POMONA VALLEY BIRD ALLIANCE
Formerly Pomona Valley Audubon Society

About PVBA Field Trips: Pomona Valley Bird Alliance field trips are offered at no cost (unless otherwise specified) and open to all individuals.  ALWAYS contact the trip leader if you plan to attend and to verify start time, meeting location, and confirm trip status. In case of rain, call the trip leader the night before. Many of our trips originate at Memorial Park in Claremont but you have the option to meet on site. (Carpooling is optional based on your comfort level.) Driving mileage estimates are from Memorial Park in Claremont and are round-trip. For your comfort and enjoyment, participants should plan to bring the following items: Binoculars, spotting scope, camera, water, snacks (check description for lunch needs,) walking or hiking shoes, hat, sunscreen, weather appropriate clothing and a full tank of gas if driving. Trips are rated by difficulty to help you prepare.

PVBA Field Trip Difficulty Levels – Trips rated Easy through Strenuous involve walking and standing for several hours.
Minimal – Little or no walking, option to exit car and walk short distances over relatively level terrain.  Example: Drive-through wetlands.
Easy – Walking on relatively level terrain, paved or maintained dirt roads (many locations wheelchair accessible.) Example: Artificial wetlands and botanic gardens.
Moderate – Some elevation change, stairs, walking on sloped grass, rolling hills, open fields or groomed hiking trails with mild trip hazards (tree roots, rocks, etc.)  Example: Regional Parks with lakes and hiking trails.
Strenuous – Irregular or rocky terrain, > 500ft. elevation change, some off-trail walking.  Example: Natural areas and preserves (North Etiwanda Preserve.)

 

                             

Family Friendly Walks at the California Botanic Garden First Sunday in the Month. (September through June)

California Botanic Garden, 1500 N College Ave, Claremont, CA 91711, USA (map) Difficulty: Easy
This family-friendly bird walk is approximately 2 hours long and is perfect for beginners and experienced birders alike. No binoculars? No worries! Loaner binoculars are available (limited number so first come first served.) You will receive instructions on their use as well. PVBA volunteer Ken Burgdorff (gwrencaps@gmail.com) and others will lead the walks.
Please RSVP with the botanic garden’s reservation site by using the DATE SPECIFIC links for each month.

Fourth Sunday Bird Walks at Bonelli Park (September through May)

Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park.  San Dimas, CA 91773-(map) Difficulty: Moderate

 We meet in the parking lot of Brackett Field (airport) at 1615 McKinley Ave., La Verne, CA 91773 (better known as the Norm’s Hanger Coffee Shop parking lot.) To reach the parking lot, take McKinley Ave. west from Fairplex Drive to the parking area at the end of the road on the right. Meet at 7:45 AM to caravan into the park for free entrance and an 8:00 AM walk. 2-3 hours. Don’t forget your binoculars and comfortable shoes. Contact the trip leader listed for each month

                               

Let’s Go Birding

2025 -2026

Sunday, September 7, 2025

First Sunday of the Month Family Friendly Bird Walks at the California Botanic Garden

1500 N. College Ave. Claremont, CA 91711
Meet at the entrance at 8:00 AM for free admission. This family-friendly bird walk is approximately 2 hours long and is perfect for beginners and experienced birders alike.  Loaner binoculars are available (limited number so first come first served.) You will receive instructions on their use as well. PVAS volunteer Ken Burgdorff (gwrencaps@gmail.com) and others will lead the walks. A tram is available for those with difficulty walking.  Please RSVP using this link to the Botanic Garden’s reservation site: http://11213.blackbaudhosting.com/11213/tickets?tab=2&txobjid=506b6427-fe0e-4a16-b4ef-925b4aeb8815

Saturday, September 20, 2025

Field Trip to Bolsa Chica Ecological Preserve and  Harriett Weider Park

18 CA-1, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 and 19251 Seapoint Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 – Difficulty: Easy (up to 3 miles)
We’ll spend a morning at Bolsa Chica looking for shorebirds, waterfowl and local specialties such as Reddish Egret and Elegant Tern. Then we’ll drive next door and enjoy lunch at Harriett Weider Park where we can observe some of the back ponds of Bolsa Chica from the park fence line. Meet at 7:00 AM. at Memorial Park in Claremont or meet at Bolsa Chica about 8 am. Bring snacks, water and lunch for a full day trip. (Est. driving 100 miles.)
Please RSVP with Trip Leader: Dan Gregory (909) 456-4994 or DanRCRenee@verizon.net

Sunday, September 28, 2025

Fourth Sunday of the Month Bonelli Bird Walk

Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park.  San Dimas, CA 91773 – Difficulty: Moderate

Enjoy one of the richest birding sites in Southern California on our fourth Sunday of the month Bonelli Bird Walk.  We meet in the parking lot of Brackett Field (airport) at 1615 McKinley Ave., La Verne, CA 91773 (better known as the Norm’s Hanger Coffee Shop parking lot.) To reach the parking lot, take McKinley Ave. west from Fairplex Drive to the parking area at the end of the road on the right. Meet at 7:45 AM to caravan into the park for free entrance and an 8:00 AM walk. 2-3 hours. Don’t forget your binoculars and comfortable shoes. Walk Leader: Kris Janicki Starlite07kmj@yahoo.com

Sunday, October 5, 2025

First Sunday of the Month Family Friendly Bird Walks at the California Botanic Garden

1500 N. College Ave. Claremont, CA 91711
Meet at the entrance at 8:00 AM for free admission. This family-friendly bird walk is approximately 2 hours long and is perfect for beginners and experienced birders alike. Loaner binoculars are available (limited number so first come first served.) You will receive instructions on their use as well. PVAS volunteer Ken Burgdorff (gwrencaps@gmail.com) and others will lead the walks. A tram is available for those with difficulty walking.  RSVP using this link to the Botanic Garden’s reservation site: http://11213.blackbaudhosting.com/11213/tickets?tab=2&txobjid=12f6b677-ab73-4396-93c0-952ab92c2519

Friday, October 10, 2025

Field Trip and Survey of North Etiwanda Preserve

   

4890 Etiwanda Ave, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739 Difficulty: Strenuous (rocky, uneven terrain, 3.5 miles 800+ ft elevation gain) with a moderate option to survey the southern edge of the park.

Twice a year we gather bird population data for the County of San Bernardino by doing what we love – birding! Join us for all or part of the day. Specialties include Bell’s Sparrow, Loggerhead Shrike, and other open country species.  We will be taking our usual counterclockwise route on the main trail making us easy to find, so feel free to join us at any time. Meet at Beryl Park at the West Parking Lot, 6501 Carnelian St, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 for a 7 AM departure to the preserve. This is a hike and not a walk, please bring sturdy footwear, a portable lunch, water, snacks, and layered clothing for about 6 hours in the field. Please RSVP with Trip Leader: Dan Gregory (909) 456-4994 or DanRCRenee@verizon.net

Sunday, October 26, 2025

Fourth Sunday of the Month Bonelli Bird Walk

Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park.  San Dimas, CA 91773 – Difficulty: Moderate

Enjoy one of the richest birding sites in Southern California on our fourth Sunday of the month Bonelli Bird Walk.  We meet in the parking lot of Brackett Field (airport) at 1615 McKinley Ave., La Verne, CA 91773 (better known as the Norm’s Hanger Coffee Shop parking lot.) To reach the parking lot, take McKinley Ave. west from Fairplex Drive to the parking area at the end of the road on the right. Meet at 7:45 AM to caravan into the park for free entrance and an 8:00 AM walk. 2-3 hours. Don’t forget your binoculars and comfortable shoes. RSVP Walk Leader: Dan Stoebel dstoebel@mac.com

Sunday, November 2, 202

First Sunday of the Month Family Friendly Bird Walks at the California Botanic Garden

1500 N. College Ave. Claremont, CA 91711

Meet at the entrance at 8:00 AM for free admission. This family-friendly bird walk is approximately 2 hours long and is perfect for beginners and experienced birders alike. No binoculars? No worries! Loaner binoculars are available (limited number so first come first served.) You will receive instructions on their use as well. PVAS volunteer Ken Burgdorff (gwrencaps@gmail.com) and others will lead the walks. Please RSVP using this link to the Botanic Garden’s reservation site:

: http://11213.blackbaudhosting.com/11213/tickets?tab=2&txobjid=ad82c323-0dd5-44cd-92c2-a2d9fc84df19

Friday through Sunday, November 7-9, 2025

Bishop/Eastern Sierras Weekend Trip

(Difficulty: Easy to Strenuous (up to 4 mi./day). By day, we’ll be birding by car (especially at Owens Lake) and driving to local hotspots with some walking/hiking (optional). By night, we’ll be looking for owls. Target species include Tundra Swan, Prairie Falcon, Gray-crowned Rosy Finch and other area specialties. Final itinerary based on weather and birds in the area that weekend. Lodging is on your own (in Big Pine or Bishop). Limited to 12 participants. RSVP with trip leader before October 9th. (Est. driving 520 miles to Bishop RT, plus touring.)  Please RSVP with Trip Leader: Eric Smith (661) 372-8946 or bird4life28@gmail.com

Saturday, November 15, 2025

Field Trip to San Joaquin Marsh

Parking Lot, 5 Riparian View, Irvine, CA 92612 Difficulty: Easy (up to 2.5 miles)

An Orange County gem consisting of a series of reclaimed freshwater ponds. Species may include herons, rails, ducks, raptors and even Roadrunners. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at Memorial Park in Claremont. If you plan to meet at the preserve, approach from the south on Campus Drive and enter on Riparian Drive.  Bring snacks, water and lunch for a half-day trip. Please RSVP with Trip Leader:Dan Gregory (909) 456-4994 or DanRCRenee@verizon.net

Sunday, November 23, 2025

Fourth Sunday of the Month Bonelli Bird Walk

Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park.  San Dimas, CA 91773 – Difficulty: Moderate

Enjoy one of the richest birding sites in Southern California on our fourth Sunday of the month Bonelli Bird Walk.  We meet in the parking lot of Brackett Field (airport) at 1615 McKinley Ave., La Verne, CA 91773 (better known as the Norm’s Hanger Coffee Shop parking lot.) To reach the parking lot, take McKinley Ave. west from Fairplex Drive to the parking area at the end of the road on the right. Meet at 7:45 AM to caravan into the park for free entrance and an 8:00 AM walk. 2-3 hours. Don’t forget your binoculars and comfortable shoes. Walk Leader:  Patrick Gavit ebiner.gavit@gmail.com or 626.214.6905.

Sunday, December 7, 2025

First Sunday of the Month Family Friendly Bird Walks at the California Botanic Garden

1500 N. College Ave. Claremont, CA 91711
Meet at the entrance at 8:00 AM for free admission. This family-friendly bird walk is approximately 2 hours long and is perfect for beginners and experienced birders alike. No binoculars? No worries! Loaner binoculars are available (limited number so first come first served.) You will receive instructions on their use as well. PVAS volunteer Ken Burgdorff (gwrencaps@gmail.com) and others will lead the walks. Please RSVP using this link to the Botanic Garden’s reservation site: http://11213.blackbaudhosting.com/11213/tickets?tab=2&txobjid=3798231a-af70-4e29-a720-dcf2d004a2b1    If you have difficulty getting around and would like to bird from the tram, please contact the garden at registrar@calbg.org to reserve a spot.