Sacramento Audubon is again offering field trips. Visit our Field Trips page for more information on available field trips and COVID protocols. If however, you prefer to head out on your own, our field trip leaders have some great suggestions for where to bird each season. For even more great ideas of where to go birding locally, check out our Birding Locations guide.
May is a great month for birding, with nesting birds singing and displaying and migrants such as flycatchers and warblers arriving or passing through. Any spot along the American River Parkway should be good, but here are a few specific suggestions.
Harrington Access, American River Parkway
From the parking lot take the dirt path running downstream along the river. Several side trails run right down to the water and the habitat of willow, oak, shrubs, and grassy areas is good for a variety of birds including California Quail and Red-shouldered Hawks. Keep an eye out for migrating warblers and returning Western Kingbirds and Ash-throated Flycatchers. The river is full of islands and inlets where you can find herons, egrets, and Common Mergansers. After about a mile, you'll see Rio Americano High School over the levee and you may wish to turn around here. You can retrace your steps or for a quicker return take the foot-of-the-levee trail. An alternate walk is to go upstream where you'll reach William Pond Park.
Directions
Address: 950-960 Harrington Way, Carmichael, CA 95608
From American River Drive: take Harrington Drive south into the park.
Parking & Fees: There is a $6 per car entrance fee; your Sac County Park Pass is good here
Common Merganser, Image by Ray Rozema
Hagan Community Park, Rancho Cordova
From any parking area, walk over to the river, crossing the bike trail. A dirt trail goes both up and down river, occasionally coming up to the bike trail, so watch for bikes on these short bits. A walk through the developed park can can turn up a variety of passerines in the trees. This is a good family birding area, as there are multiple picnic areas, ponds, and play areas.
Directions
Address: 2197 Chase Dr, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
From Folsom Boulevard: take Coloma towards the river, bearing left at the light onto Chase Drive which leads into the park. You can either park at the Hagan Community Center lot on the right, or drive into the park past the kiosk.
Parking & Fees: You can either park at the Hagan Community Center lot on the right or drive into the park past the kiosk. It is $5 at Kiosk on weekends, May – September.
Yellow-billed Magpie, Image by Larry Hickey
Orangevale Community Park
Bordered by Hazel Avenue on the west, Oak Avenue on the north, and Filbert on the east, this large park includes some excellent natural areas. Narrow dirt trails and wider paved paths wind through the shady oak woodland, occasionally crossing a small creek, (usually dry), with sporadic open grassy areas. All the usual small passerines, including wrens, titmice, bushtits, nuthatches and finches, can be found, as well as some blackbirds around the stable area.
Directions
Address: 7301 Filbert Ave, Orangevale, CA 95662
Parking: There is parking on Hazel, Oak and Filbert; the best parking for the natural area is 7301 Filbert.
House Wren, Image by Chris Conard
Jensen Botanical Garden, Carmichael
Birding and Botany! This 3.5 acre park is great for a short birding session - over 20 species in half an hour. Near the parking area are planted beds with a variety of flowers, blooming in the springtime. A paved walkway curves up through a grassy area to the plant nursery. A partial list of trees and plants is available at the kiosk, just past the entrance. The park is located at 8520 Fair Oaks Boulevard, Carmichael, between Hollister and Marshall.
Address: 8520 Fair Oaks Boulevard, Carmichael