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Acorn Woodpecker by Luis Villablanca

Field Trip: Stanford Arboretum and Cactus Garden (Palo Alto)

Tweet, chirp, chatter, shriek, drum-drum-drum: a cacophony of bird sounds and songs will greet you upon your first step onto the oak and eucalyptus tree-lined paved path to Stanford’s Arizona Cactus Garden and Mausoleum. As we stroll to the garden, we'll look for year-round residents such as Red-shouldered Hawks, Acorn Woodpeckers, Anna's Hummingbirds, Chestnut-backed Chickadees and Dark-eyed Juncos. This time of year, we should also spot Golden-crowned and White-crowned Sparrows.

Trip Type: Standard

Age Limit: Ages 10+; Young birders, ages 18 and under, must be accompanied by a parent or guardian

Capacity: 15

Price: Free

Trip Difficulty: 1 mile, paved trails, packed-dirt trails, lawns (potentially wet), little or no elevation gain, some shade

Beginner Friendly, No elevation gain

Meet: Parking lot for the Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Center for Academic Medicine on the Stanford Campus

Directions: From the intersection of Vineyard Ln and Quarry Rd in Palo Alto (adjacent the Stanford Shopping Center), turn into the parking lot for the Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Center for Academic Medicine buildings. Parking is free on weekends. Latitude/Longitude: 37.437953, -122.171331

Facilities: Stanford Shopping Center. There is a public restroom next to Starbucks and one on the second level above the store Lululemon.

Parking Type and Fees: paved parking lot

Leaders: Diane McCoy (650) 714-3769

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