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: Historic Llano Seco Rancho - Sold Out!
$40 Adult; $15 Youth
Thursday, Jan 23, 2025 2:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Meet at Patrick Ranch - Pat's Barn (Map)
Walking, could involve distance but largely flat
Description
Meet at Patrick Ranch, where we depart for Llano Seco Rancho promptly at 2:00 pm. This is a "behind the gates" opportunity to visit the historic Llano Seco Rancho where thousands of acres are set aside for wildlife habitat and conservation. Habitats include riparian forests along the Sacramento River and Little Chico Creek, floodplain oxbow lakes, Valley oak woodlands and savannas along Angel Slough, native perennial grasslands, annual grasslands with vernal pools, and freshwater marsh wetlands. These habitats attract wintering ducks, geese, sandhill cranes, and shorebirds, as well as a variety of raptors and other land birds. We will hear about Rancho's rich cultural and natural history, its wildlife habitats, and wildlife-friendly farming practices. A field trip will wind through a majestic Valley oak woodland, where we will stretch our legs before traveling to the USFWS Llano Seco Unit wildlife viewing platform on 7-Mile Lane to see the evening fly-off. 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 on natural resources conservation projects, consulting on topics which capture his interests and inspire his imagination.
Joe Silveira's Events
- Historic Llano Seco Rancho (1/23/2025)
Charlie Thieriot
Charlie Thieriot is a sixth generation owner of Rancho Llano Seco and the CEO of Llano Seco Meats. He is an avid conservationist, hunter and fisherman. He is on the board of the Northern California Water Association and Reclamation District 2106. He is a member of NCWA's Conservation Task Force working to deepen communication, understanding and common goals between farmers and conservation groups in Northern California.
Charlie Thieriot's Events
- Historic Llano Seco Rancho (1/23/2025)