PUBLIC 4 HOUR TRADITIONAL

This year let’s get out of the bustling valley and run to Diablo Foothills Preserve, an area normally closed to the public. Located east of Gilroy, this beautiful preserve of rolling hills, oaks and grasslands, provides sweeping views of the valley below and the Santa Cruz range. We’ll enjoy the spring wildflowers plus birds such as Golden Eagles, Yellow-billed Magpies, Western Meadowlarks, and Grasshopper Sparrows. Expect to bird for about 3 hours, we should find about 30 species. Bring your camp chair and picnic lunch, we can eat together after the walk. This trip has been made possible by Santa Clara Open Space Authority. Read more about OSA here: https://www.openspaceauthority.org/.

Trip Difficulty: 3-4 miles, packed dirt trails, muddy or possibly muddy after rain, hilly (elevation gain over 300 ft), steep in some sections, little to no shade

Leader: Eve Meier, (408) 569-9391 and Edward Rooks (408) 318-2485

Birding Intensity: Moderate

Meet Location: Diablo Hills Preserve, Cañada Road parking lot

Directions: From US-101 S in Gilroy, take the Leavesley Rd exit and go left (east). Continue on Leavesley for 2 miles. Leavesely turns into Ferguson, continuing on Ferguson for 1.7 miles. Turn left onto CA-152 E, and in half a mile make a left on Cañada Road. Continue on Cañada Road for 5 miles. When you are getting close, look for an old windmill on your left. The parking area is located on your left in less than 0.25 miles after you pass the windmill. If you reach Cañada Rd and Jaimeson Rd, you’ve gone too far. Latitude/Longitude: 37.025410, -121.456069

Facilities: porta-potty, cell coverage may be intermittent or non-existent

Banner Photo: Western Meadowlark by Jennifer Oliver

Questions? Email general questions to programs@scvbirdalliance.org or contact the trip leader for questions regarding the event.