Field trip to Mayacamas Mountains Audubon Sanctuary, Sonoma County

DATE: Saturday, Apr. 26, 2008

GUEST LEADER:Tom McCuller, Madrone Audubon Soc.

COORDINATOR: David Takeuchi, (707) 643-5544 (if calling and want a return call, leave the city of your return phone number); davidtakeuchi AT aol DOT com (enter: “Subject: Field Trip”)

DESTINATION LOCATION AND TIME: 9:00 AM, Jimtown Store, http://jimtown.com/ 6706 State Highway 128 ( Alexander Valley Road), Healdsburg , CA 95448

CARPOOL LOCATION AND TIME: From Vallejo: 7:30 AM. From Cordelia/Suisun: 7:15 AM. From Napa: 7:45 AM. Click here for details on our carpool locations.

Mayacamas is located in the northern Coast Ranges, just above the Alexander Valley, a major wine-producing region of Sonoma County. Pine Flat Road cuts directly through the center of the Sanctuary for about four miles. The sanctuary supports a mix of grassland, chaparral, oak woodland, mixed evergreen forest, semi-permanent streams, and a small vernal pool. Mayacamas boasts 10 species of oak, three species of pine (including Knobcone Pine) and stands of Sargent Cypress. The area’s major serpentine outcrops support unique chaparral communities and grasslands with some of the state's rarest plant species. Sensitive breeding birds include Bell's Sage Sparrow and Purple Martin. Other sensitive animals: Northwestern Pond-Turtle, and possibly Foothill Yellow-legged Frog, Calif. Red-legged Frog, Calif. Tiger Salamander, Western Spadefoot and American Badger. Sensitive plants include: (CNPS List 1B) Cryptantha clevelandii var. dissita, serpentine cryptantha, Streptanthus brachiatus ssp. Hoffmanii, Freed's jewel-flower, Calystegia collina var. oxyphylla and Mt. St. Helena Morning-Glory. Bring your camera, lunch and drinks; there are no facilities available once we leave the store.

Directions: From US-101 going north, Pass thru Santa Rosa and Healdsburg and take the Lytton Springs Rd exit towards Alexander Valley Rd. Turn right at Lytton Springs Rd. Turn right at Healdsburg Ave. Turn left at Alexander Valley Rd. and go 3.5 mi to Jimtown Store. From Napa, Take CA-29 N to Calistoga. Continue on CA-128/Foothill Blvd which eventually becomes Alexander Valley Road. Alexander Valley Road/CA-128 makes a 90 degree turn to the left at the junction of Pine Flat Rd. Go 0.3 miles to Jimtown Store. Distance to Jimtown Store is about 70 miles from Vallejo, 44.5 miles from Napa.

A reminder from the Field Trip Coordinator: Car-poolers will share driving expenses (recommended $.30/mi to be split by the number of riders).