Once, all of the rivers in the Central Valley were bordered for five miles or more on either side with rich riparian forest habitat. Now less than five percent of the original river forests remain. Bobelaine’s 430 acres on the west bank of the Feather River are a tiny remnant of that ecosystem. The sanctuary is listed by the State of California as a State Ecological Preserve and is part of the 3,000-plus acres that make up the Lower Feather River Important Bird Area, listed in Audubon California’s 2004 edition of Important Bird Areas of California, and is a prime example of Great Valley Mixed Riparian Forest. The sanctuary contains a variety of habitats, including riverbank willows, shrubby thickets, grasslands, and climax oak woodland. Owned and originally managed by National Audubon Society, Sacramento Audubon Society has managed the Sanctuary for many years.
Magnificent mature California sycamores and massive valley oaks are the predominant trees in the sanctuary. A 1992 fire destroyed 90% of the mature Fremont cottonwoods in the sanctuary. Three restoration projects have successfully replaced several hundred cottonwoods, some of which are now thirty to forty feet tall. In winter, coyote bush will be blooming; in summer the wild rose, moth mullein, evening primrose, and blackberries may be seen. In the fall, California wild grape will be ripe, and poison oak will show its brilliant fall colors. Watch out for poison oak, which flourishes year-round, but is more difficult to identify in winter after it has lost its leaves.
Bobelaine is open to the public to walk through during daylight hours. The sanctuary is not wheelchair accessible. No pets, bikes, fires, hunting, horseback riding or fishing are allowed. Please stay on the trails and help protect this beautiful habitat by observing the no smoking policy in the sanctuary, picnic areas and parking lot. A chemical toilet, picnic tables, and non-potable running water are available at the parking area. The sanctuary is about 2.5 miles long and about a half-mile wide (between the levee and the Feather River). There are about five miles of trails to explore, and there are usually trail maps in the mailbox at the parking area.
Wood Duck, Image by Dana J. Miller-Blair
Birding the site: A walk through the sanctuary is a delight in any season. Over 195 species of birds have been recorded. Beaver, otter, and deer may be seen, and the ringtail population has been studied here. In summer, Swainson’s Hawks soar overhead, and the secretive Yellow-billed Cuckoo has been spotted during its short summer nesting season (though the last regular sightings were in the late 1980s). In May 2022, Bank Swallows were seen nesting on the banks of the Feather River. Great Horned Owl is common here. Wood Duck, Herons, Egrets, and Pied-billed Grebe, and even turtle, can be found year-round on Lake Crandall and the adjacent sloughs. Springtime brings a variety of Warblers and other migrants as well as nesting Western Bluebirds, Bullock’s Oriole, and Black-headed Grosbeak. In winter, sparrows, towhees, kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Northern Flickers are among the common birds. eBird Sightings
A short loop walk (2.2 miles round trip) will take you north on the levee past Lake Crandall, into the sanctuary at the main entrance past Wood Duck Slough, up the Center Trail to the River Overlook Trail to the Ken Poerner River Overlook. Here, you can sit on benches and observe the Feather River. Return to the Center Trail and head back to the parking lot.
Directions: Bobelaine is located east of Highway 99, south of Yuba City and about 30 miles north of Sacramento. Take Interstate 5 to the Highway 99/Highway 70 exit (exit 525B) toward Marysville/Yuba City. At 99/70 split, take Highway 99 to the second paved road on the right after crossing the Feather River. This is Laurel Avenue. Turn right and drive until it dead-ends into the Bobelaine parking lot. The last 800 feet of Laurel Avenue is a private dirt road that Bobelaine shares with neighbors. Please drive slowly.
Notice: Where the pavement now ends is a heavy duty tread plate. This is on private property (not Audubon property). Please, do not go around the plate.
Visitors Be Aware: The gate on the private road can be temporarily closed (without notice) due to agricultural operations. It is usually reopened within a short time period. Area farmers try to provide advanced notice of gate closing. Advanced closing notices will be posted on the Bobelaine Audubon Sanctuary page.
Bill Clark