SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY AUDUBON SOCIETY
About SBVAS
SBVAS strives to bring people to their natural environment. Focusing on birds and other wildlife, we hope to conserve natural resources in the Southern California's "Inland Empire," specifically San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial Counties.
Founded in 1948, San Bernardino Valley Audubon is southeastern California's leading non-profit engaging people in the conservation of birds and their habitats. We involve people through recreational birding, envelop them in our education programs, and engage them in conservation actions from counting birds to working with local, state, and national policy makers. San Bernardino Valley Audubon is a fully independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Contact us at:
eSBVAS@gmail.com
Meetings
Meetings are held at the San Bernardino County Museum on the third Wednesday from September through May. The museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Ln, Redlands, CA 92374.
Scheduled Upcoming Events and Field Trips
General Meeting, April 15, 7 pm
San Bernardino County Museum
"An Introduction to the Native Orchids of California, with a special focus on the San Bernardino Mountains"
Presented by: Allison Autry
Nearly 40 species of orchids are found across California, with over ten of
those found in and around the San Bernardino National Forest. This talk
will cover topics including orchid diversity in California, historical efforts
to document orchid diversity in the state, and contemporary threats to
native orchids. Some noteworthy stories about native orchid species,
including the history of Malaxis orchids in the Transverse Ranges, will be
highlighted during the presentation.
Allison Autry is a PhD Candidate conducting rare orchid conservation and
genetics research at California Botanic Garden in Claremont, CA. She also
serves as a Director of the Native Orchid Conference. Allison earned a B.S.
degree in plant science and environmental science from the University of
Delaware and has previously worked as a research assistant at Longwood
Gardens. She is currently conducting fieldwork in Ash Meadows Nevada,
Railroad Valley Nevada, and eastern California in support of her dissertation
research on Spiranthes infernalis.
Saturday, April 18, 2026, Sunday, April 19, 2026
8:00 am and 7:30 am
Salton Sea Shorebirds, San Jacinto Wildlife Area
Leaders: Tony Metcalf (951) 347-7710, David Rankin: david.rankin@ucr.edu
Hey shore-birders and April migrant lovers, join David Rankin (619-869-3952) and Tony Metcalf (951-347-7710) for a two day birding extravaganza at the north end of the Salton Sea (Saturday) and the San Jacinto Wildlife Area (Sunday). We will focus primarily on shorebirds, contrasting mid-April shorebird diversity at the Salton Sea with inland coastal shorebird diversity at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area and Mystic Lake. (Of course we look at everything from gulls to passerines!!). On Saturday (April 20) we will meet at 8 AM at the infamous Arco Station in Mecca (66 th Ave and HWY 86), and on Sunday (April 21) meet at the gates of the San Jacinto Wildlife Area at 7:30 AM. You can join us for one or both days. Bring drinks, snacks, lunch etc. And we recommend rubber boots for the barnacle beaches at the NESS and goopy Mystic Lake Shoreline.
Saturday, April 25, 2026
7:00 am
Big Morongo Preserve
Leader: Matt Grube (909) 253-3867
The last week of April is about the best time for observing migrant land birds in Southern California and Big Morongo is one of the best places for it. In addition to migrant warblers, vireos and flycatchers, we expect to see the breeding specialities including Vermilion Flycatcher, Yellow-breasted Chat, Summer Tanager, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Bullock’s Oriole and Hooded Oriole. Join us for a morning birdwalk on the trails and roads of the preserve and surrounding areas. We will meet at Covington Park at 7:00 am. To get there, take I-10 to Highway 62, go north ten miles to Morongo Valley, then turn right on Park Avenue to Covington Park. Weather is typically good this time of year. Bring water, snacks and lunch if you plan to make a day of it. Some of us will probably stay out all day. Who knows where the afternoon will lead us?
Sunday, May 3, 2026 8-10 a.m.
Beginning Birdwalk
Oak Glen Preserve, Oak Glen
Leader: Ross Thrasher, (909) 645-2282
Birding the Oak Glen Preserve is a wonderful introduction to both coastal sage and montane bird species. Join us at 8 a.m. in the main parking lot.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
8:00 am
Whitewater Canyon
Leader: Steve Myers (951) 616-7578
Portions of Whitewater Canyon have long been more or less closed to public access, but the former trout farm is now the "Whitewater Canyon Preserve," managed by The Wildlands Conservancy. If you visited the trout farm in the past, you will not know the place now. Most of the facilities have been removed, and habitat restoration is under way. Riparian and desert scrub habitats should be teaming with birds on this trip. The canyon hosts nesting Summer Tanagers and Brown-crested Flycatchers, and migrants should be easy to find. In addition to the Preserve, we may visit Bonnie Bell, a small community in the canyon that contains excellent cottonwood and willow forest and woodland, somewhat reminiscent of Big Morongo. Meet at the Whitewater Canyon Preserve at 8:00 am. To reach the Preserve, go east on I-10, past the turn-off for Highway 111, and take the Whitewater exit. Turn left, pass over I-10, and watch for Whitewater Canyon Road on your left. The Preserve is at the end of Whitewater Canyon Road, approximately 5 miles north of I-10. Bring sturdy footwear, water, lunch, and the usual essentials.
Saturday, May 16, 2025 7:30 am
San Jacinto Mountains
Leader: Robin Roberts 770-856-4826 idyrobertsrobin1@gmail.com
The San Jacinto Mountains field trip will meet at the Lake Fulmor parking area on State Route 243 at 7:30am. From there we'll spend the day birding various places in the San Jacinto Mountains, looking for specialties like White-headed Woodpecker, Pinyon Jay, Mountain Quail, Williamson's Sapsucker and Red Crossbill. We'll also stop at Lake Hemet to see what waterbirds (and maybe Purple Martins) are around, then end the trip in the Garner Valley. Bring sturdy shoes, a lunch/snacks and water. An Adventure Pass will be needed for some locations, so please purchase one ahead of time.
Saturday, May 30, 2025 7:00 am
San Bernardino Mountains
Leader: Brad Singer (909) 936-5087/bcsinger@gmail.com
The San Bernardino Mountains trip will meet outside the Starbuck's located in the Von's shopping center on Big Bear Blvd. and Sandalwood Drive at 7:00 am. We will spend the morning at Cactus Flats and Arrastre Creek where expected species include Black-chinned Sparrow, Green-tailed Towhee, Lazuli Bunting, Scott's Oriole, and Mountain Quail. We will also search for Hepatic Tanager, Indigo Bunting, Calliope Hummingbird, Plumbeous Vireo, Gray Vireo, and Pinyon Jay. About midday we'll bird around Big Bear Lake in search of any lingering shorebirds, terns, and raptors, and then spend the afternoon up either at Bluff Lake or Wildhorse Meadows in search of Williamson's Sapsucker, Dusky Flycatcher, Cassin's Finch, Townsend's Solitaire, and Clark's Nutcracker. Expect a long day, bring plenty of water, lunch, and sturdy hiking shoes. A vehicle with high clearance is recommended but not required.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, June 5,6,7,8,
Northern Baja California, Mexico
Brad Singer (909) 936-5087/bcsinger@gmail.com
This brief trip to the wonders of the Northern Baja will highlight the vast bird variety and abundance in areas of both high population density and large expanses of open terrain. We will bird the coastline from Ensenada to San Quintin, the mountains of Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park, and the deserts of the Lower Colorado River Basin. The endemic Gray Thrasher will be on the hit list along with many other coastal shrub, shoreline, montane and desert species. If interested, please email me at the above address and I can send you a detailed itinerary. Passport is necessary.
