Napa Solano Audubon Society

Benicia CBC Pre-Count Benicia Community Park at 8:30 a.m. with Tom Slyker & Robin Leong
2025-12-12 08:30 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Benicia Community Park, 540 Rose Drive, Benicia, 94510, United States
Location: Benicia Community Park
Time: 8:30 a.m.
This trip will highlight and scout out several locations for the upcoming Benicia Christmas Bird Count. We hope to continue from Benicia Community Park and visit the Benicia Pier and Benicia State Park … depending on time. Species observed can be recorded for the count week.

Bodega Bay Pelagic Trip with Lucas Stephenson and Captain Rick Powers - Sunday, November 23rd 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
2025-11-23 07:00 - 18:00 | Bodega Bay’s Porto Bodega, 1534 East Shore Road, Bodega Bay, CA, 94923, United States
This year’s Banner Bodega Pelagic Trips: We have had good luck this season finding 6 Storm-Petrels, including Leach’s and Tristram’s, 6 Shearwaters including Manx, Short-tailed, and Flesh-footed. Skuas, Jaegers, Tufted Puffins, Fulmars and Sabine’s Gulls have been appearing on most trips. Most recently, 3 Albatross including multiple Laysan and one Waved! The Waved is the first ABA Record and First Northern Pacific Record.
Given this streak of luck, we thought it would be wise to run a November trip. We’ve reserved a boat with Captain Rick Powers for Sunday, November 23rd out of Bodega Bay. We’ll be gunning it for the Cordell Bank and the Continental Shelf. Potential November targets are Short-Tailed Albatross, Parakeet Auklet, and Mottled Petrel.
Pricing: Captain Rick has asked us to take a maximum of 35 birders so this will require us to increase prices slightly in order to break even. The trip will be co-sponsored by Napa-Solano Audubon and Bodega Bay Sports Fishers and will cost $200. The reduced numbers of birders along the rail should make viewing any ranties easier.
This is a late Fall trip which may have rougher seas and fewer pelagic birds.

Sacramento Valley Wildlife Refuges Fri./Sat. December 5th/6th with Wendy Cole, Bruce Thomsen & Mark Stephenson
2025-11-18 08:00 - 17:00 | Colusa National Wildlife Area, 2180 Highway 20, Williams, CA, United States
We will meet at the Colusa Parking Lot at 8:00 a.m. This is always our popular winter trip to visit Colusa, Sacramento and Gray Lodge Wildlife Refuges. These are some of the best locations in the entire Sacramento Valley observe overwintering waterfowl. We will look for Ducks, Geese, Shorebirds as well as Raptors and woodland birds that we encounter on this special trip to the Valley. Be on the lookout for the eBlast and Registration Blast for this trip that will be limited to 20.

Beginners' Bird Walk on Sunday, November 16
2025-11-16 09:00 - 12:00 | Wetlands Edge Park, 2 Eucalyptus Drive, American Canyon, CA, United States
Our fall Beginner’s Bird Walks have been very rewarding so far. The weather has cooperated with sunny days, and the tides have been perfect for observing and identifying multiple species of ducks and many hundreds of shorebirds. We are hoping our good fortune will continue for our walk this Sunday. So, if you’d like some company as you learn about birding, we’d be delighted to have you join us for our next Beginners’ Bird Walk on Sunday, November 16, at the American Canyon Wetlands Edge Park. No reservations are necessary, just plan to show up and enjoy being outdoors for a while. Note that the long-term weather forecast for Sunday is constantly changing. If we have wet weather on Sunday morning the walk will be canceled.

What you’ll see are ducks, shorebirds, sparrows and warblers that have completed their nesting season and returned south to over winter in our area. Along with the visitors there are also a good number of the resident birds that live in our local area year-round. It’s a great time to be birding at the wetlands as the location offers an opportunity to observe a wide variety of wintering birds.

The walk is open to birders of all levels and ages. Napa Solano Audubon membership is encouraged but not required. It’s free, it’s fun, and loaner binoculars are on hand if you need them. If you have questions about this outing, please e-mail Tom Slyker at solanobirder@gmail.com.
Meeting time and location: We will meet at 9 AM on Sunday, November 16, at the parking lot for the Wetlands Edge Park, which is located at 2 Eucalyptus Drive in American Canyon. We expect that the walk will take between 2 – 3 hours and we should be finished by noon.

Sat. November 15th NSAS Monthly Field Trip to Abbott's Lagoon with Larry Kent
2025-11-15 08:00 - 16:00 | Abbott’s Lagoon, Pierce Point Road, Point Ryes National Seashore, Inverness, CA, 94937
Abbott’s Lagoon is a beautiful walk with chances for observing many land, marsh, and shorebird species as well as views of the ocean birds including possible scope views of Sooty Shearwaters. Each Fall, Abbott’s Lagoon hosts a variety of shorebird species including Pectoral, Baird’s and Ruffs, Golden Plovers, Snowy Plovers as well as Longspurs and Horned Larks.
Registration information will be sent out in an upcoming eBlast. This field trip may be limited to 15-20 participants so be sure to register soon after receiving the eBlast information.

NSAS November Speaker Series Presents: A Bird's Rainbow with Bob Lewis - Nov. 13th at 7:00 p.m.
2025-11-13 19:00 - 21:00 | Napa Valley Lutheran Church, 1796 Elm St., Napa, CA 94558, 94558
About the Presentation: Many birds are brightly colored, others use patterned feathers for camouflage. How do these colors originate? What’s the difference between colors from pigments and physical colors? From Yellow Warblers to Anna’s Hummingbirds, from Snow Geese to Brewer’s Blackbirds, each species makes unique use of the feather colors it possesses. What do the colors indicate to other birds? And do birds see the same colors we do? Bob will unravel some of the mysteries of color in birds with a little chemistry, a bit of physics, and a lot of brightly colored slides.
About the Presenter: Bob trained as a chemist and worked in the energy field for 33 years. He’s taught birding classes in the Bay Area for over 25 years and served as the chair of Golden Gate Audubon’s Adult Education Committee. He’s a frequent speaker on birds at libraries and bird groups. Bob was honored with American Birding Association’s Chandler Robbins Award for Education and Conservation in 2016, and Golden Gate Audubon’s Paul Covel Education Award in 2010 and 2017. He was one of the founders of the Master Birding Class held at the SF Academy of Science. He loves to travel and photograph birds and has chased birds in over 60 countries. His life list is over 5500 species.

Beginners' Bird Walk - American Canyon Wetlands Edge Park
2025-11-02 09:00 | Wetlands Edge Park, 2 Eucalyptus Drive, American Canyon, CA, United States
Are you dipping a toe into birding, or dusting off a pair of binoculars for the first time in a while? If you want company as you learn about birding, we’d be delighted to have you join us for the next Beginners Bird Walk of the Fall Season on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at the American Canyon Wetlands Edge Park. No reservations are necessary, just plan to show up and enjoy being outdoors for a little while. What you’ll see are ducks, shorebirds, sparrows and warblers that have completed their nesting season in Canada and Alaska and are returning south to over winter in our area or are just stopping over as they continue their journey southward. We haven’t spotted any Northern Flickers yet, but they should show up soon. It’s a great time to be birding at the wetlands as the locations is filling up with a wide variety of wintering birds. Heavy rain cancels.

Beginners Bird Walk at American Canyon Wetlands - 9 AM
2025-10-19 09:00 - 12:00, 2025-10-05 09:00 - 12:00 | American Canyon Wetlands, 2 Eucalyptus Dr, American Canyon, 94503, United States
Beginner bird walks are fun ways to explore birding or sharpen your skills. The group meets at 9:00 AM at the American Canyon Wetlands parking lot and follows a path along the water. You can expect to see both local and migratory birds. Binoculars are available to borrow. Heavy rain cancels. Free and open to the public. Families are welcome.

NSAS October Speaker Series Presents: California's Purple Martin - Status and Conservation with Dan Ariola - Oct. 9th at 7:00 p.m.
2025-10-09 19:00 - 21:00 | Benicia Public Library, 150 East L Street, Benicia, CA, 94510
Biologist and ornithologist Dan Ariola will discuss the unique life history of this largest North American swallow,
differences between the eastern and western subspecies, current threats they face. He’ll present an overview of the status and conservation issues facing the species in California. He will also provide preliminary results of the 2025 statewide Purple Martin breeding population survey.
About the Presentation: The well-documented and drastic decline in the Purple Martin nesting population in Sacramento has contributed to concerns about the species’ status throughout California. The species has been recognized as a state Species of Special Concern for nearly 50 years. Dan Airola is co-leading a comprehensive statewide Purple Martin status assessment 2025. Dan will discuss the unique life history of this largest North American swallow, differences between the eastern and western subspecies, current threats they face. He’ll present an overview of the status and conservation issues facing the species in California. He will also provide preliminary results of the 2025 statewide Purple Martin breeding population survey
About the Presenter: Dan Airola is a Sacramento Wildlife Biologist and Ornithologist who has worked for over 45 years in research and conservation of at-risk species birds in Northern California. Dan has conducted research and a conservation program for the Sacramento Purple Martin population for over 30 years. He also has conducted several status assessments of the species in California and is co-leading the 2025 statewide status. Dan also has also led studies in Northern California for the Tricolored Blackbird, Yellow-billed Magpie, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Swainson’s Hawk, Turkey Vulture, fire-adapted forest species, migrant songbirds, and diving ducks. Dan also serves the Central Valley Bird Club as a Director, Conservation Chair, and editor of the journal Central Valley Birds and is a Conservation Committee member for Sacramento Audubon
Join us on Thursday, October 9 at the Benicia Public Library, 150 East L Street, Benicia, at 7:00 PM. The event is free and open to the public.
Zoom Link:
Napa Solano Audubon is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85949396580?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 859 4939 6580
Passcode: [REDACTED]

NSAS Monthly Field Trip to Monterey & Big Sur
2025-10-03 - 2025-10-05 | Andrew Molera State Park, 45500 CA-1, Big Sur, CA, 93920, United States
Where: 8:00 AM (location will be announced after registration)
Leaders: Mark Stephenson/Bruce Thomsen
This Field Trip will be Limited to 15 NSAS Members
Tentative Trip Itinerary (Stay tuned as the Trip Itinerary may change)
Friday’s Schedule: we will venture to Big Sur and specifically to Andrew Molera State Park. Andrew Molera is a haven for migratory birds along the Big Sur River and shorebirds along the beach.
Saturday’s Schedule: we will visit several areas around the Monterey Peninsula: Jacks Peak Park (woodland), Frog Pond (wetlands), Garland Ranch (riparian along the Carmel River), Carmel River Beach (riparian along the Carmel River, sandy beach), Asilomar (sandy beach, sand dunes), Pt. Pinos (rocky shoreline, oceanic), Laguna Grandę Regional Park.
Sunday’s Schedule: As ewe work our way towards home, we will stop at Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge, Moonglow Dairy, Moss Landing and North Jetty Rd.
Conditions: In Andrew Molera we could walk as much as 3-4 miles, almost all of it being fairly flat trails.There will be some walking on sandy beaches, with possibly somewhat unstable rocky tidal areas. We may be able to cross the Big Sur River at the mouth which would entail getting wet so be prepared to bring some water footwear
Carpooling: For those wishing to carpool, the list of participants will be sent out for contact. If you do not wish to have you contact information sent to participants, please let me know upon registration.
What to bring: Binoculars, spotting scope (if you have one), lunch for two days. Please check for weather regarding clothing.
Click on this link to register for the Monterey/Big Sur Field Trip:

Speaker Series: Purple Martins in California - Status and Conservation
2025-09-29 08:00 - 17:00 | CA
Biologist and ornithologist Dan Ariola will discuss the unique life history of this largest North American swallow,
differences between the eastern and western subspecies, current threats they face. He’ll present an overview of the status and conservation issues facing the species in California. He will also provide preliminary results of the 2025 statewide Purple Martin breeding population survey.
Join us on Thursday, October 9 at the Benicia Public Library, 150 East L Street, Benicia, at 7:00 PM. The event is free and open to the public.

NSAS' September Monthly Field Trip to Rio Lindo Adventist Academy Sunday, Sept. 21st at 6:15 p.m.
2025-09-21 18:00 - 20:30 | Rio Lindo Adventist Academy, 3200 Rio Lindo Ave., Healdsburg, CA, 95448, United States
Where: 6:15 PM, Rio Lindo Adventist Academy, 3200 Rio Lindo Ave., Healdsburg, CA. For those driving separately meet at the gate and either call the office to gain entrance or wait for the group to arrive.
History: Vaux’s Swifts have been roosting in the Rio Lindo Adventist Academy chimney since 1989, the first year the school’s boiler wasn’t producing steam year-round. The chimney is still used in the winter when the boiler generates heat for the school campus, but that’s after the fall swift migration has finished. The first small groups of migrating birds usually appear in mid-August. Vaux’s Swifts use the chimney on the campus as a roosting site on their stop-over during fall migration. Numbers vary daily into the thousands, but begin to peak around September 20. In an average year, the count peaks between 5,000 and 10,000 birds for a few evenings. The highest numbers that have been observed were in 2015 when a couple of evenings the estimate was between 35,000 and 40,000 swifts. The Swifts enter the chimney at dusk in a Whirlwind-like Vortex. It has been described as one of the 7 Wonders of the Birding World! For more information visit: Vaux’s Swift Migration – RioLindoAdventistAcademy.
Ride-sharing: Those wishing to carpool meet in Napa in the River Park Shopping Center on Imola Ave., Napa, in front of the Grocery Outlet at 5:00 PM. Please do not park immediately in front of the store, rather use the spaces farther away from the entrance doors.
What to Bring: Often visitors bring food (dinner) to enjoy while viewing the swifts. The campus is a Seventh Day Adventist Academy so no adult beverages or substances (tobacco, vaping, etc.) Please respect these restrictions as there will be student, faculty, and other visitors present. Bring a chair as we will be viewing for an extended period in one place. Spotting scopes, binoculars, cameras, appropriate clothing.
Please Register for this Field Trip by Clicking on this Link: NSAS Field Trip Registration for Rio Lindo Adventist Academy Swift Migration

Coastal Clean-up Day - Saturday, September 20th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon
2025-09-20 09:00 - 12:00 | Napa Creek 1245 Main St, Napa, CA 94558, 1245 Main St, Napa, CA, 94558
Napa RCD’s Coastal Clean-up Day – Saturday, September 20 from 9:00 a.m. – Noon!
Join our Team Captain, Betty Labastida, and become a part of our efforts to clean up our section of Napa Creek. Help Betty and our volunteers clean-up our section of Napa Creek at the corner of Main and Pearl Streets in downtown Napa.
What to Expect: When you arrive, check in with the Site Captains, verify liability forms, get materials, and collect waste you find within your site boundaries.

What to Bring: If you’ve got them, bring gloves, a trash grabber, and a bucket. Don’t have those things? Just bring yourself- we’ll have materials to share. Bring your own water bottle.
What to Wear: sturdy shoes, long pants, layers appropriate for the weather, sun protection
For more information, visit: https://naparcd.org/events/cleanup2025/

The Biggest Week in American Birding - Fall Monthly Speaker Series Returns Thursday, Sept. 11 at 7:00 p.m.
2025-09-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Napa Valley Lutheran Church, 1796 Elm St., Napa, CA 94558, 94558
Napa Solano Audubon’s monthly speaker series returns on Thursday, September 11, 7:00 PM, at the Napa Valley Lutheran Church. We hope that you join us to kick off another season on birding adventures with NSAS.
The Biggest Week is one of the largest birding festivals in the U.S. held in early May just East of Toledo on the shores of Lake Erie. This annual Festival draws upwards of 10,000 birders from around the country. Northern Ohio is considered by some to be the “warbler capital of the world” as thousands of migrating warblers land on the shores of Lake Erie to refuel, before crossing this great expanse of water and continuing on their journey North. The heart of the festival happens at Black Swamp Bird Observatory’s Magee Marsh Board Walk, a 2.5 mile path through the shoreline marsh. Magee is unique in that the high water table keeps most trees at shortened heights, providing more exceptional views of our spring migrants. This, coupled with the fact that early May is when most trees are just beginning to bud, before leaves make viewing more challenging, is why the Biggest Week is so exciting. During this year’s 9-day festival at the Boardwalk, along with a number of local area hotspots, birders observed 243 species including 36 North American Warblers.
About the Presenter:
Mark has been the President of our Chapter, Napa-Solano Audubon, for the past 5 years. He began birding in the 4th grade and his birding knowledge expanded dramatically when his family moved to Ithaca, NY where he birded regularly with his mentor, Dr. Arthur Allen, founder of Cornell’s Laboratory of Ornithology and other leading experts from the Lab. During college he worked summers at Sapsucker Wood’s and for the Massachusetts Audubon Society before heading west and directing Environmental Education Programs at Foresta Institute in Washoe Valley, Nevada. After a career of more than 30 years in public education in Benicia and Napa Valley schools, he is enjoying retirement. When Mark’s son, Lucas, caught the “Birding Bug,” Mark turned from his passion for portrait and landscape photography to focus on birds. With Lucas, he has traveled to every corner of California, Arizona, Texas, Ohio, Florida, and Costa Rica observing and photographing birds. This Spring, after previously attending the Biggest Week 8 years ago with Lucas, Mark returned to the festival with his brother Tom and our very own Tom Slyker and took hundreds of photos of Ohio’s migrants and resident birds. He is excited to share his experiences with our community and his friends from Napa-Solano Audubon.

Winged Migration Festival - Friday, January 30 - Sunday, February 1 - Mare Island
2025-09-08 08:00 - 17:00 | Mare Island, 34 Nimitz Avenue, Vallejo, CA, 94592

Weekly Walks with Andrew Ford Start-up on Saturday, September 6th, 2025
2025-09-06 08:00 - 12:00 | John F. Kennedy Park, 3291 Streblow Drive, Napa, CA, 94503, United States
Our 1st Weekly Bird Walk of the Fall will begin at Kennedy Park in Napa at 8:00 a.m. Andrew sent out an eBlast describing this week’s walk . If you did not receive an eBlast and are already signed up, don’t forget to check your Spam folder. If you would like to receive Field Trip eBlasts, you may sign up on our Home Page by clicking on the green Activity Sign-up Button at the top of the page.
Description:
Kennedy Park is paved road with parks and trees tracing the course of the Napa River as it meanders its way into the Bay. Marshes line the exterior boundaries of the park. Napa College forms its eastern border and a golf course to the south. We explore the many aspects of the park. We are likely to see Western Gull, California Gull, Black-Crowned Night-Heron, Western Bluebird, Song Sparrow, Common Yellowthroat, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, American Avocet, Black-Necked Stilt and a plethora of waterfowl and shorebirds in the mudflats. Black Rail is an uncommon, but not unheard of, addition in the marshes. Osprey, White-Tailed Kite, Northern Harrier, Red-Tailed Hawk and Red-Shouldered Hawk patrol the skies and marshes. Great-Horned Owl sometimes hang out in the redwoods. On rare occasions, Bald Eagle has been observed on the River.

Birdwatchers should be meet at the furthest parking lot near the boat launch no later than 08:10 a.m.

Coastal Clean-up Day Saturday, September 20th from 9:00 - 12:00 Noon
2025-09-04 08:00 - 17:00 | CA
Join our Coastal Clean-up Team Captain, Betty Labastida for a fun morning helping to clean-up Napa Creek in downtown Napa. You may even have a chance to see the beavers that are building their dam nearby! Betty will be there with equipment to help, but wear work clothes, bring work gloves and lend her a hand at the corner of Main Street and Pearl in the small parking lot. For more information on Napa RCD’s Coastal Clean-up day visit: https://naparcd.org/events/cleanup2025/ .

Last Beginners Bird Walk of the Season
2025-06-08 08:00 - 12:00 | 182 Dempsey Drive, Benicia, CA 94510
Join us for our last Beginners Bird walk of the season, this Sunday, June 8! We will explore Benicia Community Park for a chance to see Bullock’s orioles, Ospreys, Western kingbirds, Western bluebirds, and more!
So, if you are dipping a toe into birding, dusting off a pair of binoculars, or joining us for the hundredth time, we’d be delighted to have you join us for our last Beginners Bird Walk of the season this Sunday, June 8 at Benicia Community Park. No reservations are necessary, just plan to show up and enjoy being outdoors for a little while.
All level and ages of birders are welcome!
We are approaching our summer hiatus and this will be our last walk of the season! Walks will resume in the fall. These walks are open to birders of all levels and ages. It’s free, it’s fun, and loaner binoculars are on hand if you need them. Napa Solano Audubon membership is not required. If you have questions about this outing, please e-mail Karina Garcia at kg92794@hotmail.com.

What to bring
Hats, sunscreen, and layers are a good idea as this location can be both sunny and windy. Temperature is projected to range between the low 60s to low 70s. We will be walking ~ 2 miles over paved trails so comfortable walking shoes will be needed. Bring binoculars if you have them. If not, we will have extra binoculars for you to use. We will also have spotting scopes on hand for better views of some of the more distant birds. Water and snacks are items you should plan to carry with you. We expect that the walk will take between 2 – 3 hours and we should be finished by noon.

Health & Safety
NSAS requests that all participants be vaccinated for Covid-19, with updated boosters. All participants will sign a Field Trip Waiver and Waiver of Liability.

Meeting Time and Location
​We will meet at the eastern portion of the parking area by the playground and “Big Slide” at:

182 Dempsey Drive, Benicia, CA 94510

https://maps.app.goo.gl/7gEXpq62ePpYt52Q6

NSAS June Field Trip to Yuba Pass and the Sierra Valley with Mark Stephenson and Bruce Thomsen
2025-06-05 - 2025-06-08 | Yuba Pass and Sierra Valley Field Trip, Forest Rte 12, Calpine, CA, 96124, United States
We will take 4 days to explore this bountiful region visiting some of the best locations it has to offer. The Yuba Pass encompasses High Sierra habitats including boggy meadows, willow and alder thickets, aspens groves and coniferous forests. Within the mountain ecosystem we hope to observe Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin, Pine and Evening Grosbeaks, Clark’s Nutcracker, Sooty Grouse, Mountain Quail, Red-breasted and Williamson’s Sapsuckers, Black-backed Woodpeckers, Townsend’s Solitaire and Hermit Thrushes, Hammond’s and Dusky Flycatchers, Mountain Chickadee, Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches, Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglets, as well as a variety of warblers and sparrows. Over the summit, the Sierra Valley consists of vast areas of sagebrush and grassland along with extensive wet meadows and marshland with the heart of the valley being fed by perennial springs and tributaries of the Feather River. This rich ecosystem is home to Sage Thrasher, Horned Lark, Savannah and Vesper Sparrows, along with Swainson’s and Red-tailed Hawks, Peregrine and Prairie Falcons, Golden and Bald Eagles that frequently soar overhead. The marshlands are home to a number of waterfowl, Sandhill Cranes, Black- crowned Night-Heron, American Bittern, Sora and Virginia Rails, American Avocet, Willet, Wilson’s Snipe, Marsh Wren, Savannah and Vesper Sparrows, Yellow- headed Blackbirds as well as Cliff and Barn Swallows. Stay tuned for our Field Trip eBlasts for more detailed information.

NSAS Speaker Series: The Land Trust of Napa Valley - with Mike Palladini Thursday, May 8th 7:00 p.m.
2025-05-08 19:00 - 21:00 | Napa Valley Lutheran Church, 1796 Elm St., Napa, CA 94558, 94558
About the Program: In addition to an overview of the Land Trust and our preserve system, Mike will present on a broad cross section of LTNC land stewardship projects and activities relating to habitat restoration, wildfire and climate resilience, rare, threatened, and endangered species conservation, and recovery, watershed restoration, biological resources assessment and monitoring, along with the Land Trust’s field trips, public access, education and outreach programs.
About the Presenter: Mike Palladini is the Stewardship Director at the Napa Land Trust, where he oversees the stewardship of over 20,000 acres across 23 protected natural areas. His responsibilities include managing habitat and watershed restoration, conducting biological resource assessments and monitoring, advancing conservation science research, and enhancing wildfire and climate change resilience. Additionally, Mike plays a key role in ensuring public access to the Land Trust’s preserves.

Napa Earth Day Festivities 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
2025-04-12 11:00 - 16:00 | Oxbow Commons, 1068 McKinstry St., Napa, CA, 94558
Napa Earth Day Activities 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Come by the Oxbow Commons Park behind the Oxbow Market from 11:00 – 4:00 p.m. and visit the all of the tabling activities and venders that contribute to Earth Day. Stop by the Napa Solano Audubon’s table and learn all about our many programs. There will be food and activities for all ages.

Earth Day Napa Creek Cleanup 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
2025-04-12 09:00 - 11:30 | Napa Creek 1245 Main St, Napa, CA 94558, 1245 Main St, Napa, CA, 94558
April 12, 2025 Earth Day Activities: Napa Creek Clean-up 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. Here is a wonderful opportunity to make our world cleaner for birds and ourselves. Betty Labastida chairs this event through Napa RCD (Napa Resource Conservation District). She will greet you with buckets, gloves and pickup devices although if you have your own, please bring them. Wear your grubby clothes because depending on your physical ability you can walk down to clean up the edges of the creek. … Or just normal dress and walk the sidewalks. When you bring the garbage back to Betty, she will sort out all the recyclables!

NSAS Speaker Series: Exploring Florida Birds with Mark Stephenson - Thursday, April 10th 7:00 p.m. - Benicia Public Library
2025-04-10 19:00 - 21:00 | Benicia Public Library, 150 East L Street, Benicia, CA, 94510
About the presentation:
Mark hasn’t been birding back in Florida since he was a teenager in the 60’s wading through swamps in search of Limpkins, Wood Storks and Flamingos with his brother Tom. His family used to drive down from Ithaca, NY in their Rambler station wagon every couple of years on a vacation to visit his grandparents who lived in Brooksville, North of Tampa. During those years they convinced their parents to take them on birding excursions to visit the Everglades, Pine Island, Sanibel Island’s Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge and as far South as they could travel down into the Keys. Those were the good old days with plenty of Herons and Egrets to go around. During the last 2 years he has returned to bird Florida in April 2024 on the Atlantic side from Orlando to the tip of the Keys. He traveled there again over New Years 2025 on the Gulf side in the vicinity of Fort Myers. He visited a number of new exciting birding locations and photographed some of Florida’s most exciting birds! His presentation will take a look at some of the best birding locations that Florida has to offer as well as close-up looks at Florida’s many Herons, Gulls, Terns, Shorebirds, Raptors, Woodpeckers, Warblers and other impressive Passerines.
About the Presenter:
Mark has been the President of Napa-Solano Audubon for the past 5 years. He began birding in the 4th grade and his birding knowledge expanded dramatically when his family moved to Ithaca, NY where he birded regularly with Dr. Arthur Allen, founder of Cornell’s Laboratory of Ornithology and other leading experts from the Lab. During college he worked summers at Sapsucker Wood’s and for the Massachusetts Audubon Society before heading west and directing Environmental Education Summer Camps, Expedition and Education Programs at Foresta Institute. After a career of more than 30 years in public education in Benicia and Napa Schools, he is enjoying retirement and Northern California birding. Mark turned from his passion for portrait and landscape photography to focus on birds. With his son Lucas, he has traveled to every corner of California, Arizona, Texas, Ohio, Florida, and Costa Rica searching for birds and taking their photos.

NSAS April Field Trip to the East side of Lake Berryessa - with Larry Kent & Robin Leong - Sunday April 5th
2025-04-05 08:30 - 15:00 | Eticuera Creek Day Use Area, 8600 Knoxville Road, Napa, 94558, United States
Date: Saturday April 5, 2025
Time: 8:30 AM to 3:30 or longer
Meet: Meet at Eticuera Creek Day Use Area, 8:30 am.
Leaders: Robin Leong and Larry Kent
Carpool: Meet 7:15 at River Park shopping center.
What to bring: Binoculars, spotting scope, water, lunch, sturdy shoes, layered clothing.
This is your chance to bird east side of Lake Berryessa with the experts at a beautiful time of year. Highlights might be Lewis Woodpecker, Osprey on nest, Bald Eagle on nest, White tailed Kite, Yellow-billed Magpie.
Registration Information: To sign up for this Field Trip, click on the Registration link below, complete the Registration Form and click the Submit Button. We encourage you to sign-up early as this trip is popular and bound to fill up quickly. This field trip has a limit of 15 NSAS Members. The first 15 members to register will be active participants in this outing and additional registrations will be placed on a waiting list.
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/4Q3HCfdXJ3FjqLrA6

NSAS March Field Trip to Pinnacles National Park with Bruce Thomsen & Rusty Scalf - Monday/Tuesday, March 24th & 25th, 2025
2025-03-24 - 2025-03-25 | Pinnacles National Park, 5000 East Entrance Road, Paicines, CA, 95043
About the Trip: Our next field trip will be to Pinnacles National Park, home to our California Condor. This two-day trip will start on Monday visiting Pinnacles National Park looking for California Condors and spring migrants. We will visit several areas in the park looking for oak woodland species: red-shouldered hawk, cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks, white-breasted nuthatch, brown creeper, oak titmouse, California quail, acorn woodpeckers, and northern flickers. Visiting the canyon areas there is a possibility of a canyon wren, California thrasher, greater roadrunner, lark sparrow, sage sparrow, rufous-crowned sparrow, spotted towhee and a variety of early migrants. Flying high in the sky we can observe California Condors along with golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, and the possibility of several falcons.
Registration Information: A Registration Form will be sent out for this trip this Saturday, March 1st at 9:00 a.m. for all members subscribed to the Field Trip eBlast List. Be sure to check your Spam Folder if you don’t receive one. Sign-up as soon as you receive the Registration Form as this trip is popular and bound to fill up quickly. This field trip has a limit of 15 NSAS Members. The first 15 members to register will be active participants in this outing and additional registrations will be placed on a waiting list.

Beginner's Bird Walk Sunday, March 16th, 9:00 a.m. at American Canyon Wetlands
2025-03-16 09:00 - 23:30 | American Canyon Wetlands, 2 Eucalyptus Dr, American Canyon, 94503, United States
Join us for our next Beginners Bird walk on Sunday, March 16! Spring is approaching and we have been seeing a variety of migrating waterfowl and shorebirds out on the water, with different raptors flying overhead. During our last walk we spotted an Allen’s hummingbird and a Merlin!
So, if you are dipping a toe into birding, or dusting off a pair of binoculars for the first time in a while and you want some company as you learn about birding, we’d be delighted to have you join us for our Beginners Bird Walk this Sunday, March 16 at the American Canyon Wetlands Edge Park. No reservations are necessary, just plan to show up and enjoy being outdoors for a little while. All level and ages of birders are welcome!
Can’t make this trip? Not a problem as we plan on holding more Beginners Bird Walks thru Spring. These walks are open to birders of all levels and ages. It’s free, it’s fun, and loaner binoculars are on hand if you need them. Napa Solano Audubon membership is not required. If you have questions about this outing, please e-mail Karina Garcia at kg92794@gmail.com.
What you might see: We have been seeing numerous species of waterfowl, a variety of shorebirds including American Avocets and Black Necked Stilts, as well as a variety of raptors, while always keeping our eyes peeled for the secretive Virginia Rails and Soras. If you check out the American Canyon Wetlands eBird hot spot at https://ebird.org/hotspot/L590817 you’ll see the lists of birds that have been recently seen at this location.
Meeting time and location: We will meet at 9 AM on Sunday, March 16, 2025, at the parking lot for the Wetlands Edge Park, which is located at 2 Eucalyptus Drive in American Canyon. We expect that the walk will take between 2 – 3 hours and we should be finished by noon.
Directions: From Vallejo, take Hwy 29 north towards Napa. Turn left off of Hwy 29 onto Rio Del Mar. There is a stop light at this location. Immediately after turning onto Rio Del Mar, turn right onto Eucalyptus Drive. Continue west on Eucalyptus until you reach the parking lot. From Napa, drive south on Highway 29 till you reach Rio Del Mar. Turn right onto Rio Del Mar and immediately turn right onto Eucalyptus Drive. Continue west on Eucalyptus until you reach the parking lot. From eastern Solano County take Hwy 80 to American Canyon Road. Go west on American Canyon Road until it ends at Wetlands Edge Road. Turn right on Wetlands Road and go north until you hit Eucalyptus Road. Turn left on Eucalyptus Road and you will be at the Wetlands Edge Park parking lot.
Leaders: Karina Garcia and Carol Boykin will be leading this walk. Both Karina and Carol are citizen science volunteers and participate in the Napa Solano Audubon’s CA Birdseasons project at the wetlands location. NSAS has been monitoring birds at this site every Monday morning since 2016. This monitoring has provided the participants with a wealth of knowledge about the birds you might see at this location.
What to bring: Hats, sunscreen, and layers are a good idea as this location can be both sunny and windy. We will be walking ~ 2 miles over paved trails so comfortable walking shoes will be needed. Bring binoculars if you have them. If not, we will have extra binoculars for you to use. We will also have spotting scopes on hand for better views of some of the more distant birds. Water and snacks are items you should plan to carry with you.
Health & Safety: NSAS requests that all participants be vaccinated for Covid-19, with updated boosters. All participants will sign a Field Trip Waiver and Waiver of Liability.

NSAS Presents: Our Native American’s Reverent Relationship with Birds - with Charlie Toledo - March 13th at 7:00 p.m. at the Napa Valley Lutheran Church
2025-03-13 19:00 - 21:00 | Napa Valley Lutheran Church, 1796 Elm St., Napa, CA 94558, 94558
About the Program: Birds played a significant role in Native American Cultures. Ms. Charlie Toledo will share her knowledge of birds and the role they played in CA native American cultures. Birds were used by every Native American culture for food, medicine, art and ceremony. She will explore the reverent relationship that Native Americans had with these incredible animals.
About the Presenter: Charlie Toledo is of Towa descendent, native to New Mexico. She is the Executive Director of the Suscol Intertribal Council, a community-based organization, since 1992 located in Napa, California. She has extensive experience as public speaker, presenter, and community organizer in regional, statewide, national and international forums. Since 1982 she has worked in alternative healthcare fields, as well as background in mediation for individuals, families, and organizations. She has been an organic gardener since 1978. She has lifelong commitment to social justice and international work on Human Rights and Environmental social justice issues.

NSAS Beginner's Bird Walk - Sunday March 9th at American Canyon Wetlands
2025-03-09 09:00 - 12:00 | American Canyon Wetlands, 2 Eucalyptus Dr, American Canyon, 94503, United States
Join us for our next Beginners Bird walk on Sunday, March 9th! Spring is arriving and we have been seeing a variety of migrating waterfowl and shorebirds out on the water, with different raptors flying overhead. We have even spotted secretive Soras and Common Gallinules recently! So, if you are dipping a toe into birding, or dusting off a pair of binoculars for the first time in a while and you want some company as you learn about birding, we’d be delighted to have you join us for our Beginners Bird Walk this Sunday, March 9 at the American Canyon Wetlands Edge Park. No reservations are necessary, just plan to show up and enjoy being outdoors for a little while. All level and ages of birders are welcome!
Can’t make this trip? Not a problem as we plan on holding more Beginners Bird Walks thru Spring. These walks are open to birders of all levels and ages. It’s free, it’s fun, and loaner binoculars are on hand if you need them. Napa Solano Audubon membership is not required. If you have questions about this outing, please e-mail Karina Garcia at kg92794@gmail.com.

Beginners' Bird Walk Sunday Feb 23, 9 - 12
2025-02-23 09:00 - 12:00 | American Canyon Wetlands, 2 Eucalyptus Dr, American Canyon, 94503, United States
Whether you just want to give birdwatching a try or are a seasoned birder, join us for our next Beginners Bird walk on Sunday, February 23 at 9:00 a.m. No reservations are necessary. The event is free and open to the public. Loaner binoculars are available to use. Strollers are welcome.

Meeting time and location: We will meet at 9 AM on Sunday, February 23, 2025, at the parking lot for the Wetlands Edge Park, which is located at 2 Eucalyptus Drive in American Canyon. We expect that the walk will take between 2 – 3 hours and we should be finished by noon. Rain cancels.
