11th Annual Snow Goose Festival: January 28-31, 2010
Presentations/Workshops: Saturday, Jan. 30

Join master carvers from the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association for a three and a half hour carving seminar. All of the necessary materials, including a study guide and the best knives on the market, will be provided. Short lectures with lots of hands-on carving will enable you to complete a life size Dunlin shorebird decoy. Topics include where to get your supplies, how to use reference material, wood selection, and how to use hand tools and power tools. This workshop’s fee includes a one-year membership in the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association. Must be fifteen years or older. If you have taken the Dunlin seminar before and want to carve a different shorebird, contact Jim Burcio at (925) 754-4978.

Field Trip Leader: Pacific Flyway Decoy Association

Take a tour of California's fascinating soundscapes. We will enjoy a selection of surround-sound recordings from California's parks and wildlife preserves. A quick survey of nature recording equipment and brief ear training exercises will be given. The relatively new concept of "soundscape" describes an immersive appreciation of nature.

Participants may wish to take the 10:45 am Birding by Ear field trip that compliments this workshop.

Field Trip Leaders: Dan Dugan and Sharon Perry and Greg Weddig

This workshop will introduce you to the California Watchable Wildlife Project (those brown and white binocular signs you see along the roadways). Learn about the criteria that the California Watchable Wildlife Committee uses to evaluate viewing sites. Then along with a member of the California Watchable Wildlife Committee, join the 12:30 pm Birds & Native Plants of Bidwell Park field trip to complete an on-site assessment to get Bidwell Park nominated as a Watchable Wildlife site. This is an opportunity to become a team member to help make Chico’s crown jewel, Bidwell Park, a nation-wide Watchable Wildlife Site!

Field Trip Leader: Watchable Wildlife Staff

Snow Geese, Ross' Geese, and Blue Morphs – it can be overwhelmingly white in the sky! Come learn how to tell the difference between all these white geese. Through exquisite pictures and lively narration you can become much more knowledgeable about our Mascot of the Festival.

Field Trip Leader: Mike Peters

Imagine, for a moment, slamming your face into a brick wall at 16 miles per hour. This self-destructive (and foolish) act would require about 1,200 g of force, almost certainly resulting in your death. Yet, a woodpecker can exert the same force up to 20 times per second, and as many as 12,000 times per day, pounding its head against trees! The woodpecker’s anatomy is perfectly suited for its climbing and excavating lifestyle. Woodpecker natural history and behavior show amazing specialization, making them one of the most fascinating of all the world’s bird families

Field Trip Leader: Steve Shunk

They are one of the most beneficial, yet most misunderstood animals in the world. Learn more about the habits, habitats, and species of bats that reside within the unique ecosystems of California’s valleys and forests.

Field Trip Leader: Linda Angerer

Gardens can be more than just lawns bordered by shrubs and flowers. By considering the needs of birds and other wildlife, our gardens can be designed to attract more birds, bees, butterflies, and still satisfy our desire to have a pleasing garden space. Learn the critical elements for planning a garden for wildlife: providing food, water, space and shelter. We will discuss specific plants, useful for attracting birds. A reliable, clean source of water is critical in attracting and keeping birds in the garden. John will demonstrate how to construct a simple, dripping bird bath that never fails to bring the birds into the garden.

Field Trip Leader: John Whittlesey

Come learn about the life cycle of the wood duck; one of our shyest and most difficult ducks to observe in the wild. Why do wood ducks nest in trees? What are their favorite foods? What is "dump nesting"? Richly illustrated with many beautiful photos, we will take a journey through the annual cycle of the wood duck.

Field Trip Leader: Mike Peters

Ever wondered what the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers really does? Follow your feathered friends on a virtual field trip to nearby Black Butte Lake. Journey through a brief history of the Corps of Engineers and how it became the largest federal provider of outdoor recreation. We’ll explore the diverse habitat of Black Butte Lake; from the basalt capped buttes to the oak woodlands, from the marshy willows to the rolling grasslands. Along the way, you’ll see some of the plants and animals that call this place home. Come learn all about the recreational opportunities for experiencing Black Butte Lake for yourself!

Field Trip Leader: Ranger Holly Meyers

Immediately following the Elusive Wood Duck workshop is the opportunity to build your very own Wood Duck box. Learn a few pointers on placement and maintenance of boxes. Here’s an opportunity to help the Indian Fishery Unit of CA State Parks maintain a Wood Duck Program by building a box to be put up on their area. Limit of 10 boxes to be built.

Field Trip Leaders: Bob Guzman and Ranger Zack Chambers

This workshop is an introduction to nature and wildlife photography, particularly bird photography. Topics will include discussions on exposure, lighting, composition, and the ethics of nature photography. Some equipment will be on display including film and digital cameras, photography blinds, camera support devices, flash projection setups and remote control units. This workshop compliments the Photography Field Trip at the Sacramento Refuge on Sunday.

Field Trip Leader: Steve Emmons

This workshop will be run using the same format found at any of the waterfowl flyway ‘Wing Bees’. Tables with assorted wings will be set up by species (e.g., mallards, northern pintail, etc.), with an instructor at each table. Instructors will start with a brief introduction to their species, including techniques used in the determination of species, sex, and age. Participants will then test their skills using wings provided by workshop personnel. Participants will move from table to table learning a new species at each table. A minimum of 6 – 8 species will be thoroughly covered. Participants may bring their own wings.

Field Trip Leader: Jeremy Ashe

Learn about the history of the Sutter Buttes, that mysterious silhouette which dominates Butte County's southern horizon. The Buttes have long been studied and featured from naturalists' perspective. This program assembles a photographic collection of old maps, lithographs, artwork, and old black and white photos of the people and places that have played a role in the history of this irreplaceable landscape. This book, authored by Mike Hubbartt, has just been released by Arcadia Publishing and will be available at the workshop.

Field Trip Leader: Mike Hubbartt