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White-crowned Sparrow by Dave Zittin

A Different Perspective on Residents and Fall Migrants: Birds, Phylogeny, and Biogeography at McClellan Ranch

This field trip at McClellan Ranch, looking for residents and fall migrants, will go beyond bird identification into evolutionary history: phylogeny and biogeography. When we see a bird, in addition to the usual “What is it?” and “What’s it doing?”, we will ask “Where does it fit on the evolutionary tree?”, “Where did its ancestors come from?”, and similar questions. The walk will be preceded by a short (15 minutes) outdoor slide presentation.

Trip Difficulty: 1 mile, mostly paved and flat

Leaders: John Harshman (408) 406-4733 and Eve Meier (408) 569-9391

Meet: Outside the nature shop

Directions: From I-280 in Cupertino, exit Foothill Expy. Travel south onto Foothill Blvd for 1.3 miles. Turn left onto McClellan Rd and continue for 0.5 miles. Turn left into the preserve parking lot. The nature shop is located at the preserve entrance. Address: 22221 McClellan Rd, Cupertino, CA 95014. Latitude/Longitude: 37.313072, -122.063695

Facilities: ADA compliant bathroom, drinking water

Parking Type and Fees: no fees, 2 ADA compliant parking spots in the main parking lot and 2 more in the overflow parking lot

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