SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY AUDUBON SOCIETY

​​​Saturday, May 3, 2025, Sunday, May 4, 2025

8:00 am and 7:30 am

Salton Sea Shorebirds, San Jacinto Wildlife Area

Leaders: Tony Metcalf (951) 242-7038, David Rankin: david.rankin@ucr.edu

Hey shore-birders and April migrant lovers, join David Rankin (619-869-3952) and Tony Metcalf (951-347-7710) for a two day birding extravaganza at the north end of the Salton Sea (Saturday) and the San Jacinto Wildlife Area (Sunday). We will focus primarily on shorebirds, contrasting mid-April shorebird diversity at the Salton Sea with inland coastal shorebird diversity at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area and Mystic Lake. (Of course we look at everything from gulls to passerines!!). On Saturday (April 20) we will meet at 8 AM at the infamous Arco Station in Mecca (66 th Ave and HWY 86), and on Sunday (April 21) meet at the gates of the San Jacinto Wildlife Area at 7:30 AM. You can join us for one or both days. Bring drinks, snacks, lunch etc. And we recommend rubber boots for the barnacle beaches at the NESS and goopy Mystic Lake Shoreline.

 

 

​​Saturday, May 3, 2025

8:00 am

Whitewater Canyon 

Leader: Steve Myers (951) 616-7578

Portions of Whitewater Canyon have long been more or less closed to public access, but the former trout farm is now the "Whitewater Canyon Preserve," managed by The Wildlands Conservancy. If you visited the trout farm in the past, you will not know the place now. Most of the facilities have been removed, and habitat restoration is under way. Riparian and desert scrub habitats should be teaming with birds on this trip. The canyon hosts nesting Summer Tanagers and Brown-crested Flycatchers, and migrants should be easy to find. In addition to the Preserve, we may visit Bonnie Bell, a small community in the canyon that contains excellent cottonwood and willow forest and woodland, somewhat reminiscent of Big Morongo. Meet at the Whitewater Canyon Preserve at 8:00 am. To reach the Preserve, go east on I-10, past the turn-off for Highway 111, and take the Whitewater exit. Turn left, pass over I-10, and watch for Whitewater Canyon Road on your left. The Preserve is at the end of Whitewater Canyon Road, approximately 5 miles north of I-10. Bring sturdy footwear, water, lunch, and the usual essentials.

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​Saturday, May 10, 2025 9:00 am

Baby Birds at Bearpaw Ranch

Leader: Cin Greyraven (909) 794-0509

Join us for a trip into the hidden world of nesting birds at Bearpaw Nature Sanctuary in Forest Falls (map). Biologist Cin Greyraven will lead the group in its search for evidence of breeding behavior in the common birds of the chaparral and forest. Since 1994, Bearpaw Sanctuary has been part of the National Nest Box Trail system, offering homes to Western Bluebirds, Oak Titmice, House Wrens, Mountain Chickadees, and Ash-throated Flycatchers. Learn what types of nest boxes work best and how monitoring data by average citizens across the continent can contribute to scientific research. Learn how to monitor a nest box without disturbing the nesting effort. Enjoy a peek inside the usually inaccessible world of cavity nesters, and learn to recognize different species by their nests, eggs, and chicks. Bring binoculars for long-distance viewing and cameras for close-up snapshots. Children are welcome. For additional information, call (909) 794-0509.

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Saturday, May 17, 2025 7:30 am

San Jacinto Mountains

Leader: Robin Roberts 770-856-4826. rober356@miamioh.edu

The San Jacinto Mountains field trip will meet at the Lake Fulmor parking area on State Route 243 at 7:30am. From there we'll spend the day birding various places in the San Jacinto Mountains, looking for specialties like White-headed Woodpecker, Pinyon Jay, Mountain Quail, Williamson's Sapsucker and Red Crossbill We'll also stop at Lake Hemet to see what waterbirds (and maybe Purple Martins) are around, then end the trip in the Garner Valley. Bring sturdy shoes, a lunch/snacks and water. An Adventure Pass will be needed for some locations, so please purchase one ahead of time. 

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Wednesday,  May 21, 6:30 PM 

San Bernardino County Museum, General Meeting

SBVAS Annual Potluck Dinner and Show and Tell

This is a fun evening full of good food, laughs and lots of visiting. Please note that we meet a half hour earlier at 6:30pm. Bring a dish, salad, casserole, or dessert to share.  And bring your utensils and place setting. Audubon will provide a selection of sandwiches and drinks but if there is something you would prefer to drink, bring it along. Unfortunately we can’t serve alcohol.

Our evenings’ entertainment will be provided by our members.  They will share their best and most interesting nature slides with us.  Everyone is welcome to bring 30 nature pictures on a stick.  Birds are most welcome but there are lots of critters and lovely scenes that make great viewing too. Please come share your love of nature with us.  Everyone is always welcome.  Any questions ….call Dori…. 714 336-1420

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Saturday, May 31, 2025 7:00 am

San Bernardino Mountains 

Leader: Brad Singer (909) 936-5087/bcsinger@gmail.com

The San Bernardino Mountains trip will meet outside the Starbuck's located in the Von's shopping center on Big Bear Blvd. and Sandalwood Drive at 7:00 am. We will spend the morning at Cactus Flats and Arrastre Creek where expected species include Black-chinned Sparrow, Green-tailed Towhee, Lazuli Bunting, Scott's Oriole, and Mountain Quail. We will also search for Hepatic Tanager, Indigo Bunting, Calliope Hummingbird, Plumbeous Vireo, Gray Vireo, and Pinyon Jay. About midday we'll bird around Big Bear Lake in search of any lingering shorebirds, terns, and raptors, and then spend the afternoon up either at Bluff Lake or Wildhorse Meadows in search of Williamson's Sapsucker, Dusky Flycatcher, Cassin's Finch, Townsend's Solitaire, and Clark's Nutcracker.  Expect a long day, bring plenty of water, lunch, and sturdy hiking shoes. A vehicle with high clearance is recommended but not required.

 

​Saturday, June 7, Sunday, June 8, 2025. 7:00 AM

Sierra Eastside Birding

Leader: Brad Singer (909) 936-5087/bcsinger@gmail.com

The eastside of the Sierra's offer not only a delightful birding experience, but spectacular scenery as well.  Come join us as we pursue scrub, sagebrush and montane birds in a variety of settings.  On Saturday, we will cover the Owen's Valley, starting in Lone Pine and finishing in Bishop exploring an array of side canyons along the way.  Sunday we will drive up towards Mammoth and bird from Crowley Lake to Mono Lake. The bird list is long, but possibilities include both Sagebrush and Sooty Grouse, Clark's Nutcracker, Calliope Hummingbird, Black-backed and Williamson's Sapsucker, Pine Grosbeak, Evening Grosbeak, Sagebrush Sparrow, Sage Thrasher, Woodhouse's Scrub Jay, and Common Nighthawk.  We will meet Saturday morning at 7 am at the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center at the corner of Hwy 395 and 136 in Lone Pine.  Plan on spending Saturday evening in Bishop.  Group size is limited.

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Saturday, June 14, 2025 8:00AM

Wrightwood & Blue Ridge

Gene Cardiff  & Dori Myers  714 336-1420 M

The San Gabriel Mountains trip will start at the California Department of Forestry Mormon Rocks Station on Highway 138 at 8:00 am. Take I-15 north from San Bernardino or south from the Victor Valley and turn toward Palmdale on Highway 138. The CDF Station is located 1.5 miles up Hwy 138 on the left side of the road, opposite the large sandstone formation called the Mormon Rocks. (There are no restrooms at the CDF Station, use the restrooms at the gas stations near the off ramp.) After birding that area for 30-45 minutes, we will proceed up Lone Pine Canyon Rd into Wrightwood to Big Pines and eventually wind up at 8000 feet and Blue Ridge Campground for lunch.  Bring a lunch, liquids and a good pair of shoes. We will look for mountain birds such as the Fox Sparrow, Green-tailed Towhee, Dusky Flycatcher, and Williamson's Sapsucker. Please don’t forget: you will need an Adventure Pass  and sometimes you can’t buy one up the hill, so please plan ahead.​​​

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