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Field Trip Registration
NABA 8th Biennial Members' Meeting
Kernville, California - June 26-29, 2008

NABA Meeting Field Trip Selection Process:
In addition to the main meeting field trips, there are 2 pre-meeting and 4 post-meeting field trips scheduled. You may register for as many of the pre- and post-meeting field trips as you would like (descriptions and schedules are below). For the main meeting, you should choose a total of 3 field trips, one for each day, from the list of multiple field trips that will be run each day.

Name


E-mail


Physical Condition Limiting Participation in Field Trips (Y/N)?


Please select up to two (2) pre-trips that you would like to participate in from the PRE-MEETING FIELD TRIPS below (PR1 and PR2)

Pre-Trip 1     Pre-Trip 2

Please select three (3) from the MEETING FIELD TRIPS below (A-H), one for each day (the order of the chosen trips does not select the day the trip will run) and enter the letter of the trip in the blanks.

If you have any questions about this process, please contact Bob Barnes at E-mail: bbarnes@lightspeed.net or Phone: 760-382-1260).

If you want to travel as a group for a trip, please list the names of others you want to go with below (up to 11 who have registered for the meeting). Each person must still register individually if you are asking to travel in a group and we will try to keep you with your group each day.



Trip 1     Trip 2     Trip 3

Names of people I wish to travel with on these trips (up to 11)













Please select up to four (4) post-trips that you would like to participate in from the POST-MEETING FIELD TRIPS below (PO1-PO4)

Post-Trip 1     Post-Trip 2     Post-Trip 3     Post-Trip 4


PRE-MEETING FIELD OUTING (MONDAY & TUESDAY, JUNE 23 & 24)
San Diego/Hermes Copper Outing - Join Michael Klein, San Diego area biologist/entomologist, in search of Hermes Copper and other San Diego area butterflies flying in late June. Michael has been studying Hermes Copper for twelve years. Who better than Michael to take NABA 08 Biennial Meeting registrants on a search for this beautiful butterfly which is only found in San Diego County within the United States. Contact Michael by email at keps2@flite-tours.com, if interested.

PRE-MEETING FIELD TRIPS (WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY, JUNE 25 & 26) (Choose any number)
PR1: NORTH FORK KERN RIVER VALLEY BUTTERFLY COUNT (WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25) - This count covers a fifteen mile diameter circle including much of the Greenhorn Mountains, land along the west shore of Isabella Reservoir, and the North Fork Kern River watershed to eight miles north from Kernville. This butterfly count is routinely a Top 10 in the U.S. in terms of species (all-time high of sixty-eight species). See Meeting Field Trips B & C for a list of some of the possible butterflies. Five to thirty minutes driving time from Kernville to the first butterfly stops.

PR2: MT. PINOS (THURSDAY, JUNE 26) - Leaving Frazier Mountain County Park, in Frazier Park at 9:30am. NOTE: Frazier Park is west off Interstate 5 near the Kern County/Los Angeles County line (see following). This is a special pre-meeting focused field trip to search for the Veined Blue, one of the butterfly species endemic to southern California. Although this butterfly may well be seen on some field trips out of Kernville, Mount Pinos is the generally the best place to find it in late June. Possible butterflies: Harford's Sulphur, California Dogface, Blue Copper, Sylvan Hairstreak, Melissa Blue, and Coronis Fritillary which are uncommon around Kernville may be more easily found around Mt. Pinos. Directions to Frazier Mt. Park: Exit I-5 at Exit 205 Frazier Mt. Park Road. Continue west on Frazier Mt. Park Road about 3.5 miles to town of Frazier Park and make left at stoplight on Monterey Trail and then a right onto Park Road and then into the park's parking lot. For those already in Kernville, we will car pool from Riverside Park in Kernville to leave at 7am to meet the group in Frazier Park (about a 2 hour ride). Bring Lunch.

MEETING FIELD TRIPS (FRIDAY-SUNDAY, JUNE 27-29) (choose three)
A. GIANT SEQUOIA NATIONAL MONUMENT - The Giant Sequoia National Monument has more Giant Sequoia Groves than Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park, and Yosemite National Park combined - thirty-nine! Aside from a visit to some of the largest trees on earth found along the Trail of 100 Giants in the magnificent Long Meadow Grove, this trip will cover many of the wet meadows found well north of Kernville. These meadows (from among Deep, Double Bunk, Holey, Long, Quaking Aspen, and Redwood) are often a magnet for literally thousands of butterflies. Possible butterflies: Greenish Blues and Sonoran Skippers in the hundreds as well as Lilac-bordered Copper, Hedgerow, Sylvan, California, and 'Nelson's' Juniper Hairstreaks; "Anna's" Northern Blue, Zerene, Hydaspe, and Pacific Fritillaries, Satyr, Green, and Hoary Commas, and California and Milbert's Tortoiseshells. Other Species of interest: Red-breasted Sapsucker, White-headed Woodpecker, Hammond's Flycatcher, Cassin's Vireo, Hermit Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Green-tailed Towhee, and Douglas Squirrel (Chickaree). Sixty minutes driving time from Kernville to the Trail of 100 Giants, then twenty minutes further to Quaking Aspen.

B. GREENHORN MOUNTAINS (NORTH) - We will search for butterflies in Isabella Reservoir's high water zone followed by a transect up CA Hwy. 155 to 6102' Greenhorn Summit. Then it is north through a portion of Sequoia National Forest's 1.2 million acres with stops at numerous mountain creek crossings, small meadows, and burn areas. Patches of flowers may yield nectaring butterflies. We are hopeful of having time to visit Baker Point or Tobias Peak, known butterfly hotspots, with their possible hill-topping butterflies. Possible butterflies: Clodius Parnassian, Anise, Western Tiger, and Pale Swallowtails; Pearly and Gray Marbles, Western Pine Elfin; 'Nelson's' Juniper Hairstreak; Boisduval's, Acmon, and Lupine Blues; Callippe, Great Basin, Hydaspe, and Pacific Fritillaries; Satyr Comma, California and Milbert's Tortoiseshell, California Sister, and duskywings. Other species of interest: Red-breasted Sapsucker, White-headed Woodpecker, Townsend's Solitaire, "Thick-billed" Fox Sparrow, Western Gray Squirrel. Ten minutes driving time from Kernville to the first stop, twenty-five to thirty minutes to Greenhorn Summit.

C. GREENHORN MOUNTAINS (SOUTH) - Isabella Reservoir's west shore, then searches for a myriad of nectaring butterfly species along Old State Road. We will reach 6102' Greenhorn Summit in time for lunch. Across from our lunch spot we will check the first portion of Forest Service Road 25S17. As time permits, Cedar Creek Campground (3 mi. w. of Greenhorn Summit) and/or 7000' Shirley Meadows (2 mi. s. of the Greenhorn Summit) will be visited. Possible butterflies: Pale Swallowtail, Great & Gorgon Coppers, local hairstreaks (often in high numbers) including California, Gold-hunter's, Golden, Hedgerow, Mountain Mahogany & 'Nelson's' Juniper Hairstreaks; Marine, 'Bernardino' & 'Glaucon' Square-Spotted, and 'Chlorina' Lupine Blues; odd Laurina form of Callippe and southernmost Hydaspe Fritillaries, Field & Mylitta Crescents, West Coast Lady, Lorquin's Admiral, & California Sister. Other species of interest: Mtn. Quail, Dusky Flycatcher, Cassin's Vireo, Wrentit, California Thrasher, & Phainopepla. Ten minute drive from Kernville to the first stop, twenty-five to thirty minutes return to Kernville at end.

D. KERN PLATEAU WEST (BALD MOUNTAIN) - The same trip as the F. Kern Plateau West (Sherman Pass) trip, but with a 400-500 meter/yard walk up a dirt road to the top of 9382' Bald Mountain where we'll search for hill-topping butterflies of several species. Bald Mountain's 360 degree view is asserted as one of the finest anywhere. What a magnificent setting to enjoy butterflies! Possible butterflies at Bald Mountain: Anise, Indra, and Pale Swallowtails; Spring White, Pearly Marble, Behr's Hairstreak, Northern Checkerspot, Mexican Cloudywing, and Pacuvius Duskywing. Other species of interest: Sooty Grouse (best location in the Southern Sierra), early "fall" migrant Allen's/Rufous Hummingbirds, Williamson's Sapsucker, Clark's Nutcracker, Cassin's Finch, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel. Thirty to thirty-five minutes driving time from Kernville to the first stop. NOTE: Friday and Saturday only!

E. KERN PLATEAU WEST (POISON MEADOW AND BIG MEADOW) - This trip leads from Kernville north on Sierra Way alongside the North Fork Kern River, then up Sherman Pass Road…checking roadside nectar-producing plants along the way. South off Sherman Pass Road on Cherry Hill Road are some wonderful, wet meadows for which the southern Sierra is justly known. Big Meadow lives up to its name; the road around its perimeter is over six miles long! This is true "Big West" country. Possible butterflies: Clodius Parnassian, Pale Swallowtail, Large Marble, Great and Gorgon Copper, 'Nelson's' Juniper Hairstreak, Greenish Blue, Hoary Comma, Two-banded Skipper, and Sonoran Skipper. Other species of interest: Mountain Quail, White-headed Woodpecker, Mountain Bluebird, Red Crossbill. Thirty to thirty-five minutes driving time from Kernville to the first stop.

F. KERN PLATEAU WEST (SHERMAN PASS) - This trip leads north from 2700' Kernville up the Kern River Canyon alongside the National Wild & Scenic North Fork Kern River to Sherman Pass Road. Several habitats will be covered as we transect up Sherman Pass Road to 9200' Sherman Pass. A stop at Alder Creek at 6700' is a must as this known hotspot may be alive with butterflies. As a matter of fact, about eighty species of butterflies fly west of Sherman Pass in late June on any given day. At Sherman Pass is a scenic overlook of the southern Sierra Nevada, punctuated by magnificent views of 14,025' Mt. Langley and 14,490' Mt. Whitney, the latter the highest peak in the lower forty-eight states. Possible butterfly species: Clodius Parnassian, Large Marble, Great and Gorgon Copper, 'Sierra' Arctic Blue, Great Basin and Mormon Fritillary, Hoary Comma, Lorquin's Admiral, Persius Duskywing, and Sonoran Skipper. Other species of interest: Williamson's Sapsucker, McGillivray's Warbler, Green-tailed Towhee, Lazuli Bunting, Cassin's Finch. Thirty to thirty-five minutes driving time from Kernville to the first stop.

G: KERN RIVER VALLEY TARGET BUTTERFLIES - This trip will cover a variety of habitats throughout the Kern River Valley with an emphasis on searching for "California Specialty" butterflies including the endemic, highly range-restricted San Emigdio Blue, as well as Great and Gorgon Copper, Golden, Gold-hunter's and Mountain Mahogany Hairstreak, and Alkali Skipper. Numerous other butterfly species are possible as well. Other species of interest: Say's Phoebe, Western Bluebird, Tricolored Blackbird, Lawrence's Goldfinch. Twenty-five minutes driving time to the first stop in the South Fork Valley to look for San Emigdio Blue and Alkali Skipper.

H. SOUTH FORK VALLEY & CHIMNEY PEAK BACKCOUNTRY BYWAY - This trip will cover the South Fork Valley with San Emigdio Blue and Alkali Skipper among the possible species to be found. The trip will then proceed up the Chimney Peak National Backcountry Byway to Lamont Meadow and Chimney Creek Campground. The route goes through a fairlyland of rock formations and below dramatic mountain peaks. As time permits the Friday and Saturday trips will proceed to Kennedy Meadows Road or Walker Pass. This area can be loaded with butterflies in a normal year in late June. Possible butterflies: Western Tiger and Pale Swallowtails; Great and Gorgon Coppers; Hedge-Row, Gold-Hunter's, and Juniper Hairstreaks; Veined, ‘Bernardino’ Square-spotted, and Lupine Blues; ‘Chalcedon’ Variable , Northern, and Arachne Checkerspots; Field Crescent, Lorquin's Admiral, California Sister, Great Basin Wood-Nymph and California "Common" Ringlet. Other species of interest: Mountain Quail, Plumbeous Vireo, Gray Flycatcher, Oak Titmouse, Wrentit, California Thrasher, Scott's Oriole, White-tailed Antelope Squirrel. Twenty-five minutes driving time to the first stop to look for San Emigdio Blue or Alkali Skipper.

POST-MEETING FIELD TRIPS (MONDAY-THURSDAY, JUNE 30-JULY 3) (choose any number)
PO1: GIANT SEQUOIA NATIONAL MONUMENT (SOUTH) BUTTERFLY COUNT (MONDAY, JUNE 30) - This count covers a fifteen mile diameter circle including the Giant Sequoia National Monument north along the Western Divide Highway to Ponderosa, the northern portion of the Greenhorn Mountains, the Kern Plateau from along the northern portion of the Cherry Hill Road, Sherman Pass Road to three miles east of Sherman Pass, and the North Fork Kern River/Sierra Way corridor from Calkins Flat to the Johnsondale Bridge. This butterfly count is routinely a Top 5 in the U.S. in terms of species (all-time high of seventy-seven species). See Meeting Field Trips A, E, and F for a list of some of the possible butterflies. Twenty to thirty minutes driving time from Kernville to the first butterfly stops.

PO2: KERN RIVER VALLEY/SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA BIRDING (TUESDAY, JULY 1 … Half Day-AM Only) - Go birding with Bob Barnes, Wes Fritz, and/or John Schmitt. At least one trip will go to a private yard in Inyokern to search for Le Conte's Thrasher. Possible birds: Greater Roadrunner, White-throated Swift, Anna's & Costa's Hummingbirds, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Verdin, Rock & Canyon Wrens, Black-chinned & Black-throated Sparrows, Tricolored Blackbird, Hooded & Scott's Orioles, and Lawrence's Goldfinch. NOTE: Birding trips each day will be to a different location and/or areas where NABA meeting butterfly trips didn't go. The Kern River Valley and Southern Sierra Nevada chapter in A Birder's Guide to Southern California (American Birding Association, March 2007) will help in better understanding the birding field trip offerings.

PO3: KERN RIVER VALLEY/SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA BIRDING (WEDNESDAY, JULY 2 … All Day) - Go birding with Bob Barnes, Wes Fritz, and/or John Schmitt. At least one trip will consist of an east to west transect over the Kern Plateau ranging from 2600' to 9400'. Possible birds: Chukar, Sooty Grouse, Mountain Quail, Greater Roadrunner, Black & White-throated Swifts, Calliope & Rufous Hummingbirds, Red-breasted & Williamson's Sapsuckers, White-headed Woodpecker, Dusky & Gray Flycatchers, Plumbeous Vireo, Pinyon Jay, Clark's Nutcracker, Violet-green Swallow, Oak Titmouse, Rock & Canyon Wrens, American Dipper, Mountain Bluebird, Wrentit, California Thrasher, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Green-tailed & California Towhees, Black-throated &"Thick-billed" Fox Sparrows, Lazuli Bunting, Scott's Oriole, and Cassin's Finch. Bring food and drink to last all day.

PO4: KERN RIVER VALLEY/SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA BIRDING (THURSDAY, JULY 3 … Half Day-AM Only) - Go birding with Bob Barnes, Wes Fritz, and/or John Schmitt. At least one trip will spend the entire morning at the Kern River Preserve and elsewhere in the South Fork Valley. Possible birds: Western & Clark's Grebes, White-tailed Kite, Prairie Falcon, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Greater Roadrunner, Black-shinned & Anna's Hummingbirds, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Federally Endangered Extimus race), Black & Say's Phoebes, Vermilion & Brown-crested Flycatchers, Oak Titmouse, Bushtit, Western Bluebird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Summer Tanager, California Towhee, Rufous-crowned & Lark Sparrows, Blue Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, "Kern" Red-winged & Tricolored Blackbirds, Hooded & Bullock's Orioles, and Lawrence's Goldfinch.

SPECIAL NOTE - Two professionally-led commercial trips, a Jon Dunn/WINGS birding trip immediately preceding the June 26-29, 2008 NABA Biennial Meeting in Kernville and a Jim Brock/SUNSTREAK butterfly trip immediately following, are mentioned below for your information and use as you wish:

Wednesday-Tuesday, June 18-24, 2008 - WINGS Birding Tours: California: The Southern Sierra and the Kern River Valley with Jon Dunn as leader.

Monday, June 30-July 8, 2008 - SUNSTREAK: Northern California Sierra Nevada butterfly trip with Jim Brock as leader.

Self-Guided Butterflying
There are a number of endemic or near endemic butterflies flying at this time of year which can best (or only) be found elsewhere in southern California. These include: California Dogface, Hermes Copper, Avalon Scrub Hairstreak, ‘El Segundo’ Square-spotted Blue (Federally Listed as Endangered), Veined Blue, ‘Behr’s’ Mormon Metalmark, and Unsilvered Fritillary. Directions to finding these and other butterfly species which might be of special interest will be posted here as time permits. Contact Fred Heath for specific species requests. E-mail: fred.heath@earthlink.net. Phone: 805 218-1004.

Self-guided Birding
Self-guided birding in the Kern River Valley and Southern Sierra Nevada may be maximized by using two bird finding guides in concert: ABA’s A Birder’s Guide to Southern California edited by Brad Schram and Birding Northern California by John Kemper. Each have chapters on birding the area with overlap in the Kern River Valley itself. Two articles on the area are accessible on the Internet: California Cornucopia - Birding Kern County by Bob Steele, WildBird Magazine, Sep/Oct 05 and Find It Here! The Kern River Valley and Southern Sierra Nevada of California by Bob Barnes & Bob Steele, in ABA’s Birding magazine, April 2003. Kern and Tulare Counties bird sightings reports are also available. Feel free to contact Bob Barnes for help in planning self-guided birding early mornings during the NABA 08 Meeting, and/or days before and after. E-mail: bbarnes@lightspeed.net. Phone: 760-382-1260.
17-Feb-2008 / Main Meeting Page