Birding
Throughout the fall to spring, the refuge hosts thousands of migratory birds on the wetlands and grasslands in addition to the local avian life throughout the year. Several free special docent or staff led walks are offered on the weekends along seasonal wetlands in a normally restricted area. This is a great opportunity to enjoy the migratory birds, learn about your wild neighbors, and get the family outdoors. Walks meet at a specified location & time, while occasionally special RSVP walks are offered in various locations. We generally meet early in the morning and go through a gate that gets locked, so be sure to be on time! See the Tours section for more information and schedule. If a self-guided birding walk is more your pace, Blue Heron Trails is open daily and offers great views of both local and migratory birds.
2026/27 Winter & Spring Docent Guided Walks
Date/Time:
- November 21, 2026: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
- December 19, 2026: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
- January 23, 2027: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
- February 20, 2027: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
- March 20, 2027: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
- April 17, 2027: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location:
Meet the docent in the Blue Heron Trails parking lot
For more local birding areas, please visit the Cosumnes River Preserve to the south and the Vic Fazio Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area to the west, which have similar goals of protecting and enhancing imperiled Central Valley fish and wildlife habitats.
