More than 70 acres of riparian woodland adjacent the Effie Yeaw Nature Center (EYNC) have been preserved as a nature study area within the American River Parkway. Ancil Hoffman Park and the Nature Center are part of the annual American River Natural History Association (ARNHA) December Wildlife Count, and the Bird and Breakfast events in March. Typically 50-55 bird species are seen.
Acorn Woodpecker, Image by Daniel Lee Brown
The site includes oak woodlands, grasslands, a pond and access to the river. Marked trails make exploring easy and accessible. The trails at EYNC are open daily from dawn to dusk. Visit the (new in 2024) Effie Yeaw Nature Center website for current hours and information. When open, the Nature Center offers exhibits and information about the river and its wildlife, besides the practical advantages of rest rooms and drinking fountains. If you visit when the center is open, you may wish to pick up a map to the trails. Please remember to stay on the trails. You may also purchase field guides and checklists at the reception counter.
Birding the site: Because this birding spot is easy to reach and includes a variety of habitats, it is possible to sight more than 100 species during the course of a year. In the spring, migrating warblers move through the woods. The crowned sparrows return each fall, and winter brings the goldeneyes back to the river. A Merlin sometimes takes up winter residence on an old snag near the northeast end of the service road.
Some of the notable permanent species are the Wild Turkeys that feed in the grasslands, the Acorn Woodpeckers that take advantage of dead trees for acorn storage and nesting holes, both Red-shouldered Hawks and Great Horned Owls that nest here, along with the Yellow-billed Magpies in the tall oaks and cottonwoods of the woodlands. Frequently, you will find White-tailed Kites hunting rodents in the grasslands. Approaching the pond, you may find a Green Heron stalking fish in the shallows, hear the rattle of a Belted Kingfisher, or see a pair of Wood Ducks or Mallards floating under the hanging vegetation at the pond’s edge.
Yellow-billed Magpie, Image by Chris Conard
California Scrub-Jays are a common sight, and a careful look in the oaks will often produce a flock of Bushtits, pairs of Oak Titmouse, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, and in winter, Ruby-crowned Kinglet. The blackberry thickets at the side of the road and along the paths shelter California Quail, Bewick’s Wren, and both Spotted and California Towhees. The star thistle patches attract both American and Lesser Goldfinches. Black Phoebes like the ponds. Anna’s Hummingbirds frequent the California fuchsia planted near the parking lot and visitor center. Western Bluebirds and Tree Swallows have nested in the snags at the edge of the meadow and have taken advantage of nesting boxes placed in the area.
Along the river’s edge, you may find Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpiper, the magnificent Great Blue Heron, and Great Egrets. When the salmon are spawning in the late fall, both American Crows and Turkey Vultures gather along with a variety of gulls to scavenge the dead fish. eBird Sightings
In addition to the many species of birds you may spot, you may also find deer, western gray squirrels, California ground squirrels, and see evidence of the many other mammals that live in the nature area such as striped skunks, gray foxes, coyotes, opossums, raccoons, cottontails, and jackrabbits.
The Effie Yeaw Nature Center and the surrounding area are truly rich in wildlife and are great places to introduce young and old to the natural world. Visit often.
Directions: The Effie Yeaw Nature Center is located in Ancil Hoffman Park. From downtown Sacramento, take Highway 50 east for 7.0 miles from Interstate 5, and take the Watt Avenue exit north. After 1.6 miles, turn right onto Fair Oaks Boulevard. In 4.0 miles, turn right onto Val Alstine Avenue. After 0.4 mile, turn left onto California Avenue driving north for 0.15 miles, then turn right onto Tarshes Drive. The parking area for the Nature Center is on San Lorenzo Way, a left turn off Tarshes Drive (The gate on San Lorenzo Way off Palm Avenue is an exit only). The entrance fee is currently $7 per vehicle (or a $70 annual pass). Members of ARNHA have free parking in the Nature Center parking lot.
Jo Smith; updated by Brian Gilmore