| Short-cuts to Calendar Sections | ||
| Monthly Program |
Field
Trips
updated April 26, 2008 |
Special Events and Meetings Conservation Committee Celebrations of International Migratory Bird Day Birding Festivals |
Want to receive calendar reminders in your e-mail? Click here for more information!
White Sharks of Northern California
Biologist Adam Brown will talks about his work with white sharks from both the Farallon Islands and Humboldt County. Adam will discuss some of the discoveries his team has made in 20 years of researching white sharks off the California coast, including his work focusing on white shark predation behavior as well as annual and seasonal migration patterns of this top predator. Along with slides, Adam will show some video of white shark "interactions" with seals and sea lions.
This program will be held Friday, May 9, 2008, starting at 7:30 p.m. in the Madrone Room of the Humboldt County Office of Education near the Burre Center at Myrtle and West in Eureka. Bring a mug (or purchase one there) and enjoy shade-grown coffee.
Thank you for ensuring that our meetings are fragrance-free.
RRAS programs are regularly held on the 2nd Friday night of each month, September through May, at 7:30 p.m.. February is the sole exception when we meet for our annual banquet. See you there!
Carpooling for Field Trips!
Carpooling to and on RRAS field trips is very strongly encouraged. It's economical, it's fun, and it's the right thing to do! Impromptu carpools to trips meet in the following parking lots at the times indicated in the trip announcements: Trinidad (Park & Ride, Main Street exit, west side of 101), HSU (northwest corner of Harpst and Rossow Streets, opposite Student Services), Eureka (Park & Ride, Herrick Avenue exit), and Fortuna (Park & Ride, Kenmar Road exit). Be there a few minutes early and see if anyone else is there for ridesharing. If you would like to prearrange a carpool, try using the RRAS listserv. Please offer your driver some gas money.
Every Saturday:
Arcata Marsh and Wildlife
Sanctuary. These are our
famous, rain-or-shine field trips at the marsh; take your binocular(s) and have
a great morning birding! Meet in the Klopp Lake parking lot at 8:30 a.m. Call
Kerry Ross (707-839-4365) for more information. Carpools: Trinidad 8:10,
Eureka 8:05, Fortuna 7:45.
Saturday, May 3: Kings Range/Shelter Cove*. Keith Slauson
(707-839-9056; kslauson@fs.fed.us) and Robert Sutherland will lead this all-day
trip to the chaparral, oak woodlands, and coast of southwestern Humboldt County
in search of California Thrasher and nesting seabirds, among others.
High-clearance vehicles, especially 4WD, would be handy.
Those wishing to leave Friday evening (May
2) and camp ($8/night/site, no showers) can carpool or caravan with Keith;
contact him to coordinate meeting location and time. Those wishing to join the
trip Saturday morning can meet the group at the BLM'S Nadelos Campground on
Chemise Mountain Road promptly at 8:30 a.m.; please notify Keith before May 2 if
you plan to do this. Saturday morning carpools: Trinidad 6:05, HSU 6:15, Eureka
6:40, Fortuna 7:00.
Sunday, May 4: Alderpoint*. Enjoy the birds, plant life, and reptiles of the Eel River canyon on this half-day trip just south of Alderpoint. We will walk the railroad tracks about two miles to Cain Rock trestle and back (there are no trains). Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, and similar birds of dry habitats in southeast Humboldt County can be expected. A short side trip to Smith Point Bridge to enjoy White-throated Swifts may be made following the trip. Diogenes' lantern, interior live-oak, and birch-leaf mountain-mahogany will be seen as well. Take sun protection, layered clothing, and a small pack for carrying lunch and water. Meet in the Ray's Food Place parking lot in Garberville at 8:30 a.m. We should return to the Humboldt Bay area by mid-afternoon. Contact David Fix or Jude Power (822-3613 or dfxjcp@humboldt1.com) for more information. Carpools: Trinidad 6:35, HSU 6:50, Eureka 7:15, Fortuna 7:30.
*For those wishing to combine the previous two trips (Kings Range/Shelter Cove and Alderpoint) into a two-day camping adventure (Friday and Saturday nights), we will camp again at Nadelos Campground Saturday night and depart Sunday morning to join the Alderpoint trip in Garberville. Contact Keith at the number or email address above to arrange transportation.
Saturday, May 10: International Migratory Bird Day Walk in Orleans. See details see below. Carpools: Trinidad 5:40, HSU 5:45, Eureka 5:25, Fortuna 5:10.
Saturday, May 10:
Del Norte County. Rob Fowler will lead a full day of birding in
observance of International Migratory Bird Day. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the end of
Anchor Way in Crescent City. Walking will be minimal. Spotting scopes will be
useful; also pack a sack lunch, water, and snacks. Contact Sue Calla
(707-951-9089) for more information. Carpools: Trinidad 7:40, HSU 7:25, Eureka
7:05, Fortuna 6:50.
Sunday, May 11: Humboldt Bay
National Wildlife Refuge. This is a wonderful, two-to-three hour trip for
people wanting to learn the birds of the Humboldt Bay area. It takes a
leisurely pace with emphasis on enjoying the birds! Beginners are more than
welcome. Meet at the Refuge Visitor Center at 9:00 a.m. Call Jude Power or
David Fix (707-822-3613) for more information. Carpools: Trinidad 8:10, HSU
8:25, Eureka 8:45, Fortuna 8:45.
Sunday, May 11: Mother’s Day Walk at Dry Lagoon. Join John Hewston (707-822-5288) for this annual trip to Dry Lagoon. The morning will be spent walking north along the marsh, with a return via the beach. Take a lunch and stay for a hike among the Sitka Spruce on a forest trail, ending 2-3 p.m. Meet John at 8:15 a.m. at the HSU carpool site, 8:30 at the Trinidad carpool site, or 9:00 in the Dry Lagoon parking lot. Carpools: Eureka 8:05, Fortuna 7:45.
Sunday, May 18: Southern Humboldt Community
Park. Jay Sooter (707-444-8001), Robert Sutherland, and/or Doug Wallace
(peregrinenation@asis.com) will be leading this monthly walk. All ages and
experience levels are encouraged to participate and revel in the beauty of the
park and its avian inhabitants on this easy, two- to three-hour walk.
Binoculars are not provided and dogs are not allowed; field guides are usually
available but please provide your own if possible. Steady rain cancels. Meet
at 8:00 a.m. in the parking lot on Kimtu Road in Garberville.
Carpools: Trinidad 6:00, HSU 6:20, Eureka 6:35,
Fortuna 6:55.
Saturday, May 24: Seabirds at Elk Head. We will be searching the rocky shoreline for shorebirds (oystercatchers, turnstones, tattlers) and the offshore rocks for nesting seabirds (murres, cormorants, puffins). We also will attempt to identify the land-birds and flowering plants encountered along the trail to the bluffs. Take spotting scopes if you have them. Meet Gary Lester (707-839-3373) at the Elk Head Parking lot at 8:30 a.m. Carpools: HSU 8:10, Eureka 7:45, Fortuna 7:30.
Saturday, June 7: Patrick’s Point State Park. Gary Lester (707-839-3373) will lead a three-hour walk through the forests and along the bluffs of this beautiful local park in search of land- and seabirds. Wear sturdy shoes. Meet in front of the park visitor center at 8:30 a.m.; free parking is available along Patrick’s Point Drive north of the park entrance. Carpools: HSU 8:05, Eureka 7:45, Fortuna 7:30.
Special Events and Meetings
Conservation Committee Meeting
Every 3rd Thursday at noon at The Golden Harvest Cafe, Arcata. Contact Chet Ogan, 442-9353, for more details.
Orleans Tony Hacking Bigfoot Birding Day:
Celebration of International Migratory Bird Day
All events are free, open to the public, and will begin at the Panamnik Building, 38150 Highway 96, in downtown Orleans. The evening slideshow by Keith Slauson will feature amazing photos, songs, and calls of the birds we hope to see the following day. Also available for viewing at Panamnik will be a selection of artwork submitted by children in the Orleans area for the 5th Annual Godwit Days Student Bird Art Contest and the winning entries for the 3rd Annual Children’s Nature Writing Contest, both sponsored by Redwood Region Audubon Society.
This event is part of the International Migratory Bird Day celebration and honors longtime Orleans area Forest Service biologist Tony Hacking, whose work protecting wildlife habitat served as an inspiration to all. Keith Slauson and Tom Leskiw will lead the Saturday walk through local riparian habitats. Both have many years’ experience leading trips for local Audubon chapters and bird festivals. Bring the whole family! Binoculars will be available for loan, and spotting scopes will be set up for up-close views.
For out-of-towners, lodging is available at Sandy Bar Ranch and elsewhere. Contact Blythe or Mark at mail*at*sandybar.com for details. Contact Tom Leskiw ([707] 442-5444) for event information.
International Migratory Bird Day in Del Norte County
Bird Walk: Saturday, May 10, 9 am - 3 pm, Crescent City
Western Snowy Plover Presentation, Film and Potluck: Sunday, May 11, 12 - 4 pm
International Migratory Bird Day is held on the second Saturday of May every year to celebrate the incredible journeys of migratory birds between their wintering ground in Mexico and Central and South America and their breeding and nesting locations in North America. This year, international events take place on several continents and focus on "Tundra to Tropics" bird migration and conservation with field trips, festivals and educational fairs. In Del Norte County, two local conservation groups celebrate the weekend with several birding field trips, a special documentary film, presentations, and a luncheon potluck.
Saturday, May 10: 9 am - 3 pm, Crescent City. Meet at 9 am in the Crescent City Harbor at the back of the Chart Room Restaurant at the end of Anchor Way. The group will carpool from there to several locations for best bird viewing and to scout for recent vagrants. Walking will be minimal. Bring binoculars or spotting scopes if you have them, a sack lunch, water and snacks. Led by field ornithologist Rob Fowler. For further information call Sue Calla 707-951-9089.
Sunday, May 11: 12 - 4 pm. Western Snowy Plover Presentation, Film and Potluck. Hosted by the Tolowa Dunes Stewards. Meet at the Lake Earl Wildlife Area Headquarters, 2591 Old Mill Road, Crescent City (off Northcrest Drive). Getting to know the endangered Snowy Plover and its life history brings a greater understanding and appreciation of the places we share with them and how we can help them survive. This event is supported by California Coastal Commission's Whale License Plate grants program. Please RSVP for potluck: Terri Klemetson 707-834-5471.
Birding Festivals
Every year in the spring, we co-sponsor two extraordinary Birding Festivals: Godwit Days in Arcata and the Aleutian Goose Festival in Crescent City. It is never too late or too early to plan to attend these exciting festivals! Check out the links to see what is happening on California's North Coast!!!
Redwood Region Audubon Society
P.O. Box 1054, Eureka, CA 95502
Last updated May 4, 2008 by Linda Long
