Join Sugarloaf docent Dana Glei in a 2-mile hike (250 ft elevation change) focusing on a specific family of birds and learning how to identify them by sight, sound, flight pattern, and/or behavior.
The September hike will focus on raptors. We are almost certain to see the under-appreciated Turkey Vulture and may also see a Red-Tailed Hawk. It is possible, though much less likely that we would see a Red-Shouldered Hawk, Northern Harrier, Sharp-Shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, American Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Golden Eagle, or White-Tailed Kite. We’ll start off along sunny Meadow Trail (85% sun exposure) and return along the shadier Hillside Trail.
The October hike will focus on the smartest birds at Sugarloaf: the corvids. We are almost certain to see California Scrub Jays. We may also see Steller’s Jays, American Crows, and/or Ravens. We’ll start off hiking toward the Observatory and then take Lower Bald Mt. to the Creekside trail to the Hillside trail. We will stop at the lookout vista on Hillside. Then, we will return along Hillside to the White Barn.
The November hike will highlight woodpeckers. We are almost certain to see Acorn Woodpeckers. We may also see one or more of the following: Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, or Red-breasted sapsucker. We’ll start off hiking toward the Observatory and then take Lower Bald Mt. to the Creekside trail to the Hillside trail. We will stop at the lookout vista on Hillside. Then, we will return along Hillside to the White Barn.
The series will culminate in April 8th, 2023, with a hike on New World Sparrows.
All hikes meet at the White Barn. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students, youth (12-17 year olds), Sugarloaf members and volunteers, and free for children under 12. Bring water, sun protection, binoculars, scope, or camera if you have it, and if you’d like, a snack and a bird identification guide. If you use iNaturalist or would like to learn how to use it, make sure it’s already installed on your phone before you arrive for the hike. Parking fees apply.
Join Team Sugarloaf on a guided birding walk/blitz as part of City Nature Challenge 2023.
Participants of any level of experience can help find, photograph, and/or identify life in the park. Smartphones with the iNaturalist app will be our main tool, but we also invite you to download and explore the Merlin app. Those lacking phones are also welcome to participate. If you haven’t used iNaturalist, or haven’t made an observation for a while, this is your chance – just make sure to load the iNaturalist app on your phone before you arrive. Alternatively, you can join our iNaturalist Introduction & BioBlitz with Dr. Dan on Friday, 4/28, prior to attending this event. Meet at the White Barn. Wear adequate clothing, shoes, and sun protection, bring at least a quart of water, a full battery on your mobile device (or alternatively, a camera), and if you have them, binoculars and bird-identifying guides. Tickets are $5. Parking fees apply; rain cancels.
City Nature Challenge runs from April 28th to May 1st, 2023. It’s a bioblitz-style friendly competition where cities are in a contest against each other to see who can make the most observations of nature, who can find the most species, and who can engage the most people. Learn more about City Nature Challenge or view the Sugarloaf Project here!
This event is part of the Challenge along with other events scheduled from 4/28-5/1.
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For more events at Sugarloaf, visit our calendar of events.