Friday, February 1, 5 pm-9 pm
Saturday, February 2, 9am - 4 pm • Sunday, February 3, 9am - 3 pm

Schedule of Refuge-Sponsored Events. All events are free!
Click here for a complete schedule of the Festival.

Skaggs Island’s Hawks
Feb 1: Field Trip Leader Murray Berner, Napa County Birder Extraordinaire
Feb 2: Field Trip Leaders Wallace NeVille and Robin Leong, Napa-Solano Audubon Society
Feb 3: Field Trips Leader Cullen Wilkerson, wildlife biologist and herpatologist
Visit one of the North Bay’s premier hawk wintering grounds. Numbers vary every year, but in a "normal" year we could see up to 19 species of raptors that have been observed on this small property! Expect a variety of buteos, including Red-tailed, Ferruginous, and Rough-legged Hawks. Previous festival outings have observed 4 species of falcons. Golden Eagle is a distinct possibility. Anyone for Short-eared Owl? GUIDELINES FOR OUTING: Meet at the “Outing Tent” at Building 897 30 minutes before outing time to form required carpools. No one will be admitted at the Skaggs gate who has not carpooled from the Festival headquarters. Once inside gate, group will be escorted by security so no early departures.
Not appropriate for young children. There are NO restrooms––coffee drinkers beware! Everyone will be accommodated on each trip. Bring your “talkabout” and tune to 11–22, the bird channel. This outing is dependent on final Navy permit. Check website day before to confirm access for all tours.

Sonoma Baylands Tidal Wetland Walk
Meet John Brosnan, Sonoma Land Trust Project Director to view and learn about waterfowl, wading birds and estuarine fishes in this developing marsh habitat of these 348 acre tidal wetlands constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1995. Combine this wetland
walk with a visit afterward with John to hike Cougar Mountain!
Directions: Turn south off Hwy 37 at Port Sonoma Marina, follow the directional signs.

Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge Docent Tour
Join Docent Michael Krieg to learn about three endangered species on this refuge that occur no where else in the world––Lange’s metalmark butterfly, Contra Costa wallflower and Antioch Dunes evening primrose.
Directions: Take Hwy 4 east to Lone Tree/A Street exit in Antioch ––travel north on A Street, turn right on Wilbur Avenue, turn left on Fulton Shipyard Road, follow sign to gate.

can “drink” salt water and about wetland restoration of thousands of acres of the San Pablo Baylands between the Napa and Petaluma Rivers. Meet at the “Outing Tent”, Building 897, to carpool.

Sears Point Cougar Mountain Hike
Hike up Cougar Mountain with John Brosnan, Sonoma Land Trust Project Director, Sears Point Restoration, to explore vernal pools, view San Pablo Bay and learn about the ambitious Sears Point Restoration Project. Meet at San Pablo Bay NWR Headquarters. Directions: From Napa and Sonoma continue westbound from Hwy 12/121 through light at Sears Point to light at Lakeville Hwy. Make U-turn at Lakeville Hwy light. Refuge is .25 miles on right. From Vallejo travel west on Hwy 37, past Hwy 121 light. Follow directions above. From Marin eastbound on Hwy 37, Refuge is .25 miles on right after Lakeville Hwy light. Turn right into the driveway of an old dairy farm––there are no refuge signs but there will be cones at the entrance.

All About Owls!
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Environmental Education Center, Alviso
Join Paul Bridges as he shares his knowledge about owls in a talk and slide show. Learnt what owls eat; stay to dissect an owl pellet. See if you can put together the puzzle of bones and find your own answer. Recommended for ages 7 and up. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Call Lindy at 408- 262-5513 ext. 102.

Guadalcanal Village Wetland Restoration Marsh Shorebird Observation
Join Refuge volunteers to view the Caltrans Guadalcanal Village wetland restoration site. Information about the restoration and telescopes for shorebird viewingprovided. Refuge van shuttle will leave from “ Outing Tent”, Building 897 every 30 minutes for transport to and from the site, or drive and park. Driving Directions from Festival Expo: Turn one-way right from Building 897 eastern parking lot exits onto Walnut Ave. Turn left onto G Street. Turn left at flashing stoplight onto Railroad Ave. Continue north through North Gate. Make immediate left onto Hwy 37 overpass. Turn left into parking lot at end of overpass. No facilities. No scheduled viewing Sunday due to high tides, but get a great perspective from
a viewing platform reached by climbing the spiral staircase onto the Mare Island Overpass from the parking lot.

Cullinan Ranch, San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Join Jerry Karr, Napa-Solano Audubon Society Conservation Chair and Friends of Refuge Board Member for bird viewing and discussion about the wetland restoration work planned for the 1500-acre former hay farm. Not normally open to the public. No facilities.
Directions: From Vallejo travel west on Hwy 37 toward Marin County. Ranch is 1.5 miles west of the Napa River Bridge. Turn right; follow signs to parking. From Marin and Sonoma travel east towards Vallejo on Hwy 37. Take Mare Island Exit, cross over Hwy 37 on the
overpass and proceed west 1.5 miles. Turn right. Follow signs to parking.

A Ghost Town in SF Bay?
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Visitor Center Auditorium, Fremont
Presented by Pat Anthony
That’s right! On Station Island nestled in the salt marshes of south San Francisco Bay, the town of Drawbridge once boomed. Was it a quiet, peaceful community of nature lovers, or a rip-roaring gang of two-fisted rowdies? Excellent slide show and presentation.

Habitat Hike
Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Environmental Education Center, Alviso
Do you enjoy exploring nature? Do you find yourself curious about where mice sleep or how birds stay dry in the rain? If so, then you may be a habitat homonid: a person who loves learning about where local animals and plants live. Explore the refuge habitats. Learn
about wetland and upland habitats that have been human-altered. Observe and identify plants, birds, and other animals we will see on this short and easy trek. Wheelchair and stroller accessible. Recommended for all ages. Reservations required. Call 408-262-5513.