Tag: waterfowl

Discover Birding at Turtle Bay

Our youth/beginner bird walks are conducted on the first Saturday of every month throughout the year at Turtle Bay.

Our youth/beginner bird walks are conducted on the first Saturday of every month throughout the year at Turtle Bay. Wintu Audubon can provide binoculars and field guides. Call Roberta Winchell at 945-8342, with questions or for more information. We assemble at the Venture Properties parking lot. Take the first left before the Redding Civic Auditorium.

End of the Year Activities at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Looking for something to do with the kids over the holiday break? Come and experience the beauty of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and wintering waterfowl. In addition to the opportunities provided year round, the Sacramento NWR will also be offering a number of free activities for kids and families over the holiday break from December 23 – January 7.

Each fall, millions of waterfowl migrate south from places as far as Alaska and Russia. Several hundred thousand waterfowl and other migratory birds, including bald eagles, spend their entire winter at the Sacramento NWR. These free programs offer unique opportunities for viewing and learning about wildlife.

Refuge staff and volunteers will be providing a variety of programs and activities over the holiday break. View examples of ducks, geese, beaks, and feet up close to assist with sketching waterfowl for the Junior Duck Stamp Program. Become a Junior Refuge Ranger by completing an activity booklet that educates and empowers youth to be environmental stewards. Create a snow goose craft or a nature journal.

All programs are free. Admission to the Sacramento NWR is $6 per car. An annual pass is $12 and a Federal Duck Stamp is $25. The America the Beautiful Interagency Pass, Senior Pass (formerly known as golden age pass), Access Pass, Active Military Pass, and Every Kid in a Park Pass are also accepted. The visitors center is located parallel to the Interstate 5 just 6 miles south of Willows.

The visitor center is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. through the end of February and is closed on federal holidays. The auto tour is open daily from 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset. For more information, please call the Sacramento NWR at 530-934-2801 or email at: sacramentovalleyrefuges@fws.gov

Waterfowl Identification

Wintu Audubon presents a night of Waterfowl ID tips by Mike Carion. Mike is a retired California Fish & Wildlife employee known for his expertise on waterfowl.

Wintu Audubon presents a night of Waterfowl ID tips by Mike Carion. Mike is a retired California Fish & Wildlife employee known for his expertise on waterfowl. He will focus on the waterfowl species found in the Shasta County area with helpful ID tips including field marks and calls! This refresher will help you identify these migratory waterfowl as they build up in numbers during their annual migration to the Sacramento Valley and parts beyond. If you love to watch waterfowl but need some helpful ID tips, please join us!

Waterfowl Identification

Michael Carion is a retired Chief of Enforcement for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Mike has had a life-long passion for waterfowl and has taught waterfowl identification and enforcement techniques to California Game Wardens for over 25 years. Come learn basic techniques to help identify the waterfowl found throughout California. His PowerPoint presentation will start with basics and then focus on field identification marks to help identify the numerous species of waterfowl found throughout California.

Gray Lodge State Wildlife Area

Gray Lodge State Wildlife Area is west of Gridley about 100 miles south of Redding so this will be an all day trip. We should see Snow Geese, Ross’s Geese, possible Sandhill Cranes, Eurasian Wigeon among many other species of waterfowl

Gray Lodge State Wildlife Area is west of Gridley about 100 miles south of Redding so this will be an all day trip. We should see Snow Geese, Ross’s Geese, possible Sandhill Cranes, Eurasian Wigeon among many other species of waterfowl—all this with a backdrop of the beautiful Sutter Buttes. Bring your camera! There is a $4.32 per person entrance fee. If you have a California hunting or fishing license there is no charge. We will meet at the Redding Civic Auditorium to carpool so bring a few dollars for gas also. Your trip leader will be George Horn.