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: Red Bluff Recreation Area
$45 Adult; $20 Youth
Friday, Jan 23, 2026
Meet at Patrick Ranch - Pat's Barn (Map) at 7:00 am
Meet at Sacramento River Discovery Center (Map) at 8:00 am
Walking, could involve distance but largely flat
Description
The Sacramento River Discovery Center, located near the river in the Red Bluff Recreation Area, will be the take-off point for this exciting birding adventure. This is an ideal place to see a large variety of species in the area's oak woodlands, riparian, and upland habitats. Target birds are Bald Eagle, Osprey, Common Goldeneye, and lots of woodland birds. Past sightings include Barrow's Goldeneye, Phainopepla, and Red-breasted Nuthatch. Over 120 different species of birds have been sighted in this area throughout the year. This trip is recommended for birders from beginner to advanced. Bring lunch, water, and binoculars, and be prepared for any weather possibility.
Field Trip Leaders
David Dahnke
David Dahnke has been actively birding since 1980. He has birded throughout much of the United States and Canada. He enjoys birding in Eastern Europe, often by bicycle, and has recently added Scandinavia and Western Europe along with Central and South America to his experiences.
David Dahnke's Events
- Red Bluff Recreation Area (1/23/2026)
- Tehama Bird Trek (1/24/2026)
Susan Isaacson
After receiving a B.S. degree in Conservation of Natural Resources from U.C. Berkeley, Susan worked for the National Park Service, as a seasonal park naturalist, for 11 years, in Grand Teton NP, Sequoia/Kings Canyon NPs, and Timpanogos Cave NM. In 1990, she acquired a teaching position in Red Bluff, and retired in 2019 after 30 years in the classroom! In retirement Susan volunteered for the Museum of the National Park Ranger in Yellowstone NP and, this past summer, in Lassen Volcanic National Park, where she staffed the Loomis Museum and led a weekly bird walk around Manzanita Lake. In Red Bluff, Susan volunteers at the Sacramento River Discovery Center leading school field trips and assists with the monthly community bird walk. Travels (and birding) include Europe, Middle East, Africa, South America, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand and Alaska and Hawaii.
Susan Isaacson's Events
- Red Bluff Recreation Area (1/23/2026)
- Tehama Bird Trek (1/24/2026)