Welcome to the Madrone Audubon Society

The Sonoma County Chapter of the National Audubon Society was established in 1967 as a non-profit organization promoting education, enjoyment, and protection of the natural world, especially birds.

Madrone Audubon General Meetings April & May 2024

April 2024 --- No General Meeting

Saturday, April 20 – Earth Day at Safari West
3115 Porter Creek Road, NE Santa Rosa
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Madrone Audubon will share a display with Paula Lane Action Network for Earth Day on the Lawn. Birds and Badgers will be the theme. This annual event hosted by Safari West for guests and visitors is a great time to see our conservation colleagues. Representatives participate from bird and wildlife rescue and local, regional, national and global conservation prganizations. We’ll offer bird and badger coloring pages and an activity of matching bird, wildlife and marine life figurines with habitats (color, mounted photographs of forest, grassland, ocean, shoreline and other natural areas).

May 11, 2024 – Field Trip to Hallberg Butterfly Garden
8687 Oak Grove Avenue, Sebastopol
11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Join in a special visit to the butterfly garden. Space is limited, so reserve your space soon! Email susankirks@sbcglobal.net or call/text 707-241-5548. Our members will be treated to an informational talk and walk through the garden. We’re very pleased to participate in this climate-friendly adventure so we can support and nurture butterflies in our gardens.

May 19, 2024 – Annual Picnic at Spring Lake Regional Park
Shady Oaks Group Picnic Area (near Environmental Discovery Center), Violetti Road
1:00-3:00 p.m.
Come for a delicious outdoors lunch and our annual social gathering! We will provide a few hearty dishes, plates/utensils and beverages. Please bring a dish to share. Tom Olds’ hand-carved bird pins will be available to see, and we’ll share updates about Bird-A-Thon, with a few surprises. This is our last gathering before Summer. See you there! Questions? Email susankirks@sbcglobal.net or call/text 707-241-5548. Bring friends and family!

Thursday, May 22 – Bird Festival Day, Lincoln Elementary School Santa Rosa
Begins 8:00 a.m.
Calling for volunteers to help for a few hours! Small groups of students from Lincoln Elementary School will come to an area near the egret and heron nesting ite on West 9th. They will use binoculars and viewing scopes to view the birds. We’d like to have our volunteers confirmed by April 25. Can you give a few hours of your Thursday morning to help with this activity? Let us know – Please contact Susan at susankirks@sbcglobal.net, or call/text 707-241-5548, for more info and to confirm.

April 2024 Outings

Bring binoculars and wear outdoor clothing suitable for early morning weather. Our outings are free for members and the public. (We may have binoculars to loan for your outing.)

Please note: Thursday outings begin 8:30 AM. Saturday outings begin 8:00 AM.

Saturday, April 6, Ellis Creek Ponds, Petaluma, 8:00-10:00 AM
3890 Cypress Drive, Petaluma
Leader: Linda Fraley
Take Highway 101 to Petaluma. Go East on 116 (Lakeville Highway). Turn right (south) on S. McDowell Blvd. Turn right on Cypress Drive. Go to the end of the road and through gates. Meet near the restrooms. Info: (559) 779-5211.

Thursday, April 11, 8:30-10:30 AM
Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery, Santa Rosa
Leader: Janet Bosshard
Meet on the corner of Franklin Ave. and Terrace Way, the original cemetery entrance. Park along the street, near the Presbyterian Church on the corner of Pacific and McDonald Avenues. We will stroll through the site, looking and listening for Spring bird activity. Info: (707) 526-5883

Thursday, April 25 , 8:30-10:30 AM
Cloverdale River Park Trail
31820 McCray Road, Cloverdale
Leader: Janet Bosshard
From Santa Rosa, take Hwy #101 to exit #522 just north of Cloverdale. Turn right on Redwood Hwy, then first right on McCray Road. Follow it to the end. Parking lot is on your left. Parking pass required. It is a flat, 1.1 mile asphalt path. Info: (707) 526-5883.

Saturday, April 27, 8:00-10:00 AM
Santa Rosa Creek Trail (at Willowside Road) West of Willowside Road, Santa Rosa
Leader: Linda Fraley
Park carefully along the roadside and meet at the trail entrance to walk west towards Delta Pond. We will look for Summer warblers, Orioles and Grosbeaks. Info: (559) 779-5211.

Current Intern Opportunities for SSU Students

Madrone Audubon Society is a 501c3 nonprofit conservation organization, based in Santa Rosa. Madrone Audubon is also the Sonoma County Chapter of National Audubon and enjoys a total membership of close to 3,000. Our organization engages in education and appreciation of birds and wildlife in our amazing habitats here in Sonoma County as well as focuses on many conservation actions to protect and enhance our environment. For more information click here.

February & March 2024 Outings

Bring binoculars and wear outdoor clothing suitable for the weather forecast. Our outings are free for members and the public. (We may have binoculars to loan for your outing.)

Thursday, February 8, Crane Creek Regional Park, 8:30-10:30 AM
5000 Pressley Road, Santa Rosa
Leader: Janet Bosshard
Take Petaluma Hill Road to Pressley Road (Rohnert Park). Use your County park pass or buy a day pass there. Mostly level to easy rolling hills. Rain cancels. More info: (707) 526-5883.

Thursday, February 22, Doran Beach Regional Park, 8:30-10:30 AM
201 Doran Beach Road, Bodega Bay
Leader: Janet Bosshard
Use your County park pass or buy a day pass there. Park in the first dirt lot on your left. We will scan the beach for birds, then cross the road to walk the paved trail to the east. Rain cncels. More info: (707) 526-5883.

Thursday, March 14, A Place to Play, 8:30-10:30 AM
2375 West Third Street, Santa Rosa
Leader: Janet Bosshard
No parking pass is required. There are a wildlife pond and grass areas to look for water birds and local birds. We can also walk along Santa Rosa Creek for a ways to see what’s near the water. More info: (707) 526-5883.

Saturday, March 23rd, Santa Rosa Creek Trail, 8:30-10:30 AM
West of Willowside Road, Santa Rosa
Leader: Linda Fraley
Drive on Willowside Road to the junction with Santa Rosa Creek Trail (just north of the Waldorf School). For parking advice and information, please call Linda Fraley (559) 779-5211.

Thursday, March 28, Helen Putnam Regional Park, 8:30-10:30 AM
411 Chileno Valley Road, Petaluma
Leader: Janet Bosshard
Parking permit is required and can be purchased at the park. We will walk the paved path to look for raptors, bluebirds, and meadowlarks. If group would like, we can continue over the hill and around, back to the parking area. More info: (707) 526-5883.