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: On Foot: The Brad Freeman Trail at North Forebay
- Sold Out!
$30 Adult; $20 Youth
Friday, Jan 23, 2026 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Meet at Patrick Ranch - Pat's Barn (Map)
Walking, could involve distance but largely flat
Description
This easy walk around the North Forebay on a section of the Brad Freeman Trail offers excellent birding, with a wide variety of waterbirds, songbirds, and raptors. Many ducks can be seen on the water here, often including Canvasback, Common and Hooded Mergansers, Common Goldeneye, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, and Ruddy Duck. The raptors seen here include Bald Eagle, White-tailed Kite, Rough-legged Hawk, Northern Harrier, and sometimes a Red-tailed Hawk pair at their nest. Other birds may include Lark, Lincoln's and Song Sparrows, Black and Say's Phoebes, Western Meadowlark, Double-crested Cormorants, and Belted Kingfishers. Bring binoculars, scopes, water and snacks. This trip ends where Paddle the North Forebay begins, for those who might want to enjoy both.
Field Trip Leaders
Dave Garcia
Dave Garcia is a retired 28 year veteran of California State Parks. He worked on Lake Oroville as a boating safety officer for 20 years and led kayaking, biking, and hiking tours at the 6 state parks he worked at. Dave is an environmental advocate who has worked on local issues with Frack Free Butte County, Chico 350 Crude Oil Bomb Train Committee, and Save Oroville Trees. Dave was also a National Sierra Club Outings Leader for 10 years, leading week long service trips to the Channel Islands; Pt Reyes National Seashore; Cayo Costa Barrier Island, Florida; rafting down Utah's Green River; Big Sur; Hells Canyon; Devils Postpile; and Lassen Volcanic National Park. Join Dave and learn about some of the wild and wacky nature experiences he's had.
Dave Garcia's Events
- On Foot: The Brad Freeman Trail at North Forebay (1/23/2026)
Jimi Logsdon
Jimi Logsdon retired after15 years working in Bidwell Park for the City of Chico. He is an avid hiker backpacker, amateur plant and creature geek which includes10 years of birding experience.
Jimi Logsdon's Events
- On Foot: The Brad Freeman Trail at North Forebay (1/23/2026)