Los Angeles Audubon

FIELD TRIPS WITH LOS ANGELES AUDUBON 

Reservation policy:  When you sign-up via e-mail or provide us with your e-mail address with your mailed in payment, your confirmation / trip information will be sent to you in an email sent from This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  If you do not have convenient e-mail, you may always substitute a SASE and provide your phone number(s). No pets or small children (under 12) please.

CARPOOLING

Fee and Sign-up Required: Contact information WILL be released to others inquiring about carpooling on  "FEE" and "SIGN-UP REQUIRED" field trips, unless requested otherwise at time of sign-up.

 NO Fee and NO Sign-up Required:  If you wish to share your name and contact information on a carpool list for all other "NO FEE" or "NO SIGN-UP REQUIRED" field trips, call (323) 876-0202.  Provide your contact information: name, daytime telephone, day-of-event telephone, and the date and destination of the event. Leave a message on the answering machine, if we are unable to answer your call.

Envelopes for donations to support Los Angeles Audubon and its field trips will be distributed on some non-fee trips. Please support LAAS field trips.For more information about LAAS field trips email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

MAILING ADDRESS
Los Angeles Audubon – Field Trips
PO Box 931057
Los Angeles CA 90093-1057

Updates and announcements are posted to our website.

Friday thru Sunday, April 27-April 29
“America’s Birdiest County” Weekend
NO FEE
America has grown tired of having LA county win this coveted award from 2006 through 2011, so the ABC will not be held this year, but LA county may do an organized count just the same, just to continue collecting this useful data set.  Check the birding listserves such as http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LACoBirds
for the organizational forces behind this year’s effort.  Please join in as we scour our favorite birding corners of Los Angeles County - and a few less-birded ones - to find as many species as possible.  In 2011 we tallied 277 species; can we do better?  Assign yourself a “county patch”, or ask to be assigned a spot.

May 5 & 6 Weekend
Galileo Hills and Butterbredt Springs
SIGN-UP REQUIRED, 12 max., NO FEE
Leaders: Nick & Mary Freeman
These are two of the best spring migrant traps in the state.  Western warblers and flycatchers should headline. Reptiles may be encountered!  Saturday: Take Hwy 14 about 4 miles past Mojave, then turn right on California City Blvd. Drive through town about a mile past the shops, turn left past the golf course on Randsburg-Mojave Rd., and veer right on 20 Mule Team Rd.  Turn left at the Galileo Hills sign before the hill, take your first paved right, your first right again, into the Silver Saddle Country Club, followed by two paved lefts into the lot.  Park and meet at 7:00 a.m. by the first pond.  Sunday: Veer right heading north out of Mojave, take Hwy 14 for about 20 miles over the river bed to Jawbone Canyon Road on the left, and meet right at the turnoff at the ranger station parking lot at 6:30 a.m.  We will carpool to Butterbredt Springs, and finish the day at California City or Piute Ponds.  Bring lunches, sun block. Reserve rooms (Motel 6 or other) in Mojave.

LAAS sign-up mandatory by phone or email to: (323) 876-0202, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . (12 max.)

Saturday, May 12
Big Morongo Wildlife Preserve
NO FEE, NO SIGN-UP
Leader: Howard King
Meet at 8:00 a.m. in the preserve parking lot, or 7:00 a.m. at Covington Park next door.  Breeding desert and oasis birds such as Brown-crested and Vermilion Flycatchers, Summer Tanager, Scott’s and Hooded Orioles, Yellow-breasted Chat and migrating Empidonax flycatchers.  To get there, take the 10 Fwy E about 17 miles past Banning to Hwy 62 N.  Pass through the town of Morongo Valley, take a right on East Dr., then a left into the preserve (or straight to Covington Park).  Bring lunch, water, sensible clothing and sun block.  Yucca Valley and Desert Hot Springs offer nearby accommodations, or camp at Joshua Tree NP.  No sign up.  If you wish to share your name and contact information on a carpool list for this event, call (323) 876-0202.  Leave your contact information on the answering machine if there is no answer.

Saturday, May 19
Small Owls of the San Gabriels
LIMITED SIGN-UP, 10 Max., NO FEE
Leaders: Mary and Nick Freeman
We will be looking to hear and/or see Flammulated, Saw-whet, Northern Pygmy and Western Screech-Owls.  Meet at the bottom of Angeles Crest Highway at 6 PM.  Take the 210 Fwy to La Cañada, exiting at Angeles Crest Hwy, turn uphill, and turn right into the second small street, and quickly left onto the ACH frontage road.  Meet along the first 50-yard stretch, fed and gassed up.  Bring quiet cold weather gear (no nylon if possible), a small walking flashlight, binoculars, snacks; powerful flashlight optional.

LAAS sign-up mandatory by phone or email to: (323) 876-0202, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  10 max.

Sunday, May 27
Santa Anita Canyon
NO FEE, NO SIGN-UP
Leader: David Koeppel
Take the 210 Fwy toward Arcadia, and take Santa Anita Avenue N to the parking lot at the very end of the road.  Meet at the Gabrielino Trail trailhead at the bottom of the lot.  Moderately strenuous 4 mile walk through oak and chaparral canyons.  This area was spared by the fires of recent years.  Good selection of breeding and migrating birds including warblers, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Tanager, and Band-tailed Pigeon.  Pack in a lunch and water.  Meeting time 7:00 a.m.  A Forest Service Adventure Pass is necessary.  If you wish to share your name and contact information on a carpool list for this event, call (323) 876-0202.  Leave your contact information on the answering machine if there is no answer.

Saturday, June 2
Owl Banding in the Mountains
NO FEE, LIMITED SIGN-UP
Leaders: Mary and Nick Freeman
We will be looking to fondle and ring Saw-whet, Flammulated and Western Screech-Owls.  If we get owls in the net, we will collect biometric information for the USGS at Patuxent, Maryland.  If not, we will listen to the owls mocking us, and/or exchange birding and banding yarns.  Bring quiet cold weather gear (large temperature swings up the hill), a small walking flashlight, binoculars, a lawn chair, and snacks.  Take the 210 Fwy to La Canada, exiting at Angeles Crest Hwy. Those wishing to carpool, turn uphill, and turn right into the second small street, and quickly left onto the ACH frontage road.  Meet along the first 50-yard stretch at 4:30-4:45 p.m.  If not carpooling, head up the hill past Chilao.  Meet the leaders at Newcomb Ranch Restaurant high up on Angeles Crest Highway just past Chilao Campground at 6 p.m.  Eat here if you like, arrive 6:30 p.m. otherwise.

LAAS telephone / e-mail sign-up required.  Call (323) 876-0202, email to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 12 max.

June 22-25 Long Weekend
High Sierra Breeding Birds
$15/DAY FEE, LIMITED SIGN-UP
Leader: Bob Barnes
150 species likely in 4 days.  High deserts to High Sierra.  The most diverse, species-rich region in the state.  Likely: Goshawk, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Pileated Woodpecker and owls.  Meet in Inyokern at the 76 Station for Friday morning’s start.  All other days start early in Kernville.

To reserve, and receive trip information including lodging, provide your e-mail address AND phone number along with your check for $15 for each day attended ($60 for 4 days).  Not using email? Include an SASE.

Mail checks and contact info. to:
Los Angeles Audubon-Field Trips
PO Box 931057
Los Angeles CA  90093-1057.

Reserve Fri.-Sat.-Sun. night rooms in Kernville area early, and Thursday in Inyokern (all listed in flyer).  Lots of driving, so bring a friend, and we will carpool when possible.  Contact info will be released for carpooling. Dawn to dusk (and more) birding ideal for enthusiastic beginning to advanced birders. Maximum 15.

Sunday, July 1
Mt. Pinos
NO FEE, NO SIGN-UP
Leader: Matthew Page
White-headed Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Hermit Warbler, Townsend’s Solitaire, Mountain Quail.  Hopeful, Calliope Hummingbird and Northern Goshawk.  Anticipate the elements, and bring a lunch.  Take Hwy 5 N past Tejon Pass to the Frazier Park offramp, turn left, and follow Frazier Mountain Park Rd. bearing right onto Cuddy Valley Rd.  Meet promptly at the “Y” formed by the junction of Cuddy Valley Rd. and Mil Potrero Hwy at 8:00 a.m., and park in the obvious dirt clearing.  If time permits, we will also visit Mt. Cerro Noroeste. If you wish to share your name and contact information on a carpool list for this event, call (323) 876-0202.  Leave your contact information on the answering machine if there is no answer.

Saturday, July 14
Big Bear Lake Vicinity Field Trip
NO FEE, NO SIGN-UP
Leaders: Nick and Mary Freeman
Meet in the Aspen Glen Picnic Area parking lot in Big Bear at 7:30 a.m.  Take Hwy 18 or 38 to Big Bear Lake, then proceed about half way along the south side of the lake on Hwy 18 (Big Bear Blvd.) and turn south on Tulip Lane.  The lot will be on the south side of this short street.  Target birds include Williamson’s and Red-breasted Sapsuckers, Calliope and Rufous Hummers, mountain finches and White-headed Woodpecker.  Later, we may go to Arrastre Creek (east) or Upper Santa Ana River (south).  It should be warm and there may be bugs, so come prepared.  Bring lunch for a full day, and a Forest Service Adventure Pass.  Those wishing to go owling with Mary in the evening (probably near Bluff Lake or Hart Bar Campground), plan to eat with us, and get a room for Saturday night as well. If you wish to share your name and contact information on a carpool list for this event, call (323) 876-0202.  Leave your contact information on the answering machine if there is no answer. 

Saturday, August 4
Lower LA River Shorebird Migration
NO FEE, NO SIGN-UP
Leader: Larry Allen
Larry will help us identify and age the various sandpipers and other shorebirds that use the lower Los Angeles River as a migratory stopover.  Also expect various waterfowl, gulls, etc., and a few migrant and resident landbirds.  A great opportunity to appreciate the variety of shorebirds as they hit the migration corridors in earnest.  Take the 710 (Long Beach) Fwy S to the Willow Street offramp, head E over the LA River, and take the first left on Golden Ave, the first left on 26th, and follow this past the pump station onto DeForest Ave.  Park near the river access by the bridge, meet along the river at 7:00a.m., and bird until noon.  We may caravan to at least one additional location farther upriver.  Spotting scopes very helpful, although we will share.  If you wish to share your name and contact information on a carpool list for this event, call (323) 876-0202.  Leave your contact information on the answering machine if there is no answer.

Sunday, August 12
Sweltering Salton Sea
$15 FEE, SIGN-UP, Car Limit
Leaders: Nick and Mary Freeman
Anticipate 95-115°F.  This is the gauntlet of SoCal birding.  We will see Yellow-footed (only place in the U.S.) and Laughing Gulls, Black Tern, Abert’s Towhee, and Gila Woodpecker.  We should also see Wood Stork, Lesser Nighthawk, Stilt Sandpiper.  Very slim, but real, possibility of boobies, frigatebird, etc.

Limit 8 paid cars with two or more in each.  Find a friend, as singles will be bumped if we fill up the trip.  To reserve, mail a check for $15 per person, provide your e-mail address AND contact phone number to: Los Angeles Audubon-Field Trips, PO Box 931057, Los Angeles CA  90093-1057.  The information mailer will be sent to the email address you provide.  Not using email? Provide a SASE.

Too hot to camp.  Meet at Cattle Call Park at 5:30 a.m., and bird until 2 – 3 p.m.  More information July/August Western Tanager, and in mailer.