Guide to California Duck Days Near Sacramento

Annually, the last weekend in February has both people and fowl flocking to Davis.

California Duck Days celebrates the vast amount of birds, like ducks, raptors and other species that spend a portion of the year in regional wetlands, meadows and wooded areas. Through several dozen tours and seminars, workshops and events, offered both inside and outdoors Duck Days are geared for a variety of ages and interests. Here are the basics:

General Information

Sponsored by the Yolo Basin Foundation CA Duck Days have free events while others require pre-registration and payment. Reservations are made on the organization's website.

Locations for outdoor activities will vary. All leave from the Duck Days Headquarters at the Foundation's office, along the frontage road of I-80.

The events are subject to change. Participants are urged to wear layers of weather-related clothing and also bring enough food and non-alcoholic beverages.

CA Duck Days' fun is kicked off to the public with the Welcome Reception and Wildlife Art Show on Friday night, February 24 starting at 5:30 p.m.

The community gathers together to enjoy this free event in the Davis Art Center at 1919 F Street. Appetizers and wine are offered in addition to the chance to view original artwork by Yolo County high school students. Recent designs of the California Junior Duck Stamp Art are also displayed.

Have you heard the expression "getting up with the birds"? It is true and some events begin as early as 7 a.m. on Saturday.

One of the all-time favorites is the Mystery Bird Trip. The daylong tour, led by avid birder Terry Colburn, is designed to locate a variety of birds during the best of time of day to see them. Among the wintering species other than ducks are swans and raptors, geese, swans and Sandhill Cranes. This tour is perfect for a beginner birder or one with years of experience.

Learn the basics of bird watching from spotting to identifying feathered visitors with the specialty tour.

In years past Duck Days' tours have included visiting agricultural businesses that promote farmland wildlife habitat.

Hedgerow Farms is a well-known grower of native plants. Located in Winters -- restoration techniques are taught as well as lessons on identifying birds in the fields. The hikes are short and some of the transportation is done on a hay-bale laden tractor.

Diversity of wildlife and their habitats is the hallmark of Conaway Ranch. The private ranch's 17,500 acres provide the perfect place to bird watch for several hours from mid morning to noon. This event is open to handicapped enthusiasts.

Trout fishing for youth is always a popular activity. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. kids are given free equipment and given the opportunity to fish in a wetlands' pond. Advance signup is not required.

Duck decoys have been used by centuries of hunters. Workshops at making decoys from tule, the marshy plant favored by Native Americans to craving one from wood or painting a ready-made one will be held at the festival.

Another way to release one's creativity is to attend a waterfowl drawing class. Learn how to capture the realistic features of ducks and geese with the help of a professional artist.

Raptors also capture winter waterfowl. Two Central Valley Raptors tours, morning and afternoon, start with a pre-trip Power Point presentation. During the walk find such birds of prey like Peregrine Falcons, Red-shouldered and hawks - Golden and Bald.

A falconry demonstration heralds back to the middle ages and a water dog retrieval skills workshop might offer some tips to be used on Fido when you get home.

California Duck Days is everything it is quacked up to be – and more.