DUCK DAYS 2019 FIELD TRIP SCHEDULE
Duck Days Festival Admission Fee of $20/car
is waived for those registered for field trips.
 Family Friendly |  Wheelchair Accessible | |
Sacramento Valley Refuges |
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| Yolo Audubon field trip leader Chris Dunford will lead a day-long field trip to three wonderful wildlife refuges within the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Complex - Colusa NWR, Sacramento NWR, and the Llano Seco Unit of the North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area. These are among the premier waterfowl refuges in California and critically important resting and feeding areas for tens of thousands of wintering ducks and geese. You’ll also keep an eye out for swans and cranes in the farm fields surrounding the refuges. Bring lunch, snacks and drinks. Space limited to 10 people. | ||
Yolo County Birding Hotspots |
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| Frank Fogarty, an avian ecologist and PhD student at UC Davis, will take participants to some of the best local birding hot spots in Yolo County. This trip is aimed at people who are ready to move beyond the beginner level of bird identification. You’ll be looking for birds of all types—perching birds, waterbirds, raptors, etc. Birding locations will depend on what’s been spotted earlier in the week but will seek to maximize the number of species seen and habitats visited. Space limited to 12 people. | ||
Central Valley Raptors |
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| Birder, USGS Wildlife Biologist and UCD PhD student Shannon Skalos and UCD PhD student Ryan Bourbour will take you in search of the many species of birds of prey that call the Central Valley home during the winter. Learn some of the tricks to identifying these often hard to differentiate birds. Have an exciting morning looking for American Kestrels, Peregrine Falcons, Merlins, Red-shouldered, Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawks, Cooper’s Hawks, and perhaps Golden or Bald Eagles. Even if you can’t tell a red-tail from a vulture, join this fun road trip with short walks. Space limited to 14 people. | ||
Birding and Hiking at Bobcat Ranch |
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| Join Yolo Audubon members Stan Hunter and Joe Zinkl for a morning of hiking and birding at Audubon California’s Bobcat Ranch, located in the foothills of the Coast Range just west of Winters. The moderately easy hike will be roughly two miles round-trip, with an elevation gain of about 300 ft. Before we start the hike, Bobcat’s manager will meet us for a short talk about the history and plans for the 6,800-acre working ranch. Prepare for possibly muddy conditions. Space is limited to 16 people. 40 minute drive time each way included. | ||
Birding for Beginners |
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  | Calling all beginning birders! Mary Schiedt, Yolo Audubon member and birding guru, will introduce you to the world of birding at easy-to-reach local birding spots, including the North Davis Pond. What are those little yellow birds at your feeder or that woodpecker in the oaks at the park? Learn the basics from Mary and then go out and apply your new skills. Bring a sack lunch and beverage. Space limited to 20 people. | |
Tour of the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area |
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| Join Yolo Basin Foundation Executive Director Martha Ozonoff and YBWA Area Manager Joe Hobbs for an educational and entertaining tour of the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area. Together, they will tell the story of one of the nation’s biggest restoration projects, explain how agriculture is helping to maintain a valuable piece of the Pacific Flyway, talk about land management practices, and provide information about the birds you see along the way. You’ll look for birds around the flooded rice fields and wetlands that provide winter habitat for thousands of avian visitors from the far north. This driving tour has frequent stops and short walks. Space limited to 20 people per trip. | |
Tour of South Fork Preserve |
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| Join the City of Davis on a tour of the City’s South Fork Preserve on Putah Creek off of Mace Blvd. This is a 120-acre streamside woodland and grassland habitat restoration site that includes spawning salmon in the winter. It balances multiple uses including wildlife habitat, flood control, agriculture and managed public access. Plan on walking about one mile and stopping frequently. A good trip for the whole family! Space limited to 20 people per trip. | |
Falconry Demonstration |
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| Observe the ancient sport of falconry with master falconer Ken Hein and his birds of prey. He will have several raptors perched near the ground and will discuss the origins of the sport and the traits of his birds. Then he will send one of his birds up to fly. Prepare to be mesmerized by this spectacular sight! There will be a 10-minute drive to the demonstration area. Dress warmly and wear shoes that can get muddy. Space limited to 40 people. | |
Local OwlingTrip #1: 3:15 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Trip #2: 3:30 p.m. -7:15 p.m. Adult (17+) - $35 Kid (12-16) - $20 Child (under 12) - no charge |
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| Join Yolo Audubon’s Mary Schiedt (Trip #1) and retired Sac State biology professor Gene Trapp (Trip #2) for a late afternoon and early evening search for owls. Owls live in a variety of habitats and you will have the opportunity to see the best local spots. Look for Burrowing Owls, Barn Owls, Great-horned Owls, Short-eared Owls, and Screech Owls. Take a snack and beverage. Two trips are scheduled 15 minutes apart. They will cover the same route but in a different order and have different leaders. This will keep the groups smaller for better owl viewing. Space limited to 20 people per trip. | |
