Welcome to the Madrone Audubon Society

The Sonoma County Chapter of the National Audubon Society was established in 1967 as a non-profit organization promoting education, enjoyment, and protection of the natural world, especially birds.

Fall 2025 Field Trips & Outings

Bring binoculars and wear outdoor clothing suitable for the weather forecast. Our outings are free for members and the public. (We may have binoculars to loan for your outing.)

Saturday September 20th, 8:30am-11:00am
Spring Lake Regional Park, Santa Rosa.
Directions: Channel Drive & Violetti Road Entrance. Park in the large lot opposite the Swim Lagoon. We will walk to North Peninsula and return. County Parks parking permit is required. (may purchase at entrance kiosk). No registration required.
Leader: Linda Fraley (559) 779-5211

Sunday September 21th 6:00pm—8:00pm
Field Trip: Swift migration at Rio Lindo Adventist Academy, 3200 Rio Lindo Ave, Healdsburg. Come watch the annual spectacle of thousands of tiny swifts dropping into the chimney, their night roost, as part of their migration route to southern Mexico. Free parking. No registration required. Leader: Peter Leveque, (707) 542-8946.

Thursday October 9, 2025, 8:30am to 10:30am,
Spring Lake Regional Park, Santa Rosa
Directions: Take Newanga Ave., off Summerfield Rd. Meet at the south end of park near restrooms. County Parks parking permit is required. We will bird along the lake to the Fisherman's Trail, looking for resident and fall arrival birds. No registration required.
Leader: Janet Bosshard (707) 480-3432.

Saturday October 11th 9:00am
Junior Audubon: Bird Box Building, ages 6-15. Enjoy a morning with your kids building nesting bird boxes. Learn how important these boxes are to the survival of bluebirds, swallows, and other birds. Spring Lake Regional Park, Shady Oaks Picnic Area, 393 Violetti Rd, Santa Rosa. County Parks parking permit is required. (may purchase at entrance kiosk). No registration required. Contact: John Lundblad johnlunchbag@gmail.com

Saturday October 11th 9:00am—2:00pm.
Field Trip: Jenner Headlands Hawk Watch with Dave Barry and Peter Leveque. A special outing on The Wildlands Conservancy property to observe the spectacular Fall hawk migration along our piece of the Pacific Flyway. Our counts will contribute to the data being collected for this Hawk Watch program. Come to observe and learn, or come to count.
Directions: Jenner Headlands Preserve parking lot, 1 mile North of the town of Jenner at 9:00. (Not the Jenner Visitor Center lot). Leave parking area at 9:30 in carpools and drive up to Hawkwatch site to start Hawkwatch at 10:00. There is a short uphill walk. Bring binocs, water, lunch, layered clothing including a jacket, camp chair. Contact: madroneaudubon@gmail.com

Saturday October 18th 8:30am-11:00am
Spring Lake Regional Park, Santa Rosa.
Directions: Channel Drive & Violetti Road Entrance. No registration required. Parking permit required. Leader: Linda Fraley (559) 779-5211

Thursday, November 13th, 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM.
Ragle Ranch Regional Park, 500 Ragle Rd, Sebastopol. County Parks parking permit is required, available at entrance kiosk.
Directions: Go through park entrance and meet back by the dog park and rest rooms. We will walk on mostly flat, dirt paths, looking for fall bird visitors. No registration required. Leader: Janet Bosshard, (707) 480-3432

Thursday, December 11th, 8:30 am-10:30 am,
Ellis Creek Ponds, 3900 Cypress Dr Petaluma.
Directions: From Hwy 101 south, get off at Hwy 116, left on Lakeville Hwy, turn right on S. McDowell Blvd. Ext, right on Cypress Drive and follow to end through the gates, park near the restrooms. We will look for early water birds. Be prepared for cool, windy conditions. Watch weather report for seasonal showers. We'll still try to walk, if conditions are not too severe. Free parking. No registration required. Leader: Janet Bosshard: (707) 480-3432

Out and About

Winged Wonders, April 11 - October 2025
Sonoma Botanical Garden, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM daily, closed Tuesdays
12841 Sonoma Hwy 12, Glen Ellen
Visit the fantastical exhibition of larger-than-life bird sculptures, created from all natural materials by artists Donna Dodson & Andy Moerlein. See sonomabg.org to learn more or call (707) 494-7585 for info and questions. (Carolyn Greene, long-time volunteer and Naturalist, is arranging several activities.)