Upcoming Field Trips

The quickest way to find out about upcoming trips and registration details is via our member's eblast (these will likely come out in the last week of month prior to the trip). If you have not already signed up for our eblasts sign up here.

NOTE: The Eaton Canyon field trips have been suspended. Learn more.

Sign up and confirmation notes:

If the Google sign-up form for the trip you want to go on doesn't work the first time, try reloading the web page or restarting your browser, then try again.

If it's less than 3 days before a trip that you signed up for, and you think you should have gotten a message but haven't, try looking for it (carefully) in your spam/junk folder.

If these suggestions didn't help solve the issue, please contact us at fieldtrips@pasadenaaudubon.org .

NOTE: The Eaton Canyon field trips have been suspended. Learn more.

February 8: Beginner Birding at Lower Arroyo Seco

Saturday, February 8, 2025, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Trip leaders: Jeff and Leeann Hale

Are you curious about birding but don’t know where to start? Got new binoculars for Christmas but are unsure how to use them? Set a New Year's resolution to learn how to identify our local birds? Join us for a beginner-friendly bird walk through the Arroyo Seco!

We will be meeting at Desiderio Neighborhood Park for a short introduction to birding and using binoculars before heading down to the newly renovated trails of the Lower Arroyo Seco as we spot local birds and share tips for identifying species. We will have a few pairs of binoculars available to borrow. Anyone can sign up, no membership is required.

Participant number: No Limit

PHOTO: Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria). Photo by Chris Spurgeon

To join this bird walk, please sign up here.

February 8: Quail Lake

Saturday, February 8, 2025
7:30 AM - 12:00 noon

Trip Leaders: Naresh Satyan and Lance Benner

Join us for a trip to explore winter bird visitors to Quail Lake. Quail Lake is a reservoir along the California Aqueduct in the northwest corner of Los Angeles County. Wintering waterfowl species here include many species not easily seen on the coastal slope, including Greater Scaup, Common Merganser and Common Goldeneye. We will also look for raptors such as Ferruginous Hawk, Prairie Falcon and eagles, and anything else that may show up.

We will walk about 4 miles round trip on mostly flat terrain with our spotting scopes. Quail Lake is 75 minutes from Pasadena via the I-5 freeway. Spotting scopes are very helpful if you have them. In addition to your binoculars and your scopes, please bring sturdy shoes, a hat, sunscreen, plenty of water, and dress in layers to protect yourselves from cold and windy conditions that are often present in this part of the Antelope Valley. Some of us may continue birding in the area after the trip ends -- if you choose to do so, please bring lunch and a full tank of gas. There are portapotties in the parking lot of the lake.

Participant limit: none.

Trip details such as meeting location will be emailed to signed-up participants 3-5 days before the trip.

PHOTO: Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula). Photo by Chris Spurgeon.

Sign up here

February 9: Los Angeles Arboretum Monthly Bird Walk

Sunday, February 9, 2025

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Trip Leader: Katy Mann

We are excited to partner with the Los Angeles County Arboretum to offer free monthly bird walks to PAS members. Please note that due to new rules implemented by LA Arboretum these trips will only be open to current PAS members (and not friends of members as in past years). In other words all persons attending must be current Pasadena Audubon members -- either on their own, or as part of a PAS family membership.

Not a PAS member? Join here!

This field trip is offered by reservation only. To reserve a spot go to https://www.arboretum.org/events/bird-walk-with-pasadena-audubon-8/. Registration is scheduled to open at 9 AM on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT REGISTERING FOR THE ARBORETUM WALK: Evidently when the monthly Arboretum walk has reached capacity, the sign-up form stops functioning correctly. This issue is beyond our control. If in doubt, sign up early!


PHOTO: Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus) by Luke Tiller.

February 15: Bette Davis Picnic Area, Glendale Narrows

Saturday, February 15, 2025
8:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Leaders: Mark Hunter, Casey Hunter

Along the northeast edge of Griffith Park lies one of the more intriguing birding hotspots of the LA River: Bette Davis Picnic Area / Glendale Narrows Riverwalk. The river habitat and tree cover at this site provide good year-round birding, and in February we can expect a variety of wintering waterfowl, songbirds, and shorebirds. This walk is better than most if you are a photographer looking for eye candy.

The walk is nearly all-level on stable surfaces. However, at one point, we might cross under a bridge on a slanted concrete bank, so wear shoes with a good grip.

Participant limit: none

PHOTO: Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis). Photo by Chris Spurgeon

Sign up here

February 19: Midweek Nice and Easy Birding Group: Bonelli Park

Wednesday, February 19, 2025, 8:00 AM - noon
Trip leader: Ed Stonick

Bonelli Park
We will meet at a pull off area just to the right of the park entrance on the west side, off Via Verde just east of the 57 freeway. (There is no admission charge from Nov. 1 to Feb. 28 on weekdays.)

Participant number: No Limit

PHOTO: American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos). Photo by Chris Spurgeon

Sign up here.

February 22: Huntington Library

Saturday, February 22, 2025
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Trip Leader: Mark Hunter

This is a great walk for beginning birders and families, with easy walking and a nice variety of species present year round.

Please note that due to rules implemented by The Huntington these trips will only be open to current PAS members. You must be a Pasadena Audubon member to attend this trip! After you sign up for the field trip, you will receive an email acknowledging your signup. The acknowledgment email is not a guarantee of a spot! PAS will process signups in the order that they are received, verifying your membership status. The trip leader will contact you after signups are closed, informing you whether you have confirmed spots or are on the wait list. Not yet a member? You can sign up for PAS membership here.

If you have a Huntington membership that allows you to enter the gardens at 8:00 on weekends, please consider making a reservation using your Huntington membership, thereby freeing up spots for PAS members who are not Huntington members.

Photo: California Towhee (Melozone crissalis) by Chris Spurgeon

Field Trip General Notes

This field trip is offered by reservation only. If you miss out on the initial places you will be added to a waitlist and will be emailed by the trip leaders if a place opens up. If you are unable to attend a booked trip please email the trip leader and allow them to make your space available to someone on the wait list.

Sign up!

February 23: Bonelli Park

Sunday, February 23, 2025
7:30 AM to noon
Leaders: Darren Dowell, Oliver Huang
Languages available: English, Mandarin 中文

Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas boasts an impressive list of birds, as the lake and surrounding preserve provide excellent habitat for a wide range of species. Over the years, over 300 species of birds have been recorded here. Join Pasadena Audubon as we explore a slice of this park, keeping an eye out for unusual waterfowl and uncommon wintering songbirds.

This trip will involve slow walking for a few miles on well-maintained trails and walkways.

There are restrooms at this location. Note that there is a $12 fee per vehicle for entry to this park.

Trip details such as meeting location will be emailed to signed-up participants 3-5 days before the trip
Participant number: No Limit

PHOTO: Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps). Photo by Chris Spurgeon.

This field trip is filled. Sign up here and we'll contact you if space opens up.