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: Oxidation Ponds Wildlife Sanctuary - Sold Out!
$30 Adult; $15 Youth
Saturday, Jan 25, 2025 9:00 am - 12:30 pm
Meet at Patrick Ranch - Pat's Barn (Map)
Walking, could involve distance but largely flat
Description
This field trip will visit one of Chico's best birding sites and is appropriate for beginning to advanced birders. The Oxidation Ponds Wildlife Sanctuary at the City of Chico Wastewater Treatment Plant has limited access to the public. We'll spend a couple of hours walking the levees around the ponds where we hope to find many species of migrating waterfowl as well as resident birds and mammals. Target birds will be great looks at Sandhill Cranes, Hooded Merganser, Blue-winged Teal, Eurasian Wigeon, American Pipit, Lincoln's and White-throated Sparrow, and possibly a rarity or two! If we are lucky, we may see river otters, fox, and turtles. Bring binoculars, water, & snacks.
Field Trip Leaders
Ken Sobon
Ken Sobon is an avid birder, field trip leader, President of AltaCal Bird Alliance (Audubon Society), and the Northern California representative on the Audubon California board of directors. He is the Director of the Northern Saw-whet Owl fall migration monitoring project. Ken has been a science teacher to middle school students in Oroville since 1995. He has shared his love of science and birding with his students both in the classroom and in the field.
Ken Sobon's Events
- Oxidation Ponds Wildlife Sanctuary (1/25/2025)
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
- Butte County Big Day (1/24/2025)
- Oxidation Ponds Wildlife Sanctuary (1/25/2025)