20th 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 :: 20th Annual Snow Goose Festival :: Field Trips :: Field Trip: After the Basics: Intermediate Wildlife Photography Workshop (Wednesday) & Field Trip (Thursday)

Field Trip: After the Basics: Intermediate Wildlife Photography Workshop (Wednesday) & Field Trip (Thursday) - Sold Out!

$38 Adult; $20 Youth

Wednesday, Jan 23, 2019 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Meet at Chico Masonic Family Center (Map)

Walking, could involve distance but largely flat

Description

This is a Wednesday workshop with a Thursday morning field trip. Digital photography has made wildlife photography easier and more fun. But good wildlife photography does require some knowledge of composition, lighting, equipment and the exposure triangle. This workshop will take some of the mystery out of these more advanced techniques and allow you to make wildlife photos that you can be proud of. The workshop will include a PowerPoint presentation, demonstrations and discussion of field techniques. The workshop will begin at 1:00 pm on Wednesday at the Chico Masonic Family Center and last approximately 2 hours.

On Thursday, we will meet in the early morning at the Llano Seco Wildlife Area about 30 minutes from Chico. The field trip will begin at 7:00 am and conclude around 10:00 am. Multiple species of ducks and geese, Sandhill Cranes, and several raptor species are often found near the viewing platform, along trails and in the adjacent agricultural areas. Due to the potential for rain and mud, rain gear and boots for yourself plus rain protection for your equipment may be needed. Individualized help with advanced techniques will be provided in the field.

All ages 15 and older are welcome. Dress warmly and bring your rain gear and boots. Water and a snack are suggested.

Field Trip Leader

Kirby Flanagan

Kirby is a professional nature and wildlife photographer residing in northwest Nevada. He is a member of the Lahontan Audubon Society in Reno, Nevada, a longtime member and current board member of the National Photography Enthusiasts Group (NPEG) of Bozeman, Montana and is a past member of the Cuyahoga Valley Photographic Society based in Peninsula, Ohio.

Kirby has been involved in photography for more than forty years and in bird photography for more than ten years. During those ten years, he has photographed birds in several midwestern states, most of the western states, Alaska and the Galapagos Islands. His interests are primarily in photographing raptors and waterfowl, but he enjoys photographing all birds. And he loves to teach.

Kirby has been a workshop leader, group shoot leader, speaker and webinar presenter for NPEG for over ten years. He is the author of the e-book "A Nature Photographer's Guide to Alaska". He is a blog and a podcaster on the "Photographing the West" podcast both his blog and his podcast episodes are available on his website at www.flanaganfotos.com.

Kirby Flanagan's Events

After the Basics: Intermediate Wildlife Photography Workshop (Wednesday) & Field Trip (Thursday) (1/23/2019)
Bird Migration in the Klamath Basin (1/26/2019)