Serving Merced and Stanislaus Counties
WELCOME!
Welcome to the digital home of the Stanislaus Audubon Society. As the President of this Audubon Society Chapter, I invite you to join us on a journey of discovery, education and birding with intent. Stanislaus Audubon Society promotes the enjoyment and protection of birds and other wildlife by engaging people of all ages. Protecting and conserving nature and the environment transcends political, cultural, and social boundaries.
Join our Social Circles and let's go birding!
Salvatore Salerno
Stanislaus Audubon Society Programs & Field Trips
Please visit the Stanislaus Audubon Upcoming Events webpage for all the details
FIELD TRIP - MOSS LANDING AND MONTEREY AREA
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17
6:30 a.m. – ALL DAY
Meet at: Stanislaus County Library parking lot 1500 I Street, Modesto, CA
Leaders: John Fulton, John Harris, Xavier Sandoval
This all-day field trip provides an opportunity to see shorebirds, waterbirds and passerines along the Monterey Bay coastline.
Please visit the Upcoming Events webpage for all the details
Merced National Wildlife Refuge
Please visit the Merced NWR Upcoming Events website for all the details
August 3, 2024 at 10:00am: Nature and Wildlife Photography with Photographer Rick Lewis (indoor presentation) – 7376 S. Wolfsen Rd, Los Banos, CA 93635, Nature and wildlife photographer Rick Lewis will share a slideshow of his amazing wildlife photos taken on the refuges of the San Luis NWR Complex during the past year.
Recent Additions to the Stanislaus County Bird List
BLACK SKIMMERS
On Saturday, June 8, 2024, Jim Gain found two BLACK SKIMMERS at the restricted Modesto Wastewater Treament Facilities during their once-monthly schedule for a bird survey open to the public.
Photo by Jim Gain.
ROSEATE SPOONBILL
On Saturday, April 27, 2024, Jodi Smith found a ROSEATE SPOONBILL at the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge. The bird was seen among egrets and herons all that weekend by local and out-of-town birders. Photo by Mark Elness.
GET TO KNOW THE CITY OF MODESTO'S OFFICIAL CITY BIRD
THE YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE
Yellow-billed Magpie Range Map
The City of Modesto is located near the geographic center of the Yellow-billed Magpie's range (See Range Map). These handsome, intelligent and boisterous birds are only found here in California. Their contrasting black-and-white body, wings and tail with blue-green iridescent accents, make them easy to identify. Magpies are large birds, measuring nearly seventeen inches in length, with a wingspan of twenty four inches. Their diet centers on insects, seeds, nuts and fruit; however they will eat almost anything, including roadkill, nestlings, eggs and rodents. They nest in colonies of fifteen to twenty pairs and build their large, dome-covered nests high up in trees. They can be found anywhere in Modesto; however, if you want to look for this beautiful bird, we suggest Dry Creek Regional Park or MJC West Campus on most mornings.
UPDATE: ACCESS TO MODESTO WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES
The ponds at this facility are open again (with certain restrictions) for birdwatching to the general public on the second Saturday and also on the second and fourth Sunday of each month. Please visit the Modesto Sewage Ponds webpage for more details.