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 .

Midweek Nice and Easy Birding Club with Ed Stonick

3rd Wednesday of each month, 8AM

Pasadena Audubon is relaunching what used to be our midweek “Magpie Study Group” events. Given that these tongue-in-cheek midweek trips involve little studying and even fewer magpies last year we thought we’d change the name to something that is just a little more descriptive. What these walks will offer is some easy paced birding, with generous later morning start times (8:00-9:00am) typically at just one local location at sites that are picked for both their quality of birding and accessibility for birders.
Upcoming trips will include the Los Angeles River, San Gabriel Spreading Grounds and more. Trips will mainly be run by PAS guide Ed Stonick, with some guest appearances from some other PAS trip leaders.
To sign up for the trips you will need to read our guidelines on field trips.

Then, sign up below. Once you complete the sign up you will be able to access and download the meeting time and locations for the Nice and Easy trips in the coming year. Unlike other current PAS trips these tours will not limit the number of participants.

Questions? Email Ed Stonick at edstonick@gmail.com or Luke Tiller at luke.tiller@gmail.com.

Sign up here

Birding the Spreading Grounds

Saturday, March 4, 2023
7:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Leaders: Luke Tiller and Corey Husic

The water control basins at the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds offer excellent habitat for a wide range of birds. Over the years, more than 220 bird species have ben recorded at this local hotspot, including several exciting rarities. In the winter months, large numbers of waterfowl and gulls tend to congregate here. With the recent rains, the basins are full… of water and ducks! A trip to the spreading grounds is always worth it—you never know what you might see.

This trip will involve a slow, flat 2.5 mi stroll around the spreading grounds on paved or compacted trails.

Participant limit: none

Photo: Snowy Egret (Egretta thula). Photo by Chris Spurgeon

Field Trip General Notes

This field trip is offered by reservation only. Trip details such as meeting time and location will be emailed to participants before the tour departs.

Sign up here

Los Angeles Arboretum Monthly Bird Walk

Sunday, March 12, 2023
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, March 7, 2023. Also be sure to check out the Arboretum's current COVID policies.

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

Bette Davis Picnic Area and Glendale Narrows

Saturday, March 18, 2023
8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Leaders: Mark Hunter and Casey Hunter

Join us for a walk along the L.A. River at Bette Davis Picnic Area, also covering the upper portion of Glendale Narrows. A mid-March trip like this should provide us with looks at wintering waterfowl that are about to depart and several species of shorebirds, as well as assorted swallows and other common and uncommon migrants, plus the three-way struggle for nesting cavities between European Starlings, Acorn Woodpeckers, and Amazona parrots.

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: 20 (chosen by lottery about a week before the trip)

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

Field Trip General Notes

This field trip is offered by reservation only. Trip details such as meeting time and location will be emailed to participants before the tour departs.

Sign up here

Huntington Library

Saturday, March 25, 2023
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.

See our full interim field trip guidelines here.

Sign up!