About this Event
Registration is required to attend this event, as space is limited. Individuals on the waitlist will be contacted with instructions if a spot becomes available. Only those who have completed Eventbrite registration and received a confirmation email may attend, including attendees needed for accessibility assistance.
Join Golden Eagle Audubon on our classic caravanning field trip with an optional holiday twist! We will explore the Ted Trueblood WMA, CJ Strike Reservoir, and Bruneau Sand Dunes State Park looking for waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds and raptors. Since hunting season is in full swing, the lakes at Bruneau are typically a haven for hundreds of waterfowl. Some of these stops will be brief and others may involve walking up to one mile on flat terrain.
In past years Bruneau's Cowboy Christmas has been a free event. This year there is a $5 admission fee and a $10 parking fee. Therefore, attending the event will be optional. We will have to arrange carpools accordingly.
Cowboy Christmas is an annual event featuring over 200 vendors, including artists, authors, crafters, wineries, and food trucks. Folks come from all over the US to share in the fun, and the town is jumping! You can find out more at BruneauCowboyChristmas.com.
Anyone who wishes to extend the day can stop at Loveridge Bridge or backtrack to other spots along CJ Strike.
Birding Skill Level: All levels of birders welcome, but you may enjoy your time more if you have some experience. Binoculars will be available to borrow if needed.
Age: Participants must be 16 or older to participate, and those younger than 18 must have a parent/guardian sign the liability release.
Time: 7:00am - 5:00pm. Check-in is at 6:50am. Please arrive at check-in so we can start on time.
Meeting Place: 6560 S Federal Way, Boise, ID 83716 (the Columbia Marketplace at Federal Way and Highway 21.) We will gather at the South end of the parking lot near the Stinker Station store to organize carpools, and caravan from there. If you prefer meet us at Ted Trueblood WMA, please register and contact the field trip leader to let us know to look for you there. (Click on "Meeting Place" to get directions from your location.)
This trip is limited to 6 cars, and carpooling is required. Drivers must have vehicles with properly maintained tires with sufficient tread, and must be confident, capable licensed drivers comfortable with the road conditions and terrain. Drivers are responsible for ensuring their vehicles are properly insured and in safe operating condition.
Passengers are expected to contribute toward gas as a courtesy to drivers.
Special Conditions: Bruneau Sand Dunes requires all entering vehicles to have an Idaho State Parks Pass or to pay a $7 cash entry fee for Idaho residents ($14 for non-residents).
What to Bring: Plan for a full day! Bring layers for weather, sun protection, closed-toe shoes, binoculars, a scope if you have one, water, lunch, phone charger/backup battery, and anything else you need to be comfortable on an all-day trip. You may want to bring hand warmers, and Yak-traks if it's icy. For drivers: a full tank of gas. A scope will be available for the group to share. No dogs please.
Restroom Availability: Be prepared for a one hour drive to the first stop. There are no restrooms available at Ted Trueblood WMA, but there are plenty of shrubs. Most of the other stops will have restroom facilities or porta potties.
Accessibility: This trip is unpaved but may be accessible by wheelchair users or those with mobility disabilities. This event may not be accessible for those that are blind and/or low vision due to seasonally lower opportunities for birding by ear. Field Trip Leaders will help with bird identification and questions, but are not able to provide one-on-one physical aid or navigational assistance (including sighted guiding) on our trips. Participants are always welcome to arrange any assistance they may need in the field! Please ensure that any assistant is registered to attend this event. Use the special needs question in the registration form to let us know more about your accessibility needs and how we can best support your participation.
Inclement Weather: If there is an unhealthy AQI, steady precipitation forecast, or the trails are not suitable for ethical passage, the trip may be cancelled.
Contact Information: Please email trip leader Jim at [email protected] with any questions.
Cancellation Policy: If your plans change, please cancel your ticket on Eventbrite or contact the field trip leader listed above. Participants who miss two trips without advance notice may be suspended from registering for three months. Donations made during registration are non-refundable. Thanks for your understanding!
Barrow's Goldeneye photo by Sean Pursley
Field trip leader Jim James
Event venue & nearby stays
Columbia Marketplace near the Stinker Station, 6560 South Federal Way, Boise, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.