About this Event
Moorhen Marsh, maintained by the Mt. View Sanitary District in Martinez, was one of the first water treatment facilities in the US designed to offer quality habitat for migrating birds. We hope to see resident and overwintering ducks, geese, herons, and passerines. Just across the freeway, McNabney Marsh -- a.k.a Waterbird Regional Preserve -- hosts many more sspecies of ducks and shorebirds. Marsh passerines and raptors might also be present.
This outing should provide for some fun bird-spotting, and will also serve as an introduction to the Christmas Bird Counts coming up in December. An ongoing project of the National Audubon Society, the CBC has been surveying bird populations all over the US for more than 100 years. It's an outstanding example of citizen science, and birders of all experience levels are invited to participate!
We'll meet at the deck overlooking McNabney Marsh, behind the MVSD gate at the end of Arthur Road. From there we'll make a very short drive to the MVSD admin building to sign in before continuing into Moorhen Marsh. There is a covered seating area where a brief presentation will introduce the history of the Christmas Bird Count, describe how amateur bird enthusiasts can contribute, and offer some pointers on how to count and record bird sightings accurately. Then we'll bird around Moorhen Marsh itself.
MDBA has binoculars to lend! If you'd like to borrow a pair, let the trip leader know in advance so they know to bring extra.
Hike Rating: 1 - Easy. Under 1 mile on flat terrain. Paths are unpaved paths and potentially muddy, if there have been recent rains.
Leader: Matthew Tarlach, [email protected]
Meet: The observation deck off Arthur Road at 8:00AM.
GPS for meeting point: 38.019304268086714, -122.09612963848679
Directions: From I-680 northbound, exit at Pacheco Blvd, turn right onto Arthur Road and go under the freeway. Arthur Road will bend left. Where Arthur Road ends the paved road turns sharp left through a gate onto MVSD’s private road. Drive about .3 mile to the gravel parking lot just before the one-lane tunnel. The observation deck is to the right (east) of the road.
Limited to 15 participants. If the outing is booked, and you are especially seeking the CBC training, be sure to email and we'll figure something out. Participants acknowledge the MDBA Liability Waiver (available during registration).
(Image of Long-billed Dowitchers by Alan Bade)
Event venue & nearby stays
Mt. View Sanitary District, 3800 Arthur Road, Martinez, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.