TOURS

November 8-10, 2024

7:30am - 5:00pm

The Swan Festival will have a variety of tours for all interest levels and ages.  Enjoy bird-watching tours, explore the beauty of local flora and fauna, hike in the mysterious Sutter Buttes volcanic range, visit a local rice farm, or get an introduction to birding. 

Tour registration and departure will take place at the Swan Festival Hub at Yuba College, 2088 N Beale Rd, Marysville, CA.

Registration opens October 8, 2024

Cancellation Policy

No cancellations or refunds will be available online. To cancel and receive a refund, minus a processing fee, you must call or email the Sutter Buttes Regional Land Trust (SBRLT) at info@sutterbutteslandtrust.org or 530-755-3568.

If the festival must cancel an event, registered attendees for that event will be notified via email.
Attendees will be offered the following options:

  • register for substitute activities of the same value
  • donate registration fee to SBRLT programs
  • full refund minus processing fee (allow up to 4 weeks for processing)

Tour Difficulty Ratings

The following rating system for tours will give you an idea of the difficulty level involved.

(1)  Wheelchair accessible

(2)  Birding by car and/or easy walking

(3)  Lots of driving and walking could involve distance
      but largely flat

(4)  More vigorous hiking, with some elevation gain/loss

(5)  A true adventure trip with strenuous hiking

Cost Structure

Adult = 18 years old and older 

Youth= 13-17 years old

Kids = 0-12 years old

Most field trips will end at the field trip location and don’t include travel back to the main festival venue.

TOURS
Friday, November 8th

Grey Lodge Wildlife Area

Tour # 101

Walking Tour & Car Tour

Time: 7:30am – 11:30am

Meet: Chevron/Power Market in Live Oak which is 9811 Live Oak Blvd/99 – bordered by 99, Elm and Larkin

Difficulty: 2

Limit: 15

Cost:Tour registration is free. However, each registered attendee is required to purchase a Lands Pass ($5.66/person) from CDFW website (https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Lands-Pass) or at Gray Lodge kiosk the day of the event.

Description: Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a jewel in the crown of the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife. More than a million waterfowl can’t be wrong! Gray Lodge’s habitat diversity and location along the Pacific Flyway make it a magnet for ducks, geese, and other wildlife. Surrounded by miles of rich agricultural land, this 9,100-acre area is intensively managed primarily for wintering waterfowl. The Sutter Buttes make a perfect backdrop for the wetlands in which the birds congregate. This is a great trip to see four or more species of geese, nearly a dozen species of ducks, including Eurasian Wigeon, several raptor species, lots of wading birds, and songbirds in the riparian vegetation. Laura will lead us on a short walk, through the wetlands and woodlands, to an observation platform with views of huge flocks of waterfowl. Then we’ll travel around the one-way auto loop, which has great views of the wetlands and waterfowl from both sides of the vehicles. The group will be in constant communication with Laura using walkie-talkies.

Leader: Laura Lush

Birding at Cordi Winery

Tour # 103

Walking Tour with Wine Tasting

Time:  2:00pm-5:00pm

Meet:  Cordi Winery – 10401 Ingram Lane, Live Oak, CA 95953

Difficulty:  2

Limit: 20 people

Cost: $20/adult (must be 21+ to attend)

Description: Reece and Teresa Cordi are granting special access for visitors to take a leisure stroll around the Cordi Winery vineyards to observe a variety of wildlife, learn about the wine making process, and enjoy the scenic views.  After your stroll, end the day sipping on local wine and taking in the sunset over the Sutter Buttes.  Wine tasting is included.

Leader:  Reece & Teresa Cordi (guides) 

Sunset Swan Tour

Tour # 104

Car Tour

Time: 2:30pm-5:00pm (Sunset Tour)

Meet: Swan Tour staging area, address available upon tour registration

Difficulty: 2

Limit: 25 people 10 cars

Cost: $20/adult, $10/youth, Free/kids

Description: Come along on this exciting tour featuring Yuba County’s wintering tundra swans. Be prepared to witness the Pacific Flyway in all its glory. A naturalist from California Department of Fish and Wildlife will be your guide to the remarkable migratory bird populations using flooded rice fields to forage and overwinter. This area boasts one of the largest seasonal concentrations of tundra swans in the Central Valley, as well as abundant geese, ducks, shorebirds and raptors. Bring your binoculars and field guides. Dress for the weather.

Leaders: California Department of Fish & Wildlife Naturalist

Sunset, Swans and Rice at Montna Farms in Dingville

Tour # 105

Time:  3:00pm-5:30pm

Meet:  Montna Farms Main Office, 12755 Garden Highway, Yuba City, CA

Difficulty:  2

Limit: 25 people

Cost: $20/adult,  $10/youth/kids

Description:  One of the main reasons the Sacramento Valley is so attractive to wintering waterfowl is because the multitude of rice farming operations provide vast acreages of temporary wetlands in which the birds can rest and feed. One of the premier spots to view waterfowl and other birds wintering on flooded rice fields is Montna Farms. Located in Dingville, just south of Yuba City, CA, agriculture and wildlife blend in harmony at Montna Farms. Jon Munger, Operations Manager, will share with us how rice moves from field to fork through growing, drying, storing, milling and marketing.  We’ll discover how California’s rice industry is sustaining agriculture and waterfowl.  Then we’ll see the huge fields of wintering waterfowl, where we’ll get great views of Tundra Swans, geese, ducks, White-faced Ibis, herons, egrets, raptors, and lots more!

Leaders:  Jon Munger and David Rosen

TOURS
Saturday, November 9th

Birding Beale Air Force Base

Tour # 201

Bus with light walking

Time: 7:30am-12pm

Meet:  Swan Central Hub – Yuba College

Difficulty: 2

Limit: 26 people

Cost: $20/adult,  $10/youth/Kids

Registration Closes Oct 29th

Description: Beale AFB tour registration will end October 29th to allow for military staff to fully vet all participants.  This is rare opportunity to look for birds on Beale Air Force Base. Department of Defense facilities preserve some of best remaining habitats in the U.S. and Beale is a great example. The base includes one of largest and best-preserved areas of Central Valley grassland, a habitat under severe threat from urban development and conversion to agriculture. A base biologist will accompany us as we search the grasslands for Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawks, and several other raptor species, maybe even a Bald or Golden Eagle. Falcons may include American Kestrel, Merlin, and Prairie Falcon. Horned Larks and Western Meadowlarks should be abundant. Surprises like Mountain Bluebirds are also possible this time of year. We will also visit some large ponds that can harbor several species of waterfowl and an oak riparian zone with its own suite of typical species. The trip will be by carpool/small buses with multiple short stops and one short walk on flat ground. If there’s enough time, we may drive by some other points of interest on the base, including an SR71 Blackbird strategic reconnaissance aircraft that flew over Mach 3!

Important Note: The tour group will be required to check-in at the Schneider gate where Security Forces will check IDs.  Vehicles will be left in the parking lot and participants will load onto buses for base entry. Once on the bus, the tour will head out to Miller Lake and Upper Blackwelder. The tour will also have an opportunity to visit the SR71 or U2 display.  To gain access to the base, each adult participant must provide their full legal name, social security number, date of birth, and driver’s license number at least 1 week prior to the event for pre-screening. Participants must also provide a Real ID or two forms of ID (birth certificate, social security card, driver’s license, or passport) to enter the base. Participants over age 16 must have a current photo ID to show base security personnel.  Any and all weapons and/or drugs brought on base is considered a federal crime.

Leaders: Tamara Gallentine (Beale AFB), Elsa Chen (CSU-CEMML), and Lilly Douglas (USFWS)

Nature of the Sutter Buttes - Hike on Dean Place

Tour # 202

Hike

Time: 8:00am-2:30pm

MeetSwan Festival Hub – Yuba College, 2088 N Beale Rd, Marysville, CA

Difficulty: 2

Limit: 20

Cost: $35/person

Description: Lace up your hiking boots, grab your trekking poles and binoculars, and join this rare opportunity to gain access to an area normally not open to the public! Explore the secluded depths of the interior of the Sutter Buttes, the smallest mountain range in the world, as we visit the 100-year-old Dean Place Cattle Ranch. The focus on this three-mile walk will be on the birds of the Buttes and we’ll hopefully see such gems as Golden Eagle, Phainopepla, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Mountain Bluebird, Varied Thrush, lots of winter sparrows, and with luck, geese and swans flying high over the Buttes. Prepare for some moderate climbing and mostly uneven ground. Be sure to bring binoculars, lunch, water, and sturdy boots/shoes and hiking sticks, if you have them. Bring food and water. No early departures on this trip.

Leader: Rose Hoskinson

Swan Tour

Tour # 203

Car Tour

Time: 8:00-10:30am

MeetSwan tour staging area, address available upon tour registration

Duration: 2.5 hours

Difficulty: 2

Limit: 10 vehicles

Cost: $20/adult, $10/youth, Free/kids

Description: Come along on this exciting tour featuring Yuba County’s wintering tundra swans. Be prepared to witness the Pacific Flyway in all its glory. A naturalist from California Department of Fish and Wildlife will be your guide to the remarkable migratory bird populations using flooded rice fields to forage and overwinter. This area boasts one of the largest seasonal concentrations of tundra swans in the Central Valley, as well as abundant geese, ducks, shorebirds and raptors. Bring your binoculars and field guides. Dress for the weather.

Leader: California Department of Fish & Wildlife Naturalist

Mindful Birding Walk

Tour # 208
Hike

Time: 9:30am-12:00pm

MeetHammon Grove

Difficulty: 1

Limit: 20

Cost: $20/person

Description: In contrast to a conventional birding walk, which might focus on seeing as many species as possible or seeking out rarities, Mindful Birding invites us to slow ourselves down and get to know each individual bird. When we encounter a bird, rather than rush to identify it, we will spend long durations closely following and studying the bird, making detailed and intimate observations. Along the way, elements of mindfulness will be practiced to leverage the therapeutic power birds provide. Throughout the walk, several prompts will be offered that invite us to cue into different aspects of bird life, and after each prompt, we will come together to share our observations. Mindful Birding walks are great for both beginner birders and expert birders alike.

Leader: Connor Rosenblatt (www.connorjrosenblatt.com)

Exploring South Butte

Tour # 207
Hike

Time: 8:30am-12:30pm

Meet: 10507 Pass Rd, Sutter, CA (white gate, located just past Kellogg Road)

Difficulty: 2

Limit: 15

Cost: $50/person

Description: A rare and exciting opportunity to explore the peak of South Butte, the highest point in the Sutter Buttes, standing 645 meters above sea level. Attendees will ride in vehicles along the steep terrain up to a small metal tram that takes visitors to the very top of the peak. Once at the peak, a guide will escort visitors around, exploring the natural and developed features of this unique peak. Observe the structures and natural surrounding beauty while taking in the breathtaking views. Visitors will learn how the towers, buildings, and equipment support communication across the region and how these features are maintained over time.

Leader: Ed Hulbert, CEO and Jake Kley, General Manager of Tor Broadcasting

Birding at Bobelaine Sanctuary

Tour # 205
Hike

Time: 8:30am-12:00pm

MeetSwan Festival Hub – Yuba College, 2088 N Beale Rd, Marysville, CA

Difficulty: 3

Limit: 15

Cost: $20/adult, $10/youth/kids (not recommended for children 12 years and under)

Description: Bobelaine is a 430-acre National Audubon Sanctuary along the Feather River, managed by Sacramento Audubon Society. It’s a rare remnant of the riparian forests that once extended two to five miles on either side of the rivers in the Central Valley. Bobelaine is listed as an “Important Bird Area” by the National Audubon Society and the extensive forest of giant cottonwood, valley oak, sycamore, and willow is home to a wide variety of birds and wildlife throughout the seasons. We’ll explore the trails and search for the resident and wintering birds. Woodpeckers of various species should be abundant. Black-crowned Night Herons, Wood Ducks, egrets, grebes, and cormorants may be on the water. Cedar Waxwings, Yellow Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and a variety of sparrows will be settling in for the winter. We may get looks at some of the woodland raptors such as Red-shouldered Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, and Sharp-shinned Hawk as well. If we’re lucky, we may even see deer or a family of river otters frolicking along the river. Expect to walk about 2 miles on mostly level ground. Heavy rain will cancel trip.

Leader: Cliff Hawley

Feather River Salmon Tour

Tour # 213

Hike

Times: 10:00am-12pm

Meet: California Department of Fish & Wildlife Fish Hatchery, 5 Table Mountain Blvd., Oroville, CA 95965

Difficulty: 3

Limit: 15 people Minimum: 10 people

Cost: $65/person

Description: Every fall the Chinook, or King salmon make their way from the Pacific Ocean up the Sacramento River and into the Feather River in Oroville to spawn.  Salmon Tours offer you the opportunity to kayak right alongside them! On the tour, you will learn about the lifecycle of the salmon, the Feather River, and get to see Oroville in a whole new way!

Leader: Brad Cooke with Forebay Aquatic Center (www.forebayaquaticcenter.com/)

Swan Tour

Tour # 209

Car Tour

Times: 11:00am-1:30pm

Meet: Swan Tour staging area, address available upon tour registration.

Duration: 2.5 hours

Difficulty: 1 (car tour; little to no walking)

Limit: 25 people or 10 cars

Cost: $20/adult, $10/youth, Free/kids

Description: Come along on this exciting tour featuring Yuba County’s wintering tundra swans. Be prepared to witness the Pacific Flyway in all its glory. A naturalist from California Department of Fish and Wildlife will be your guide to the remarkable migratory bird populations using flooded rice fields to forage and overwinter. This area boasts one of the largest seasonal concentrations of tundra swans in the Central Valley, as well as abundant geese, ducks, shorebirds and raptors. Bring your binoculars and field guides. Dress for the weather.

Leaders: California Department of Fish & Wildlife Naturalist

Forest Bathing Walk

Tour # 212

Walk

Times: 11:00am-1:30pm

Meet: Hammon Grove

Duration: 2.5 hours

Difficulty: 1

Limit: 20 people

Cost: $20/person

Description: Come along on this exciting tour featuring Yuba County’s wintering tundra swans. Be prepared to witness the Pacific Flyway in all its glory. A naturalist from California Department of Fish and Wildlife will be your guide to the remarkable migratory bird populations using flooded rice fields to forage and overwinter. This area boasts one of the largest seasonal concentrations of tundra swans in the Central Valley, as well as abundant geese, ducks, shorebirds and raptors. Bring your binoculars and field guides. Dress for the weather.

Leaders: Connor Rosenblatt
(www.connorjrosenblatt.com)

Nature/Wildlife Photography at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge

Tour # 210

Nature/wildlife photography at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge

Time: 1:30pm-5 :30pm

Meet: Swan Festival Hub – Yuba College, 2088 N Beale Rd, Marysville, CA

Difficulty: 2

Limit: 15

Cost: $25/adult, $15/youth

Description: Join professional nature photographer Stephen Fischer on a field trip to the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) to practice nature and wildlife photography techniques, many of which he will discuss Saturday morning at his indoor presentation and slide show (see Swan Festival program schedule). Steve will share some “tricks-of-the-trade” with us regarding equipment and techniques to capture great photos of birds and other wildlife. Colusa NWR regularly has some of the best waterfowl photography opportunities in the region and Steve will guide participants to the ideal locations at the refuge for bird photography. He will review the essentials and, since it will be a small group, he will provide individual coaching and feedback on how to improve our results. The focus will be on birding or photography enthusiast that would like to up their game and get better results.  At the Colusa NWR we expect to capture photographs of some of the typical birds found in the Central Valley wetlands during the winter months, including a variety of geese, ducks, and raptors. We’ll have the pleasure of being able to photograph during the “magic hour” right before sunset, when the light is at its best. Then we’ll enjoy sunset and twilight at the refuge. A perfect way to end your day in the field! Be sure to bring a camera that you are familiar with, such as a DSLR with a telephoto lens along with a tripod. Also bring warm clothes in layers, insect repellent, and water.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Stephen will also be hosting “The Essentials of Bird Photography” workshop on Saturday, November 9th from 9:00-10:30am. There is no fee to attend the workshop. Additional workshop details can be found at www.caswanfestival.org, under “Festival Events”.

Leader: Stephen Fischer

Sunset Swan Tour

Tour # 211

Car Tour

Times: 2:30-5:00pm

MeetSwan tour staging area, address available upon tour registration

Duration: 2.5 hours

Difficulty: 1 (car tour; little to no walking)

Limit: 25 people or 10 cars

Cost: $20/adult, $10/youth, Free/kids

Description: Come along on this exciting tour featuring Yuba County’s wintering tundra swans. Be prepared to witness the Pacific Flyway in all its glory. A naturalist from California Department of Fish and Wildlife will be your guide to the remarkable migratory bird populations using flooded rice fields to forage and overwinter. This area boasts one of the largest seasonal concentrations of tundra swans in the Central Valley, as well as abundant geese, ducks, shorebirds and raptors. Bring your binoculars and field guides. Dress for the weather.

Leaders: California Department of Fish & Wildlife Naturalist

TOURS
Sunday, November 10th

Birding Beale Air Force Base

Tour # 301

Bus with light walkiing

Time: 7:30am-noon

Meet:  Swan Festival Hub – Yuba College, 2088 N Beale Rd, Marysville, CA

Difficulty: 2

Limit: 26 people

Cost: $20/adult,  $10/youth, $10/kids

Registration Closes Oct 30th

Description: Beale AFB tour registration will end October 29th to allow for military staff to fully vet all participants.  This is rare opportunity to look for birds on Beale Air Force Base. Department of Defense facilities preserve some of best remaining habitats in the U.S. and Beale is a great example. The base includes one of largest and best-preserved areas of Central Valley grassland, a habitat under severe threat from urban development and conversion to agriculture. A base biologist will accompany us as we search the grasslands for Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawks, and several other raptor species, maybe even a Bald or Golden Eagle. Falcons may include American Kestrel, Merlin, and Prairie Falcon. Horned Larks and Western Meadowlarks should be abundant. Surprises like Mountain Bluebirds are also possible this time of year. We will also visit some large ponds that can harbor several species of waterfowl and an oak riparian zone with its own suite of typical species. The trip will be by carpool/small buses with multiple short stops and one short walk on flat ground. If there’s enough time, we may drive by some other points of interest on the base, including an SR71 Blackbird strategic reconnaissance aircraft that flew over Mach 3!

Important Note: The tour group will be required to check-in at the Schneider gate where Security Forces will check IDs.  Vehicles will be left in the parking lot and participants will load onto buses for base entry. Once on the bus, the tour will head out to Miller Lake and Upper Blackwelder. The tour will also have an opportunity to visit the SR71 or U2 display.  To gain access to the base, each adult participant must provide their full legal name, social security number, date of birth, and driver’s license number at least 1 week prior to the event for pre-screening. Participants must also provide a Real ID or two forms of ID (birth certificate, social security card, driver’s license, or passport) to enter the base. Participants over age 16 must have a current photo ID to show base security personnel.  Any and all weapons and/or drugs brought on base is considered a federal crime.

Leaders: Tamara Gallentine (Beale AFB), Elsa Chen (CSU-CEMML), and Lilly Douglas (USFWS1

Sutter Buttes East Ridge Hike on Shaeffer Ranch & Wine Tasting

Tour # 302

Hike

Time: 8:00am-2:30pm

MeetSwan Festival Hub – Yuba College, 2088 N Beale Rd, Marysville, CA

Difficulty: 2

Limit: 20

Cost: $35/person (Not recommended for children 12 years and under)

Description: This is a rare opportunity to gain access to the Sutter Buttes, the smallest mountain range in the world! The Shaeffer Family will host hikers to explore this ranch, on the north side of the Buttes, that has been in the same family since the 1860’s. Depending on visibility, the hike will include views of North Butte, Peace Valley, and an old Titan Missile site. In this beautiful oak grassland habitat, possible bird sightings include Golden Eagle, Phainopepla, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Mountain Bluebird, Varied Thrush, and many other winter visitors. The rock formations and the geology of this part of the Buttes is amazing. Be sure to bring binoculars, lunch, water, sturdy boots/shoes, and hiking sticks, if you have them. No early departures on this trip. After the hike, the leaders will provide an optional visit to the nearby Cordi Winery for wine tasting!  Wine tasting is an additional $10/person, paid directly to Cordi Winery.

Leader: Ty Shaeffer

Swan Tour

Tour # 303

Car Tour

Time: 8:00-10:30am

MeetSwan tour staging area, address available upon tour registration

Duration: 2.5 hours

Difficulty: 2

Limit: 10 vehicles

Cost: $20/adult, $10/youth, Free/kids

Description: Come along on this exciting tour featuring Yuba County’s wintering tundra swans. Be prepared to witness the Pacific Flyway in all its glory. A naturalist from California Department of Fish and Wildlife will be your guide to the remarkable migratory bird populations using flooded rice fields to forage and overwinter. This area boasts one of the largest seasonal concentrations of tundra swans in the Central Valley, as well as abundant geese, ducks, shorebirds and raptors. Bring your binoculars and field guides. Dress for the weather.

Leader: California Department of Fish & Wildlife Naturalist

Exploring State Parks Peace Valley

Tour # 304

Hike

Time: 8:15-3:00pm

MeetSwan Festival Hub – Yuba College, 2088 N Beale Rd, Marysville, CA

Duration: 6.75 hours

Difficulty: 4

Limit: 10 vehicles

Cost: $25/adult, $10/youth, $10/kids

Description: An exciting opportunity to venture into the California State Parks Peace Valley property and learn about the natural and cultural history of the site while climbing to higher elevations to gain a whole new perspective from above, with expansive views of the valley farmland below. 

Leader: California State Parks Natural Resource Staff

Birding at Bobelaine Sanctuary

Tour #306

Hike

Time: 8:30am-12:00pm

Meet: Meet guide at Bobelaine parking lot at the end of Laurel Road

Difficulty: 3

Limit: 15

Cost: $20/adult,  $10/youth, $10/kids (Not recommended for children 12 years and under)

Description: Bobelaine is a 430-acre National Audubon Sanctuary along the Feather River, managed by Sacramento Audubon Society. It’s a rare remnant of the riparian forests that once extended two to five miles on either side of the rivers in the Central Valley. Bobelaine is listed as an “Important Bird Area” by the National Audubon Society and the extensive forest of giant cottonwood, valley oak, sycamore, and willow is home to a wide variety of birds and wildlife throughout the seasons. We’ll explore the trails and search for the resident and wintering birds. Woodpeckers of various species should be abundant. Black-crowned Night Herons, Wood Ducks, egrets, grebes, and cormorants may be on the water. Cedar Waxwings, Yellow Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and a variety of sparrows will be settling in for the winter. We may get looks at some of the woodland raptors such as Red-shouldered Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, and Sharp-shinned Hawk as well. If we’re lucky, we may even see deer or a family of river otters frolicking along the river. Expect to walk about 2 miles on mostly level ground. Heavy rain will cancel trip.

Leader: Maureen Geiger

Wildlife & Water

Tour #308

Walk and Lunch

Time: 10:30am -2:00pm

MeetSwan Festival Hub – Yuba College, 2088 N Beale Rd, Marysville, CA

Difficulty: 3

Limit: 12 people

Cost: $25/person without lunch or $45/person to include catered lunch

(Not recommended for children 12 years and under)

Description: Blue Ruby Farm is an ecologically conscious farm that is integrating water management strategies to provide critical habitat for all life, including humans!  Observe the farms water catchment system and other water management techniques implemented on the land to conserve, reuse, and restore water on the landscape.  While enjoying a light stroll around the property we will see what birds may be migrating through our 5-acre pond and look at how beavers manage flows in the creek.   Wear sturdy shoes and be prepared to walk on uneven ground.  Bring a bagged lunch or indulge in a locally catered lunch at an additional cost of $20/person, to include sandwiches with local bread, meats, and cheeses.  

NOTE: Be sure to check out the associated presentation by guide, Paul Ladeira, “Water and Climate:  The Science and Art of Water Cycle Restoration” from 9:00-10:15am on Sunday, November 10th at the Swan Festival Hub, Yuba College. 

Visit Farm Stay in Northern CA – Blue Ruby Farm – Working Farm for more information.

Leader: Paul Ladeira

Swan Tour

Tour #309

Car Tour

Times: 11:00am-1:30pm

MeetSwan tour staging area, address available upon tour registration

Duration: 2.5 hours

Difficulty: 1 

Limit: 25 people

Cost: $20/adult, $10/youth, Free/kids

Description: Come along on this exciting tour featuring Yuba County’s wintering tundra swans. Be prepared to witness the Pacific Flyway in all its glory. A naturalist from California Department of Fish and Wildlife will be your guide to the remarkable migratory bird populations using flooded rice fields to forage and overwinter. This area boasts one of the largest seasonal concentrations of tundra swans in the Central Valley, as well as abundant geese, ducks, shorebirds and raptors. Bring your binoculars and field guides. Dress for the weather.

Leaders: California Department of Fish & Wildlife Naturalist

Sunset Swan Tour

Tour #310

Car Tour

Times: 2:30-5:00pm

MeetSwan tour staging area, address available upon tour registration

Duration: 2.5 hours

Difficulty: 1 

Limit: 25 people

Cost: $20/adult, $10/youth, Free/kids

Description: Come along on this exciting tour featuring Yuba County’s wintering tundra swans. Be prepared to witness the Pacific Flyway in all its glory. A naturalist from California Department of Fish and Wildlife will be your guide to the remarkable migratory bird populations using flooded rice fields to forage and overwinter. This area boasts one of the largest seasonal concentrations of tundra swans in the Central Valley, as well as abundant geese, ducks, shorebirds and raptors. Bring your binoculars and field guides. Dress for the weather.

Leaders: California Department of Fish & Wildlife Naturalist