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: Raptor ID, Trapping and Banding - Sold Out!
$50 Adult; $25 Youth
Saturday, Jan 27, 2024 7:00 am - 12:00 pm
Meet at Patrick Ranch Museum (Map)
Walking, could involve distance but largely flat
Description
Take your birding to another level! Join a team of biologists, who will capture and band raptors in the field. This field trip will include instruction on raptor identification and trapping methods. Once birds are captured, we will discuss safe handling methods, provide information for identifying raptors by age and sex (when possible), and teach traditional methods used when banding raptors including collecting morphometric data and conducting health assessments.Carpooling is mandatory to keep the number of vehicles to a minimum. This trip is also offered on Friday.
Field Trip Leaders
Scott Thomas
Scott Thomas is a raptor biologist and project manager for Kidd Biological, Inc, a small consulting firm located in southwestern California. Scott maintains state and federal permits authorizing capture and take of various threatened and endangered species ranging from California Gnatcatchers to Golden Eagles. Since 1985 Scott has concentrated his efforts in raptor research and banded approximately 5,000 nestling and adult raptors throughout the western U.S. and Scandinavia with an emphasis in northern and southern California.
Scott Thomas's Events
- Raptor ID, Trapping and Banding (1/26/2024)
- Raptor ID, Trapping and Banding (1/27/2024)
Colin Dillingham
Colin has been an active birder and raptor enthusiast for 32 years. His first work was with Peregrine Falcon cross-fostering work for Alturas Bureau of Land Management in 1987 as a volunteer and has been active with monitoring Peregrine Falcons in California and Oregon ever since. He has worked as a wildlife biologist for the US Forest Service - first in Brookings and Gold Beach, Oregon from 1988 - 2001 and then on the Plumas National Forest from 2001 to present. Colin has birded extensively around the world. His favorite local birds are the Peregrine Falcon and Pileated Woodpecker.
Colin Dillingham's Events
- Raptor ID, Trapping and Banding (1/26/2024)
- Raptor ID, Trapping and Banding (1/27/2024)