A bird extravaganza is happening at the Patrick Ranch Museum
It’s time to fly south for the winter, or, in this case, fly toward the Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyway at the Patrick Ranch Museum.
The festival is in it’s 23rd year and runs through Sunday. It is chock full of activities for both adults and children. Walk into the exhibition hall and to the right of the front door is a great obstacle course for children. Children can pretend they are migratory birds making their way across a wetland and have to dodge certain pitfalls, like getting past a “cat” which is a little cat toy swinging from a rope.
“They are learning the hazards and hurdles of migration,” said project coordinator Jared Geiser.
Volunteers and festival goers are very happy the festival is being held in person again.
In the children’s area there is also food made from pipe cleaners and bird habitats and children can take photos and collect eggs for a “nest.” Also, children are shown how birds are banded with little metal rings which makes it possible for biologists to track them.
Director of events Jennifer Patten said the festival will be sold out by Saturday, but there are some free activities. Admission to the exhibit hall is free and there are various exhibits by organizations such as Ducks Unlimited and the Sierra Club. Also, there will be clothing for sale such as fleece vests, shirts and beanies with the Snow Goose logo on them.
Patten also said there will be a demonstration with live bats.
“Children can actually touch the bats,” she said.
Many people come to the festival to bird watch, and volunteer Debbie Chakaren said there are at least 60 types of birds at the ranch and people come from all over to attend the festival, including people from out of state.
Patten said there will be a banquet Saturday night at the Bell Memorial Union at Chico State from 5:30 p.m. to about 10 p.m. There will be a silent auction and an address from keynote speaker Julie Rentner, president of River Partners. The banquet admission is $40 and costs $20 for students 17 and under and Chico State students. If interested in attending the banquet, you must pay for
the banquet at the festival before heading to Chico State.
There are many field trips offered during the festival, such as Raptor ID, Trapping and Banding and a Tehama Bird Trek and Sutter Buttes Hike.
AltaCal puts the festival on. It is always held during the last week of January.
One of the exhibits is powered by California Watchable Wildlife and the website can be found at cawatchablewildlife. org. This website tells visitors where they can view certain animals and wildlife across California. Outreach Coordinator Barbara Steinberg has worked for the organization for over 30 years. People interested in submitting locations as viewing sites can do so at the website.
The Patrick Ranch Museum is located at 10381 Midway. The festival is held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit https://snowgoosefestival. org.