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: Adventure at Horseshoe Lake
- Sold Out!
$20 Adult; $10 Youth
Sunday, Jan 26, 2025 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Meet at Patrick Ranch - Pat's Barn (Map)
Walking, could involve distance but largely flat
Description
A beginner friendly birding and naturalist excursion around Horseshoe Lake. This area of Upper Park offers a nice blend of habitats. Oak woodlands and open grasslands make up the surrounding area, while Horseshoe Lake provides a nice wetland habitat supporting a wide array of bird and wildlife species. Besides the more common species-such as Red-winged Blackbirds, Great Blue Herons, Western Bluebirds, and woodpeckers-sometimes we get some surprises! Past sightings here included Phainopepla, Lark Sparrows, Lewis's Woodpecker, and less common raptors such as Northern Harrier, Kestrel, and Peregrine Falcon.
Field Trip Leaders
Oscar Rodriguez
Oscar Rodriguez is an environmental educator and California Certified Naturalist Instructor with over a decade of experience leading outdoor learning programs. A graduate of California State University, Chico, with a degree in Geography and City Planning, Oscar blends his academic background with his love for the environment. Based in Chico, CA, he is passionate about fostering a deeper connection to nature through interactive and inquiry-based education. Oscar has worked with the Chico Area Recreation & Park District and the Butte County Department of Education, where he developed and led environmental programs for diverse groups, including children, adults, and underserved communities. He has also volunteered with the Los Angeles Audubon Society, where he taught K-6 students hands-on outdoor learning curricula based on local natural history and STEM principles. Oscar is committed to creating inclusive and engaging learning experiences that connect participants to the natural world and highlight the importance of conservation.
Oscar Rodriguez's Events
- Adventure at Horseshoe Lake (1/26/2025)
Don Miller
Dr. Don Miller is a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, and Center for Water and the Environment at California State University, Chico. Beginning in 2008, Dr. Miller has organized an annual population census of butterflies found on the eastern edge of the Sacramento Valley, in the foothills of the Sierra Cascade ranges. While an expert on butterflies and insects, Dr. Miller is knowledgeable on birds, geology, native plants and other naturalist subjects.
Don Miller's Events
- Adventure at Horseshoe Lake (1/26/2025)