Serving Merced and Stanislaus Counties

WELCOME!

Welcome to the digital home of the Stanislaus Audubon Society. As the President of this Audubon Society Chapter, I invite you to join us on a journey of discovery, education and birding with intent. Stanislaus Audubon Society promotes the enjoyment and protection of birds and other wildlife by engaging people of all ages. Protecting and conserving nature and the environment transcends political, cultural, and social boundaries.

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Salvatore Salerno

Brown Pelican is not a new bird species for Stanislaus County, but there are only a few records here. Julian Morin, a ranger at Dos Rios (a proposed California state park) spotted this juvenile associating with American White Pelicans from December 17-19, 2024 and then again on January 3, 2025, in the oxbow pond. This is likely the same bird that had been seen at the San Joaquin River NWR. Photo by Julian Morin. (Dos Rios is currently open only Fridays through Sundays.

Recent Additions to the Stanislaus County Bird List

BLACK SKIMMERS

On Saturday, June 8, 2024, Jim Gain found two BLACK SKIMMERS at the restricted Modesto Wastewater Treament Facilities during their once-monthly schedule for a bird survey open to the public.
Photo by Jim Gain.

ROSEATE SPOONBILL

On Saturday, April 27, 2024, Jodi Smith found a ROSEATE SPOONBILL at the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge. The bird was seen among egrets and herons all that weekend by local and out-of-town birders. Photo by Mark Elness. The spoonbill was still being seen as of November 22.

GET TO KNOW THE CITY OF MODESTO'S OFFICIAL CITY BIRD

THE YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE

Yellow-billed Magpie Range Map

The City of Modesto is located near the geographic center of the Yellow-billed Magpie's range (See Range Map). These handsome, intelligent and boisterous birds are only found here in California. Their contrasting black-and-white body, wings and tail with blue-green iridescent accents, make them easy to identify. Magpies are large birds, measuring nearly seventeen inches in length, with a wingspan of twenty four inches. Their diet centers on insects, seeds, nuts and fruit; however they will eat almost anything, including roadkill, nestlings, eggs and rodents. They nest in colonies of fifteen to twenty pairs and build their large, dome-covered nests high up in trees. They can be found anywhere in Modesto; however, if you want to look for this beautiful bird, we suggest Dry Creek Regional Park or MJC West Campus on most mornings.

UPDATE: ACCESS TO MODESTO WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES

The ponds at this facility are open again (with certain restrictions) for birdwatching to the general public on the second Saturday and also on the second and fourth Sunday of each month. Please visit the Modesto Sewage Ponds webpage for more details.

Recent Stanislaus County Bird Photographs

DOS RIOS STATE PARK - 3559 SHILOH ROAD - This newest California state park opened on June 12, 2024. At this writing, there is no entrance fee during its initial opening phase. This state park is curretnly open only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Two trails are open to the public and do not require a guide, as of late November. There are also several guided walks offered with a park interpreter. These tours are often theme-oriented, and they range from two-miles to six-miles roundtrip. Stanislaus Audubon is pleased that several birdwatching tours have been scheduled, and our chapter will offer its own field trips in the future. Tables and ramadas are available for those who wish to picnic by the oxbow pond. Here is a links to the events page: https://www.parks.ca.gov/Events/?page_id=31363

Updated January 11, 2025