Field Trip Leader Bios
Read all the biographies here.
A special note about Field Trips
Please arrive at the location indicated 20 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. 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.
Field Trip: Wings & Wine Tasting in Vina - Sold Out!
$55 Adult
Thursday, Jan 23, 2025 8:45 am - 3:00 pm
Meet at Patrick Ranch - Pat's Barn (Map)
Walking, could involve distance but largely flat
Description
Take a memorable trip to where California history was made and where monks and a wine maker now reside. As we leave Chico, our first travels will include Meridian and Lassen Roads. This is an excellent location to see Horned Lark, Prairie Falcons, Bald Eagles, Merlin, Ferruginous Hawk and Burrowing Owl. Next, we'll explore the riparian and oak woodland habitats of the Sacramento River in search of resident and wintering birds such as woodpeckers, raptors, thrushes, sparrows, bluebirds, ducks and more. Time allowing, we may travel to Cone Grove Park or another suitable spot for lunch, on our way to the Abbey of New Clairvaux in nearby Vina, California, home to a community of Trappist monks that was founded in 1955. A discussion of the history of the property and its relation to the history of California, the story of its current residents, a tour of the under re-construction Twelfth Century Monastic Chapter House, and wine tasting will all be included. Tour and wine tasting fees included in price. Bring lunch, water, and binoculars.Carpooling strongly encouraged.
Field Trip Leaders
Bill Smith
Bill Smith is a retired Professional Forester who has resided in in Chico since 1975. He has a BS in Forest Management from Michigan Technological University and retired as the "Forest Silviculturist" from the Plumas National Forest in 2010. His forte in the Forest Service was large reforestation project logistics and Service Contract Administration. Notable accomplishments include serving on the Bidwell Park Commission, securing the three acre "Blue Oak Reserve" within Hillview Terrace Subdivision, and spearheadimg the design and build-out of Baroni Park, a Chico Neighborhood Park.
Bill leads a Chico Meetup Hiking Group and stays active in Community affairs. Currently, Bill is a docent at the Abbey of Our Lady of New Clairvaux, in Vina, Ca., where he leads tours. The Abbey is home to 25 Trappist monks, and the property played an important role in California history.
Bill Smith's Events
- Wings & Wine Tasting in Vina (1/23/2025)
- Birding, History & Wine Tasting in Durham (1/25/2025)
Joyce Bond
Joyce Bond has been an avid birder for more than two decades and is a member of Altacal Audubon Society. She teaches a class called "Birding in the Chico Area" for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at CSU, Chico, leading birding field trips to locations all around the area and helping students learn how to ID birds from field marks and by ear. She also enjoys painting and photographing birds.
Joyce Bond's Events
- Wings & Wine Tasting in Vina (1/23/2025)
- Birds & Brews (1/26/2025)
Joan Mitchell
Joan grew up in Southern California where she started a career as a Licensed Vocational Nurse. Eventually she moved to Maui, Hawaii wanting to pursue her passion for scuba diving as a dive master. It was there that she met her husband and decided to move to Chico to complete her degree in nursing. She has always been an outdoor enthusiast and Chico has been the perfect place for hiking, biking, horseback riding and exploring the North State. Recently retired, she joined Altacal and discovered birding as her newest pursuit.
Joan Mitchell's Events
- Wings & Wine Tasting in Vina (1/23/2025)