All calendar items are subject to change as we navigate the changing conditions and guidance related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please continue to adhere to all safety protocols including physical distancing, wearing masks and frequent hand washing. For information on how to get vaccinated in California, please visit myturn.ca.gov.
Wildlife areas, ecological reserves and other properties may be closed due to wildfires or wildfire damage. Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts are strongly encouraged to check for closures before leaving on any recreational trip.
Various Days — Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Access Permit Application Deadline for Hunting Opportunities. There are still opportunities available for pig, waterfowl and upland game hunting through May. An $11.75 non-refundable application fee (plus handling fees) is charged for each hunt choice. For more information, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/share.
Various Days — Guided Wetland Tours by Reservation at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, 3207 Rutherford Road, Gridley (95948). A wildlife naturalist will lead any group, school or organization on a half-mile route through the diverse wetlands of the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. General information includes wildlife identification, behavior patterns and conservation efforts. The experience can be catered to include requested information. Each tour is limited to 30 people. This land is part of the CDFW Lands Pass Program and associated fee-for-use requirement. There is no additional cost for the tour. Current COVID-19 guidelines will be followed. Come prepared and be respectful of other visitors. For more information, please call (530) 846-7505 or email Lori.Dieter@wildlife.ca.gov.
Weekends — Ecological Reserve Tours at Elkhorn Slough, 10 and 11 a.m., 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville (95076). Volunteers lead walks highlighting the natural history of the Elkhorn Slough every Saturday and Sunday. Tours fill on a first-come, first-served basis the day of the tour. Groups of six or more should call ahead at (831) 728-2822 to reserve a tour. For more information, please visit www.elkhornslough.org/esnerr/tours.
Weekends — Guided Wildlife Tours at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, 12:30 p.m., 3207 Rutherford Road, Gridley (95948). This hour-and-a-half tour will stroll a third of a mile to an elevated viewing deck where participants will have a bird’s-eye view of wildlife. Visitors often encounter hawks, herons, turtles, cormorants, swallows and much more. This is one of the premier birding spots in northern California, as migratory ducks and geese usually take the spotlight. Tours are canceled in heavy rain. This land is part of the CDFW Lands Pass Program and associated fee-for-use requirement. There is no additional cost for the tour. To sign up, please visit the Eventbrite registration page. To purchase a Lands Pass, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/lands-pass. There is a limit of 25 people per tour. COVID-19 guidelines will be followed. Come prepared and be respectful of other visitors. Tours will not be held on Christmas Day. For more information, please call (530) 846-7505 or email Lori.Dieter@wildlife.ca.gov.
1 — Flyway Nights Speaker Series, 7 p.m., via Zoom. Flyway Nights is a monthly speaker series highlighting environmental issues, current research topics in conservation and natural history of northern California. This event will feature Yolo Basin Foundation Graduate Student Fellowship recipients Stephen Gergeni, Brian Lee and Mackenzie Miner. Talks are an hour to 90 minutes in duration and registration is required. A $10 donation is suggested. For more information, please visit www.yolobasin.org/flywaynights.
2 — Community Habitat Restoration at Ballona Reserve, 3 to 5 p.m., 303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey (90293). Let’s roll up sleeves and help the Friends of Ballona Wetlands restore the last coastal wetland in Los Angeles. Get hands-on experience while learning about urban ecology. Clearing out invasive vegetation gives slow-growing native plants room to thrive. Parking and entrance gate are located behind Gordon’s Market. Registration is required. For more information and to register, please visit www.ballonafriends.org/calendar/2022/12/02/friday-habitat-restoration.
3 — Open Wetlands at the Ballona Reserve, 9 a.m. to noon, 303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey (90293). Come join the Los Angeles Audubon Society in partnership with Nature Nexus Institute for a walk through beautiful Ballona. A guided bird walk begins at 9 a.m. and docent led walks will be available throughout the morning. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the native plants and wildlife of the local coastal wetlands. Entrance to the reserve is in the northeast corner of the parking lot behind Gordon’s Market. For more information, please visit Los Angeles Audubon’s event page.
4 — Salt Marsh and Dunes Tour at Ballona Reserve, 10 a.m. to noon, 303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey (90293). Explore the wonder of nature in the middle of urban Los Angeles! Friends of Ballona docents will lead the tour through the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve and teach participants about its history and ecology. Enjoy all the special and unique native plants on the journey through different habitats. Participants might even meet some of the local wildlife. Parking and entrance gate are located behind Gordon's Market. Registration is required. For more details about the event and to register, please visit www.ballonafriends.org/calendar/2022/12/04/saltmarsh-tour.
7 — Community Restoration Event at Ballona Wetlands, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., 303 Culver Blvd., Playa Del Rey (90293). The Bay Foundation's Ballona Wetlands Community Restoration Project focuses on removing The Bay Foundation’s Ballona Wetlands Community Restoration Project focuses on removing invasive iceplant and other non-native vegetation that can impact native California plants such as pickleweed, salt grass and alkali weed. Participants will help to remove non-native plants by hand. Parking is behind Gordon’s/Alka Water Market and the restoration site is a short walk up Culver Boulevard. Registration is required and the event is limited to 50 participants. Physical distancing will be required and vaccination is strongly encouraged. Please plan to wear a mask if unvaccinated. For event information and to sign up, please visit www.santamonicabay.org/events.
10 — Ballona Creek Cleanup at Ballona Reserve, 9:30 a.m. to noon, 303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey (90293). Help the Friends of Ballona Wetlands clean up the last coastal wetland in Los Angeles. Did you know that 130 square miles of storm drain flow into Ballona Creek? Gutter trash from as far away as North Hollywood can end up right in the wetlands. The time and effort put into clearing out debris means less trash in the wetlands, on our beaches and in the open ocean. Parking and entrance gate are located behind Gordon’s Market. Registration is required. For more details about the event and to register, please visit www.ballonafriends.org/calendar/2022/12/10/creek-cleanup.
10 — Tour of the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, 9 a.m. to noon, Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, 45211 County Road 32 B, Davis (95618). December is a wonderful month to come out to the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area! Join Yolo Basin Foundation’s docent on a fantastic tour that is appropriate for all levels of outdoor enthusiasts and birders. View seasonal and permanent wetlands, native grasslands and young riparian forests. Look for migrating and resident waterfowl, geese, swans, raptors and wading birds. Registration is required to attend. For more information and to register, please visit www.yolobasin.org/wetlands-tours.
11 — Open Wetlands at the Ballona Reserve, 9 a.m. to noon, 303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey (90293). Come join the Los Angeles Audubon Society in partnership with Nature Nexus Institute for a walk through beautiful Ballona. A guided bird walk begins at 9 a.m. and docent led walks will be available throughout the morning. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the native plants and wildlife of the local coastal wetlands. Entrance to the reserve is in the northeast corner of the parking lot behind Gordon’s Market. For more information, please visit Los Angeles Audubon’s event page.
13 — California Fish and Game Commission Tribal Committee Meeting, 1 p.m., Handlery Hotel San Diego, Presidio Ballroom, 950 Hotel Circle North, San Diego (92108). The meeting will also be held via webinar/teleconference. For more information, please visit fgc.ca.gov.
14-15 — California Fish and Game Commission Meeting, starting at 10 a.m. on Dec. 14 and 9 a.m. on Dec. 15, Handlery Hotel San Diego, Presidio Ballroom, 950 Hotel Circle North, San Diego (92108). The meeting will also be held via webinar/teleconference. For more information, please visit fgc.ca.gov.
16 — Community Habitat Restoration, 3 to 5 p.m., 303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey (90293). Let’s roll up sleeves and help the Friends of Ballona Wetlands restore the last coastal wetland in the City of Los Angeles. Get hands-on experience while learning about urban ecology. The time and effort put into clearing out invasive vegetation give our slow-growing native plants room to thrive. Parking and entrance gate are located behind Gordon's Market. Registration is required. For more details about the event and to register, please visit www.ballonafriends.org/calendar/2022/12/16/friday-habitat-restoration.
17 — Garden Days at Elkhorn Slough Reserve, 10 a.m. to noon, 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville (95076). Learn about native plant gardening and help the reserve maintain its new demonstration gardens! Participants will spend time exploring topics in native plant gardening and then spend time working in the gardens. Work changes with the season and may involve weeding, planting or collecting native seeds. All ages and abilities are welcome, but those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. For more details and to register, please visit www.elkhornslough.org/calendar.
17 — Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Pop-up Information Booth, 9 to 11 a.m., Parking Lot A, Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, 45211 County Road 32 B, Davis (95618). Every third Saturday of the month, Yolo Basin Foundation will have a pop-up information booth in Parking Lot A of the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area. For new visitors to the area or those with questions, it is a great time to visit since volunteers will provide maps of the auto tour route and hiking trails, provide information about what to keep an eye out for and answer questions as visitors set out to explore local wildlife. Come visit the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area during this time of magical migrations as waterfowl, geese, swans and more are making their way south along the Pacific Flyway. For more information about the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, please visit www.yolobasin.org/yolobypasswildlifearea.
17 — Salt Marsh and Dunes Tour at Ballona Reserve, 10 a.m. to noon, 303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey (90293). Explore the wonder of nature in the middle of urban Los Angeles! Friends of Ballona docents will lead the tour through the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve and teach participants about its history and ecology. Enjoy all the special and unique native plants on the journey through different habitats. Participants might even meet some of the local wildlife. Parking and entrance gate are located behind Gordon's Market. Registration is required. For more details about the event and to register, please visit www.ballonafriends.org/calendar/2022/12/17/saltmarsh-tour.
17 — General Season for Band-tailed Pigeons in the Southern Hunt Zone Opens (extending through Dec. 25). For more information on upland game bird seasons and limits, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/upland-game-birds.
23 — King Tide Tour at Elkhorn Slough Reserve, 9 to 11 a.m., 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville (95076). Explore the year’s highest tides at the Elkhorn Slough Reserve. Join naturalists on a guided hike to witness the “King Tide” phenomenon and learn about efforts to mitigate sea level rise impacts in coastal communities. The tour is open to all ages, but attendees must register in advance. For more details and to register, please visit www.elkhornslough.org/calendar.
25 — Black Bear Season Ends Statewide (or earlier if CDFW determines that 1,700 black bears have been reported taken). All hunters must get their tag validated and present the bear head for tooth extraction by CDFW personnel. Current bear hunting regulations, in-season updates and general black bear information can be viewed at wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/bear.
26 — Archery Only Pheasant Season Opens (extending through Jan. 22, 2023). For more information on upland game bird seasons and limits, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/upland-game-birds.
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Media Contact:
Amanda McDermott, CDFW Communications, (916) 738-9641