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: Winter Northern Saw-whet Owl Banding - Sold Out!
$45 Adult; $35 Youth
Friday, Jan 27, 2023 4:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Meet at Chico Park-n-Ride (Map)
Walking, could involve distance but largely flat
Description
This is a rare chance to observe an owl research project studying winter use of foothill habitat. Mist nets and an audio lure will be used to attempt to capture, band, and release Northern Saw-whet Owls. Bring headlamps or flashlights, chairs, warm clothes, cameras, snacks, and hot drinks. Rain and/or high winds cancel this event.
Field Trip Leader
Erika Iocana
Erika Iacona has worked as an ecologist throughout Northern California for the past eight years. Most recently, she works for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in the Habitat Conservation and Planning Program. In 2015, while living and working in Chico, she was introduced to Northern Saw-whet Owl banding at the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve and has been hooked ever since. Erika currently lives in Shasta County, where she has partnered with the local Audubon Society, to begin Shasta Counties first Northern Saw-whet Owl migration monitoring station. Erika is enthusiastic about sharing the unique experience of owl banding in this years Snow Goose Festival!
Erika Iocana's Events
- Winter Northern Saw-whet Owl Banding (1/27/2023)