General Meeting info: The meeting begins at 7:30 PM on the third Monday of the month, except in June, July, August and December, at the First United Methodist Church 1551 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa.

The First United Methodist Church is on Montgomery Drive about one-half mile west of Montgomery Village between California Avenue and Talbot Avenue, and just two blocks east of Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. Parking is available on Montgomery Drive.

Wednesday, December 3, 7:30 PM
BOARD MEETING. Sonoma County Environmental Center, 55A Ridgway Avenue, Santa Rosa. Contact Janeann Erickson for agenda information at 795-2498.

Wednesday & Thursday Dec. 3 and Dec. 4
SACRAMENTO VALLEY WILDLIFE REFUGES. Auto birding tours (with stops at designated observation points) at Sacramento Valley National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Meet at the Sacramento NWR headquarters at 9:30 AM on Wednesday. Bring lunch and liquids. Exit from Interstate 5 at Princeton (approximately 17 miles north of Williams), turn north on the county service road, and proceed to the NWR headquarters on the right. Driving time from Santa Rosa is about 2.5 hours. Many of us will stay in Yuba City (Best Western Bonanza Inn, 530-674-8824) on Wednesday night and bird Gray Lodge Wildlife Area on Thursday. Those who also plan to spend Tuesday night in Williams or Willows can view a sometimes spectacular fly-in/out of waterfowl between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM from the observation platform at the southeast corner of the Sacramento refuge. For information, contact Tom McCuller, <sisyphus@sonic.net>, 546-1812.

Thursday, December 11, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
BODEGA BAY. Bird Walk. From the center of the town of Bodega Bay, drive north on Highway 1. Turn left at East Shore Road (the Bodega Head turnoff); then turn right at the stop sign and continue 0.3 mile to the unpaved parking lot on the right. Bring lunch, liquids, and layered clothing. For information, contact Tom McCuller, <sisyphus@sonic.net>, 546-1812.

Saturday, December 13 & Jan. 10, 9:00 AM
SHOLLENBERGER PARK. Petaluma Wetlands Alliance leads a bird walk. Meet at the first kiosk. Rain cancels. Contact Gerald Moore at 763-3577.

Saturday December 13, 9:30 AM to Dusk
SACRAMENTO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE. Bird Walk. This is our annual trip to the Sacramento Valley. Meet at the refuge parking lot. Directions are the same as above. There is a $3 per vehicle day-use fee, waived if you have a Duck Stamp. Some of our group plan to spend Friday and Saturday nights in the town of Willows, to allow us to visit other prime birding spots in the area. Leaders: Tom Cashman, 433-2528; Bill Payne, 546-3331; and Bob Speckels, 569-0563.

Wednesday, Dec. 17, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
LAKE HENNESSEY IN NAPA COUNTY. Bird Walk. From the intersection of Silverado Trail and Highway 128 (which is east of Rutherford), go east on Highway 128 to a parking area at the bottom of the Conn Dam spillway on the left of the road. Bring lunch, liquids, and layered clothing. For information, contact Tom McCuller, <sisyphus@sonic.net>, 546-1812.

Saturday, December 20 & Jan. 17, 10:00 AM
SHOLLENBERGER PARK. Petaluma Wetlands Alliance leads two children/family nature walks. One to two hours, dependent on age of children. Meet at the first kiosk. Rain cancels. For the children/family walk in English, contact Gerald or Mary Edith Moore at 763-3577; for the walk in Spanish, contact Connie Peabody at 763-7458.

Sunday, January 4, Dawn to Dusk
MADRONE AUDUBON CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT. Join a team to participate in Madrone's 42nd annual count in West Sonoma County-no expert skills needed. A post-count dinner will follow at the Sebastopol Community Center. To sign up, please contact CBC Chair Veronica Bowers at 829-2955 or vlbowers@gmail.com.

Wednesday, January 7, 7:30 PM
BOARD MEETING. Sonoma County Environmental Center, 55A Ridgway Avenue, Santa Rosa. Contact Janeann Erickson for agenda information at 795-2498.

Thursday, January 8, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
HOWARTH AND SPRING LAKE PARKS. Bird Walk. Meet at Howarth Park in Santa Rosa. Enter the park from Summerfield Road and proceed to the rear parking lot, adjacent to the lake. Bring lunch, liquids, and layered clothing. For information, contact Tom McCuller, <sisyphus@sonic.net>, 546-1812.

Thursday, January 15, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
ISENBERG CRANE PRESERVE AND CONSUMNES RIVER PRESERVE NEAR LODI. Bird Walk. Note that this walk has been changed to Thursday. Meet at McDonalds in the Sunset Shopping Center in Suisun City at the intersection of Highway 12 and Sunset Avenue/Grizzly Island Road. Driving time to meeting point from Santa Rosa is approximately 1.25 hours. Bring lunch, liquids, and layered clothing. For information, contact Tom McCuller, <sisyphus@sonic.net> or 546-1812.

Saturday, January 17, 8:30 AM to Noon
LAKE SONOMA. Beginners Bird Walk. Meet at the Lake Sonoma Visitor Center. From Highway 101, take Canyon Road to Dry Creek Road, then Rockpile Road to the Center. Informal carpool leaves Santa Rosa at 8:00 AM. To participate, please arrive about ten minutes earlier to make arrangements. Santa Rosa meeting place: Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District office, 747 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa. The parking lot is behind the office (access from Carrillo Street). Rain cancels. Leaders: Tom Cashman, 433-2528; Bill Doyle, 483-8773; Bill Payne, 546-3331; and Bob Speckels, 569-0563.

Saturday, January 17, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
JUNIOR AUDUBON/ CBC FOR KIDS. Sonoma Valley Birding teams up with Madrone Audubon to host a half-day Christmas Bird Count for youngsters. For details and contacts, see Junior Audubon Program Page.

Monday, January 19, 7:30 PM
GENERAL MEETING. "Wildlife of the Brazilian Pantanal and Cerrado." Luis Segura, a naturalist, tour leader and Patagonia native, will introduce us to the rich habitat of west-central Brazil. First United Methodist Church, 1551 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa. Please see the front page announcement. The public is always invited to attend these programs.

Wednesday, January 21, 8:30 AM to Noon
SHOLLENBERGER PARK. Bird Walk. Search for wintering birds at the Shollenberger Park ponds and wetlands in Petaluma. From Santa Rosa, take the Highway 116 exit (Lakeville Highway), go left under Highway 101, turn right at the South McDowell traffic light, proceed to the City Park sign and turn right into the park parking lot. For information, contact Tom McCuller, <sisyphus@sonic.net>, 546-1812.

Thursday, January 29, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
SONOMA COAST: DUNCAN'S LANDING TO GOAT ROCK. Bird Walk. Meet at Duncan's Landing (within the Sonoma Coast State Beach), approximately three miles south of the Russian River on Highway 1. Bring lunch, liquids, and layered clothing. For information, contact Tom McCuller, <sisyphus@sonic.net>, 546-1812.

Wednesday, February 4, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
SEBASTOPOL AREA. Walkabout. We will search for wintering birds in the northeast Laguna, Ragle Park, or other interesting local spots. Meet at the Sebastopol Community Center, 390 Morris Street. Bring lunch, liquids, and layered clothing. For information, contact Tom McCuller, <sisyphus@sonic.net>, 546-1812.

Saturday, February 7, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
BODEGA BAY. Beginners Bird Walk. Meet at the rail ponds parking lot. From the center of the town of Bodega Bay, drive north on Highway 1. Turn left at East Shore Road (the Bodega Head turnoff). Then turn right at the stop sign and continue 0.3 mile to the parking lot on the right. Informal carpools leave Santa Rosa at 7:15 AM. To participate, please arrive about ten minutes earlier to make arrangements. Santa Rosa meeting place: Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District office, 747 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa. The parking lot is behind the office (access from Carrillo Street). Bring lunch, liquids and layers of clothing. Rain cancels. Leaders: Tom Cashman, 433-2528; Bill Doyle, 483-8773; Bill Payne, 546-3331; Bob Speckels, 569-0563, and Ken Wilson 775-2558.

CONSERVATION COMMITTEE. No scheduled meeting this month. If you have conservation concerns, contact Diane Hichwa at dhichwa@earthlink.net.