Ohlone Audubon Society

Saturday, May 4, 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Leader: Steve Huckabone, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

We will take a ~ 3 mile route through various habitats including the Caballo Loco group camp, sewage ponds, oak savanna and lake shore. Along the way we will inspect nest boxes to see how this year’s hatchlings are progressing.  Meet at the parking lot at the west end of the bridge at the south end of the lake. Restrooms and water available near the parking area and about half way through the transect at the Cedar Group Camp. To reach the meeting place, exit I-580 in Livermore at North Livermore Avenue. Head south and proceed through town. North Livermore Avenue will become South Livermore Avenue in town. About 1.5 miles outside town, turn right at Mines Road, go about 3.5 miles and continue straight onto Del Valle Road (Mines Road turns left) to the park entrance ($6 fee, no charge with an EBParks annual pass). After entering the park continue on  Del Valle road to the bridge and parking lot.

Date: May 7 Time: 7:30 p. m.
Place: Carlton Plaza of Fremont, 3800 Walnut Avenue
Topic: Thinking Like a Naturalist:
Reclaiming the Art of Natural History
Presenter: John (Jack) Muir Laws

We have one glimmering moment to be alive on this Earth. The diversity of life is a source of continued wonder and delight. Make the most of the opportunity of being alive. Get back into nature, share your discoveries and love with others, and work to be a loving steward of the Earth. Learn how to get more out of every nature ramble. Developments in neuropsychology have opened doors in our understanding of the brain and how you can train yourself to see more and to be more curious about what you discover. Naturalist and illustrator John Muir Laws will demonstrate simple and fun techniques you can incorporate into your own recreational nature study or to share with others. A perfect experience for anyone interested in taking their birding and nature study to the next level.

Naturalist, educator and artist John (Jack) Muir Laws delights in exploring the natural world and sharing this love with others. Laws has worked as an environmental educator since 1984. He teaches classes on natural history, conservation biology, scientific illustration, and field sketching. He is trained as a wildlife biologist and is an associate of the California Academy of Sciences. He is a 2010 TogetherGreen Conservation Leadership Fellow with the National Audubon Society. He was the 2011 artist for International Migratory Bird Day. Laws has written and illustrated books about art and natural history including The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds (2012), Sierra Birds: a Hiker’s Guide (2004), The Laws Guide to the Sierra Nevada (2007), and The Laws Pocket 36 Guide Set to the San Francisco Bay Area (2009). His illustrations are informed by extensive field experience and capture the feeling of the living plant or animal, while also including details critical for identification. Laws is deeply committed to stewardship of nature and collaborates with organizations throughout the state.

To reach Carlton Plaza of Fremont, take I-880 to the Mowry Ave off-ramp, then Mowry east (inland) to Fremont Blvd. Turn right on Fremont Blvd, then left on Walnut. Carlton Plaza is on Walnut between Fremont Blvd and Paseo Padre Pkwy.

Thursday, May 9, 8 AM - 11 AM
Leaders: Maggie Clark and Brenda Senturia This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

On this relaxed mid-week trip we’ll explore Garin/Dry Creek Regional Parks from the Dry Creek entrance. May is an excellent time to see a wide variety of birds. Residents and newly arrived migrants will be courting and setting up nesting territories. From this entrance, excellent riparian habitat, oak woodland and grazed pasture are accessible. We’ll be looking closely at bird behavior: setting up breeding territories, courtship displays and signs of nesting. Birds will be in their finest plumages, and we should find quite a variety: woodpeckers, flycatchers, warblers, wrens, sparrows, and thrushes. Meet at the Dry Creek Regional Park parking area. Take Mission Blvd. in Hayward south to Whipple Rd. Turn east toward the hills on the continuation of Whipple (May Rd.) past the apartment complex to the parking area on the right. Be prepared for moderate walking.

Wednesday, May 15, 9:00 AM - noon
Leaders: Bob Richmond and Rich Nicholson This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Join the leaders for a three-mile round trip walk on gravel paths to view activity at the Least Tern Colony.  We can expect to see Forster’s and Caspian Terns as well, with the possibility of Black Terns.  Black Skimmers nest in the same area.  We’ll look for phalaropes, Snowy Plovers, and other shorebirds. The Barn Swallow colony will be in full swing.  Meet at the Interpretive Center.  From Highway 92, take the Clawiter Road exit.  Westbound, continue onto Breakwater at the light.  Eastbound, follow Clawiter north over the freeway and turn left onto Breakwater at the light.  Turn left past the gas station to stay on Breakwater, which is the frontage road, one mile to the Interpretive Center.

May 21, Tuesday, 8:30 - 11:30 AM
Leaders: Kathy Robertson and Stephanie Floyd This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

We will visit several great birding spots in the Niles area along the Alameda Creek channel and in the woods in hopes of seeing spring migrants and nesting birds including Hooded Orioles, warblers, and waterfowl. Meet at Niles Community Park. To reach the park, from I-880, take Decoto Road northeast about 2 miles. Turn right (east) on Alvarado-Niles Blvd. and stay on it for about 2 1/2 miles (it becomes Niles Blvd.).  Turn right on H St. The park is at the end of H St.  From I-680, take Niles Canyon Road (Hwy 84) southwest to Fremont.  Cross Mission Blvd. to reach Niles Blvd. and bear right on Niles Blvd. to go through the main part of Niles.  Turn left on H St. The park is at the end of H St.  From Mission Boulevard north or south, turn onto Niles Blvd. and follow the directions above. Free.

May 29, Wednesday, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Leader: Kathy Robertson This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Leona Canyon is a pristine woodland preserve in the Oakland Hills near Anthony Chabot and Redwood Regional Parks.  This is a great place to see warblers, flycatchers, and nesting birds such as Hairy Woodpeckers.  We will walk gently uphill on a shady trail for about 3/4 mile and then return downhill, birding all along the way.   Please note that no facilities are available.  To reach the park, from I-580 in Oakland go east on Keller Avenue, turn left onto Campus Drive, and make a quick right on Canyon Oaks Drive into the apartment complex.  Parking for the trail is at the north end of the apartment complex. Free.