A birding exploration sponsored by International Bird Rescue brought myriad bird lovers to Gold Hills and Rush Ranch websites . At the latter, about 23 types were spotted Saturday early morning. (Photo by Kimberly K. Fu, The Reporter)
The bird was absolutely the word Saturday as flocks of feathered fowl lovers collected at Rush Ranch in Suisun City for the Backyard Bird Count for Kids occasion.
The experience was sponsored by Fairfield-based International Bird Rescue (IBS) in collaboration with the Pacific Flyway Center and Solano Land Trust.
The enjoyable started at 9 a.m. at Rush Ranch, where individuals were divided into 2 groups — Rush Ranch, which ended up being Team Chicken and Gold Hills, which ended up being Team Turkey Vulture.
Volunteer Lisa Seto encouraged “inside voices” and a soft action.
“We don’t want to scare away the birds and we don’t want to flush (out) any of the animals,” she said. “They’re napping.”
She shared a bit about IBS, including their belief that “every bird matters,” and provided a call to action.
“We believe that every day every person can take action in defense of wildlife,” Seto said. “We’re all in this together.”
That said, Team Chicken left on a walking at the nature maintain led by volunteer Jim Walsh and Team Turkey Vulture headed to the Gold Hills place near Cordelia Slough with Seto.
Walsh detailed his objective: “To have fun and see as many birds of as many species as possible.”
A birder for more than twenty years, he and his better half, Colleen, struck upon the pastime at a plein art fair in Benicia. It started with a book and grew as the couple adventured outdoors.
A great deal of folks like birds since of their superpower.
“They can do what most people can’t,” Walsh explained. “They can fly. The freedom of flying…”
As the group explored the rich marshland, a sweet trilling might be heard. Apparently, the noises were the tunes of tree swallows, which might be seen sweeping about.
Though this press reporter was thrilled with the sight, Walsh provided some sage notes: “They’re fairly common,” he encouraged.
Next came a passel of European starlings seated atop a high pole, their shape dark versus the intense sky.
As the sharp fragrance of eucalyptus showed up, crisp and revitalizing, Walsh revealed the discovery of Yellow Rump Warmers seated in the aromatic trees.
There were Orange House Finches and ground squirrel holes, a possible vole pocket and dazzling ladybugs assisted onto neighboring branches.
A Eurasian Collared Dove made a look, as did a barn owl. There was likewise proof of a downed barn owl, clusters of its plumes scattered on te ground in what might have been an attack by a Great Horned Owl.
“I heard a Meadowlark singing and a House Finch singing,” Walsh revealed up ahead, leading the group to an outlook including blue skies, fluffy clouds and a flowering landscape.
Richard Foft of Fairfield and his granddaughter, 7-year-old Flora Foft of Sacramento, kicked back on a neighboring bench. In town for the weekend, the family was thrilled to simply hang out together.
“We come to Rush Ranch all the time. There’s a lot here to explore,” Richard said. “I would recommend anyone bring their kids here. It’s a wonderful resource.”
Flora said she enjoys Blue Jays. Sadly, none popped by throughout the wildlife trip.
Still, there were fat cattails blowing in the breeze, puddles of marshland, adequate discussion and, obviously, more birds.
Walsh motivates birding, explaining it as a crucial destination.
“I learned about everything I know by going on Audubon field trips,” he said.
Get began with a bird guide and development to more books after devoting details in the guides to memory, he said. Study, research study, research study and usage that understanding on a walk or run or walking. Just have a good time, he continued.
By day’s end, both Team Chicken and Team Turkey Vulture had each found 23 types of birds. Though Team Chicken’s board just logged 22, he explained, they forgot to count the starlings.
Rush Ranch hosts adequate occasions throughout the year. The next is a book finalizing at 2 p.m. March 18. Rue Mapp, author of “Nature Swagger” and creator and CEO of “Outdoor Afro” will speak. It’s restricted to 100 individuals, so RSVP to solanolandtrust.org.
There will likewise be a “Communing with Cattle” workshop that day, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. RSVP to solanolandtrust.org/events.
Rush Ranch lies at 3521 Grizzly Island Rd., Suisun City.
