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: Up the Creek with a Pair of Binoculars
$40 Adult; $20 Youth
Thursday, Jan 22, 2026 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Meet at Patrick Ranch - Pat's Barn (Map)
More vigorous hiking, some elevation gain/loss
Description
The Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve (BCCER) is 7,830 acres just upstream from Bidwell Park and home to a great diversity of plants and animals, including 140 documented bird species. A historical ranch, the BCCER is now a place for education for the next generation of land managers, cutting edge research on wildfire and other subjects, and innovative habitat enhancement. This is a special opportunity to visit the BCCER, which has been closed to the public since the 2024 Park Fire that burned most of the reserve. We will bird the diverse oak woodland/chaparral/meadows of the upper canyon, with some spectacular scenery, and witness the ongoing recovery of this fire adapted landscape. Wear sturdy shoes/boots. Bring lunch, water, and binoculars. Level 3
Field Trip Leaders
Jon Aull
Jon Aull is the Outdoor Education Coordinator for California State University, Chico's Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve. He has been a naturalist around Chico since the turn of the millenium, designing and implementing environmental education programs for all ages. He received a master's degree from CSUC in Parks and Natural Resources. Among his accomplishments are curation of and contribution to temporary and permanent science museum exhibits, authoring a local guide to wildflowers, and participation in citizen science projects involving birds, butterflies, and plants.
Jon Aull's Events
- Up the Creek with a Pair of Binoculars (1/22/2026)
- Paddle the Thermalito Afterbay (1/24/2026)
- Plants & Birds of Butte Creek Ecological Preserve (1/25/2026)
Anton Dresler
Anton Dresler grew up exploring Bidwell Park and the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve from the time before he could walk. He has spent most of his observing and learning about the natural world around him, and sharing both his knowledge of and enthusiasm for all the newts, birds and butterflies with those around him. And dad jokes.
Anton Dresler's Events
- Up the Creek with a Pair of Binoculars (1/22/2026)
- Plants & Birds of Butte Creek Ecological Preserve (1/25/2026)