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Field Trip: Llano Seco Rancho - Habitat Conservation & Wintering Waterfowl

Field Trip: Llano Seco Rancho - Habitat Conservation & Wintering Waterfowl - Sold Out!

$30 Adult; $20 Youth

Thursday, Jan 22, 2026 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Meet at Patrick Ranch - Pat's Barn (Map)

Walking, could involve distance but largely flat Walking, could involve distance but largely flat

Description

This presentation shares the unique cultural and natural history of the historic Rancho including its unique soils and vegetation, wildlife habitats, and wildlife-friendly farming practices. Thousands of acres are set aside for wildlife habitat and conservation, including riparian forests, native perennial grassland, vernal pools, and freshwater marshes of the upper Butte Basin. These diverse vegetation types and associated seasonal wetlands provide habitat for thousands of wintering ducks, geese, sandhill cranes, shorebirds, and landbirds. The role of wetland complexes in wintering waterfowl survival and evolution will be illustrated as we explore wetland complexes in California and the Northern Sacramento Valley. The breeding and wintering distributions of the three subspecies of Sandhill Crane and their winter habitats in California is also illustrated. After a brief break, we travel to the Steve Thompson North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area Llano Seco Unit wildlife viewing platform to observe the evening fly-off, when first the geese, then the ducks fly off to the rice fields for nighttime feeding, while the sandhill cranes fly onto the Sanctuary to their nighttime roosts. Dress warmly, bring a warm beverage, and do bring your binoculars -- we may have a chance to see hundreds of wintering ducks, geese, and Sandhill Cranes! Carpooling strongly encouraged. This tour leaves the ranch after dark.

Field Trip Leaders

Joe Silveira

Joe Silveira (LAGUNA ECO) spent 36 years as a professional working in natural resources conservation -- over 29 years with the US Fish & Wildlife Service. He was primarily stationed at Sacramento National Wildlife (NWR) Refuge Complex, where he served as a Wildlife Biologist, and later as the Wildlife Refuge Manager, for Sacramento River NWR and the Steve Thompson North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area -- Llano Seco Unit. He led habitat restoration and management programs, and associated monitoring surveys and research investigation for riparian, floodplain, and basin habitats, such as mixed and oak forests, valley oak woodland, elderberry savanna, managed emergent marshes, native perennial grasslands, wildflower fields, vernal pools, and alkali meadows. He worked with diverse agencies, organizations, universities, and local ranchers, developing partnerships to create and maintain well-functioning refuge habitats, which represent the best of these remaining Great Valley Ecosystems. Joe currently works with natural resources science and conservation organizations -- Northern California Botanists, Northern California Regional Land Trust, San Francisco Estuary Institute -- advising on topics which capture his interests and inspire his imagination.

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Jennifer Patten

When Jennifer was in third grade, her teacher took her class on a field trip to Richardson Bay in Marin County. Here she saw hundreds of little sandpipers, hunting and poking for food across the mud flats. Her fascination with birds started on this day and has been with her ever since. Her passion for birds has led her to travel to many countries, including Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, Europe, Canada, and all over the US, with Alaska being a particular favorite. She joined AltaCal's board in 1998, is one of the founders and past Director of the annual Snow Goose Festival, volunteered at Gray Lodge leading bird walks, and monitored wood duck boxes in the 1990s. She has volunteered in several bird projects and programs, helping students connect with birds and nature, at schools and the Chico Creek Nature Center. A bird and nature girl at heart, she instills that in her four granddaughters today.

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