SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY AUDUBON SOCIETY
About SBVAS
SBVAS strives to bring people to their natural environment. Focusing on birds and other wildlife, we hope to conserve natural resources in the Southern California's "Inland Empire," specifically San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial Counties.
Founded in 1948, San Bernardino Valley Audubon is southeastern California's leading non-profit engaging people in the conservation of birds and their habitats. We involve people through recreational birding, envelop them in our education programs, and engage them in conservation actions from counting birds to working with local, state, and national policy makers. San Bernardino Valley Audubon is a fully independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Contact us at:
eSBVAS@gmail.com
SAVE MYSTIC LAKE
Meetings
Meetings are held at the San Bernardino County Museum once a month on Wednesday nights from September through May. The museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Ln, Redlands, CA 92374.
Scheduled Upcoming Events and Field Trips
Saturday March 7, 2026 - 8:00 am
Lake Skinner County Park Field Trip
Leader: Charity Hagen (951) 733-3384
Lake Skinner County Park is an oasis for birds. In the many wild and manicured areas of the park, birders can expect to see a wide range of birds. The park contains oak woodlands, Riversidian sage scrub, riparian areas, exotic trees and shrubs, and a reservoir. This combination of habitats has attracted well over 200 species to the park. The reservoir is an important wintering ground for species such as Common Goldeneye, Common Loon, Bald Eagle, and multiple other duck and grebe species. In the riparian areas and manicured trees of the park, many wintering passerine species can be found, with such notable birds as sapsuckers, thrushes, multiple sparrow species, and the occasional wintering eastern warbler. On this field trip we will scour the many different habitats and multiple shoreline access points to find as many of these birds as possible. In early spring expect to see lingering winter visitors mixed with early arrival breeders such as orioles, along with year round residents such as Acorn Woodpecker and California Gnatcatcher. Expect to see from 50-70 species during the field trip, with rarities always a possibility. Most areas can be accessed by vehicle, but be prepared to walk up to a mile in search of the best birding locations.
Meet at 8 am at the Alamos Schoolhouse Nature Center just inside the park entrance. There is a $6 per person fee to access the park.
Sunday, March 8, 2026 - 8 am
Beginning Bird Walk, Prescott Preserve, Palm Springs
Leader: Ross Thrasher (909) 645-2282
Enjoy desert birds at this newly developed preserve transformed from an existing golf course. Nearly 200 species have been seen in its short existence. Meet at the parking lot at 8 am.
Saturday, March 14, 2026 - 8:00 am
Bolsa Chica & Orange County Coast
Leader: Dori Myers (714) 779-2201 (h) or (714) 336-1420 (m)
Please join us for what should be a great day of birding in the wetland areas of Orange County. Expect to see a large variety of wintering birds including ducks, shorebirds, grebes, herons, egrets, terns, cormorants, etc. We ought to find gulls and raptors and some song birds. With any luck we will see 50 or more species just in the morning. After birding Bolsa Chica (until around noon) we will go to Newport Back Bay or the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary to eat our lunch and finish the day. We will meet at the PCH parking lot of Bolsa Chica at 8:00 am. To reach Bolsa Chica, take the 91 freeway south to the 55 (Newport freeway). Continue on the 55 to the 405 and go north towards Long Beach. Exit at Beach Blvd. (south) and continue to Pacific Coast Highway. Turn right and head north on PCH, past Huntington Beach. We will meet in the parking lot of the Ecological Preserve (Bolsa Chica) on the inland side of Pacific Coast Hwy at the signal between Seagate and Warner. Please bring a lunch if you intend to stay for the day. Also bring binoculars, bird book and a scope if you have one. It can get cold along the coast in winter so dress in layers.
Wednesday, March 18, 7pm
SBVAS General Meeting
"Birding Down Under: The Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand and Australia"
Presented by Brian Elliott
Pomona Valley Bird Alliance Conservation Director, Brian Elliott , will discuss his participation in a small ship, 15-day natural history and birding cruise in December, 2024 to the Subantarctic Islands south of New Zealand. These islands are little visited compared to Antarctic voyages. The islands are a UNESCO World Heritage site, isolated in the Southern Ocean, and except for the Chatham Islands, uninhabited. Landing is allowed on only a few of the islands and the rest are visited by cruising close to shore in Zodiacs. Pelagic birding is spectacular and land excursions gets one very close to penguins, giant elephant seals, and endemic megaherbs. The region hosts the most diverse collection of seabirds in the world. Ten species of albatross nest on the islands, five of which are endemic. Seven species of penguin are found here as well. There are many single island endemic plant and bird species, including flightless ducks. Brian will transport us to these wild and unique islands through his photos and narrative.