Educational sessions, training opportunities and a variety of nature walks and programs are available in September, offered through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
As a reminder, wildlife areas, ecological reserves and other properties may be closed due to wildfires or storm damage. Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts are strongly encouraged to check for closures before leaving on any recreational trip.
All calendar items are subject to change.
Various Days
Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) access permit application deadlines for multiple hunting opportunities. Wild pig, deer, bear, turkey, dove and quail hunts are available through the SHARE program. A $14.61 non-refundable application fee (plus handling fees) is charged for each hunt choice. For more information, visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/share.
Bat Talk and Walk Events, Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, 45211 County Road 32B, Davis. Colonies of migratory bats live under the Yolo Causeway during the summer, and this is your chance to join Yolo Basin Foundation for a summertime Bat Talk and Walk event and learn all about these amazing and beneficial mammals. Following a presentation on bat natural history, the group will carpool out to the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area for a brief tour of the wetlands and rice fields before watching the “flyout” of the largest urban colony of Mexican free-tailed bats in California. The bats emerge in long ribbons as they head out to hunt for insects for the night. For more information and to register, visit www.yolobasin.org/battalkandwalks.
Discover the Flyway Docent Training, Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, 45211 Country Road 32B, Davis. Join in this fall and become a Discover the Flyway docent with Yolo Basin Foundation to provide outdoor learning opportunities for K-12th grade students. Help teachers and students from local schools connect to nature, learn about science and protect wetlands through field trips to the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area. For those who enjoy spending time outdoors with young people and appreciate being part of a community of volunteers, this is a wonderful opportunity. No experience in education or science is necessary. The 2024 docent training sessions will take place outdoors at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Headquarters. For more information, visit www.yolobasin.org/volunteer.
Weekends
Guided Hikes at Elkhorn Slough Reserve, 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville. Volunteers lead walks highlighting the natural history of the Elkhorn Slough every Saturday and Sunday. Tours fill on a first-come, first-served basis the day of the tour. Groups of six or more should call ahead at 831- 728-2822 to reserve a tour. For more information, visit elkhornslough.org/visit/calendar.
Sept. 7
Birding at Bushy Lake for California Biodiversity Day, 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., American River Parkway, Sacramento. Join Sacramento Audubon Society for a walk at Bushy Lake to document the biodiversity at this restoration site using both eBird and iNaturalist. The area is thriving with riparian vegetation, creating new habitat for many wildlife species. For more information and to register, visit www.sacramentoaudubon.org/calendar/field-trip-biodiversity-day-2024.
Sept. 7-15
California Biodiversity Day Celebrations. California Biodiversity Day takes place on Sept. 7 of each year, marking the anniversary of the launch of the California Biodiversity Initiative in 2018. This yearly event celebrates the state’s exceptional biodiversity, while also encouraging actions to protect it. CDFW and partner organizations are hosting nearly 200 activities statewide throughout the week of Sept. 7-15. For a list of events and volunteer opportunities, visit the California Biodiversity Day website. One easy way to get involved is to join the 2024 California Biodiversity Week Challenge on iNaturalist. Find and document 30 wild species in California and submit photos and observations on the platform anytime from Sept. 7-15. Tag your adventures and follow along on social media at #CABiodiversityDay. For more information, contact californiabiodiversityday@wildlife.ca.gov.
Elkhorn Slough Events, 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville: Early Bird Hike, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Get out on the trails early and see what birds are out and about with an expert birder. No reservation required. Meet outside the visitor center starting at 8:15 a.m. Record observations on eBird and share them with the eBird profile “CaliforniaBiodiversityDay” for your bird sightings to appear on a statewide eBird trip report of biodiversity observed during California Biodiversity Week. For more information, visit elkhornslough.org/visit/calendar.
Reserve Bioblitz, 9 a.m. Become a community scientist and participate in a Bioblitz to track biodiversity. Check in at the visitor center for a Bioblitz guide and tips on using iNaturalist, then explore the reserve trails at your own pace and see how many different species you can find. For more information, visit elkhornslough.org/visit/calendar or the California Biodiversity Day website.
Guided Biodiversity Hike, 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Join a reserve volunteer on a guided hike highlighting the biodiversity of the Elkhorn Slough Reserve. No registration is required. Meet at the visitor center. To register, visit the Elkhorn Slough Biodiversity Day Eventbrite page. To learn more, visit the California Biodiversity Day website.
Sept. 8
Birding Walk at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery, 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Nimbus Fish Hatchery Visitor Center, 2001 Nimbus Road, Gold River. Join in celebrating California Biodiversity Day by looking for some of the local resident birds near the American River. Expect one to two miles of easy walking along the river trail with frequent stops to scan the water, riparian habitat and surrounding bluffs. Bring comfortable shoes and sun protection, as well as binoculars if you have them. For more information, visit the Sacramento Audubon Society event page, call 916-358-2884 or email molly.shea@wildlife.ca.gov.
Weeding Woodland Regional Park Preserve, 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Woodland Regional Park Preserve, Woodland. Join the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) and CDFW volunteers for Biodiversity Week on Sunday morning to control invasive and persistent weeds at Woodland Regional Park. Weeds are going to start blooming soon and now’s the time to get them out and make space for native plants. Bring gloves, long sleeves and pants, water resistant shoes, a hat, water and snacks. The preserve is owned by the City of Woodland and is normally closed to the public. To attend, sign the waiver on the City of Woodland’s website. For more information, contact CNPS coordinator Jennifer Hogan at jen.hogan1223@att.net or CDFW intern Dylan Winkler at dylan.winkler@wildlife.ca.gov.
Sept. 9
Fish Biodiversity: How To Be A Steward While Fishing, 10 a.m., via Zoom. Join a State Parks PORTS presenter and an interpreter from CDFW for a virtual program on fishing and lake ecosystems and their role in biodiversity. Learn about fish species, how to fish for them and how to be a fishing steward. To register, visit the Zoom registration page. Learn more on the California Biodiversity Day website.
Live from the Creek: Exploring Wetlands, Wildlife and Our Connection to Water, 10 a.m., via Zoom. Join CDFW and California State Parks for an exploration of the plants and wildlife of Lake Natoma at Willow Creek. For Biodiversity Week, join in for a program along the shoreline and in the wetlands and hear from interpreters from both agencies to learn more about the biodiversity in our local waterways. To register, visit the Zoom registration page. Learn more on the California Biodiversity Day website.
Sept. 10
Sea Otters are Biodiversity Superheroes! 9 a.m., via Zoom. Did you know that sea otters aren’t just cute, they’re also biodiversity superheroes? Join CDFW interpreter naturalist Beth on the bank of the Elkhorn Slough to discover the habitats sea otters live in and how they help protect them. To register, visit the Zoom registration page. Learn more on the California Biodiversity Day website.
Could a Tidepool Critter Be the Next Superhero?! 11 a.m., via Zoom. Come learn about tidepool animals and if their shapes and senses make them more like a human or a superhuman. Join Tori from Crystal Cove State Park and Jene from CDFW’s Back Bay Science Center to explore live tidepools and the animals that live there. Though you are not allowed to touch animals in tidepools, we will be visiting the nearby touch tanks to get an up-close interaction with these creatures that are so different from us and learn how marine protected areas keep them safe and biodiverse. Pre-register for this webinar to reserve a spot for your class at the Zoom registration page. Learn more on the California Biodiversity Day website.
Sept. 11
CDFW Conservation Lecture Series, 10:30 a.m. to noon, via Zoom. Join the September installment of this monthly webinar series to learn about “California Biodiversity Day 2024: Accessing California’s urban biodiversity and green spaces”. This lecture is focused on ways in which people are working together to understand, safeguard and create equitable opportunities to access and enjoy California’s urban biodiversity and green spaces. Featured guest speakers are Jade Nguyen, Nature for All, Los Angeles; Cesar Estien, Second Nature Ecology + Design and UC Berkely PhD student, SF Bay Area; and Corky Quirk, Yolo Basin Foundation, Sacramento. To register, visit the Zoom registration page. Contact Whitney Albright at whitney.albright@wildlife.ca.gov with any questions.
Sept. 12
California Fish and Game Commission Wildlife Resources Committee Meeting, time to be determined, Natural Resources Headquarters Building, Second Floor, 715 P Street, Sacramento. The meeting will also be held via webinar/teleconference. For more information, visit fgc.ca.gov.
Sept. 14
Guided Tour of the Nimbus Fish Hatchery, 11 a.m., Nimbus Fish Hatchery Visitor Center, 2001 Nimbus Road, Gold River. Join CDFW for a free, family-friendly guided tour on the second Saturday of each month to explore the Nimbus Fish Hatchery and neighboring American River. Learn about the amazing life cycle of salmon and steelhead, walk along the American River and discuss hatchery operations. Participants may see fish and other wildlife, such as migratory birds, signs of mammal activity and cool insects. Tours are cancelled in temperatures over 100 F and the maximum group size is 25 people (first-come, first-served). The tour is ADA accessible and suitable for all ages. For more information, call 916-358-2884 or email molly.shea@wildlife.ca.gov.
California Bat Chat, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Cosumnes River Preserve, 13501 Franklin Blvd., Galt. For California Biodiversity Week, discover the wild wonders of California’s 25 bat species and learn how to find them with your eyes, ears and microphones. Join us for a sunset chat about bat biodiversity at the visitor center porch followed by a short walk with live bat acoustic detectors. Bat biologists from the preserve and CDFW will lead small groups around the visitor center or along the River Walk or Boardwalk Trail. For more information, contact Katrina Smith at katrina.smith@wildlife.ca.gov.
Sept. 15
Tot Time at Nimbus Fish Hatchery, 11 a.m., 2001 Nimbus Road, Gold River. Join CDFW for Tot Time at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery Visitor’s Center for nature-themed stories and to create a fun craft. Recommended for children ages 2-7 years, with parent/guardian supervision. There is no cost for these events and registration is not required. For more information, email julia.kaiser@wildlife.ca.gov.
Sept. 19
California Advisory Committee on Salmon and Steelhead Trout, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., via Teams meeting. For more information, visit wildlife.ca.gov/notices.
Sept. 21-22
Youth Waterfowl Hunt Days for Northeastern California Zone. To participate, hunters must be 17 years of age or younger and be accompanied by a non-hunting adult 18 years of age or older. People should contact the wildlife area or national wildlife refuge they wish to hunt for details. For more information, visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/waterfowl.
Sept. 28
Elkhorn Slough Reserve Open House, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville. The Elkhorn Slough Reserve invites all to their annual open house. This year’s event will include a native plant fair, researcher highlights, guided hikes, activities for kids, food trucks and more. Admission and parking are free. For more details, visit elkhornslough.org/visit/calendar.
