Napa Valley Birdwatching

Napa Valley is directly on the Pacific Flyway.  Over 25% of all of the birds in the United States fly through the marshes surrounding the San Francisco Bay (and surrounding bays, marshes, etc) at least once a year.  These marshes play an important role in the ecosystem of California, the United States, and globally.  The months of January, February, and March are particularly good for birdwatching in Napa Valley - it is also a great time for a side-trip to our wineries and restaurants given that the winter months are not considered peak-season.

The 14th Annual San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival is an annual event that celebrates the migration of over one million shorebirds and hundreds of thousands of ducks, geese, hawks and even butterflies through the San Francisco Bay Estuary.  Northern California  has some of the best wetlands, wild lands, open spaces and historic sites in California.  Check out the website at www.sfbayflywayfestival.com

Napa Solano Audubon Society

Between Napa and Solano Counties, there is a wide diversity of natural habitat including tidal salt and fresh water marshes, vernal pools. As the Napa Valley rises in elevations there are grasslands dotted with valley oaks, chaparral foothills with live oak, chamise, and manzanita, riparian corridors with willows and Fremont cottonwoods, mixed broad-leafed and conifer forests, and redwoods. Of course the Napa Valley also has over 50,000 acres in cultivated vineyards. The Napa Solano Audubon Society is the best birding and conservation organization in Napa Valley and focuses on supporting local birding, local and area conservation education and advocacy. http://www.napasolanoaudubon.com Frequently,the Napa Solano Audubon Society hosts field trips. A quick link to their upcoming events is here http://www.napasolanoaudubon.com/fieldtrips.htm