Saturday, December 10: Winter Birding at Las Cruzitas Ranch

Male Phainopepla. Photo by Heather Pickard, Macaulay Library.

Field Trip with Cruz Phillips

Saturday, December 10, 9 a.m. to noon. Participation is limited to 20. Advance registration opens at 9:00 a.m. on November 10 for members and on November 30 for nonmembers at syvnhs@syvnature.org or 805/ 693-5683.
Members $10 / Nonmembers $25 / Children $5

The Las Cruzitas Ranch is ideal habitat for Prairie falcons. Photo by Greg Gillson, Macaulay Library.

This trip will introduce the rich bird life at Las Cruzitas, a 1500-acre ranch to the north of Cachuma Lake in the Santa Ynez Valley. Our outing will entail easy strolling to view birds in the wild and around feeders. This can be a fulfilling trip for those with limited mobility, as there are multiple easy access bird feeders and great diversity and numbers at the feeders. Individuals or a small group are welcome to stay at the feeders. This will be a great opportunity for both novice and experienced birders to see our valley’s winter avifauna. The ranch also has occasional fly-overs from nearby Cachuma Lake, including bald and golden eagles.

Bring binoculars and cameras and expect to see over 40 species of birds.  You can bring a sack lunch and stay longer to eat in the yard near the feeders.

Rufous-crowned sparrow. Photo by Heather Pickard, Macaulay Library.

Cruz Phillips is a life-long birder and third-generation valley resident. She has led many field trips over the years for Audubon and other organizations.