Archives: Events

Come join the Winged Migration Expo with Sonoma Land Trust and Clay Anderson for an easy Bird walk in the marsh at Dickson Ranch, a young, renovated marsh with some exciting things happening! We will be looking to identify some amazing migratory birds like: Canvasback duck, American Widgeon, Lincoln Sparrow, Western MeadowLark, Green-winged Teal, Say’s Phoebe and Western Sandpiper. We will also be looking at the ecological differences between 30 years and 10 years of marsh rehabilitation. Other resident birds we’ll be looking for include: Great Blue Heron, White-tailed Kite, Common Yellow throat, Marsh Wren, Wilson’s Snipe and Northern Harrier.

Clay Anderson has been birding since he was 7 years old. He obtained his formal degree in Art at San Jose City College and has worked for numerous nature-focused organizations for over 30 years. He holds 16+ years experience as a naturalist and Environmental Educator. He is the current Youth Program Manager for Golden Gate Bird Alliance going on 8 years, and teaches Ornithology at Merritt College.

Registration is through the Winged Migration Expo and begins mid-January.

Springtime in the Sears Point uplands brings a display of yellow violets, pink checkerbloom, blue lupines, and many other wildflowers. Join us for a walk across the foothills of Cougar Mountain to see these wildflower meadows up close while enjoying the vistas across San Pablo Bay. This leisurely walk is about 1 mile with about 200 feet in elevation gain, across grasslands grazed by cattle.  

Level: Moderate 

Cada primavera, Sears Point Ranch presenta una gran variedad de flores silvestres en las estribaciones de Cougar Mountain. Únase a Sonoma Land Trust para dar un paseo por los pastizales y a descubrir los múltiples colores que cubren las laderas. Haremos una parada para almorzar en un punto con unas vistas impresionantes de la bahía de San Pablo. Esta ruta de senderismo tiene una longitud aproximada de 1.5 millas y un desnivel de 300 pies. 

Nivel: Moderado  

Sears Point Ranch hosts an abundance of wildflowers on the foothills of Cougar Mountain each spring. Join Sonoma Land Trust for a walk through the pasture lands and discover the many colors that cover the hillsides. We’ll stop for lunch at an amazing vista point with views across the San Pablo Bay. This hike is approximately 1.5 miles with a 300-foot elevation gain. 

Level: Moderate 

Join Sonoma Land Trust and Ag + Open Space for a hike at Glen Oaks Ranch — an historic ranch located in Sonoma Valley near Glen Ellen. We’ll take a look at some of the early blooming wildflowers, and observe the regrowth post-2017 fires. This 234-acre preserve was donated to Sonoma Land Trust in 2001. Sonoma County Ag + Open Space holds a conservation easement on this land, which designates three conservation zones — historic, agriculture and forever wild. This hike is approximately 3 miles with a 300-foot elevation gain. 

Level: Moderate  

Glen Oaks was protected in 2001 by Ag + Open Space for recreation and preservation of its natural resources. This event is free and made possible by Sonoma County taxpayers, who fund the work of Ag + Open Space with a quarter-cent sales tax.   

Join Sonoma Land Trust and raptor guide Adrian Johnson for an exploration of the Sonoma Creek Baylands. We’ll explore this area near Skaggs Island with a focus on raptors and other birds. Situated in the heart of the Sonoma Creek Baylands, Camp 4 is a former tidal marsh which was diked and drained over 125 years ago for agriculture and is slated for restoration in the coming years. It sits between the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge and the Napa-Sonoma Marshes Wildlife Area. Camp 4 is nearly encircled by seven miles of tidal slough channels, making it an essential part of the broader wetland network which, when restored, will act as the most critical defense area against rising sea levels in the San Francisco Bay Area. The purchase of this 1,148-acre property in 2023 was made possible through a partnership between Sonoma Land Trust, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.  

Level: Gentle 

Join Sonoma Land Trust and Friends of the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge for a leisurely walk on the Dickson Trail. We’ll observe the 10-year-old current tidal marsh restoration area at the former Dickson Ranch in comparison to the 30-year-old tidal marsh restoration at the Sonoma Baylands as we walk along the levee trail that separates the two. 

Level: Gentle 

Join Sonoma Land Trust and Sonoma County Ag + Open Space for a walk at the Sonoma Mountain Vernal Pools. This 174-acre preserve protects rare and threatened plant species and conserves a significant portion of a wildlife corridor. We will walk through the oak woodlands and meadows to see the vernal pools and enjoy the beauty of this ecological preserve. The Sonoma Mountain Vernal Pools property was acquired by Sonoma Land Trust in March of 2023. As a partner in the project, Sonoma County Ag + Open Space holds a conservation easement on the property. Additional funding partners include the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the State Coastal Conservancy, and the California Natural Resources Agency. This land protection will ensure the ongoing health of the property’s natural features, including two rare vernal pools, mature oak woodlands, intact grasslands, and portions of Yulupa Creek. 

Level: Moderate 

Sonoma Mountain Vernal Pools was protected in 2003 by Ag + Open Space for recreation and preservation of its natural resources. This event is free and made possible by Sonoma County taxpayers, who fund the work of Ag + Open Space with a quarter-cent sales tax. 

Únase a Sonoma Land Trust y Espacios Abiertos y Agrícolas en sus excursiones familiares y bilingües. Este mes de febrero iremos a Sonoma Mountain Vernal Pools para escuchar el canto de los pájaros y a admirar piscinas vernales que dan luz a flores de poco común. Esta salida es gratuita, dirigida en español, y está diseñada con actividades para toda la familia: padres, abuelos, hijos y nietos. ¡Hay transporte disponible!   

Nivel: Suave   

Sonoma Mountain Vernal Pools fue protegido por Espacios Abiertos y Agrícolas en 2023 para su uso recreativo y la preservación de sus recursos naturales. Este evento es gratuito y es posible gracias a los votantes del condado de Sonoma, que financian la labor de Espacios Abiertos y Agrícolas (Ag+ Open Space) con un impuesto sobre las ventas de un cuarto de céntimo. 

Join Sonoma Land Trust and Open and Ag+ Open Space on their bilingual family excursions. This February, we will visit Sonoma Mountain Vernal Pools to listen to birdsongs and admire vernal pools that give life to rare flowers. This outing is free, conducted bilingually, and designed with activities for the whole family: parents, grandparents, children, and grandchildren. Transportation is available!    

Level: Gentle 

Sonoma Mountain Vernal Pools was protected by Ag+ Open Space in 2023 for recreational use and the preservation of its natural resources. This event is free and made possible by Sonoma County voters, who fund the work of Agricultural and Open Spaces (Ag+ Open Space) with a quarter-cent sales tax. 

Join Sonoma Land Trust and guides from the Petaluma Wetlands Alliance for a migratory bird walk! Shollenberger Park has received national recognition as an important birding site by the Audubon Society and, as part of the Petaluma Wetlands, was included on an international list of critical wetlands (Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance designation). This highlights its critical role in supporting migratory bird populations. This walk is ADA accessible on flat terrain. Bring your own binoculars or let us know if you’d like to borrow a pair. 

Level: Gentle 

Join Sonoma Land Trust and raptor guide Adrian Johnson for an exploration of the Sonoma Creek Baylands as part of the SF Bay Flyway Festival. We’ll explore this area near Skaggs Island with a focus on raptors and other birds. Situated in the heart of the Sonoma Creek Baylands, Camp 4 is a former tidal marsh which was diked and drained over 125 years ago for agriculture and is slated for restoration in the coming years. It sits between the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge and the Napa-Sonoma Marshes Wildlife Area. Camp 4 is nearly encircled by seven miles of tidal slough channels, making it an essential part of the broader wetland network which, when restored, will act as the most critical defense area against rising sea levels in the San Francisco Bay Area. The purchase of this 1,148-acre property in 2023 was made possible through a partnership between Sonoma Land Trust, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.  

Level: Gentle