Field Trips
Listing of Madrone field trips in Sonoma County and the North Bay, plus other upcoming events.
General Information for All Events
The field trips are free, open to the public and suitable for all levels of interest. No sign-up is required. Bring your binoculars, field guide, liquids, plus lunch for full-day trips; wear layered clothing, hats, and sun protection. Sturdy walking shoes or hiking boots recommended. Heavy rain cancels the walks unless otherwise indicated. Prior notification of attendance is not required. Participants of all experience levels are welcome and may join or leave the group at any time during the day.
Fall 2025 Field Trips & Outings
Bring binoculars and wear outdoor clothing suitable for the weather forecast. Our outings are free for members and the public. (We may have binoculars to loan for your outing.)
Sunday September 21th 6:00pm—8:00pm
Field Trip: Swift migration at Rio Lindo Adventist Academy, 3200 Rio Lindo Ave, Healdsburg. Come watch the annual spectacle of thousands of tiny swifts dropping into the chimney, their night roost, as part of their migration route to southern Mexico. Free parking. No registration required. Leader: Peter Leveque, (707) 542-8946.
Saturday October 11th 9:00am—2:00pm. Registration required.
Jenner Headlands Hawk Watch with Dave Barry and Peter Leveque. A special outing on The Wildlands Conservancy property to observe the spectacular Fall raptor migration along our piece of the Pacific Flyway. Our counts will contribute to the data that has been collected for this HawkWatch program for over a decade. Come to observe and learn, or come to count. Maximum of 20 participants, all must sign a liability waiver and a daily sign-in sheet (per Wildlands Conservancy).
Directions: At 9:00am we will meet at Jenner Headlands Preserve parking lot, 1 mile North of the town of Jenner. (Not the Jenner Visitor Center lot). At 9:30 sharp we will carpool in no more than 5 cars up to the Jenner Headlands (behind locked gates). There is a short, approx 0.1 mile, somewhat steep climb up to the HawkWatch spot. If we aren’t fogged in, you will have beautiful views of the ocean and learn helpful landmarks to describe the location of the raptors seen.
Hawkwatch runs from 10:00 to 2:00. Bring, water, lunch, layered clothing including a jacket, sunscreen, shade hat, camp chair, raptor ID books, binoculars and spotting scope (if you have). Rain cancels.
If you’d like to join us you must sign up online at madroneaudubon@gmail.com. Please leave your name, email, and a way to contact you for any updates or cancellations.
Saturday October 11th 9:00am
Junior Audubon: Bird Box Building, ages 6-15. Enjoy a morning with your kids building nesting bird boxes. Learn how important these boxes are to the survival of bluebirds, swallows, and other birds. Spring Lake Regional Park, Shady Oaks Picnic Area, 393 Violetti Rd, Santa Rosa. County Parks parking permit is required. (may purchase at entrance kiosk). No registration required. Contact: John Lundblad johnlunchbag@gmail.com
Fall 2025 Bird Walks
Bring binoculars and wear outdoor clothing suitable for the weather forecast. Our outings are free for members and the public. (We may have binoculars to loan for your outing.)
Saturday September 20th, 8:30am-11:00am
Spring Lake Regional Park, Santa Rosa.
Directions: Channel Drive & Violetti Road Entrance. Park in the large lot opposite the Swim Lagoon. We will walk to North Peninsula and return. County Parks parking permit is required. (may purchase at entrance kiosk). No registration required.
Leader: Linda Fraley (559) 779-5211
Thursday October 9, 2025, 8:30am to 10:30am,
Spring Lake Regional Park, Santa Rosa
Directions: Take Newanga Ave., off Summerfield Rd. Meet at the south end of park near restrooms. County Parks parking permit is required. We will bird along the lake to the Fisherman's Trail, looking for resident and fall arrival birds. No registration required.
Leader: Janet Bosshard (707) 480-3432.
Saturday October 18th 8:30am-11:00am
Spring Lake Regional Park, Santa Rosa.
Directions: Channel Drive & Violetti Road Entrance. No registration required. Parking permit required. Leader: Linda Fraley (559) 779-5211
Thursday, November 13th, 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM.
Ragle Ranch Regional Park, 500 Ragle Rd, Sebastopol. County Parks parking permit is required, available at entrance kiosk.
Directions: Go through park entrance and meet back by the dog park and rest rooms. We will walk on mostly flat, dirt paths, looking for fall bird visitors. No registration required. Leader: Janet Bosshard, (707) 480-3432
Thursday, December 11th, 8:30 am-10:30 am,
Ellis Creek Ponds, 3900 Cypress Dr Petaluma.
Directions: From Hwy 101 south, get off at Hwy 116, left on Lakeville Hwy, turn right on S. McDowell Blvd. Ext, right on Cypress Drive and follow to end through the gates, park near the restrooms. We will look for early water birds. Be prepared for cool, windy conditions. Watch weather report for seasonal showers. We'll still try to walk, if conditions are not too severe. Free parking. No registration required. Leader: Janet Bosshard: (707) 480-3432
Other Groups' Field Trip Calendars
Sonoma Co. Regional Parks "Winging it Wednesdays"
Winging it Wednesdays
Redwood Region Ornithological Society (RROS)
RROS calendar
Mayacamas Mountains Sanctuary Meetup group
Mayacamas group
Bay Area Calendar
Bay Area Calendar
Find us on Facebook 
It's Nesting Season: trim trees in the Fall!.
Amazon Smile: donate to Madrone when you shop
Birding Quiz - test your skills.
Leaves Newsletter
Carved Bird Pins
In the 1970s, member Tom Olds hand-carved bird pins and sold them to raise money for Madrone Audubon. More