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.

Saturday May 23, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
JUNIOR AUDUBON. Laguna Preserve Bird Walk - Sensational Swallows!
Please call Veronica Bowers at 829-2955 by May 17 to RSVP. See Madrone Leaves.

Wednesday, May 27, 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
WILLOW CREEK ROAD & GOAT ROCK BEACH. Bird Walk. Meet at the intersection of Hwy. 1 and Willow Creek Rd., immediately south of the Russian River bridge. Bring lunch, liquids, and layered clothing. For information, contact Tom McCuller, <sisyphus@sonic.net>, 546-1812.

Saturday May 30, 8:00 AM to Noon
SPRING LAKE BIRDERS' CHALLENGE. Rev up your competitive juices for a spirited morning of birding at Spring Lake. We'll break into two teams, bird the lake from opposite directions, and meet at noon to compare notes and numbers over lunch. Parking fee ($6) for non-permit holders. From Summerfield Road in Santa Rosa, go east on Hoen Avenue, turn left on Newanga Avenue, turn right inside the park entrance gate, and meet in the parking lot near the restrooms at the top of the hill. Bring lunch, liquids, and layers of clothing. Rain cancels. Leaders: Tom Cashman, 433-2528; Bill Doyle, 483-8773; Bill Payne, 546-3331; and Bob Speckels, 569-0563.

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

Thursday June 4, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
MAYACAMAS MOUNTAIN AUDUBON SANCTUARY AND PINE FLAT ROAD. Bird Walk. Meet for carpooling at Alexander Valley Community Church, two doors west of the Jimtown Store on Alexander Valley Road, northeast of Healdsburg. Bring lunch and liquids. For information, contact Tom McCuller at sisyphus@sonic.net or 546-1812.

Saturday June 6, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
PINE FLAT ROAD. Beginners Bird Walk. Meet to carpool, in as few cars as possible, at the Alexander Valley Community Church, two doors west of the Jimtown Store on Alexander Valley Road, northeast of Healdsburg. After the trip has started, please do not join us in an additional vehicle. The number of cars negatively impacts the birding and the residents of the area. 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.

Sunday June 7, 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM
MAYACAMAS FIELD TRIP. Find and identify dragonflies with Kathy and Dave Biggs. Meet on Pine Flat Road between Red Winery Road and the Sausal Creek Bridge. (Pine Flat Road begins ¼ mile past the Jimtown Store on Highway 128 East.) Visit seeps, springs, ponds, and creeks and end at the Russian River. To view the insects, close-focus binoculars are best, but 10X or higher hand lenses would be helpful. Wear shoes and clothes that can get wet. Children 12+ OK. NOTE: Any rain cancels this easy hike.

Saturday June 13, 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 June 13, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
MAYACAMAS FIELD TRIP. Join Lynn Houser to see spring flowers and plant growth. Same meeting place as June 7 field trip. Plant identification, ecology, and natural history of the Mayacamas area will be featured. This is a moderately strenuous three-to four-mile hike. Bring binoculars, field guides, and camera. Plant lists will be available. Older children OK with supervision.

Saturday June 20, 8:00 AM to Noon
ALPINE ROAD. Beginners Bird Walk. Meet at the Safeway parking lot at the northeast corner of Highway 12 and Calistoga Road. Park at the edge of the parking lot, bordering on Calistoga Road. Rain cancels. Leaders: Tom Cashman, 433-2528; Bill Doyle, 483-8773; Bill Payne, 546-3331, and Bob Speckels, 569-0563.

Saturday June 20, 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.

Saturday July 18, 8:00 AM to Noon
SALMON CREEK ROAD. Beginners Bird Walk. Meet at the corner of Bodega Highway and Salmon Creek Road in the town of Bodega (not Bodega Bay), where we will combine into as few cars as possible. Please do not join us in an additional vehicle after the trip has started. The number of cars negatively impacts the birding and the residents of the area. Informal carpools leave Santa Rosa at 7:30 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. Leaders: Tom Cashman, 433-2528; Bill Doyle, 483-8773; Bill Payne, 546-3331; and Bob Speckels, 569-0563.

Wednesday September 2, 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 and 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 at sisyphus@sonic.net or 546-1812.

Saturday September 5, 8:00 AM to Noon
RAGLE RANCH REGIONAL PARK. Beginners Bird Walk. Meet at the Sebastopol Community Center, 390 Morris Street, Sebastopol, where we will combine into fewer cars. There is a $5 per car entrance fee to Ragle Park. Rain cancels. Leaders: Tom Cashman, 433-2528; Bill Doyle, 483-8773; Bill Payne, 546-3331; and Bob Speckels, 569-0563.

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