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Kern Valley Spring Nature Festival
2008 Spring Nature Activities at a Glance
Activities and Trips
Introduction to Field Trips
2008 Field Trip Descriptions
Information and Map
Field Trip Registration
2008 Field Trip
Leader Bios
Musical Entertainment
Printable Trip Information
Bird Species
Possible
Spring Nature Bird List
Events
only at KRP NatureFest
Photo Contest
5K/10K Run
Accommodations
Travel Information and Maps
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2008
“Best Chance” Birding Field
Trips Matched to Birds/Birding
Desert Birds –
TRIPS B,
C,
K,
Q
Desert Oases – TRIPS B,
C,
G,
I,
K,
O,
Q
Hummingbirds Concentrated at Feeders
– TRIPS I,
L,
M,
Q
Mountain Birds – TRIPS C,
E,
H,
M,
Q,
U
Owls – TRIPS R1,
R2,
S,
T
Riparian Forest Birds – TRIPS
D, F,
L,
M,
N,
P,
W
Shorebird Phenomenon – TRIP O
Shorebirds - TRIPS O,
U,
V
Spring Migration Phenomenon – TRIPS
B,
C,
D,
F,
G,
I,
K,
M,
O,
P,
Q
Spring Migrants – ALL TRIPS except E,
R1,
R2,
S,
T
Target Species Follow-up – TRIP
X
Warbler Maximum Diversity – TRIPS
B,
C,
G
Waterbirds – TRIPS J,
O,
U,
V
Wood Duck – TRIPS L,
P
Cinnamon Teal – TRIPS U,
V
Chukar – TRIPS B,
C,
E,
G,
K,
Q
California Quail - WIDESPREAD
Mountain Quail – TRIPS B,
C,
E,
H,
M,
Q,
U
Western Grebe – TRIPS J,
W
Clark’s Grebe – TRIPS H,
J,
W
American White Pelican – TRIPS
H,
J,
W
White-faced Ibis – TRIPS U,
V
White-tailed Kite – TRIPS F,
M,
U,
V
Golden Eagle - Widespread
Prairie Falcon - Widespread
Virginia Rail – TRIPS U,
V
Sora – TRIPS U,
V
Common Moorhen – TRIPS U,
V
Snowy Plover – TRIP O
Solitary Sandpiper – TRIPS B,
G
Band-tailed Pigeon – TRIPS E,
F,
H,
Q,
U
Spotted Dove – TRIP X
Rose-ringed Parakeet – TRIPS U,
V,
X
Greater Roadrunner – ALL TRIPS except
L,
N, plus owling trips
Vaux’s Swift – Widespread but could be missed on any trip
White-throated Swift – Widespread but could be missed on any
trip
Black-chinned Hummingbird – TRIPS
L,
M,
N
Anna’s Hummingbird – TRIPS I,
L,
M,
N,
Q
Costa’s Hummingbird – TRIPS I,
Q
Rufous Hummingbird – TRIPS L,
M,
N
Acorn Woodpecker – TRIPS F,
H,
J,
U
Red-breasted Sapsucker – TRIPS
H,
U
Williamson’s Sapsucker – TRIP Q if snow is clear to locations
Ladder-backed Woodpecker – TRIPS
B,
C,
K,
Q
Nuttall’s Woodpecker – TRIPS
D, F,
H,
J,
K,
L,
M,
N,
P,
U,
W
White-headed Woodpecker – TRIPS
H,
U
Pileated Woodpecker – TRIPS H,
U
Flycatchers – ALL Spring Migrants trips
Empidonax flycatcher diversity – TRIPS
B,
C,
G,
M
Black Phoebe – WIDESPREAD
Say’s Phoebe – TRIPS B,
C,
D,
F,
G,
K,
M,
O
Vermilion Flycatcher – TRIPS B,
F,
G
Brown-crested Flycatcher – TRIPS
K,
W
Loggerhead Shrike – WIDESPREAD but uncommon
Plumbeous Vireo – TRIPS E,
Q
Cassin’s Vireo – TRIP H
plus Spring Migrants trips
Hutton’s Vireo – TRIPS H,
U
Steller’s Jay – ALL Mountain Birds trips
Western Scrub-Jay - TRIPS C,
E,
F,
H,
J,
K,
Q,
U
Pinyon Jay – TRIPS C,
I,
Q
Mountain Chickadee – ALL Mountain Birds trips
Oak Titmouse – TRIPS C,
D,
E,
F,
H,
J,
L,
M,
N,
P,
Q,
U
Bushtit – Widespread in lowlands and foothills
Pygmy Nuthatch – TRIPS C, plus any Kern R. Valley Birding
trips to the Piute Mountains
Cactus Wren – TRIPS C,
E,
F,
K,
Q
Rock Wren – TRIPS B, C,
D,
E,
G,
H,
I,
J,
K,
M,
O,
U,
W
Canyon Wren – TRIPS C,
D,
E,
J,
K,
M,
P,
Q,
U,
W
Bewick’s Wren - WIDESPREAD
Winter Wren – TRIPS H,
U
American Dipper – TRIPS J,
U,
V
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – TRIPS B,
C,
E,
Q
Western Bluebird - WIDESPREAD
Townsend’s Solitaire – TRIPS H,
M,
U
Wrentit – TRIPS C,
E,
H,
Q
California Thrasher – TRIPS C,
E,
H,
K
Le Conte’s Thrasher – TRIPS I,
Q
Phainopepla – TRIPS H,
U, plus possible on migration trips
Warblers (11 most common migrant warblers through Kern County)
- TRIPS B,
C,
G
Black-throated Gray Warbler – TRIPS
E,
Q, plus
B,
C,
G
Yellow-breasted Chat – TRIPS L,
N,
P,
W, plus
B,
C,
G
Summer Tanager – TRIPS D,
F,
L,
M,
N,
P,
W
Western Tanager - WIDESPREAD
Green-tailed Towhee – TRIPS E,
H,
M,
Q,
U, plus
B,
C,
G
Spotted Towhee – TRIPS E,
H,
Q,
U
California Towhee - TRIPS B,
C,
D,
E,
F,
H,
J,
K,
M,
P,
Q,
U,
V,
W
Rufous-crowned Sparrow – TRIP H
plus D,
E,
I,
P,
Q in “good”
years
Brewer’s Sparrow – TRIPS B,
C,
E,
K,
Q
Black-chinned Sparrow – TRIPS E,
I,
Q in “good” years only
Lark Sparrow - TRIPS C,
D,
E,
F,
H,
I,
J,
K,
L,
M,
N,
P,
Q,
U,
W
Black-throated Sparrow – TRIPS
B,
C,
E,
F,
G,
I,
K,
O,
Q
Sage Sparrow – TRIPS B,
C,
E,
G,
I,
K,
O,
Q
Fox Sparrow (Thick-billed) – TRIPS
C,
H,
M,
U
Golden-crowned Sparrow – TRIPS
B,
C, plus wherever winter
lingerers are present
Black-headed Grosbeak – ALL TRIPS except owling trips
Blue Grosbeak – TRIPS D,
F,
M,
P,
W
Lazuli Bunting - ALL TRIPS except owling trips
“Kern” Red-winged Blackbird – TRIPS
D,
F,
J,
L,
M,
N,
P,
W
Tricolored Blackbird – TRIPS
D, F,
J,
M,
P,
W
Western Meadowlark – TRIPS C,
F,
K,
M,
U,
V
Yellow-headed Blackbird – TRIPS
B,
U,
V
Brewer’s Blackbird – WIDESPREAD
Great-tailed Grackle – TRIPS B,
G,
U,
V
Hooded Oriole – TRIPS D,
I,
Q
Bullock’s Oriole – ALL TRIPS except owling trips
Scott’s Oriole – TRIPS B,
C,
E,
K,
Q
Purple Finch – TRIPS H,
U
Cassin’s Finch – TRIPS C,
E,
H,
M,
Q,
U
Red Crossbill – TRIPS C,
E,
M,
Q
Lesser Goldfinch – Widespread
Lawrence’s Goldfinch – TRIPS F,
H,
J,
L,
M,
P,
W
Birding Field Trips at a Glance
TRIP B:
Butterbredt Spring & East Kern Desert Oases
TRIP C: Butterbredt Spring & Piute Mountains
TRIP D: Canebrake Ecological Reserve
TRIP E: Chimney Peak National Backcountry By-way
TRIP F: Fay Ranch Road
TRIP G: Galileo Hill-Silver Saddle Resort
TRIP H: Greenhorn Mountains Transect
TRIP I: Inyokern – Le Conte’s Thrasher & Much More
TRIP J: Isabella Reservoir
TRIP K: Kelso Creek Sanctuary
TRIP L: Kern River Preserve Headquarters
TRIP M: Kern River Valley & Southern Sierra Nevada
TRIP N: Kern River Preserve Bird Walk
TRIP O: Little Lake & Owens Lake
TRIP P: Migrant Corner Trail & Prince’s Pond
TRIP Q: Mojave Desert & Great Basin
TRIP R1: Owling – All Night Owling on Breckenridge Mountain
TRIP R2: Owling – All Night Owling in the Greenhorn Mountains
TRIP S: Owling – High Country
TRIP T: Owling – Low Country
TRIP U: San Joaquin Valley & Greenhorn Mountains
TRIP V: San Joaquin Valley/Tulare Lake Basin
TRIP W: South Fork Wildlife Area
TRIP X: Target Species / Target Trips Tuesday
Fees
Trip fees vary. Please read very carefully the fees for each
individual field trip. Owling trips may be significantly higher in cost
when participation per trip is highly restricted.
Trip Planning
Trip fees cover personalized trip planning services (E-mail:
bbarnes@lightspeed.net,
Phone: 760-382-1260).
Payment
There is no pre-payment for field trips. Payments for all field
trips will be made during the festival. Fees will be collected at the
start of your first field trip unless otherwise directed at that time.
Where to Meet
Field trips will start and end at more than one location. Be sure to
check the detailed festival schedule very carefully to determine exactly
where each of your field trips start and end. Please arrive at each
trip’s departure point 10-15 minutes before scheduled departure.
What to Bring
All trips will be via private car caravan. Carpooling is highly
encouraged. Bring food and water to last all day. Bring comfortable
walking shoes and layered clothing for weather that may range from
cloudless to rainy and cold to hot. If possible, bring two-way radios
for inter-car communication.
Click this link for maps and travel
information.
Click here for Hotel and Camping Information.
The Kernville Chamber of Commerce also can provide lodging information
call (760) 376-2629.
Five Ecological
Habitats Converge in the Kern River Valley
Chaparral |
Great Valley Grassland |
Great Basin Desert |
Mojave Desert |
Sierran Forest
NatureFest FIELD
TRIPS
This year's SPRING NATURE FESTIVAL will feature Friday through Monday
Kern River Valley and Southern Sierra Nevada birding and natural history
field trips. Destinations will include the GLOBALLY IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS
of the Kern River Preserve, Sequoia National Forest, and South Fork
Valley. The NATIONALLY IMPORTANT BIRD AREA of Butterbredt Spring will
also be a destination. Let experts lead you to experience the region's
"among the best in the west" bird migration and natural history
phenomena. There is no better time to capture this experience than the
end of April. Visit SPRING NATURE FESTIVAL web pages periodically as new
field trips will likely be added between now and SPRING NATURE FESTIVAL
weekend itself.
Field Trip Coordinator:
Bob Barnes
Field Trips: Carpooling is encouraged - be sure to start the day
with a full tank of gas before heading out! Participants on long field
trips should pack a lunch and drinks for the day. All field trips held
rain or shine.
PAYMENT by cash or check.
(E-mail:
bbarnes@lightspeed.net)
LODGINGS become very crowded in the Kern River Valley by late
April. Be sure to make your reservations sooner rather than later so you
have a comfortable place to stay each night during the Nature Festival.
Click here for local inns.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Weather: Weather in the Kern Valley in late April is usually
spectacular (sunny, 65-80° F daytime highs), but it can be variable. On
mountain trips prepare for very cool to freezing weather. For your
comfort, we suggest bringing water, snacks, a hat, sunscreen, insect
repellent, jacket for cool weather, and sturdy shoes (waterproof boots
may be handy in riparian areas).
Fees/Registration: There is no general entrance fee to attend the
Kern River Valley Spring Nature Festival. All fee activities are limited
to twenty or less participants... usually ten to fifteen. Mail your
registration form ASAP and be sure to list alternate field trip
requests. All fees go to support the Festival and are not refundable.
Vendor fees are waved at Circle Park but are 10% of net or $100
whichever is lower for booths selling merchandise at the Kern River
Preserve.
Schedule of Events: Additional events may be added between now
and the Spring Nature Festival weekend.
JOIN US FOR FUN IN THE CALIFORNIA SUN
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Visit the Kern River Preserve in Weldon, California. Open every day of the year from
dawn to dusk.
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