Accessible Birding for Beginners at McClellan Ranch

Accessible Birding for Beginners at McClellan Ranch

Have you ever wondered what that bird was in your backyard or local park? If you are interested in learning, but didn’t know where to start or if you felt that birdwatching was a bit challenging to do with limited mobility, please join us for this fun trip. 

We will meet outside the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society office located at McClellan Ranch Preserve in Cupertino. First, we’ll start by watching a few bird feeders that various birds visit here all year-round. Some of them you might have seen in your own backyard. 

After watching the feeders, if you wish to expand your birding adventure, we will take the paved Stevens Creek Trail to Blackberry Farm. During this part of the event, we will be looking for and identifying birds together. Here we will see common birds that you often find in parks or in your neighborhood.

After the trip, we’ll email you a list of the bird species observed and suggest a few accessible South Bay birding locations for your future reference.

Trip duration: 1.5 hours. Bird watching by the feeders (in a sitting position) will be approximately 30-40 minutes. The optional short trip to the picnic area is about 25 minutes each way. 

Trip Difficulty: This trip is appropriate for all regardless of physical abilities. It will be a gentle pace on a paved surface. The length of the trip will be adjusted based on attendees and we encourage you to let us know if you have a special need. Please feel comfortable to come with any kind of adaptive mobility device that fits you. 

Trail Conditions: There will be a few benches along the paved and shady trail, but the only water fountains available are at the trip start. 

Facilities: Accessible washrooms are available at the start of the trip and at Blackberry Farm, our turn-around spot.

Other Trip Notes

1. Bring binoculars and wear masks. If you need loaner binoculars please let us know so that we can have them ready for you.
2. Remember to sign up with an additional ticket, if your caregiver is coming with you.
3. In March, birds frequently visiting the feeders will be White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Oak Titmice, California Towhees and Nuttall’s Woodpeckers. During the trip to the picnic area, we may see Western Bluebirds, Black Phoebes and American Robins. If you wish to learn more about these birds in advance, check out All About Birds.

Leaders: Unice Chang (408) 799-9457

Beginner Friendly, Family Friendly All Ages, Wheelchair Accessible

Meet: Outside the SCVAS Nature Shop

Directions: From I-280 in Cupertino, exit Foothill Expy. Travel south onto Foothill Blvd for 1.3 miles. Turn left onto McClellan Rd and continue for 0.5 miles. Turn left into the preserve parking lot. The nature shop is located at the preserve entrance. Address: 22221 McClellan Rd, Cupertino, CA 95014. Latitude/Longitude: 37.313072, -122.063695

Facilities: ADA compliant bathroom, drinking water

Parking Type and Fees: no fees, 2 ADA compliant parking spots in the main parking lot and 2 more in the overflow parking lot

If all tickets have been sold out, please send your contact information to unice_chang@yahoo.com, we will put your name in a queue and notify you when a space is open.

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

Photo: Chestnut-backed Chickadee by Sarah Chan