Audubon trips a time to be wild

The Ventura Audubon Society will sponsor birding field trips in December. Beginners are welcome on all field trips, and rain cancels any trip. More information about the group is available at www.VenturaAudubon.org.

•9 a.m. to noon Sat., Dec.1: Restoration Work Day, Santa Paula. Hedrick Ranch Nature Area Restoration Program. Come at 8 for birding. Leader: Sandy Hedrick, (805) 3700478. Wear work shoes and gardening gloves.

•8:30 a.m. Wed., Dec. 5: Canada Larga. Leader: Jan Lewison, (805) 643-3353. Meet near the beginning of Canada Larga Road. Group will walk and drive the canyon.

•8 a.m. Sat., Dec. 8: Saticoy Ponds. Leaders: Ron and Ginger Burns, (805) 647-5346. Bring scopes and meet outside the gate. Group must enter together. The ponds are on the northeast side of Highway 118/ Los Angeles Ave.

•7:30 p.m. Tues., Dec. 11: Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Road, Ventura. Jana Johnson, lead biologist for the Butterfly Project of the Urban Wildlands group will speak on the endangered Palos Verdes blue butterflies.

•Saturday, Dec. 15. Christmas bird count. Rain date, Sat., Dec.22. For more information on participating, call Laura Robinson at (805) 701-8185, or sent an e-mail to looks4birds @sbcglobal.net.

•8:30 a.m. Sat., Dec. 29: Ventura Settling Ponds. Leader: Allen Bertke, (805) 640-9037. Good views are expected of herons, grebes, egrets, ducks and others. Meet inside the gate of the Water Treatment Plant on Angler Court.