NWRs Day! (Stanislaus and Merced Counties)

Leaders: Chris Tarr, ctarr@goldengatebirds.org, cell 510-375-0520 Dawn Lemoine, dlemoine@goldengatebirds.org, cell 510-757-4727

Date: Sunday 18-Jan-2026, 8:30am – 4pm

Non-Members: $60/person

Members: $48/person (20% discount)

This trip has been so successful the last 2 years that we are doing it again! We are going to make a day of it! Join us to visit 2 very different National Wildlife Refuges:

- San Joaquin River NWR (walking tour)

- Merced NWR (auto tour)

New to National Wildlife Refuge birding? Looking to bird with other birders? Excited to learn about new places? Wanting to add to your Stanislaus and Merced county lists? We think you will enjoy this day!

Bring binoculars, water, sunscreen, hat and lunch. Bring a scope if you have one. We will have spare binoculars, if you need to borrow a pair.

At San Joaquin River, we will bird the Pelican Nature Trail, walking about 1.5 miles. The trail is mostly level gravel and dirt.

At Merced, we will lunch, spend time at the viewing platform, drive the auto tour and perhaps stop for a short hike on the Bittern Marsh Trail.

There are restrooms at the parking lot of both refuges.

Carpool from the bay area if at all possible. Note: You will be required to carpool for the Merced NWR Auto Tour – 4 people per car. (Additional cars will remain in the parking lot.)

Limit: 22

Once you have registered for the trip, you will receive detailed instructions by email.