Upcoming Field Trips

The quickest way to find out about upcoming trips and registration details is via our member's eblast (these will likely come out in the last week of month prior to the trip). If you have not already signed up for our eblasts sign up here.
Sign up and confirmation notes:

If the Google sign-up form for the trip you want to go on doesn't work the first time, try reloading the web page or restarting your browser, then try again.

If it's less than 3 days before a trip that you signed up for, and you think you should have gotten a message but haven't, try looking for it (carefully) in your spam/junk folder.

If these suggestions didn't help solve the issue, please contact us at fieldtrips@pasadenaaudubon.org .

December 7: Eaton Canyon

Saturday, December 7, 2024, 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM

Trip leaders: Kristen Ochoa and Eaton Canyon Nature Center docents

*This field trip is led in English and Spanish. ¡Ven a observar aves con nosotros!

Pasadena Audubon and Eaton Canyon Nature Center are pleased to offer free monthly bird walks at Eaton Canyon. These walks will visit the varied native habitat in the Eaton Canyon Natural Area – riparian, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and oak woodland – to search for resident and migrant species. We’ll go at an easy pace, taking time to observe and enjoy the full array of nature on hand. Recommended: sturdy shoes for walking on dirt and rock trails with gentle inclines, hat, water, sunscreen, and binoculars. A few pairs of binoculars will be available for loan. Please contact fieldtrips@pasadenaaudubon.org for questions or accommodations. Anyone can sign up; no membership is required. Beginning birders are welcome.

Participant limit: none

To join this bird walk, please sign up here.

 

December 7: Pasadena Audubon CBC Warmup Walk

Saturday, December 7, 2024 7:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Trip Leader: Luke Tiller

Join PAS President Luke Tiller for a walk that will hit some of the pocket parks of Pasadena that make up the heart of the Pasadena – San Gabriel Valley Christmas Bird Count (CBC). This walk is aimed at CBC newbies and the bird count curious. While we bird we will talk a little bit about the count and the different ways members can participate. The count takes place on Saturday December 14th with a planning meeting on Wednesday, December 11th. More background info on the CBC generally can be found here: https://www.audubon.org/community-science/christmas-bird-count

Participant limit: none

PHOTO: The Big Year. © 2011 20th Century Fox

To join this bird walk, please sign up here.

 

December 8: Los Angeles Arboretum Monthly Bird Walk

Sunday, December 8, 2024

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Trip Leader: Katy Mann

We are excited to partner with the Los Angeles County Arboretum to offer free monthly bird walks to PAS members. Please note that due to new rules implemented by LA Arboretum these trips will only be open to current PAS members (and not friends of members as in past years). In other words all persons attending must be current Pasadena Audubon members -- either on their own, or as part of a PAS family membership.

Not a PAS member? Join here!

This field trip is offered by reservation only. To reserve a spot go to https://www.arboretum.org/events/bird-walk-with-pasadena-audubon-8/. Registration is scheduled to open at 9 AM on Tuesday, December 3, 2024.

SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT REGISTERING FOR THE ARBORETUM WALK: Evidently when the monthly Arboretum walk has reached capacity, the sign-up form stops functioning correctly. This issue is beyond our control. If in doubt, sign up early!


PHOTO: Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus) by Luke Tiller.

December 18: Midweek Nice and Easy Birding Group - Pasadena CBC Rarities Chase

Wednesday, December 18, 2024, 8:00 AM
Trip leader: Ed Stonick

Meeting location and itinerary will depend on what rarities are found on the Pasadena Christmas Bird Count. The meeting location will be sent out to the pasadenaaudubon groups.io mailing list once it has been set

Participant number: No Limit

Ya never know what might show up after a Christmas Bird Count! Photo: Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) by Chris Spurgeon.

Sign up here.

December 24: Parrot Roost

TUESDAY, December 24, 2024
4:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Leaders: Luke Tiller and Catherine Hamilton

The San Gabriel Valley is now known nationally for its overnight roosts of Amazona parrots and Mitred and Red-masked Parakeets. On most late afternoons during the non-breeding season, the (sub)urban skies and soundscape get overtaken by cacophonous flocks returning from their daytime foraging sites to gather at the roosts. These parrots and parakeets are not native to the United States, but large populations have established themselves in the Los Angeles area and become an important part of the local ecosystem. Join Pasadena Audubon as we sort through the impressive numbers of parakeets and Red-crowned Amazons (Parrots), looking for some of the less common species. For this trip, we will mostly be standing around letting the birds come to us. We may stroll slowly through the neighborhood to get closer to roosting flocks, but this will involve minimal walking on sidewalks.

Participant limit: none

PHOTO: Lilac-crowned Parrot (Amazona finschi). Photo by Luke Tiller.

Trip details such as meeting location will be emailed to signed-up participants 3-5 days before the trip

Sign up here

December 28: Huntington Library

Saturday, December 28, 2024
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Trip Leader: Mark Hunter

This is a great walk for beginning birders and families, with easy walking and a nice variety of species present year round.

Please note that due to rules implemented by The Huntington these trips will only be open to current PAS members. You must be a Pasadena Audubon member to attend this trip! After you sign up for the field trip, you will receive an email acknowledging your signup. The acknowledgment email is not a guarantee of a spot! PAS will process signups in the order that they are received, verifying your membership status. The trip leader will contact you after signups are closed, informing you whether you have confirmed spots or are on the wait list. Not yet a member? You can sign up for PAS membership here.

If you have a Huntington membership that allows you to enter the gardens at 8:00 on weekends, please consider making a reservation using your Huntington membership, thereby freeing up spots for PAS members who are not Huntington members.

Photo: California Towhee (Melozone crissalis) by Chris Spurgeon

Field Trip General Notes

This field trip is offered by reservation only. If you miss out on the initial places you will be added to a waitlist and will be emailed by the trip leaders if a place opens up. If you are unable to attend a booked trip please email the trip leader and allow them to make your space available to someone on the wait list.

Sorry, this trip is completely filled.

December 29: Peaceful Morning at Rosemont Preserve

Sunday, December 29, 2024
9:00 AM to 12:00 noon

Leader: Helin Jung

Ready to do some letting go? Join us at Rosemont Preserve in La Crescenta for a special morning of calm, creative mindfulness.

We will begin with a guided session of light stretching and breathing to relax and tune into our surroundings. Then we will explore the tranquil preserve, which we will have all to ourselves. After a bit of light birding and light woodland bathing, we will end with a no-stakes nature journaling session where we observe the environment and draw plants and wildlife. The plants are glowing with blonde color for the winter. Who knows, maybe we'll spot a yellow-rumped warbler or two!

All abilities welcome.

Participant number: 10, to be chosen by lottery. Sign up before Monday, December 23, at 6 p.m.

Trip details such as meeting location will be emailed to signed-up participants 3-5 days before the trip.

Photo by Helin Jung

Sign up here