Leaders: Tom Keffer and Lee Christie, ABDNHA Volunteers

If you can’t tell a sparrow from a flycatcher from a wren, this trip is for you! Instead of racking up species, we will slow down and take more time with each individual bird, learning how to identify them. We will be carrying a scope, so you’ll get a good look at what distinguishes a bird. 1.5 miles, no elevation gain, easy trail. Meet in the ABDNHA parking lot by 8:50 a.m.  Bring snacks, binoculars, and water. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve. Limit: 10.

Leaders: Carmelita Logerwell and Terri Straub

Hike 10 miles, 1000’ gain. This is a 10-mile loop hike, with the first three miles walking on a Jeep road up Rockhouse Canyon. But we think it's worth it! After those three miles, you reach Hidden Spring. From Hidden Spring, we climb up the slope to the Jackass Flat area, cross the flat for a couple of miles, then enter beautiful Butler Canyon from the top. As we exit Butler Canyon at the bottom, we are almost back at the cars. 4WD vehicles are highly recommended. Max 15 people. Meet at ABDNHA by 7:50. Bring lunch, snacks, and water. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve.

Leaders: Pat Matthews and Selden McKee, ABDNHA Volunteers

This activity repeats on the first Tuesdays of the month to explore nature journaling in the ABDNHA garden and in the field until noon.  No experience necessary—just a curiosity about the natural world. Participants will need a small, unlined journal, a pencil, an eraser, a micron pen, colored pencils or a compact watercolor set, and a chair. We will be outdoors, so a sun hat, water, and a snack are recommended. Meet in the parking lot of ABDNHA. No charge; call the Nature Center to reserve.

Desert Lecture Series

Speaker: Immigration Historian Deborah Kang, Ph.D.

In the early 1900s, people freely crossed back and forth between California and Mexico because federal immigration laws were not strongly enforced, and the two sides were often regarded as parts of the same community.  World War I and the Mexican Revolution led to this change, as strict regulations were imposed amid growing concerns about foreign enemies and immigrants. Residents in the borderlands strongly objected because they relied upon easy crossings for their society, family ties, and economy.  Their objections led to enforcement being relaxed once again.  Our speaker tonight, Deborah Kang, is an immigration historian who will explain the evolution of laws and practices along the California-Mexico border, from around 1900 to the present day.  Join us at the Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center. The program is free for ABDNHA members, and $10 at the door for the general public. Seating is first-come, first-served.

Leaders: Tom Keffer and Lee Christie, ABDNHA Volunteers

Dos Palmas is a delightful desert oasis on the northeast side of the Salton Sea. First, we’ll visit a cathedral-like grove of desert palm trees. Then, a 1-mile walk with beautiful desert views leads us to a series of ponds surrounded by lots of vegetation, which attract a variety of birds. We’ll look for Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, Sora, Kingfisher, and others. Maybe we’ll get lucky and see a Prairie Falcon. Total distance, 5 miles, flat. The travel time is 1.5 hours each way. Meet at ABDNHA by 7:50 a.m. Bring lunch/snacks, binoculars, and water. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve. Limit: 10.

Leader: Paul Petersen, ABDNHA Volunteer. Relaxed social ride of 20-30 miles, mostly flat, at a 10-12 mph pace. Routes vary weekly, and fun rides to highlight the roads less traveled. Return times vary depending on the chosen route. FREE, every Friday. No registration required. Meet in the parking lot opposite the County Public Library.

Speaker: Dave Blanchet, (ret.) Hydrologist

First there was the geology, and then came the flood.  The Salton Sea is located along the San Andreas Fault, and it is geology that repeatedly created and drained a vast natural lake over millions of years, called Lake Cahuilla, in what is now the Imperial Valley. Starting in the 20th century, agriculture began to flourish in California’s Imperial Valley, and diversion canals were dug to divert water from the Colorado River into the dry desert.  But the wild nature of the Colorado River soon took the upper hand. Events went horribly awry as record-breaking floodwaters destroyed the manmade dams and canals, and the full flow of the Colorado River flowed unabated into the Salton Trough for two years. Only through immense effort was the flooding finally stopped, and the Colorado River returned to its course, flowing into the Sea of Cortez.  Tonight’s speaker, Dave Blanchet, is a retired hydrologist from Anchorage, Alaska, and a lifetime member of ABDNHA.  General Public: $12, Members: $10, Volunteers: $8. Please register at www.abdnha.org or at the Nature Center, 760-767-3098.

Leader: Rachel Rench, ABDNHA Volunteer

Meet at the ABDNHA parking lot at 8 a.m. to carpool to a parking area South of Blair Valley. Parking is limited there, so we need to take as few cars as possible. The hike up Hornblende Canyon is fairly flat in the beginning, but you'll need to be able to navigate a few small dry waterfalls until we reach a 40-foot-high dry waterfall and our turnaround point. We'll eat lunch here and then return the way we came. This hike will be limited to 15 people. Call the Nature Center to reserve.

Leader: Kathy Bussey, ABDNHA Volunteer

A mile east of Arroyo Salado, on the North side of S-22, lie the unique Truckhaven Rocks, a Swiss cheese sandstone formation. This 2.3-mile round-trip hike skirts the West side of the Rocks. We will walk up a sandy wash that eventually narrows between weathered sandstone walls. The hike is easy. However, there is one 3-foot dry waterfall that we need to climb up. Meet at ABDNHA and be willing to carpool. 2WD OK. Bring water, snacks, a hat, and sturdy boots. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve. Limit 18 people.

Speaker: Dr. Neil Farber

Just as fossils on Earth are remnants of past life forms, there are astronomical fossils in space dating back to the early days of the Solar System that may provide insights into how the Solar System and life itself originated. NASA is conducting a multitude of missions to study asteroids, aiming to enhance our understanding of the Solar System and explore ways to mitigate the threats posed by potential collisions with Earth. General Public: $12, Members: $10, Volunteers: $8. You can register online at www.abdnhaorg or at the Nature Center, 760-767-3098. Held in the ABDNHA Library.