Welcome!
The Redwood Region Audubon Society is
an energetic community of volunteers from all over northern
California. We offer free bird walks every week, a monthly program,
and numerous special outings. We are also a strong voice for
conservation in our bioregion. We hope to see you at one of our events soon!
Sunday, April 29 Alderpoint Natural
History Trip Join leader Tony Kurz
at Ray's Food Place in Garberville at 8:30
a.m. We will form carpools and head up Alderpoint Rd. The trip
will include stops along the road for uncommon breeding birds in our county,
such as the Oak Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, and Lark Sparrow.
Participants will see the first migrants headed north from the tropics: expect
bright-colored birds and singing! There are no restrooms along the drive until
we get to the town store which might have a public restroom. At Alderpoint, we
will walk south along the railroad tracks on the Eel River. We sometimes walk
two miles to the old railroad trestle where we might see Rufous-crowned Sparrows
(the only known area these occur in the county). The group will see spring’s
first wildflowers along our journey.
Saturday,
May 5: Bridgeville-Kneeland Road.
David Juliano will be leading this exciting trip on Global Big Day
(https://ebird.org/news/global-big-day-5-may-2018). Highlights from
last year included Chipping
Sparrow, Lazuli Bunting, Western Kingbird, Bullock's Oriole, Acorn
Woodpecker, and a vagrant Vesper Sparrow.
The whole loop (starting in
Eureka) is about 100 miles, with the road from Bridgeville to
Kneeland about 35 miles. It is a public road, but passes
through mostly private lands, so most of the birding is from the
road, very little hiking. Plan on spending 2-3 hours
birding. To
minimize cars on this busy road, please meet in the Party City
parking lot at Bayshore Mall in Eureka at 8 a.m. Carpooling will be
arranged at that time. If anyone is coming from further east on 36, they can meet up
with the group in Bridgeville. For more information please contact David at
semurphy@blm.gov
or by calling
707-601-2389.
Saturday May 5 Wigi Wetlands Enhancement Invasive
Plant Removal
Come join us
from 9:30am-noon for a kid-friendly event (7 and up) to remove invasive plants and clean up trash at
the Wigi Wetlands.
Meet us behind the Bayshore mall in the
Kohl’s parking lot and follow the signs to the wetland. We will provide supplies such as, gloves, trash
pickers, bags, buckets, weed wrenches, and snacks. You are encouraged
to bring drinking water, sun protection, any garden tools you love to
use, and wear comfortable clothes.
Wetlands are a habitat for a variety of
native plants and species. They serve as sponges that filter, purify
and store water, meanwhile absorbing wind and tidal forces. Overall,
the native plants help control water erosion. Wigi was known as
Parcel 4. It is the site of an abandoned mill. With the structures
now demolished and the new trail open, we are enhancing this wetland.
This event is brought to you by Empower
Eureka, E.C.O Eureka, the City of Eureka Community Services
Department and the Redwood Region Audubon Society. If you need more
info contact the City at (707) 441-4206 or ecoeureka@ci.eureka.ca.gov, or Susan with RRAS at 707-672-3346.
May 5 - May 13 Redwood
Region Audubon Society and the Northcoast Environmental Center are sponsoring
the Fourth Annual Tim McKay Birdathon. Participants can compete in the Birdathon on any day from May 5 to May 13
and can count birds anywhere in the world! Birdathon teams will raise money for the two organizations from sponsors
who pledge to pay for the number of bird species seen during 24 hours. To register or support a team, call the
NEC at (707) 822-6918 or see http://yournec.org/events/birdathon. Sunday, May 6 - Del Norte County
Celebrate International Migratory Bird
Day in the field with leader Alexa DeJoannis. The group will carpool to several
locations in Del Norte County, and keep walking to a minimum. We should see lots
of songbird spring arrivals and will also look for seabirds. Bring binoculars or
spotting scopes, drinking water, and snacks. Trip ends around 1 p.m. Meet at 8
a.m. at Charthouse Restaurant on Anchor Way. Call Sue at (707) 465-6191 or Alexa
at (202) 288-5174).
Saturday,
May 12, Trinidad Head Seabird Walk. Visit
the California Coastal National Monument in Trinidad, one of the most
regionally significant areas along the California coast for roosting
and nesting seabirds. Join a mile long hike around Trinidad
Head, where the group will share in breathtaking views of the
Trinidad coastline, while also looking for and learning about the
seabirds in Trinidad, their natural history, how to identify
different species, and the importance of seabirds and their role as
indicators for the marine environment. The trip will also
provide a brief history of Trinidad Head and end with a visit to the
historical and still operational Trinidad Lighthouse. Walk is
scheduled from 9-12 p.m. Please gather at the parking lot below
Trinidad Head 15 minutes early. The trail around Trinidad Head is an
easy to moderate 1 mile hike. Bring appropriate weather-friendly
clothing, wear sturdy walking shoes, binoculars and bring a snack and
a drink, hat, sunglasses, and anything else needed for your walking
comfort and safety. Contact Shannon Brinkman, Seabird Biologist for
BLM and North Coast Seabird Protection Network, semurphy@blm.gov,
with additional questions.
Sunday,
May 13: Fort Bragg Pelagic Tour.
The
Mendocino Coast Audubon Society will offer an all-day pelagic seabird
expedition on Sunday,
May 13,
aboard the Trek II out of Noyo Harbor, Fort Bragg, led by Rob Fowler
and Todd Easterla. We plan to assemble at 7
AM and
depart soon thereafter, spend about 10 hours at sea, and return
around 5
PM. The
Trek II is the largest and fastest charter boat operating from Noyo
Harbor, offering good views for up to 35 participants and getting us
out to sea quickly. Ocean conditions permitting, we hope to go 30 to
40 miles offshore.
 Join us for our free
public field trip at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary every Saturday! May 12 - Inland Birding Adventure Join Redwood Region Audubon Society with leader Melissa Dougherty in
Willow Creek. Meet at Studio 299 (75 The Terrace, Willow Creek) after 9:00
a.m. to arrange carpooling. The group will depart promptly at 9:30 a.m. and end
around noon. All ages, abilities and interest levels are welcome! (530)
859-1874 or willowcreekbirdwalks@gmail.com. Sunday, May 13 - Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge
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 an emphasis on enjoying the birds! Beginners are
more than welcome. Meet at the Refuge Visitor Center at 9 a.m. Call Jude Power
at (707) 822-3613 for more information. Saturday, May 19 - Southern Humboldt The walk begins at 8:30 a.m. in Tooby Park with leader Kyle
Keegan. Take Sprowl Creek Road for one mile out of Garberville and just past the
park entryway (McKee Lane) you'll see the Tooby parking lot on the right, which
is well signed. If you're late, you can easily catch up by walking towards the
barn! The walk is an easy 2- to 3-hr walk. We generally have some extra
binoculars. Organic, shade-grown (bird-friendly) coffee is usually provided. No
dogs, please. Porta-potty is available on the trail. 923-7227. Heavy rain
cancels. Sunday, May 20 - Eureka Waterfront. Meet leader Ralph Bucher
at 9 a.m. at the foot of Del Norte Street, where participants will scope birds
from the public dock until everyone assembles. Participants will then drive to
the base of the Hikshari’ Trail at Truesdale Street and bird along the trail to
the Elk River Wildlife Sanctuary. (707) 499-1247 or thebook@reninet.com. Sunday, April 29 - College of the Redwoods
Go birding at the College of the
Redwoods. The College campus offers a variety of habitats: shrub hedges, fields,
forests, marsh, and pond. Participants are likely to see and hear migrating
songbirds, soaring hawks, and wetlands-loving birds. Meet leader Alexa DeJoannis
at 9 a.m. at the flagpole in front of Administration. Parking is free on
weekends! (202) 288-5174.
Second Thursday Redwood Region Audubon Society holds its monthly
Conservation Meeting the second Thursday of each month noon at Rita’s Margaritas and Mexican
Grill, 1111 5th Street, Eureka. (707) 445-8311.
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Local Birding Hotline: 707-822-5666 Volunteer Opportunities! Saturday, May 5, 9:30 - noon
May 5 - May 13 LOTS of field trips in May! Details on this page, and on the calendar: Saturday,
May 5: Bridgeville-Kneeland Road. Sunday, May 6.
International Migratory Bird
Day spring migration field trip in Del Norte Saturday,
May 12, Trinidad Head Seabird Walk Sunday,
May 13: Fort Bragg Pelagic Tour.
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Keep Up to Date Via RRAS Listserve
Be reminded about field trips and programs and learn about upcoming
meetings, public hearings, and symposia of interest to RRAS members and
other concerned nature lovers. Create an account at https://groups.io/ if you don't already have one, then search for rras and join us!
Our great photos:
Great Blue Heron by
Jeanie Breslin
and
Sanderling and Red-tailed Hawk by
Susan Wellington
 The 2nd edition of RRAS’ Common Birds of Northwest California by
local birder Kenneth Burton and photographer Leslie Anderson is now
available! |
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