Home :: Past Festivals :: 12th Annual Snow Goose Festival :: Presentations/Workshops: Saturday, Jan. 29

12th Annual Snow Goose Festival: January 27-30, 2011
Presentations/Workshops: Saturday, Jan. 29

California Soundscapes

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 9 AM Birding by Ear field trip on Sunday, January 29 that complements this workshop.

Presenters: Dan Dugan and Greg Weddig and Sharon Perry

Drawing Birds - Youth Class

You can draw birds, and this class will help you do it even better. Learn the most important things to notice when you see a bird and how to get them into your drawing. We will use a combination of demonstrations and hands-on exercise to help you learn the secrets of speed drawing, as well as how to draw tricky details. These drawing tricks can help you draw any other subject as well. Bring a sketch pad and pencil. This class is open to all experience levels.

Presenter: John "Jack" Muir Laws

All Those White Geese!

Snow Geese, Ross's 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.

Presenter: Mike Peters

Attracting Wildlife to the Garden

Gardens can be more than attractive settings for homes and ways to meet the functional needs of people. With thought, planning, and wise plant choices, gardens can be designed to create inviting habitat for wildlife as well as people. I will talk about factors to consider when designing a habitat garden, including the types of plants to use, with an emphasis on California native plants, and gardening practices that will encourage more birds, bees, butterflies, and other wildlife to come into the garden.

Presenter: John Whittlesey

The Elusive Wood Duck

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.

Presenter: Mike Peters

Wood Duck Box Building

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. Limit of 10 boxes to be built. Make this a family project!

Presenter: Bob Guzman

Basic Nature & Wildlife Photography Workshop

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 complements the Photography Field Trip at the Sacramento Refuge on Sunday.

Presenter: Steve Emmons

Armchair Tour of the Sutter Buttes

Here's an opportunity for glimpses into the mysterious Sutter Buttes. Travel through the Buttes without ever leaving your chair as you enjoy this fascinating slide presentation on the many facets and wonders of the remarkable landscape that makes up the Sutter Buttes.

Presenter: Mike Hubbartt