19th Annual Snow Goose Festival

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 damage their habitats (breaking branches, trampling vegetation). Turn off cell phones or other electronic devices. If you are taking children with you, explain to them proper etiquette before the trip. Always behave in a manner that will enhance the image of the birding communities in the eyes of the public.
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.
No dogs or pets allowed on any Snow Goose Festival event, workshop, or program. Please leave Fido with friends or family and not in the car during a field trip.

Home :: Past Festivals :: 19th Annual Snow Goose Festival :: Field Trips :: Field Trip: Yana Trail

Field Trip: Yana Trail - Sold Out!

$30 Adult; $10 Youth

Friday, Jan 26, 2018 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Meet at Chico Masonic Family Center (Map)

More vigorous hiking, some elevation gain/loss

Description

The Yana trail is perhaps the best winter hike in the North State. The trail crosses ponds, riparian zones, rolling blue oak savannah, and lava rock canyons. On the drive to the trailhead, we will stop at ponds off of Bend Ferry Road to look for waterfowl. We then continue to the trailhead and make a diversion to the Perry Riffle on the Sacramento River to view birds in this riparian zone. We will then rejoin the Yana trail and hike northward toward Massacre Flats.

Expect an abundance of Lewis's Woodpeckers and enjoy close observations of woodland and riparian birds found in this area in winter: White-breasted Nuthatches, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a variety of sparrows, Common Mergansers, herons and egrets. There is a good chance that large flocks of ducks and geese, and if lucky, Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, and Prairie Falcons will be flying overhead.

The hills should be very green by late January, and this trail offers stunning views of the Sacramento River and snow-capped Mt. Lassen. Trip leader will allow those who cannot complete entire 9-mile round trip hike to return to the trailhead early if this distance is too strenuous for some. Bring water, a hiking/trekking staff if desired, lunch, and sturdy hiking footwear and pack a raincoat. It's a lovely hike in the rain!

Field Trip Leaders

Andy Tomaselli

Andy Tomaselli is an avid outdoor enthusiast, having spent his young adult life working and living in Yosemite National Park where he first became curious about natural history. He is a self-taught naturalist, learning most of the flora and fauna of California from field guides. Andy enjoys fly fishing, backcountry skiing and has spent many years helping with local Christmas Bird Counts. Andy refers to himself as a "smart alecky laymen" and likes to call his self-taught natural history a "burden of knowledge" that he is more than happy to unload on anyone who asks. He has resided in Chico for over 25 years and has explored the Northstate extensively; especially obscure out of the way locations. When not birding or botanizing with his lovely wife, he likes to pursue his creative side playing and singing American standards on the ukulele.

Andy Tomaselli's Events

Yana Trail (1/26/2018)
Bird the Shores of Black Butte Lake (1/27/2018)

Bill Frey

Bill Frey generally resides and birds in Carson City, NV. When he is not there, he can sometimes be found wandering the many bird areas of California.

Bill Frey's Events

Yana Trail (1/26/2018)
Bird the Shores of Black Butte Lake (1/27/2018)