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: Birds, River & Riparian Forests at Brayton Restoration
$25 Adult; $15 Youth
Thursday, Jan 26, 2023 7:30 am - 12:00 pm
Meet at Patrick Ranch Museum (Map)
Walking, could involve distance but largely flat
Description
Birds and wildlife are right at home in restored riparian areas along the Sacramento River. Join River Partners' biologists as you visit three habitat restoration sites of varying ages, all within a short drive from Chico. During this trip, you'll learn about the project's history and how restored native habitat is essential to birds, wildlife, and flood protection for surrounding communities. We will be hiking around two of these sites with possible sightings including Peregrine Falcon, Bald Eagle, and White-throated Sparrow. Bring snacks, water, and binoculars.
Field Trip Leaders
Kim Armstrong
Kim Armstrong has worked for River Partners as a Restoration Biologist for the last two years. Prior to working with River Partners, she was a Scientific Aid at the Oroville Wildlife Area for 9 years where she got to partake in various wildlife surveys, band ducks and geese, and was in charge of the areas' wood duck box program. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science - Ecology, with a minor in Biology, from CSU, Chico in 2019. Her favorite classes were ornithology, waterfowl biology and wetland ecology, entomology and aquatic ecology. She enjoys fly fishing, hiking, backpacking and birding. In her free time, she volunteers with the Audubon Society banding northern saw-whet owls.
Kim Armstrong's Events
Holly Ferrara
Holly Ferrara is a Restoration Biologist for River Partners. She has worked for River Partners for four years. Before that she worked for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for five years as a Scientific Aid and Turkey Hunt Coordinator. She received her Bachelors of Science in Wildlife Management and Conservation from Humboldt State University in 2013.
Holly Ferrara's Events