This trip is now full. 

For many years, GGBA has offered driving tours on the property, but unfortunately due to COVID there has not been a GGBA tour on the property since February 2020.  At this time the US Fish & Wildlife Service is granting us a very special opportunity to revisit Skaggs Island albeit under some new conditions, which will represent a change to the way we have conducted these tours in the past. Because of the failure of the bridge at the southern end of Skaggs Island Rd, we will be meeting at the northern end of the road in Napa. 

One of our target species will be Short-eared Owl.  Because they generally only become active just before and after sunset, we will stay late to look for them.  Other species we hope to see include Golden Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Harrier, White-tailed Kite, American Kestrel, and Great-horned Owl.  If we get lucky Peregrine Falcon, Prairie Falcon, and perhaps a laggard Rough-legged Hawk , Ferruginous Hawk, or even a very early Swainson’s Hawk might grace us with their presence.  

This trip will require carpooling. Participants will need to have a complete course of vaccination and booster shots and should bring a mask. 

There can be no late arrivals or early departures.  The Refuge is behind locked gates, so be prepared to arrive on time and stay until the end.

There are no facilities of any kind on the Refuge, no rest rooms or buildings.

The tour will be part driving and part hiking.  We will form a carpool caravan once we have entered the refuge.  Only cars that have a high clearance (i.e. Subaru Outback, or Honda CRV) will be able to navigate the roads in the Refuge.  In recent years there has been no maintenance so the pavement has deteriorated considerably and the roadway is overgrown in places with thick vegetation which might cause minor damage to the finish of vehicles.   GGBA and FWS will not be responsible for any damages incurred by vehicles on the Refuge.

We will drive on the safest and clearest sections of the roadways, and we’ll park the vehicles at certain points to take short hikes to look for birds.  The hikes will be confined to roadways and will be on level ground the entire time.  At times we may stand in place for 15 minutes or longer.  Since we’ll be staying until sunset, it will be fairly dark when we leave the Refuge.

To be comfortable, wear layered clothing, as it can be warm in the afternoon and get chilly around sunset.  Sunglasses, a hat, water, gloves, a snack should all be on the list of things to bring.

Of course, bring binoculars.  Bring your camera and a spotting scope if you like.

Registration will close at 11pm on March 9 2022.

Registrants: If you have any questions email rnakano@goldengatebirdalliance.org or call Ryan at (510) 227-6190.