Audubon plans April field trips

The Ventura Audubon Society will conduct birding field trips in April. Beginners are welcome on all field trips, and rain cancels any trip.

During April, the group will sponsor a fundraising birdathon. Any scheduled trip in April may be used to pledge money per species seen.

+Sun., April 1, 8 a.m. to noon. Restoration Work Day, Santa Paula. Hedrick Ranch Nature Area Restoration Program. 8 a.m. for birding, 9 a.m. for work. Leader: Sandy Hedrick, (805) 340-0478. Birds sighted at the ranch include northern harriers, white-tailed kites, American bittern, fox sparrow and the thick-billed kingbird. Wear sturdy work shoes and gardening gloves.

+Sat., April 14, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bird Feeder Making, Plaza Park, Oxnard. Leader: Art Marshall, (805) 642-1585.

+Sun., April 15, 8:30 a.m. Camino Real Park. Leader: Raeann Koerner, 805 644-6287. The group will bird along the barranca and into the park. Look for spring migrants.

+Wed., April 18, 8:30 a.m. Lake Casitas. Jan Lewison (6433353). Look for herons, egrets, ducks, grebes, bluebirds and woodpeckers as well as spring migrants. Meet outside the gate.

+Sat./Sun., April 21 and 22. Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, 8 a.m. Saturday. To attend call Judy at (805) 642-0842. Meet at the Big Morongo Preserve parking lot. This preserve is an oasis which attracts migrants moving north from Mexico. Look for species of warblers, summer tanagers, yellowbreasted chats, and vermilion flycatchers. Sunday the group will proceed to Joshua Tree.

There is a fee for Joshua Tree and a donation for Big Morongo.

+Sat., April 28, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Beginners Bird Walk, Fillmore Fish Hatchery. Leader: Allen Bertke (6409037). See herons, egrets and other birds. Bring binoculars, a field guide and water. The walk may take more time than two hours. Meet to carpool at the Vons shopping center between McDonalds and Starbucks at Telegraph and Victoria in Ventura at 7:50 a.m. Or meet the group at the Fish Hatchery at 8:30 a.m. The hatchery is to the right off Highway 126, 1.2 miles east of Fillmore.

For more information, call Judy Dugan, field trip coordinator, at 642-0842.