Raptor Retreat (walking included) 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. $15 general | youth $10, This is one of California's premier waterfowl refuges, consisting of nearly 11,000 acres of seasonal marsh, permanent ponds, and uplands in the heart of the Sacramento Valley! Managed mainly for migratory waterfowl (numbering in the hundreds of thousands), the refuge also attracts other wildlife.. We’ll begin at the Refuge Visitor Center, where we can enjoy the wildlife exhibit, bookstore, and Discovery Room. Then we’ll explore the six-mile auto tour, viewing platform, and short walking trail. Bring a lunch, snacks, and water to fuel you through the trip!

November 10, 2019 Dean's Place
DIFFICULTY
3
8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. $15 general | youth N/A, Lace up your hiking boots, and join this rare opportunity to gain access to an area normally not open to the public! Explore the secluded depths of the interior of the Sutter Buttes, the smallest mountain range in the world, as we visit the 100-year-old Dean Place Cattle Ranch. The focus on this three-mile walk will be on the birds of the Buttes and we’ll hopefully see such gems as Golden Eagle, Phainopepla, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Mountain Bluebird, Varied Thrush, lots of winter sparrows, and with luck, geese and swans flying high over the Buttes. Prepare for some moderate climbing and mostly uneven ground. No early departures on this trip.

November 10, 2019 Swan Car Tour
DIFFICULTY
1
8 a.m.-10 a.m. $15 general | youth $10, Each winter, tens of thousands of huge, beautiful Tundra Swans wing their way south from their breeding grounds in northwest Alaska to spend the winter in the Sacramento Valley. Leaders will take us along the back roads in District 10 to see the birds and their habitats.

November 10, 2019 Birding at Bobelaine Sanctuary
DIFFICULTY
3
8 a.m.-12 p.m. $15 general | youth $10, Bobelaine is a 430-acre National Audubon Sanctuary along the Feather River, managed by Sacramento Audubon Society. It’s a rare remnant of the riparian forests that once extended two to five miles on either side of the rivers in the Central Valley. Bobelaine is listed as an "Important Bird Area" by the National Audubon Society and the extensive forest of giant cottonwood, valley oak, sycamore, and willow is home to a wide variety of birds and wildlife throughout the seasons. We’ll explore the trails and search for the resident and wintering birds.
see deer or a family of river otters frolicking along the river. Expect to walk about 2 miles on mostly level ground. Heavy rain will cancel trip.

November 10, 2019 Raptor Ramble (walking included in this event) 8 a.m.-12 p.m. $15 general | youth $10, On this half-day trip, we’re going to search for as many raptor species as possible. This is a great time of year to see wintering raptors in the Sacramento Valley and we’ll see a lot of them and learn about their amazing adaptations that help them be such successful predators! Habitats searched will include flooded rice fields, oak/grassland savannah, and some riparian corridors. We’ll certainly see a lot of
bird species , including Perigrine Falcons, swans, geese, ducks, White-faced Ibis, various species of sparrows and other songbirds, and maybe some Sandhill Cranes.

November 10, 2019 Nature Photography (walking included in this event) 9 a.m.-12 p.m. $15
YOUTH.   Join photographer Ryan DeMont on a field trip to Colusa National Wildlife Refuge to practice nature photography techniques. Colusa NWR has some of the best photography opportunities in the area. Ryan will provide individual coaching and feedback on how to improve results.

November 10, 2019 Swan Car Tour 9-11 a.m. $15 general | youth $10, Each winter, tens of thousands of huge, beautiful Tundra Swans wing their way south from their breeding grounds in northwest Alaska to spend the winter in the Sacramento Valley. Leaders will take us along the back roads in District 10 to see the birds and their habitats.

November 10, 2019 Swan Car Tour 9:45-11:45 a.m. $15 general | youth $10, Each winter, tens of thousands of huge, beautiful Tundra Swans wing their way south from their breeding grounds in northwest Alaska to spend the winter in the Sacramento Valley. Leaders will take us along the back roads in District 10 to see the birds and their habitats.

November 10, 2019 Budding Birders Bingo (Birdwatching for Kids) (walking included in this event) 10 a.m.-12 p.m. $5 general | youth $5, Kids love getting out and exploring nature! Birdwatching is a wonderful way for your kids to do that. This trip will focus on the basics of birdwatching, while playing Budding Birders Bingo at a birding site just a short drive from Swan Central! Fun prizes will be awarded to participants! The children will learn what to look for on a bird that can be used as field marks and learn a bit about bird behavior. Your kids will get a chance to look through a spotting scope, binoculars (we’ll have a few to loan out), and field guides. They can practice identifying some of the common species we’ll see and then mark them off on their bingo cards. They’ll also learn some fun facts about these birds and be challenged to see how many species they can identify. We’ve never met a kid who doesn’t like a new and exciting challenge!

November 10, 2019 Historical Hay Wagon Tour 10 a.m.-11 a.m. $5 general | youth $5, Did you know Marysville was the 3rd biggest city in California during the Gold Rush? Come on a relaxing ride through the streets of Historic Marysville. Learn about the pioneers who helped settle the Yuba-Sutter area and early California. The tours will be led by costumed docents, members of Yuba County Historic Resources Commission. Hear about survivors of the Donner Party, Macy brothers, Levi Strauss, James Beckworth, Black Bart and so much more...all stories about early Marysville. No walking, just a relaxing ride around Old Historic Marysville. Tours take about an hour. Meet at Swan Central 1895 Lassen Blvd. YC.

November 10, 2019 Swan Car Tour 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $15 general | youth $10, Each winter, tens of thousands of huge, beautiful Tundra Swans wing their way south from their breeding grounds in northwest Alaska to spend the winter in the Sacramento Valley. Leaders will take us along the back roads in District 10 to see the birds and their habitats.

November 10, 2019 Swan Car Tour 1-3 p.m. $15 general | youth $10, Each winter, tens of thousands of huge, beautiful Tundra Swans wing their way south from their breeding grounds in northwest Alaska to spend the winter in the Sacramento Valley. Leaders will take us along the back roads in District 10 to see the birds and their habitats.

November 10, 2019 Chinese Temple Tour 2-4 p.m. $10 general | youth Free, When the Chinese came to Marysville during the Gold Rush Days, they brought their myths, idols, customs and religion with them. By 1854, about five years after the first contingent of Chinese arrived in California from the Orient to work the mines, they erected here a Temple, the Bok Kai Mui, where they could house their Gods and go to worship.

November 10, 2019 Chalk Challenge (walking included in this event) 3-5 p.m. Free w/Child general | youth $15, Artist Seana Burke creates opportunities for young artists to explore their creative side. Chalk is an inexpensive median, where participants of all ages will have the opportunity to create ephemeral pieces of the natural environment.

November 10, 2019 Craning for Cranes (walking included in this event) 3-6 p.m. $15 general | youth $10, Join a caravan and cruise the back roads in search of Sandhill Cranes! Winter in Sacramento Valley may seem cold, damp, and foggy to us, but thousands of Sandhill Cranes feel right at home in the Valley’s grasslands, marshes, and agricultural fields. This magnificent bird stands nearly 5 feet tall, with a wingspan of nearly 6 feet! The harvested rice fields and grasslands surrounding Sutter Buttes provide excellent foraging habitat for these living dinosaurs. Light rain will not deter us from this great trip.

November 10, 2019 Gray Lodge Sunset Fly-off (walking included in this event) 3:30- 6 p.m. $15 general | youth $10.   Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a jewel in the crown of the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife. More than a million waterfowl can’t be wrong! Gray Lodge's habitat diversity and location along the Pacific
Flyway make it a magnet for ducks, geese, and other wildlife. Surrounded by miles of rich agricultural land, this 9,100-acre area is intensively managed primarily for wintering waterfowl. The Sutter Buttes make a perfect backdrop for the wetlands in which the birds congregate. This is a great trip to see, several raptor species, lots of wading birds, and songbirds in the riparian vegetation. We will take a short walk, through the wetlands and woodlands, to an observation platform with views of huge flocks of waterfowl. Then we’ll travel around the one-way auto loop, which has great views of the wetlands and waterfowl from both sides of the vehicles. And, for the grand finale, Roger will get the group situated in just the right spot to enjoy one of North America’s great wildlife spectacles – the evening flyoff at Gray Lodge. At sunset, hundreds of thousands of ducks and geese will take off against the sunset sky! The perfect way to end your day of birding! The group will be in constant communication with Roger using walkie-talkies.
 

 

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.