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: Butte County Big Day - Sold Out!
$45 Adult; $25 Youth
Friday, Jan 24, 2025 6:30 am - 5:30 pm
Meet at Patrick Ranch - Pat's Barn (Map)
More vigorous hiking, some elevation gain/loss
Description
Bulk up your Butte County list. Marathon Big Days are like birding on steroids! Fun, frenetic, high-energy, and fast-paced! All to record as many species as can be seen within the County in one day. Butte County has a variety of habitats at differing elevations; we will visit many of that county's hotspots. If you've got what it takes, have a great sense of humor and adventure, and can handle few & far between rest stops, join this trip! Bring lunch, water, and binoculars and be prepared to eat in the vehicles while driving to locations. We might head up to high elevation, so bring warm clothing and be prepared to walk in the snow. Added bonus: our keynote speaker Benny Jacobs-Schwartz will be joining Matt & Stuart on this trip!
Field Trip Leaders
Matt Forster
Matt Forster is an avid outdoorsman and birder whose love of the land has him interested in conservation of habitat and restoration. He studied waterfowl biology and wetland management as well as ornithology at CSUChico.
Matt Forster's Events
- Butte County Big Day (1/24/2025)
- Oxidation Ponds Wildlife Sanctuary (1/25/2025)
Stuart Angerer
Stuart Angerer lives in Colusa County and as an avid birder enjoys the proximity to the Sacramento Valley Refuges. His lifelong love of the outdoors and 30 years working as an Environmental Scientist for the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Reclamation have enabled him to work in the Sierras and Coast Range as well as many of the wildlife refuges in the state. Birding experience includes Spotted Owl, Northern Goshawk, breeding bird, and Tri-colored Blackbird and shorebird surveys.
Stuart Angerer's Events
- Butte County Big Day (1/24/2025)
- Bird the Shores of Black Butte Lake (1/26/2025)
Benny Jacobs-Schwartz
Benny Isaac Jacobs-Schwartz authored Field Guide to Birds of UC Santa Cruz, and is owner and operator of a bird-guiding and lifestyle brand called BIRDS by BIJS (pronounced Bee-jus). With a background in biology, ecology, and outdoor education, Benny has worked for over 13 years as a naturalist guide, expedition trip leader, and international bird guide. Benny offers guided birding outings in Southern California and small-group birding tours to his favorite tropical locales like Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Colombia. Benny is a passionate educator and photographer, specializing in birds! Benny is active on social media where he creates fun, educational videos and posts to inspire others about the natural world with the goal of getting folks to put down their phone and pick up their Binos.
Benny Jacobs-Schwartz's Events
- Raptor Run Cottonwood/Nelson South of Chico (1/23/2025)
- Butte County Big Day (1/24/2025)
- Gathering of Wings Banquet and Keynote Speaker (1/25/2025)