Field Trips and Meetings

Join us for a hike (on the strenuous side) through Castle Rock State Park. The birding and wildflowers should be great. We hope to see or hear many spring nesting birds, including Hermit Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsends Warbler, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Tanager, and many more. 

Directions: Meet at 8:00 AM in the Castle Rock State Park Main Parking Lot off Highway 35 (37.2322763, -122.0977894). There is a $10 day use fee if you do not have a pass.

Leader: Phil Brown

We will visit the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park along the Zayante Creek Trail, then past the meadow, to the ponds at Roaring Camp, and back. The riparian forest along the San Lorenzo River in the Felton area can be very productive and this an interesting time of year to see and hear the winter species before they take flight. Rain cancels.

Directions: Meet at 8:00 AM at Graham Hill Rd. and the Zayante Creek Trail (37°02'52.8"N 122°03'51.9"W). This is just north of the entrance to Roaring Camp Railway. There is parking at this location.

Leader: Paul Miller

Bill Murphy will present on raptors.  Details of the Program will follow.

Bill is well-qualified on this topic.  Here's his bio: A retired high school teacher and administrator, Bill spent 38 years in California public education. In addition, he has been a licensed falconer for over a half century and a licensed raptor breeder for 40 years, producing over 800 hawks and falcons. He was an associate of the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group from its inception and worked with the group to restore peregrine populations from the precipitous decline they suffered as a result of DDT use.  Peregrine falcons as well as Harris hawks bred at his project were released to augment wild populations. Mr. Murphy has also served as President of the California Hawking Club as well as Western Director of the North American Falconers Association.