Multiple activities are available during September through the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, from watching Sandhill cranes to touring local ecological reserves. Following is a listing of events.
First through third Saturdays and Sundays of the month — Sandhill Crane Wetland Tours at Woodbridge Ecological Reserve, 7730 W. Woodbridge Road, Lodi. Online registration has begun for those wishing to participate in these guided tours, which run October through February. Registration is available online at www.wildlife.ca.gov/regions/3/crane-tour. A one-day Lands Pass must be purchased to attend and instructions are available on the same website. Tours fill fast and registration may be done as much as six weeks in advance. For more information, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/regions/3/crane-tour.
Various Days — Guided Wetland Tours, By Reservation, at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, 3207 Rutherford Road, Gridley. A wildlife naturalist will lead any group, school or organization on a half-mile route through the diverse wetlands of the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. General information includes wildlife identification, behavior patterns and conservation efforts. The experience can be customized to include requested information. The minimum group size is 18 people. For more information, call (530) 846-7505 or email lori.dieter@wildlife.ca.gov.
Various Days — Ecological Reserve Tours at Elkhorn Slough, 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville. Volunteers lead walks every Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 11 a.m. Binoculars and bird books are available for the public to borrow at no cost. The visitor center and main overlook are fully accessible. The day use permit fee is $4.12 per person, ages 16 and older (permits may be purchased on-site). Groups of five or more should please notify staff that they are coming and groups of 10 or more can request a separate tour. For more information, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/lands/places-to-visit/elkhorn-slough-er.
Saturday, Sept. 15 — Coastal Cleanup Day 2018, 9 a.m. to noon, Elkhorn Slough Reserve, 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville. Volunteers will remove trash from the road bordering the reserve to keep the habitat clean and safe. Elkhorn Slough Reserve will provide materials and refreshments. All ages are welcome but those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. For more information, contact Ariel Hunter at ariel@elkhornslough.org.
Thursday, Sept. 20 — California Fish and Game Commission Wildlife Resources Committee Meeting, time to be determined, Resources Building, 1416 Ninth St., Sacramento. For more information, visit www.fgc.ca.gov/meetings/2018/index.aspx.
Saturday, Sept. 22 — 24th Annual Oroville Salmon Festival, Feather River Fish Hatchery, 5 Table Mountain Blvd., Oroville, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and in downtown Oroville, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will feature tours to view salmon spawning, informational booths, educational displays and vendor booths. For more information, please visit www.salmonfestoroville.org.
Saturday, Sept. 22 — Elkhorn Slough Reserve Open House, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Elkhorn Slough Reserve, 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville. Activities include guided walking tours and an opportunity to meet scientists. The annual event is free to the public. For more information, contact Virginia Guhin at (831) 728-2822 or visit www.elkhornslough.org.
Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 22 and 23 — Youth Waterfowl Hunt Days for Northeastern California Zone. In order to participate, hunters must be 17 years of age or younger and accompanied by a non-hunting adult 18 years of age or older. People should contact the wildlife area or national wildlife refuge they wish to hunt for details. For more information, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/waterfowl.
Tuesday, Sept. 25 — CDFW Conservation Lecture Series, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Natural Resources Building, First Floor Auditorium, 1416 Ninth St., Sacramento. Mark Tukman presents “A Living Map for a Changing Landscape — fine-scale vegetation and habitat mapping in Sonoma County. A recently completed fine-scale vegetation map for Sonoma County that highlights recent advances in landscape and habitat assessment will be discussed. The map has many users, including the conservation community, water managers and planners. Attendance is free. To register and for more information, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/conservation/lectures.
