Every Saturday, 8:30-11am. Join RRAS at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary for a free guided field trip with an experienced birder. The meet-up spot is the parking area at the end of I St. (Klopp Lake). Bring binoculars and scopes if you have them. If not, come on out anyway!
Trip leaders for March 2026:
March 7, Janelle Chojnacki
March 14, Tamar Danufsky
March 21, Carol Wilson
March 28, Jonah Lenert
Sunday, March 8, 9-11am. Join trip leader Ralph Bucher for a walk at the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. This easy two-mile walk is along a wide, flat, gravel-packed trail. Email Ralph to sign up at thebook@reninet.com.
Sunday, March 15, 9-11am. Ralph Bucher leads a walk on the Eureka Waterfront Trail, starting at the foot of Del Norte Street and continuing on a flat, paved trail that is wheelchair accessible. Shorebirds have arrived! Email Ralph to sign up at thebook@reninet.com.
Sunday, March 15, 8:30-11:30am. Dead Mouse Marsh This intriguingly named site is tucked away at the edge of Myrtletown, offering opportunities to view fresh- and saltwater marsh and tidal slough species close to town. Join leader Ken Burton (shrikethree AT gmail DOT com) for a roughly two-hour visit, potentially onto some adjacent private property. Breeding season will be underway for some species, so we’ll see if we can add some breeding evidence for the California Bird Atlas Arcata South CW block. Meet at the corner of Park and Quaker streets for the short walk to the marsh (where parking is limited).
Saturday, March 21, 8:30-10:30am. Tunnel Flat River Access–Trinity River (across from the Francis B. Mathews Rest Area in Salyer) This tends to be a good spot for migrating hummingbirds early in the season. Anna’s, Allen’s, and Rufous are all likely. It is also a reliable location to see American Dippers, and there is the possibility of viewing an active nest. It is a unique and gorgeous location at the bend in the Trinity River just downstream from the confluence with South Fork Trinity River. Additional possible species include Bald Eagle, Double-Crested Cormorant, Common Merganser, and other birds common to Willow Creek river adjacent locations. Contact trip leader Sean McCann (seanmccannlac@gmail.com / 707-601-5550) to sign up.
Sunday, March 22, 8-11am. United Indian Health Services Potawot Health Village and RRAS are cohosting a free guided bird walk at Potawot Health Village in Arcata. Enjoy casual hiking and birding at this well-maintained and popular site. The 20-acre restoration area is part of the larger 40-acre Potawot Health Village, a coastal prairie in the ancestral Wiyot district of Gudinih. The land, now known as Ku’wah-dah-wilth Restoration Area, includes plants used in basketry, one of the most important cultural activities of tribes in the region. Ku’wah-dah-wilth is the Wiyot term for “comes back to life.” Volunteers have removed non-native invasive plants and continue to do so. Paths were created so people could wander the restored lands and refresh themselves. RRAS guides will help identify birds and other wildlife. UIHS Traditional Land Management Specialist Matt Hinshaw will provide an overview and activity information. Meet at the main parking lot at 1600 Weeot Way, Arcata. A limited number of binoculars will be available if needed. Contact Sean McAllister (whiteouters@gmail.com / 707-496-8790) or (matthew.hinshaw@uihs.org / 707-825-5068) for more information.
Saturday, March 28, 9-11am. Wigi Wetlands Volunteer Workday. Join a fun group of volunteers to create bird-friendly habitat in a section of the bay trail behind Bayshore Mall. Bring water and gloves. We provide tools and snacks. Contact Susan Penn at susanpenn60@gmail.com for more information.
Saturday, March 28, 8:30-11am. Join RRAS in Southern Humboldt for a free guided bird walk. This will be the last SoHum walk until fall. Meet leader Tess McGuire at Tooby Park, one mile west of Garberville on Sprowl Creek Road. Contact Tess (tmcguire9130@gmail.com) with any questions and to let her know you are going.
Saturday, March 28, 8-11am. Special event at ‘O Rew (formerly the Orick Mill site) Join RRAS to view the newly completed Prairie Creek Floodplain Restoration Project. Project managers from CalTrout will join the tour to discuss the project’s history and answer questions. Other partners, including Save the Redwoods League and the Yurok Tribe, may also join the tour if they are available. Located just north of Orick at the base of Bald Hills Road, this area is a renowned birding hotspot. As public access is currently restricted, this is a unique opportunity to see the restoration firsthand and observe local bird life at the start of the breeding season. We may even spot California Condors; if not seen during the site visit, participants may choose to drive up Bald Hills Road afterward to look for them. Wearing knee-high rubber boots will be helpful to explore areas with uneven terrain and see the most habitat. All participants will be required to sign a liability waiver and will be asked to sanitize rubber boots due to the presence of introduced New Zealand mudsnails in the creek. For questions and to register and discuss carpooling options, please contact Sean McAllister at whiteouters@gmail.com or 707-496-8790.
JOIN US! RRAS is a community of volunteers committed to protecting and advocating for birds and wildlife and their habitat. Your membership/donation allows us to offer a variety of free guided field trips every month, programs and events exploring birds and nature’s wonders, and our newsletter, The Sandpiper. You can learn more about our chapter and how to become a member by going to rras.org.