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: Gray Lodge Wildlife Area
$27 Adult; $10 Youth
Sunday, Jan 31, 2016 8:15 am - 3:00 pm
Meet at Chico Masonic Family Center (Map)
Walking, could involve distance but largely flat
Description
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is one of the premier winter birding areas in Northern Sacramento Valley. With its varied habitats, flat hiking trails, viewing hides, and auto loop, viewing the abundant waterfowl and Snow Geese will be spectacular! We will also be looking for wintering raptors, shorebirds, and gulls. We will travel along the 3-mile auto loop and stop at various spots with the breathtaking Sutter Buttes in view. We will end with a walk to the viewing platform to scope the flooded habitat. Target birds will include Peregrine Falcon, Eurasian Wigeon, Black-necked Stilt, and Long-billed Curlew to name a few, and we might be just lucky enough to see a Mountain Bluebird. Please bring your binoculars, a lunch, and plenty of water.
Field Trip Leaders
Mary Muchowski
Mary Muchowski has worked as a wildlife technician/biologist since 1988 with the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. She has lived in the Chico area since 1983, and really enjoys the bird-life of the area, especially in the winter!
Mary Muchowski's Events
- Marathon Big Day Birding in Butte County (1/29/2016)
- Gray Lodge Wildlife Area (1/31/2016)
Matt Forster
Matt Forster is an avid outdoorsman and birder whose love of the land has him interested in conservation of habitat and restoration. He studied waterfowl biology and wetland management as well as ornithology at CSUChico.
Matt Forster's Events
- Marathon Big Day Birding in Butte County (1/29/2016)
- Gray Lodge Wildlife Area (1/31/2016)