TOURS
November 10-12, 2023
7:30am - 5:00pm
The Swan Festival will have a variety of tours for all interest levels and ages. Enjoy bird-watching tours, explore the beauty of local flora and fauna, hike in the mysterious Sutter Buttes volcanic range, visit a local rice farm, or get an introduction to birding.
Tour registration and departure will take place at the Swan Festival Hub in the Yuba County Government Center, 915 8th Street, Marysville, CA.
Cancellation Policy
No cancellations or refunds will be available online. To cancel and receive a refund, minus a processing fee, you must call or email the Sutter Buttes Regional Land Trust (SBRLT) at executivedirector@sutterbutteslandtrust.org or 916-549-2355.
If the festival must cancel an event, registered attendees for that event will be notified via email.
Attendees will be offered the following options:
- register for substitute activities of the same value
- donate registration fee to SBRLT programs
- full refund minus processing fee (allow up to 4 weeks for processing)
Tour Difficulty Ratings
The following rating system for tours will give you an idea of the difficulty level involved.
(1) Wheelchair accessible
(2) Birding by car and/or easy walking
(3) Lots of driving and walking could involve distance
but largely flat
(4) More vigorous hiking, with some elevation gain/loss
(5) A true adventure trip with strenuous hiking
Cost Structure
Adult = 18 years old and older Youth= 13-17 years old
Kids = 0-12 years old
Most field trips will end at the field trip location and don’t include travel back to the main festival venue.
TOURS
Friday, November 10th
Grey Lodge Wildlife Area
Tour # 101
Walking Tour & Car Tour
Time: 7:30am – 11:30am
Meet: Chevron/Power Market in Live Oak which is 9811 Live Oak Blvd/99 – bordered by 99, Elm and Larkin
Difficulty: 2
Limit: 15
Cost: $25/adult, $15/youth, $15/kids
(Vehicle entry fee included in cost)
Description: Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a jewel in the crown of the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife. More than a million waterfowl can’t be wrong! Gray Lodge’s habitat diversity and location along the Pacific Flyway make it a magnet for ducks, geese, and other wildlife. Surrounded by miles of rich agricultural land, this 9,100-acre area is intensively managed primarily for wintering waterfowl. The Sutter Buttes make a perfect backdrop for the wetlands in which the birds congregate. This is a great trip to see four or more species of geese, nearly a dozen species of ducks, including Eurasian Wigeon, several raptor species, lots of wading birds, and songbirds in the riparian vegetation. Laura will lead us on a short walk, through the wetlands and woodlands, to an observation platform with views of huge flocks of waterfowl. Then we’ll travel around the one-way auto loop, which has great views of the wetlands and waterfowl from both sides of the vehicles. The group will be in constant communication with Laura using walkie-talkies.
Leader: Laura Lush
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge
Tour # 102
Walking & Car Tour
Time: 7:30am-1:00pm
Meet: Swan Festival Hub – Yuba County Government Center
Difficulty: 2
Limit: 15
Cost: $25/adult, $15/youth, $15/kids (Vehicle entry fee included in cost)
Description: This is one of California’s premier waterfowl refuges, consisting of nearly 11,000 acres of seasonal marsh, permanent ponds, and uplands in the heart of the Sacramento Valley! Managed mainly for migratory waterfowl (numbering in the hundreds of thousands), the refuge is also attractive to other wildlife. The marshes, with fish, frogs, and invertebrates, are attractive to grebes, white pelicans, egrets, herons, and bitterns. Shorebirds probe the mud flats for seeds, snails, and worms. Raptors find an abundance of waterfowl, rodents, or small birds on which to feed. Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, and Merlins are all regular visitors to the refuge. Woodpeckers, warblers, and other songbirds seek food and shelter in the cottonwoods and willows bordering the waterways and creeks. Deer, jackrabbits, and pheasants feed in the grasslands and on edges of wetlands. We’ll begin by exploring the six-mile auto tour, viewing platform, and short walking trail. Bring snacks and water to fuel you through the trip!
Leader: Matthew Forster
Birding at Cordi Winery
Tour # 103
Walking Tour with Wine Tasting
Time: 2:00pm-5:00pm
Meet: Cordi Winery – 10401 Ingram Lane, Live Oak, CA 95953
Difficulty: 2
Limit: 20 people
Cost: $20/adult only (21 and up)
Description: Reece and Teresa Cordi are granting special access for visitors to take a leisure stroll around the Cordi Winery vineyards to observe a variety of wildlife, learn about the wine making process, and enjoy the scenic views. After your stroll, end the day sipping on local wine and taking in the sunset over the Sutter Buttes.
Leader: Reece & Teresa Cordi (guides) Margit Sands (Check in)
Sunset Swan Tour
Tour # 104
Car Tour
Time: 2:30pm-5:00pm (Sunset Tour)
Meet: Swan Central
Hub – Yuba County Government Center
Difficulty: 2
Limit: 30 people
Cost: $20/adult, $10/youth, Free/kids
Description: Come along on this exciting tour featuring Yuba County’s wintering tundra swans. Be prepared to witness the Pacific Flyway in all its glory. A naturalist from California Department of Fish and Wildlife will be your guide to the remarkable migratory bird populations using flooded rice fields to forage and overwinter. This area boasts one of the largest seasonal concentrations of tundra swans in the Central Valley, as well as abundant geese, ducks, shorebirds and raptors. Bring your binoculars and field guides. Dress for the weather.
Leaders: California Department of Fish & Wildlife Naturalist
Sunset, Swans and Rice at Montna Farms in Dingville
Tour # 105
Time: 3:00pm-5:30pm
Meet: Montna Farms Main Office, 12755 Garden Highway, Yuba City, CA
Difficulty: 2
Limit: 25 people
Cost: $20/adult, $10/youth, $10/kids
Description: One of the main reasons the Sacramento Valley is so attractive to wintering waterfowl is because the multitude of rice farming operations provide vast acreages of temporary wetlands in which the birds can rest and feed. One of the premier spots to view waterfowl and other birds wintering on flooded rice fields is Montna Farms. Located in Dingville, just south of Yuba City, CA, agriculture and wildlife blend in harmony at Montna Farms. Jon Munger, Operations Manager, will share with us how rice moves from field to fork through growing, drying, storing, milling and marketing. We’ll discover how California’s rice industry is sustaining agriculture and waterfowl. Then we’ll see the huge fields of wintering waterfowl, where we’ll get great views of Tundra Swans, geese, ducks, White-faced Ibis, herons, egrets, raptors, and lots more!
Leaders: Jon Munger and David Rosen
TOURS
Saturday, November 11th
Birding Beale Air Force Base
Tour # 201
Bus with light walking
Time: 7:30am-noon
Meet: Swan Central Hub – Yuba County Government Center
Difficulty: 2
Limit: 23 people
Cost: $20/adult, $10/youth, $10/ Kids
Registration Closes Oct 30th
Description: Beale AFB tour registration will end October 30th to allow for military staff to fully vet all participants (needed 2 weeks prior to tour date). This is rare opportunity to look for birds on Beale Air Force Base. Department of Defense facilities preserve some of best remaining habitats in the U.S. and Beale is a great example. The base includes one of largest and best-preserved areas of Central Valley grassland, a habitat under severe threat from urban development and conversion to agriculture. A base biologist will accompany us as we search the grasslands for Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawks, and several other raptor species, maybe even a Bald or Golden Eagle. Falcons may include American Kestrel, Merlin, and Prairie Falcon. Horned Larks and Western Meadowlarks should be abundant. Surprises like Mountain Bluebirds are also possible this time of year. We will also visit some large ponds that can harbor several species of waterfowl and an oak riparian zone with its own suite of typical species. The trip will be by carpool with multiple short stops and one short walk on flat ground. If there’s enough time, we may drive by some other points of interest on the base, including a Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle and an SR71 Blackbird strategic reconnaissance aircraft that flew over Mach 3!
Important Note: The tour group will be required to check-in at the Beale Visitor’s Center/Commercial Vehicle Inspection Area, just before the Wheatland Gate. Security forces will check IDs at the Beale Visitor’s Center. Vehicles will be left in the parking lot and participants will load onto buses for base entry. Once on the bus, the tour will head out to Miller Lake and Upper Blackwelder. The tour will also have an opportunity to visit the SR71 or U2 display. To gain access to the base, each adult participant must provide their full legal name, social security number, date of birth, and driver’s license number at least 2 weeks prior to the event for pre-screening. Participants must also provide a Real ID or two forms of ID (birth certificate, social security card, driver’s license, or passport) to enter the base. Participants over age 16 must have a current photo ID to show base security personnel. Any and all weapons and/or drugs brought on base is considered a federal crime.
Leaders: Eli Rose &Tamara Gallentine (Beale AFB), and Lily Douglas (USFWS)
Sutter Buttes East Ridge Hike on Shaeffer Ranch and Wine Tasting
Tour # 202
Hike
Time: 8:00am-2:30pm
Meet: Swan Central Hub – Yuba County Government Center
Difficulty: 3
Limit: 20
Cost: $35/person, $35/youth, $35 Kids (Not recommended for children 12 years and under)
Description: This is a rare opportunity to gain access to the Sutter Buttes, the smallest mountain range in the world! The Shaeffer Family will host hikers to explore this ranch, on the north side of the Buttes, that has been in the same family since the 1860’s. Depending on visibility, the hike will include views of North Butte, Peace Valley, and an old Titan Missile site. In this beautiful oak grassland habitat, possible bird sightings include Golden Eagle, Phainopepla, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Mountain Bluebird, Varied Thrush, and many other winter visitors. The rock formations and the geology of this part of the Buttes is amazing. Be sure to bring binoculars, lunch, water, sturdy boots/shoes, and hiking sticks, if you have them. No early departures on this trip. After the hike, the leaders will provide an optional visit to the nearby Cordi Winery for a free wine tasting!
Leader: Ty Shaeffer
Swan Tour
Tour # 203
Car Tour
Time: 8:00-10:30am
Meet: Swan Central Hub – Yuba County Government Center
Duration: 2.5 hours
Difficulty: 2
Limit: 10 vehicles
Cost: $20/adult, $10/youth, Free/kids
Description: Come along on this exciting tour featuring Yuba County’s wintering tundra swans. Be prepared to witness the Pacific Flyway in all its glory. A naturalist from California Department of Fish and Wildlife will be your guide to the remarkable migratory bird populations using flooded rice fields to forage and overwinter. This area boasts one of the largest seasonal concentrations of tundra swans in the Central Valley, as well as abundant geese, ducks, shorebirds and raptors. Bring your binoculars and field guides. Dress for the weather.
Leader: California Department of Fish & Wildlife Naturalist
Exploring State Parks Peace Valley in the Sutter Buttes
Tour # 204
Hike
Times: 8:15-3:00pm
Meet: Swan Central Hub – Yuba County Government Center
Duration: 6.5 hours
Difficulty: 3
Limit: 12 people
Cost: $25/person
Description: Join California State Parks for a hike through Peace Valley and learn about the history of the land along the way. Plenty of birding options with potential sightings of golden and bald eagles. There is a restroom at the beginning of the hike, but no trash cans or potable water. Bring binoculars, plenty of water, a sack lunch, sun hat, and wear sturdy hiking boots. Pack it in, pack it out. High clearance vehicles and carpooling are recommended. No early departures on this trip.
Leaders: California State Park Ranger
Birding at Bobelaine Sanctuary
Tour # 205
Hike
Time: 8:30am-12:00pm
Meet: Swan Central Hub – Yuba County Government Center
Difficulty: 3
Limit: 15
Cost: $20/adult, $10/youth, $10/kids (not recommended for children 12 years and under)
Description: Bobelaine is a 430-acre National Audubon Sanctuary along the Feather River, managed by Sacramento Audubon Society. It’s a rare remnant of the riparian forests that once extended two to five miles on either side of the rivers in the Central Valley. Bobelaine is listed as an “Important Bird Area” by the National Audubon Society and the extensive forest of giant cottonwood, valley oak, sycamore, and willow is home to a wide variety of birds and wildlife throughout the seasons. We’ll explore the trails and search for the resident and wintering birds. Woodpeckers of various species should be abundant. Black-crowned Night Herons, Wood Ducks, egrets, grebes, and cormorants may be on the water. Cedar Waxwings, Yellow Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and a variety of sparrows will be settling in for the winter. We may get looks at some of the woodland raptors such as Red-shouldered Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, and Sharp-shinned Hawk as well. If we’re lucky, we may even see deer or a family of river otters frolicking along the river. Expect to walk about 2 miles on mostly level ground. Heavy rain will cancel trip.
Leader: Cliff Hawley
Beginning Birding
Tour # 207
Walking Tour
Times: 8:15-11:15pm
Meet: Swan Central Hub – Yuba County Government Center
Difficulty: 2
Limit: 20 people
Cost: $20/adult, $10/youth, $10/kids
Description: New to birdwatching? This trip will focus on the basics of birdwatching. Learn what to look for on a bird that can be used as field marks and learn a bit about bird behavior. Participants will have the opportunity to experience the essence of the Yuba County foothills and its natural splendor, exploring Hammon Grove Park. A one-mile trail follows the circumference of the park through majestic oaks, California sycamores, and towering pines. Along the trail, we’ll see a wonderful diversity of birds that reside in this habitat, including perhaps Rufous-crowned Sparrow and Varied Thrush. The oaks and sycamores of the riparian zone are usually filled with busy songbirds, such as Bushtit, Oak Titmouse, Spotted and CA Towhee, and warblers. Along the creek and at the river access, we may see Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, and a variety of ducks. We may even get lucky and spot an Otter. The trail we’ll walk is easy and wide, however, there may be a few uneven sections so wear sturdy shoes.
Participants will get a chance to look through a spotting scope, binoculars (we’ll have a couple to loan out), and field guides. Practice identifying some of the common species, learn some fun facts about these birds and be challenged to see how many species you can identify on your own!
Leader: Asher Perla
Wildlife & Water
Tour # 208
Walk and lunch
Time: 9:30am -1:00pm
Meet: Swan Central Hub – Yuba County Government Center
Difficulty: 3
Limit: 15 people
Cost: $25/person without lunch or $40/person to include catered lunch
(Not recommended for children 12 years and under)
Description: Blue Ruby Farm is an ecologically conscious farm that is integrating water management strategies to provide critical habitat for all life, including humans! Observe the farms water catchment system and other water management techniques implemented on the land to conserve, reuse, and restore water on the landscape. While enjoying a light stroll around the property we will see what birds may be migrating through our 5-acre pond and look at how beavers manage flows in the creek. Wear sturdy shoes and be prepared to walk on uneven ground. Bring a bagged lunch or indulge in a locally catered lunch at an additional cost of $40/person, to include sandwiches with local bread, meats, and cheeses. Visit https://bluerubyfarm.com/ for more information.
Leader: Paul Ladeira
Swan Tour
Tour # 209
Car Tour
Times: 11:00am-1:30pm
Meet: Swan Central Hub – Yuba County Government Center
Duration: 2.5 hours
Difficulty: 1
Limit: 30 people
Cost: $20/adult, $10/youth, Free/kids
Description: Come along on this exciting tour featuring Yuba County’s wintering tundra swans. Be prepared to witness the Pacific Flyway in all its glory. A naturalist from California Department of Fish and Wildlife will be your guide to the remarkable migratory bird populations using flooded rice fields to forage and overwinter. This area boasts one of the largest seasonal concentrations of tundra swans in the Central Valley, as well as abundant geese, ducks, shorebirds and raptors. Bring your binoculars and field guides. Dress for the weather.
Leaders: California Department of Fish & Wildlife Naturalist
Nature/Wildlife Photography at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge
Tour # 210
Nature/wildlife photography at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge
Time: 1:30pm-5 :30pm
Meet: Swan Central Hub – Yuba County Government Center
Difficulty: 2
Limit: 15
Cost: $20/adult, $10/youth, $10/kids
(Not recommended for children 12 years and under)
Description: Join professional nature photographer Stephen Fischer on a field trip to the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) to practice nature and wildlife photography techniques, many of which he will discuss Saturday morning at his indoor presentation and slide show (see Swan Festival program schedule). Steve will share some “tricks-of-the-trade” with us regarding equipment and techniques to capture great photos of birds and other wildlife. Colusa NWR regularly has some of the best waterfowl photography opportunities in the region and Steve will guide participants to the ideal locations at the refuge for bird photography. He will review the essentials and, since it will be a small group, he will provide individual coaching and feedback on how to improve our results. The focus will be on birding or photography enthusiast that would like to up their game and get better results. At the Colusa NWR we expect to capture photographs of some of the typical birds found in the Central Valley wetlands during the winter months, including a variety of geese, ducks, and raptors. We’ll have the pleasure of being able to photograph during the “magic hour” right before sunset, when the light is at its best. Then we’ll enjoy sunset and twilight at the refuge. A perfect way to end your day in the field! Be sure to bring a camera that you are familiar with, such as a DSLR with a telephoto lens along with a tripod. Also bring warm clothes in layers, insect repellent, and water.
Leader: Stephen Fischer
Sunset Swan Tour
Tour # 211
Car Tour
Times: 2:30-5:00pm
Meet: Swan Central Hub – Yuba County Government Center
Duration: 2.5 hours
Difficulty: 1
Limit: 30 people
Cost: $20/adult, $10/youth, Free/kids
Description: Come along on this exciting tour featuring Yuba County’s wintering tundra swans. Be prepared to witness the Pacific Flyway in all its glory. A naturalist from California Department of Fish and Wildlife will be your guide to the remarkable migratory bird populations using flooded rice fields to forage and overwinter. This area boasts one of the largest seasonal concentrations of tundra swans in the Central Valley, as well as abundant geese, ducks, shorebirds and raptors. Bring your binoculars and field guides. Dress for the weather.
Leaders: California Department of Fish & Wildlife Naturalist
TOURS
Sunday, November 12th
Birding Beale Air Force Base
Tour # 301
Bus with light walkiing
Time: 7:30am-noon
Meet: Swan Central Hub – Yuba County Government Center
Difficulty: 2
Limit: 23 people
Cost: $20/adult, $10/youth, $10/kids
Registration Closes Oct 30th
Description: Beale AFB tour registration will end October 30th to allow for military staff to fully vet all participants (needed 2 weeks prior to tour date). This is rare opportunity to look for birds on Beale Air Force Base. Department of Defense facilities preserve some of best remaining habitats in the U.S. and Beale is a great example. The base includes one of largest and best-preserved areas of Central Valley grassland, a habitat under severe threat from urban development and conversion to agriculture. A base biologist will accompany us as we search the grasslands for Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawks, and several other raptor species, maybe even a Bald or Golden Eagle. Falcons may include American Kestrel, Merlin, and Prairie Falcon. Horned Larks and Western Meadowlarks should be abundant. Surprises like Mountain Bluebirds are also possible this time of year. We will also visit some large ponds that can harbor several species of waterfowl and an oak riparian zone with its own suite of typical species. The trip will be by carpool with multiple short stops and one short walk on flat ground. If there’s enough time, we may drive by some other points of interest on the base, including a Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle and an SR71 Blackbird strategic reconnaissance aircraft that flew over Mach 3!
Important Note: The tour group will be required to check-in at the Beale Visitor’s Center/Commercial Vehicle Inspection Area, just before the Wheatland Gate. Security forces will check IDs at the Beale Visitor’s Center. Vehicles will be left in the parking lot and participants will load onto buses for base entry. Once on the bus, the tour will head out to Miller Lake and Upper Blackwelder. The tour will also have an opportunity to visit the SR71 or U2 display. To gain access to the base, each adult participant must provide their full legal name, social security number, date of birth, and driver’s license number at least 2 weeks prior to the event for pre-screening. Participants must also provide a Real ID or two forms of ID (birth certificate, social security card, driver’s license, or passport) to enter the base. Participants over age 16 must have a current photo ID to show base security personnel. Any and all weapons and/or drugs brought on base is considered a federal crime.
Leaders: Eli Rose &Tamara Gallentine (Beale AFB), and Lily Douglas (USFWS)
Nature of the Sutter Buttes - Hike on Dean Place
Tour # 302
Hike
Time: 8:00am-2:30pm
Meet: Swan Central Hub – Yuba County Government Center
Difficulty: 2
Limit: 20
Cost: $35/person (Not recommended for children 12 years and under)
Description: Lace up your hiking boots, grab your trekking poles and binoculars, and join this rare opportunity to gain access to an area normally not open to the public! Explore the secluded depths of the interior of the Sutter Buttes, the smallest mountain range in the world, as we visit the 100-year-old Dean Place Cattle Ranch. The focus on this three-mile walk will be on the birds of the Buttes and we’ll hopefully see such gems as Golden Eagle, Phainopepla, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Mountain Bluebird, Varied Thrush, lots of winter sparrows, and with luck, geese and swans flying high over the Buttes. Prepare for some moderate climbing and mostly uneven ground. Be sure to bring binoculars, lunch, water, and sturdy boots/shoes and hiking sticks, if you have them. Bring food and water. No early departures on this trip.
Leader: Rose Hoskinson
Swan Tour
Tour # 303
Car Tour
Time: 8:00-10:30am
Meet: Swan Central Hub – Yuba County Government Center
Duration: 2.5 hours
Difficulty: 2
Limit: 10 vehicles
Cost: $20/adult, $10/youth, Free/kids
Description: Come along on this exciting tour featuring Yuba County’s wintering tundra swans. Be prepared to witness the Pacific Flyway in all its glory. A naturalist from California Department of Fish and Wildlife will be your guide to the remarkable migratory bird populations using flooded rice fields to forage and overwinter. This area boasts one of the largest seasonal concentrations of tundra swans in the Central Valley, as well as abundant geese, ducks, shorebirds and raptors. Bring your binoculars and field guides. Dress for the weather.
Leader: California Department of Fish & Wildlife Naturalist
Exploring State Parks Peace Valley in the Sutter Buttes
Tour #304
Hike
Times: 8:15-3:00pm
Meet: Swan Central Hub – Yuba County Government Center
Duration: 6.5 hours
Difficulty: 3
Limit: 12 people
Cost: $25/person
Description: Join California State Parks for a hike through Peace Valley and learn about the history of the land along the way. Plenty of birding options with potential sightings of golden and bald eagles. There is a restroom at the beginning of the hike, but no trash cans or potable water. Bring binoculars, plenty of water, a sack lunch, sun hat, and wear sturdy hiking boots. Pack it in, pack it out. High clearance vehicles and carpooling are recommended. No early departures on this trip.
Leaders: California State Park Ranger
Yuba County Big Day of Birding
Tour #305
Auto and walking
Times: 8:15-1:30am
Meet: Swan Central Hub – Yuba County Government Center
Difficulty: 3
Limit: 20 people
Cost: $20/adult, $10/youth, $10/kids (Not recommended for children 12 years and under)
Description: Need to bump up your Yuba County Life List? Asher will take you around this underbirded county, looking for hard-to-find birds over several elevations. We will start the day in some riparian habitats near Marysville and bird through the rice fields. We’ll move up into the foothills and mountains (depending on snow) to find some specialty birds. This trip is intense birding but is very rewarding for those looking to see as many species as they can in a single day! In the past we have had over 100 species!
Leader: Asher Perla
Birding at Bobelaine Sanctuary
Tour #306
Hike
Time: 8:30am-12:00pm
Meet: Meet guide at Bobelaine parking lot at the end of Laurel Road
Difficulty: 3
Limit: 15
Cost: $20/adult, $10/youth, $10/kids (Not recommended for children 12 years and under)
Description: Bobelaine is a 430-acre National Audubon Sanctuary along the Feather River, managed by Sacramento Audubon Society. It’s a rare remnant of the riparian forests that once extended two to five miles on either side of the rivers in the Central Valley. Bobelaine is listed as an “Important Bird Area” by the National Audubon Society and the extensive forest of giant cottonwood, valley oak, sycamore, and willow is home to a wide variety of birds and wildlife throughout the seasons. We’ll explore the trails and search for the resident and wintering birds. Woodpeckers of various species should be abundant. Black-crowned Night Herons, Wood Ducks, egrets, grebes, and cormorants may be on the water. Cedar Waxwings, Yellow Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and a variety of sparrows will be settling in for the winter. We may get looks at some of the woodland raptors such as Red-shouldered Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, and Sharp-shinned Hawk as well. If we’re lucky, we may even see deer or a family of river otters frolicking along the river. Expect to walk about 2 miles on mostly level ground. Heavy rain will cancel trip.
Leader: Maureen Geiger
From Dry Creek and Pittman Pond to Cox Creek and Return: Spenceville Wildlife Area. A hike with Hank Meals
Tour #307
Hike
Time: 9:00-2:00pm
Meet: Swan Central Hub – Yuba County Government Center
Difficulty: 4
Limit: 15 people
Cost: $25/person (Not recommended for children 12 years and under)
Description: This is not a designated trail but a mix of several trails and roads linked to create a scenic and informative day in the lower Bear River watershed.
Leader: Hank Meals
Wildlife & Water
Tour #308
Walk and Lunch
Time: 9:30am -1:00pm
Meet: Swan Central Hub – Yuba County Government Center
Difficulty: 3
Limit: 15 people
Cost: $25/person without lunch or $40/person to include catered lunch
(Not recommended for children 12 years and under)
Description: Blue Ruby Farm is an ecologically conscious farm that is integrating water management strategies to provide critical habitat for all life, including humans! Observe the farms water catchment system and other water management techniques implemented on the land to conserve, reuse, and restore water on the landscape. While enjoying a light stroll around the property we will see what birds may be migrating through our 5-acre pond and look at how beavers manage flows in the creek. Wear sturdy shoes and be prepared to walk on uneven ground. Bring a bagged lunch or indulge in a locally catered lunch at an additional cost of $40/person, including sandwiches with local bread, meats, and cheeses. Visit Farm Stay in Northern CA – Blue Ruby Farm – Working Farm for more information.
Leader: Paul Ladeira
Swan Tour
Tour #309
Car Tour
Times: 11:00am-1:30pm
Meet: Swan Central Hub – Yuba County Government Center
Duration: 2.5 hours
Difficulty: 1
Limit: 30 people
Cost: $20/adult, $10/youth, Free/kids
Description: Come along on this exciting tour featuring Yuba County’s wintering tundra swans. Be prepared to witness the Pacific Flyway in all its glory. A naturalist from California Department of Fish and Wildlife will be your guide to the remarkable migratory bird populations using flooded rice fields to forage and overwinter. This area boasts one of the largest seasonal concentrations of tundra swans in the Central Valley, as well as abundant geese, ducks, shorebirds and raptors. Bring your binoculars and field guides. Dress for the weather.
Leaders: California Department of Fish & Wildlife Naturalist
Sunset Swan Tour
Tour #310
Car Tour
Times: 2:30-5:00pm
Meet: Swan Central Hub – Yuba County Government Center
Duration: 2.5 hours
Difficulty: 1
Limit: 30 people
Cost: $20/adult, $10/youth, Free/kids
Description: Come along on this exciting tour featuring Yuba County’s wintering tundra swans. Be prepared to witness the Pacific Flyway in all its glory. A naturalist from California Department of Fish and Wildlife will be your guide to the remarkable migratory bird populations using flooded rice fields to forage and overwinter. This area boasts one of the largest seasonal concentrations of tundra swans in the Central Valley, as well as abundant geese, ducks, shorebirds and raptors. Bring your binoculars and field guides. Dress for the weather.
Leaders: California Department of Fish & Wildlife Naturalist