Field Trips

Pomona Valley Audubon Society

About PVAS Field Trips: Pomona Valley Audubon field trips are offered at no cost (unless otherwise specified) and open to all individuals. ALWAYS contact the trip leader if you plan to attend and to verify start time, meeting location, and confirm trip status. In case of rain, call the trip leader the night before. Many of our trips originate at Memorial Park in Claremont but you have the option to meet on site. (Carpooling is optional based on your comfort level.) Driving mileage estimates are from Memorial Park in Claremont and are round-trip. For your comfort and enjoyment, participants should plan to bring the following items: Binoculars, spotting scope, camera, water, snacks (check description for lunch needs,) walking or hiking shoes, hat, sunscreen, weather appropriate clothing and a full tank of gas if driving. Trips are rated by difficulty to help you prepare.

PVAS Field Trip Difficulty Levels – Trips rated Easy through Strenuous involve walking and standing for several hours.
Minimal – Little or no walking, option to exit car and walk short distances over relatively level terrain. Example: Drive-through wetlands.
Easy – Walking on relatively level terrain, paved or maintained dirt roads (many locations wheelchair accessible.) Example: Artificial wetlands and botanic gardens.
Moderate – Some elevation change, stairs, walking on sloped grass, rolling hills, open fields or groomed hiking trails with mild trip hazards (tree roots, rocks, etc.) Example: Regional Parks with lakes and hiking trails.
Strenuous – Irregular or rocky terrain, > 500ft. elevation change, some off-trail walking. Example: Natural areas and preserves (North Etiwanda Preserve.)

Family Friendly Walks at the California Botanic Garden First Sunday in the Month. (September through June)

California Botanic Garden, 1500 N College Ave, Claremont, CA 91711, USA (map) Difficulty: Easy
This family-friendly bird walk is approximately 2 hours long and is perfect for beginners and experienced birders alike. No binoculars? No worries! Loaner binoculars are available (limited number so first come first served.) You will receive instructions on their use as well. PVAS volunteer Ken Burgdorff (gwrencaps@gmail.com) and others will lead the walks.
Please RSVP with the botanic garden’s reservation site by using the DATE SPECIFIC links for each month.

Fourth Sunday Bird Walks at Bonelli Park (September through May)

Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park. San Dimas, CA 91773-(map) Difficulty: Moderate

We meet in the parking lot of Brackett Field (airport) at 1615 McKinley Ave., La Verne, CA 91773 (better known as the Norm’s Hanger Coffee Shop parking lot.) To reach the parking lot, take McKinley Ave. west from Fairplex Drive to the parking area at the end of the road on the right. Meet at 7:45 AM to caravan into the park for free entrance and an 8:00 AM walk. 2-3 hours. Don’t forget your binoculars and comfortable shoes. Contact the trip leader listed for each month

Let’s Go Birding 2024 -2025

Sunday, September 1, 2024

First Sunday of the Month Family Friendly Bird Walks at the California Botanic Garden

1500 N. College Ave. Claremont, CA 91711
Meet at the entrance at 8:00 AM for free admission. This family-friendly bird walk is approximately 2 hours long and is perfect for beginners and experienced birders alike. No binoculars? No worries! Loaner binoculars are available (limited number so first come first served.) You will receive instructions on their use as well. PVAS volunteer Ken Burgdorff (gwrencaps@gmail.com) and others will lead the walks. Please RSVP using this link to the Botanic Garden’s reservation site: http://11213.blackbaudhosting.com/11213/tickets?tab=2&txobjid=8d75a4af-1dda-4331-ba2d-40f5620a1f15

Saturday, September 7, 2024

Field Trip to Bolsa Chica Ecological Preserve and adjacent Harriett Weider Park

18000 CA-1, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 and 19251 Seapoint Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 – Difficulty: Easy (up to 3 miles)
We’ll enjoy a morning at Bolsa Chica looking for shorebirds, waterfowl and local specialties such as Reddish Egret and Elegant Tern. Then we’ll drive next door and enjoy lunch at Harriett Weider Park where we can observe some of the back ponds of Bolsa Chica from the park fence line. Meet at 7:00 AM. at Memorial Park in Claremont or meet at Bolsa Chica about 8 am. Bring snacks, water and lunch for a full day trip. (Est. driving 100 miles.)
Please RSVP with Trip Leader: Dan Gregory (909) 456-4994 or DanRCRenee@verizon.net

Friday, September 20, 2024

Field Trip to the Maloof Discovery Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga – New Birding Opportunity

5131 Carnelian St., Rancho Cucamonga CA 91701 Difficulty: Easy/Moderate (No admission fee.)

Meet at the Maloof at 8:30 AM. Join us for our first field trip to the Maloof Discovery Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga. The nearly 6-acre garden was developed to complement the Maloof museum, home, and Sam’s woodworking shops and includes over 350 varieties of California native and other Mediterranean plants. Bring your cameras and help document the birds of the Maloof!

Please RSVP with Trip Leader: Tina Stoner (909) 292-3900 or tinastoner@earthlink.net

Sunday, September 22, 2024

Fourth Sunday of the Month Bonelli Bird Walk

Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park. San Dimas, CA 91773 – Difficulty: Moderate

Enjoy one of the richest birding sites in Southern California on our fourth Sunday of the month Bonelli Bird Walk. We meet in the parking lot of Brackett Field (airport) at 1615 McKinley Ave., La Verne, CA 91773 (better known as the Norm’s Hanger Coffee Shop parking lot.) To reach the parking lot, take McKinley Ave. west from Fairplex Drive to the parking area at the end of the road on the right. Meet at 7:45 AM to caravan into the park for free entrance and an 8:00 AM walk. 2-3 hours. Don’t forget your binoculars and comfortable shoes. Walk Leader: Kris Janicki Starlite07kmj@yahoo.com

DATE CHANGE! Due to extreme heat the Saturday, October 5, 2024 North Etiwanda Preserve Field Trip and Survey has been changed to Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 7:00 AM

Field Trip and Survey of North Etiwanda Preserve

4890 Etiwanda Ave, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739 Difficulty: Strenuous (rocky, uneven terrain, 3.5 miles 800+ ft elevation gain) with a moderate option to survey the southern edge of the park.

Twice a year we gather bird population data for the County of San Bernardino by doing what we love – birding! Join us for all or part of the day. Specialties include Bell’s Sparrow, Loggerhead Shrike, and other open country species. We will be taking our usual counterclockwise route on the main trail making us easy to find, so feel free to join us at any time. Meet at Beryl Park at the West Parking Lot, 6501 Carnelian St, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 for a 7 AM departure to the preserve. This is a hike and not a walk, please bring sturdy footwear, a portable lunch, water, snacks, and layered clothing for about 6 hours in the field. (Est. driving 30 miles.) Please RSVP with Trip Leader: Dan Gregory (909) 456-4994 or DanRCRenee@verizon.net

Sunday, October 6, 2024

First Sunday of the Month Family Friendly Bird Walks at the California Botanic Garden

Sunday, October 27, 2024

Fourth Sunday of the Month Bonelli Bird Walk

Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park. San Dimas, CA 91773 – Difficulty: Moderate

Sunday, November 3, 2024

First Sunday of the Month Family Friendly Bird Walks at the California Botanic Garden

Saturday and Sunday, November 16 and 17, 2024

Morro Bay and the Central Coast Weekend Trip

Multiple Locations – Difficulty: Moderate. It’s been 10 years since we went to the Central Coast on a chapter field trip! Let’s go find the famous Morro Rock Peregrine Falcons and maybe even see a Nelson’s Sparrow while enjoying coastal specialties and birds found in open fields. We’ll meet at the base of Morro Rock on Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. and bird multiple locations along the coast (M.B. Marina, Sweetwater Springs, Montana de Oro State Park) returning to Morro Bay via Turri Road to look for inland species. Sunday, we’ll head south and bird the Oceano Campground, Oso Flaco Lake and Guadalupe Dunes. Final itinerary based on weather and birds in the area. Lodging is on your own in Morro Bay or nearby. Limited to 20 people. (Estimated Driving: 465 mi to M.B (RT) plus touring: approx.135 miles.) Trip Leaders: Eric Smith and Tina Stoner. RSVP by email to tinastoner@earthlink.net.

Saturday, November 23, 2024

Field Trip to San Joaquin Marsh

Parking Lot, 5 Riparian View, Irvine, CA 92612 Difficulty: Easy (up to 2.5 miles)

An Orange County gem consisting of a series of reclaimed freshwater ponds. Species may include herons, rails, ducks, raptors and even Roadrunners. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at Memorial Park in Claremont. If you plan to meet at the preserve, approach from the south on Campus Drive and enter on Riparian Drive. Bring snacks, water and lunch for a half-day trip. Please RSVP with Trip Leader: Dan Gregory (909) 456-4994 or DanRCRenee@verizon.net

Sunday, November 24, 2024

Fourth Sunday of the Month Bonelli Bird Walk

Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park. San Dimas, CA 91773 – Difficulty: Moderate

Sunday, December 1, 2024

First Sunday of the Month Family Friendly Bird Walks at the California Botanic Garden

Sunday, December 22, 2024

Fourth Sunday of the Month Bonelli Bird Walk

Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park. San Dimas, CA 91773 – Difficulty: Moderate

Complete list of 2025 Winter and Spring trips coming soon

Sunday, January 5, 2025

First Sunday of the Month Family Friendly Bird Walks at the California Botanic Garden

Saturday, January 11, 2025

Whittier Narrows and the San Gabriel Spreading Grounds

(750 S. Santa Anita Ave., South El Monte, CA 91733) & the San Gabriel River Spreading Grounds – (Off Mines Avenue, Pico Rivera) Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (up to 4 miles.)

Dan will lead us in search of wintering waterfowl, sparrows, flycatchers and more. Both locations are great places to find winter vagrants. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at Memorial Park in Claremont. Bring snacks, water, and lunch for a full day trip. Est. driving 70 mi.

Contact Trip Leader: Dan Gregory (909) 456-4994 or DanRCRenee@verizon.net

Saturday and Sunday, January 18-19, 2025

Birding Weekend Trip to the Salton Sea

Salton Sea State Park Headquarters 100225 State Park Rd, Mecca, CA 92254 and Multiple Locations. Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Driving on good gravel roads with minimal walking, some of the walking on uneven gravel roads.

The Salton Sea is a major wintering ground for shorebirds, ducks, geese, and Sandhill Cranes. It is also great for desert specialties such as Abert’s Towhee, Verdin, Black-tailed Gnatcatchers and more with nearly 100 species expected. The trip begins at the headquarters at 8:00 AM. From there we will caravan (carpooling recommended) along the east shore to multiple sites, ending at Unit 1 of the Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge at sunset to see the spectacular flights of geese and cranes. Lodging is available in the Brawley area and recommendations will be forthcoming. An optional second day of birding begins at dawn on Sunday at Unit 1 or other sites to be specified, with the trip winding up by 1:30 PM. Contact trip leader Brian Elliott brianelli@aol.com or 909-241-8036 to RSVP and for last minute details.

Thursday, January 23, 2025

Birding the Newport Back Bay by Pontoon Boat

931 W Coast Hwy, Newport Beach, CA 92663- Difficulty: Easy

This is our Pelagic Trip for Landlubbers with excellent opportunities to see and photograph shorebirds, waterfowl, herons, ospreys and more from a covered pontoon boat. Meet at Memorial Park in Claremont by 08:30 AM or be at the Newport Sea Base by 10:00 AM. Anticipate 2-2 ½ hour trip. Attendance limited to 17 participants with sign up no later than January 8, 2025. Cost $15.00 per participant (Nonrefundable) via check made out to Pomona Valley Audubon Society or via Paypal or Venmo. Mileage: 86 miles roundtrip. Contact trip leader Scott Marnoy gopherus2@gmail.com BEFORE sending payment to reserve a spot.

Sunday, January 26, 2025

Fourth Sunday of the Month Bonelli Bird Walk

Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park. San Dimas, CA 91773 – Difficulty: Moderate

Sunday, February 2, 2025

First Sunday of the Month Family Friendly Bird Walks at the California Botanic Garden

1500 N. College Ave. Claremont, CA 91711
Meet at the entrance at 8:00 AM for free admission. This family-friendly bird walk is approximately 2 hours long and is perfect for beginners and experienced birders alike. No binoculars? No worries! Loaner binoculars are available (limited number so first come first served.) You will receive instructions on their use as well. PVAS volunteer Scott Marnoy (gopherus2@gmail.com) and others will lead the walks. Please RSVP using this link to the Botanic Garden’s reservation site: http://11213.blackbaudhosting.com/11213/tickets?tab=2&txobjid=9ae32f34-cfcc-4110-8417-696372df1473

Sunday, February 23, 2025

Fourth Sunday of the Month Bonelli Bird Walk

Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park. San Dimas, CA 91773 – Difficulty: Moderate

Sunday, March 2, 2025

First Sunday of the Month Family Friendly Bird Walks at the California Botanic Garden

Sunday, March 23, 2025

Fourth Sunday of the Month Bonelli Bird Walk

Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park. San Dimas, CA 91773 – Difficulty: Moderate

Sunday, April 6, 2025

First Sunday of the Month Family Friendly Bird Walks at the California Botanic Garden

1500 N. College Ave. Claremont, CA 91711
Meet at the entrance at 8:00 AM for free admission. This family-friendly bird walk is approximately 2 hours long and is perfect for beginners and experienced birders alike. No binoculars? No worries! Loaner binoculars are available (limited number so first come first served.) You will receive instructions on their use as well. PVAS volunteer Ken Burgdorff (gwrencaps@gmail.com) and others will lead the walks. Please RSVP using this link to the Botanic Garden’s reservation site: http://11213.blackbaudhosting.com/11213/tickets?tab=2&txobjid=e52df2a7-9df5-40fe-89e3-542d19c4183b

Sunday, April 27, 2025

Fourth Sunday of the Month Bonelli Bird Walk

Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park. San Dimas, CA 91773 – Difficulty: Moderate

Sunday, May 4, 2025

First Sunday of the Month Family Friendly Bird Walks at the California Botanic Garden

Sunday, May 25, 2025

Fourth Sunday of the Month Bonelli Bird Walk

Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park. San Dimas, CA 91773 – Difficulty: Moderate

Sunday, June 1, 2025

First Sunday of the Month Family Friendly Bird Walks at the California Botanic Garden

Pomona Valley Audubon Society

Field Trips

Family Friendly Walks at the California Botanic Garden First Sunday in the Month. (September through June)

Fourth Sunday Bird Walks at Bonelli Park (September through May)

Let’s Go Birding 2024 -2025

Complete list of 2025 Winter and Spring trips coming soon

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