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Field Trips

FIELD TRIPS

Field Trip Coordinator: Christiane Omer, happycpo AT aol.com, 775-354-2634 or Jasmine Vittori, jasmine@unr.edu, 775-224-3282

LAS field trips are free and open to the public. Birders of all skill levels are encouraged to participate. Please reserve your space with field trip leaders. Reservations provide leaders with contact information so they can reach you in the event of trip changes, or cancellations. Always dress for changing weather conditions, and bring something to eat and drink. For more information contact Field Trip Chair Jasmine Vittori.

The near by Plumas Audubon Society also has field trips scheduled that area birders may find of interest. For more details please visit http://www.plumasaudubon.org/

Field Trip Reports

Previous field trip reports can be found on the Field Trip Reports Page.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

11th Annual Riverview Park Winter Bird Trip, Carson City
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Leader: Nancy Santos, 775-884-1570, nancyLAS@att.net
We will explore wetland, sagebrush, and riparian habitats on an approximately one-mile easy loop trail. The total number of species observed during the past five years is 35. Some of our more memorable species included a large flock (200+) of Pinyon Jay, Belted Kingfisher, Black-crowned Night Heron, Cedar Waxwing, and a close-up view of a Bald Eagle. We hope you can join us this year. Meet at 9:00 a.m. in the Riverview Park parking lot. Riverview Park is located at the east end of East 5th Street, adjacent to the Carson River. Please contact Nancy if you plan to attend so she can plan for additional trip leaders accordingly.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Winter Birds of Reno and Sparks
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Leader: Dennis Serdehely, 775-771-1575, birders@att.net
Come join us for a day of discovery! This wonderful winter trip explores birding hot spots within Reno and Sparks including Rancho San Rafael Park, Oxbow Nature Study Area, Virginia Lake, Rosewood Estates, and others. While we’ll see many domestic ducks at Virginia Lake as well as other places, our primary focus will be to observe and learn about wild birds in the area. This is a full day trip so please dress warmly and bring a bag lunch, binoculars, and a scope if you have one. We will meet at the north end of Virginia Lake in Reno at 9:00 a.m. Be sure to contact Dennis to reserve your space.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Winter Waterfowl Tour, Stillwater NWR
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Leader: Mike Goddard, 775-423-5128 ext. 223
Hunting season will be over, Tundra Swans should be plentiful, and the waterfowl will be in beautiful nuptial plumage, so come enjoy a tour of Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge. Meet at the refuge office, 1000 Auction Road (just off Williams Avenue (US 50) behind the Speedway gas station) at 8:00 a.m. Space is limited and trip details are subject to change; please RSVP to Mike Goddard, Stillwater NWR Project Leader, for more information.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Winter Waterfowl Tour, Stillwater NWR
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Leader: Mike Goddard, 775-423-5128 ext. 223
Waterfowl are in beautiful nuptial plumage, so come enjoy a tour of Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge. Meet at the refuge office, 1000 Auction Road [just off Williams Avenue (US50) behind the Speedway gas station] at 8:00 a.m. We’ll be back by 1:00 p.m. Bring snacks and water. This tour is open to birders and non-birders alike, but reservations are required. Please RSVP to Mike Goddard.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Sierra Valley Expedition
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Leader: Alan Gubanich, renopopop@pyramid.net, 775-857-0191
For those who didn’t get to the Sierra Valley trip last Fall, here’s your chance! We’ll spend both the morning and part of the afternoon looking for any late winter raptors (Red-tailed, Rough-legged, and Ferruginous Hawks) and waterfowl (swans, ducks, and geese), plus any early migrants—Sandhill Cranes and White-fronted Geese are always possibilities. We can brownbag our lunch or enjoy a great little restaurant in Sierraville (let me know your preference when you RSVP). Please contact Alan to reserve your space. We will meet in the McDonald’s parking lot, Lemmon Valley exit (Exit 74), north of Reno, off Hwy 395.

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Damonte Ranch Wetlands
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Leader: Kathy Oakes, 775-747-5446, oakesy@sbcglobal.net
This is an easy walk on paved trails and birders of all experience levels are welcome. We hope to see some early spring migrants and resident birds of wetlands and open meadows. Past trips have offered great close-up views of several waterfowl species as they are fairly tame and used to people in this area—also good views of Northern Harriers. Bring binoculars and a spotting scope if you have one and extra clothes for unpredictable weather. Prepare to be out until about noon. The group size is limited; please contact Kathy to reserve your space. We will meet at Home Depot parking lot near Damonte Ranch Parkway and Steamboat Parkway and carpool from there. Directions: from Highway 395, take the Damonte Ranch Exit and turn east onto Damonte Ranch Parkway (this will be a left if you are traveling south on 395coming from Reno and a right if you are traveling north on 395 coming from Carson City and points south). Go past Double R Blvd. and turn left at the next stoplight—Promenade. Then turn right and continue to the Home Depot parking lot, which will be on your left. There will be a McDonalds on your right.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Swan Lake
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Leader: Bob Goodman, 775-972-7848, pandion36@aol.com
Meet Bob at 8:30 a.m. in the McDonald’s parking lot, Lemmon Valley Exit (Exit 74), north of Reno, off Hwy 395. We will carpool the short distance to Lemmon Valley Marsh. Bring a spotting scope if you can, and prepare to be out until midday. It’s is a good time to see early spring migrants and winter resident birds on the marsh and wetlands. This is an easy bird walk and birders of all experience are welcome.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

South of the Border down Markleeville way
Time: 7:00 a.m.
Leader: Jim Woods, 775-720-7009, jim.woods@charter.net
We will skip across the Border in California and explore the area and birds around Markleeville, Grover’s Hot Springs, Indian Creek Reservoir and Diamond Valley. No pass ports required just binos, water and a snack. Meet at 7am at the AM/PM in Minden. From Reno south on Hwy395, past Carson City to the light at the Junction with Hwy 88 at the entrance to Minden. Go about a block to the AM/PM on your right. We will be carpooling so bring radios. Trip limited to 12 so call and reserve your space.