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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250102T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250102T203000
DTSTAMP:20260430T140952
CREATED:20241122T212111Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241122T212956Z
UID:8709-1735844400-1735849800@mtdiablobirds.org
SUMMARY:Monthly Program: January 2025
DESCRIPTION:Blood Pheasant. Photo by Bob Lewis \nBirds of Bhutan\nBob Lewis\n \n\nMount Diablo Bird Alliance will meet Thursday\, January 2 in the Camellia Room at the Gardens at Heather Farm\, 1540 Marchbanks Drive\, Walnut Creek\, CA 94598. \n6:30 PM Doors Open\n7:00 PM Announcements\n7:10 PM Christmas Bird Count Report\n7:25 PM Refreshments and Raffle\n7:40 PM Main Program: Birds of Bhutan\n*as a conservation organization we encourage you to bring your own mug for coffee or tea \nAlong with our main program\, Mount Diablo Bird Alliance President Jerry Britten will report highlights of the 2024 Christmas Bird Counts. \n7:30 PM Main Program: Bhutan – A Happy Place for Birds and Birders\nBob Lewis\n \n\n\n\nThe Himalayan Buddhist country of Bhutan calls itself the Happiest Place in the World\, and indeed\, it is a delight for birders. With over 60% of its land forested\, from Alpine scrub to Tropical broadleaf habitats\, there are many birds to be seen. Bob joined a spring 2024 tour and will discuss many interesting families of birds seen as the group traveled east from the airport at Paro\, and then returned along the Indian border in the south. The talk is illustrated with many striking bird images\, as well as some illustrations to give a feeling of a lovely country. \nBob trained as a chemist and worked in the energy field for 33 years. He’s taught birding classes in the Bay Area for over 30 years and served as the chair of Golden Gate Audubon’s Adult Education Committee. Recently he’s been giving classes and talks via Zoom. Bob was honored with American Birding Association’s Chandler Robbins Award for Education and Conservation in 2016\, and Golden Gate Bird Alliance’s Paul Covel Education Award in 2010 and 2017. He loves to travel and photograph birds and has chased birds in over 60 countries. His life list is over 5400 species.
URL:https://mtdiablobirds.org/event/monthly-program-jan2025/
LOCATION:The Camellia Room at The Gardens at Heather Farm\, 1540 Marchbanks Drive\, Walnut Creek\, CA\, 94598\, United States
CATEGORIES:Monthly Program
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://mtdiablobirds.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Blood-Pheasant-6632-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Ariana Rickard":MAILTO:arianajrickard@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250104
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250105
DTSTAMP:20260430T140952
CREATED:20241206T032031Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241206T032031Z
UID:8715-1735948800-1736035199@mtdiablobirds.org
SUMMARY:Contra Costa Large Day
DESCRIPTION:Saturday January 4\, Predawn to Dusk \nSpend the first Saturday of the New Year on an all-day birding trip that will visit several different habitats spread across Contra Costa County. To maximize the fun and minimize issues with parking\, we’ll carpool\, starting from a place or places to be discussed by the group—perhaps Heather Farm and/or Lafayette BART. \nFrom the meeting point we’ll drive to Valle Vista\, arriving before dawn to listen for owls and maybe spot a poorwill. We’ll spend the first part of the morning at this rich hotspot\, then pile into our cars and drive west to Richmond where we’ll scope the Bay\, and look for shorebirds. Then back east across the county on Highway 4\, making multiple stops before finishing our day in the Delta. The exact itinerary will be determined partly by what we find during our Christmas Bird Counts. \n“Big” days are known for their frenetic pace\, with birders pushing hard to max out their species count. This “Large” day will be somewhat more relaxed. We’ll stay together in a group as much as possible\, and take relaxed breaks when needed. The pace will still be more urgent than a typical field trip\, though\, and this is an all-day commitment—things to consider before signing up. More details to follow by email\, to those who sign up. Please note that signups for this trip (and wait list) close a week in advance. \nHike Rating: 2 – moderate grades in some places\, probably a few miles total walking throughout the day.\nElevation change: TBD\, probably not over 100 feet in one climb.\nLeader: Matthew Tarlach\, 925-482-6129\, mdbafieldtrips@gmail.com\nMeet: TBD \nThis special trip is for MDBA members only\, and limited to 12 participants. We will carpool\, hopefully fitting into 3 vehicles to minimize parking hassles. Register HERE:\nhttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/contra-costa-large-day-tickets-1090305837109
URL:https://mtdiablobirds.org/event/contra-costa-large-day/
LOCATION:CA
CATEGORIES:Birding
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://mtdiablobirds.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CoCoBirdingHotspots.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250108T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250108T140000
DTSTAMP:20260430T140952
CREATED:20241206T032232Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241206T033533Z
UID:8718-1736326800-1736344800@mtdiablobirds.org
SUMMARY:MDBA Field Trip -- Putah Creek
DESCRIPTION:This is a great chance to see a variety of birds and ducks along Putah Creek and Lake Solano. Possible species include Osprey\, Lewis’s Woodpecker\, Phainopepla\, Barrow’s Goldeneye and Hooded Merganser. Dress warmly; this is a cold\, windy area. Bring lunch. Exact itinerary to be determined the day of the trip. Rain cancels. \nHike rating: 1 – Easy.\nElevation change: Minor\nDistance: Depending on the route decided.\nCo-Leaders: Maren Smith\, 925-322-9477\, and Susana de Trapaga\nMeet: 9 AM at the large gravel pull-out on the right side of Putah Creek Road\, west of the Lake Solano dam.\nDirections: When driving from the Bay Area to Vacaville on I-80\, take Exit 51A at Cherry Glen and Lagoon Valley Roads. Turn left to cross over the freeway\, heading north\, and drive approximately 1 mile on Cherry Glen Road to stop sign at Pleasants Valley Road. Turn left on Pleasants Valley Road. Drive 12 miles and keep an eye out for Yellow-billed Magpies and raptors. Turn right on Putah Creek Road\, and drive about 1.2 miles\, to the large gravel parking turn-out on the right (with “no camping\, no dumping” signs). About 1 hour drive from Walnut Creek area. PLEASE NOTE that the location marked on the map by Eventbrite is a few hundred yards east of the actual meeting location. \nBring $8 cash—in exact bills—for the parking fee! \nThis hike is limited to 20 participants. All field trips require registration and participants must acknowledge the MDBA liability waiver. Register HERE:\nhttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/putah-creek-birding-tickets-1084887139639 \n(Photo: Female Phainopepla at Putah Creek by Isaac Aronow)
URL:https://mtdiablobirds.org/event/putah-creek-jan-2025/
LOCATION:Putah Creek Road\, 3836 Putah Creek Rd\, Winters\, CA\, 95694\, United States
CATEGORIES:Birding,Field Trips
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://mtdiablobirds.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/240103_PutahCreek_PHAI_Aronow-topaz-scaled.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maren Smith":MAILTO:marensmithbkk@yahoo.com
GEO:38.4889042;-122.0146615
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Putah Creek Road 3836 Putah Creek Rd Winters CA 95694 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=3836 Putah Creek Rd:geo:-122.0146615,38.4889042
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250118T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250118T150000
DTSTAMP:20260430T140952
CREATED:20241206T033449Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241206T033449Z
UID:8721-1737189000-1737212400@mtdiablobirds.org
SUMMARY:MDBA Field Trip -- Marin: Las Gallinas and Shollenberger Park
DESCRIPTION:Both of these locations are great for wintering waders\, shorebirds\, waterfowl and raptors. Bring lunch and a beverage\, as both sites take time to bird and there is a drive in between. This trip is appropriate for birders of all experience levels\, including beginners. \nHike rating: Category 2 – Moderate. Walking some distance and gentle slopes.\nElevation change: Minor\nLeader: Sandy Ritchie\, (925) 381-2514\nMeet: Carpool meets at Sun Valley Mall at 7:30AM. Or meet at the Las Gallinas ponds in San Rafael at 8:30AM\nDirections: Check here later for updates. \nThis field trip is limited to 15 participants. Register HERE:\nhttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/birding-las-gallinas-shollenberger-park-tickets-1090298956529 \n(Photo: American Bittern by Beth Branthaver)
URL:https://mtdiablobirds.org/event/mdba-field-trip-marin-las-gallinas-and-shollenberger-park-jan-2025/
LOCATION:Las Gallinas Ponds\, Las Gallinas Valley birding loop\, Smith Ranch Rd\, San Rafael\, CA\, 94903
CATEGORIES:Birding,Field Trips
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://mtdiablobirds.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/AMBI_Shollenberger_Branthaver.jpg
GEO:38.025641;-122.517525
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Las Gallinas Ponds Las Gallinas Valley birding loop Smith Ranch Rd San Rafael CA 94903;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Las Gallinas Valley birding loop\, Smith Ranch Rd:geo:-122.517525,38.025641
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250129T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250129T130000
DTSTAMP:20260430T140952
CREATED:20241206T034114Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241206T034558Z
UID:8727-1738139400-1738155600@mtdiablobirds.org
SUMMARY:MDBA Field Trip -- Lake Merritt and Arrowhead Marsh at High Tide
DESCRIPTION:Winter ducks on Lake Merritt and other birds usually means easy viewing from the sidewalk. The lake is one of the few places in the Bay Area where Barrow’s Goldeneyes can be seen. An entry fee past the gate at Children’s Fairyland is usually required.\nWe will move to Arrowhead Marsh at around 10:00AM\, arriving in time for the high tide. Ridgeway’s Rails are one of the highlights here\, though we will see many other birds. A visit to Garretson Point will follow. Bring lunch and drinks.\nThis trip is appropriate for birders of all experience levels\, including beginners. \nHike rating: Category 1–Easy\nElevation change: N/A\nLeader: Sandy Ritchie\, (925) 381-2514\nMeet: Lake Merritt parking lot off Bellevue Avenue\, 8:30 AM\nDirections: Take SR 24 to Oakland and I-980\, take 27th Street exit and turn left. Cross Broadway and Harrison\, then join Grand Avenue. Turn into park at Children’s Fairyland (fee possible) and follow around to parking lot entrance on right between boathouse and aviary. \nThis field trip is limited to 15 participants. Register HERE:\nhttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/birding-lake-merritt-and-arrowhead-marsh-at-high-tide-tickets-1090303640539 \n(Photo: Ridgway’s Rail by Beth Branthaver)
URL:https://mtdiablobirds.org/event/mdba-field-trip-lake-merritt-and-arrowhead-marsh-jan-2025/
LOCATION:Lake Merritt\, 699 Bellevue Ave\, Oakland\, CA\, 94610\, United States
CATEGORIES:Birding,Field Trips
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://mtdiablobirds.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/RIRA_ArrowheadMarsh_Branthaver.jpg
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