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: Exploring West of the Five & Raging Bull Winery
- Sold Out!
$60 Adult
Thursday, Jan 22, 2026 7:00 am - 2:00 pm
Meet at Patrick Ranch - Pat's Barn (Map)
Walking, could involve distance but largely flat
Description
Come explore west of the five! Our trip ventures into western Tehama County with our first stop at the Paskenta Cemetery, where Lewis' woodpeckers and a restroom are always a welcome site. We will then drive to the Thomes Gorge Trailhead to explore the chaparral habitat along the eastern slope of the Coastal Range. The trailhead sits roughly 2000 feet above sea level and offers outstanding views of the valley below. Then we will depart the trailhead and make our way to Raging Bull Winery, outside Orland, birding as we go. Our trip will conclude with a walk along the pond, and a wine tasting for those who wish to participate. Possible sightings include Bell's sparrow, California thrasher, golden eagle and mountain quail. Wine tasting fee is included in the price. Bring your binoculars, lunch and plenty of water. Sturdy shoes and carpooling strongly encouraged.
Field Trip Leaders
Kim Armstrong
Kim Armstrong is a Chico native and biologist who has been working in conservation in the northern Central Valley for fifteen years. Her interest in birds began as a Scientific Aid at the Oroville Wildlife Area, managing the area's wood duck box program and participating in efforts to band ducks and geese. Her passion for birding was sparked while taking ornithology with the late Jay Bogiatto at CSU, Chico, where she earned her degree in Environmental Science. Kim has spent the last several years focused on riparian and floodplain restoration throughout California, monitoring birds within those ecosystems, and honing her birding-by-ear skills. She is now the Stewardship Manager for the Northern California Regional Land Trust where she's excited to work with landowners to conserve valuable habitat in Butte, Glenn and Tehama counties. In her free time, she volunteers with AltaCal banding northern saw-whet owls.
Kim Armstrong's Events
- Exploring West of the Five & Raging Bull Winery (1/22/2026)
- Lower Deer Creek Natural History & New Clairvaux Winery (1/23/2026)
Cynthia Perrine
Cynthia Perrine's academic training in natural resources included Roger Lederer's Ornithology course in 1997, and she's been traipsing around Tehama, Butte, and Plumas Counties in pursuit of wild things her entire life. Although this is her first time leading a Snow Goose Field trip, she has led field workshops throughout California, Nevada and New Zealand focusing on botany, birds, bats, and field methods. As Executive Director for Northern California Regional Land Trust, she works to acquire and conserve our region's private lands to promote stewardship for co-benefits and enhancements to bird, fish, and wildlife habits, expanding regenerative agriculture practices to foster pollinator and bird health, and to restore and maintain watershed integrity.
Cynthia Perrine's Events
- Exploring West of the Five & Raging Bull Winery (1/22/2026)