Field Trip Leader Bios
Read all the biographies here.
A special note about Field Trips
Please arrive at the location indicated 30 minutes prior to your scheduled event. This will allow us time to check you in and ensure the trip leaves promptly. We ask that you follow your field trip leader from the meeting location to the final destination. Anyone arriving after the field trip leader has left may not be able to join the group. Most field trips will be limited to the first 20 reservations. Walk-in registration may be available for some events during the weekend of the Festival.
Weather may change a trip's itinerary, but most trips will be conducted rain or shine. The weather in the valley during January is variable. It is generally cold and sometimes rainy, with daytime highs ranging from 50F to 65F.
Be sure to bring the following on your field trips: rain gear, waterproof footwear, layered clothing, binoculars, camera, field identification guide, water and snack or lunch as needed. Please also check out the Tips & Etiquette below to help you enjoy your day to the fullest.
Tips & Etiquette for Bird Watchers
To make your trip more enjoyable for yourself and others, we ask you to please use these following etiquette tips:
- Wear clothing suitable for the weather and area you'll be hiking in. It's practical to layer clothing to accommodate fluctuations in temperature. Wear comfortable shoes that have a good grip and are waterproof when necessary. You may want to take sunscreen, a hat or rain gear.
- Bring binoculars or a scope for a better viewing experience.
- Bring water on long outings to stay hydrated.
- Bring a Field Guide if you are interested in learning more about the birds you see. If you are a beginning birder, look for a guide that specializes in birds of northern California.
- Be courteous to other explorers. Stay with your group and pay attention to your trip leader. Walk quietly and slowly. Do not disrupt animals or their habitats. Turn off cell phones or other electronic devices. If you are taking children with you, explain to them proper etiquette before the trip.
- Tune up your senses and listen carefully. Scan the horizon and tree canopies. Look to the ground for prints, feathers and other traces of wildlife. Please remove litter and leave natural items where they belong. This will keep it enjoyable for others when they visit.
Field Trip: Digiscoping & Phonescoping Workshop/Field Trip
$22 Adult; $10 Youth
Friday, Jan 29, 2016 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Meet at Chico Creek Nature Center (Map)
Mostly birding by car and/or easy walking
Wheelchair accessible
Description
Taking pictures through a spotting scope with your camera of wildlife is an excellent way to document your sightings and is pure fun. In this seminar, we will spend time in the classroom at the Chico Creek Nature Center to help you make some preliminary camera settings. Then we will step outside and get some nature photos. Bruce Webb, Field Technician for Swarovski Optik, will work with participants on topics such as: using the camera on your smart phone; using a simple point and shoot type camera; and using a sophisticated DSLR camera. We will work on choosing the best camera to scope mounting options, shooting tips, techniques in the field, and using these cameras behind the spotting scope eyepiece. Participants are encouraged to bring their spotting scope and cameras. Bring more than one camera if you have them. We will spend about 3 hours.
Field Trip Leader
Bruce Webb, Swarovski Optik Field Tech
When Bruce Webb was a student at Chico State, he worked with Tim Manolis to write the "Annotated List of Birds of Butte County." Currently, he is California’s Field Technician for Swarovski Optik.
Bruce Webb, Swarovski Optik Field Tech's Events
- Winter Raptors (1/28/2016)
- Digiscoping & Phonescoping Workshop/Field Trip (1/29/2016)
- Raptor Run thru Butte County (1/29/2016)