When: Saturday, May 10th at 7:30 am
Location: Harvego Bear River Preserve, North Auburn. (Arrive at parking location at Laursen South Bear River Preserve, then caravan to Harvego.)
Whether you are a beginning or expert birder, you are invited to join us as we saunter and wend slowly through blue oak grassland, looking and listening for year-round residents and migrating songbirds. Our trained docents will help you look and listen for various songbird and we’ll practice basic birding identification skills and will get to know the common residents of the diverse habitat of this beautiful preserve. We will be birding on rural land that includes blue oak – grassland, black oak – pine woodland, and several ponds and wetlands. We can expect migrating songbirds as well as local nesting birds. The proximity to the Bear River provides the chance for numerous raptors including Peregrine Falcon and Golden Eagle. Lead Docent: Sarah Roeske. This is a co-hosted event with Placer Land Trust and the Sierra Foothills Audubon Society.
Please bring your binoculars to this outing!
Distance and difficulty: We will be on a wide farm road with moderate uphill climbs (300 – 400 ft. total elevation change). It is an easy to moderate hike with stretches of uphill climbs and downhill jaunts on uneven ground with some rough terrain. We will walk up to 2 miles.
Who should attend: This event is open to all levels of birders; no prior experience necessary, and more advanced birders are welcome too. Younger children are not advised unless they can stay quiet. Sorry, no dogs allowed unless they are service animals (due to the potential conflicts with livestock and wildlife). Enrollment limited to 12 people. We expect to be done by 11/11:30 am.
This is a free event; however, donations help make these activities possible! We suggest a donation of $10 per person or $25 for a family. You can donate during registration, and we’re happy to accept cash or a check at the event in an envelope with your name written on it.
Registration:
- Space is limited! Please only register if you will be attending so that you don’t take a spot away from someone else.
- You must register for this event through Placer Land Trust. You may only register yourself and members of your household. People outside of your household must register themselves.
- The deadline to sign up is 5pm on the Thursday before the event unless the event fills first.
- If you signed up and can no longer attend, please contact Elia by email.
Participants must sign a release of liability. Please complete it by noon the Friday before the event. One form per adult. Parent signature is required for children under 18. Please note, this does not register you for the hike. To register please scroll down. Link to waiver:
This activity is a wilderness outing in a natural setting. PLT reserves the right to cancel an event in cases of extreme weather, bad air quality, rain, or other conditions beyond our control.
Directions to the Preserve will be emailed after registration is complete. Check your spam folder if you do not receive the email within 15 minutes of registering.
About Harvego Bear River Preserve
This 1,778 acre preserve, which includes a working cattle ranch, protects critical unfragmented oak woodlands in the Bear River watershed and is part of one of the last relatively “wild” areas in western Placer County. It includes over three miles of Bear River frontage and features spectacular views and an amazing diversity of wildlife. Learn more about this beautiful preserve here.
Important Note: Our Big Hill, Harvego, and Laursen Preserves, including the roads surrounding them, are not open to the public. Please help us respect the neighborhoods around these preserves by only visiting during scheduled guided activities that you are registered for. Trespassers will be prosecuted.
