AT THE RAPTOR CENTER

The Spring Open House at the California Raptor Center is set for May 1. The event is free, with donations welcome.

Activities begin with a Hawk Walk at 8 a.m. (meet at the gate to the raptor center), followed by the open house from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Special presentations are set for 10 a.m. and noon, focusing on raptor biology and ecology.

The raptor center, a program of the School of Veterinary Medicine, cares for injured raptors, rehabilitating and releasing them back to the wild — provided that they are judged suitable to survive on their own.

Directions: Take the UC Davis exit from Interstate 80 and turn south on Old Davis Road. Cross the railroad tracks and continue until just before the Putah Creek bridge. Turn left onto the paved levee road. Follow it for two-tenths of a mile and keep on the pavement as the road veers left, taking you down off the levee. Then make a quick right turn into the free parking area.

AT THE ARBORETUM

Folk Music Jams — Play or listen. Noon today (April 16) and April 30, and May 14 and 28. Wyatt Deck.

Plant sales — Perfect Plants for Pots, April 24; and End of Season Clearance, May 15. 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Arboretum Teaching Nursery, Garrod Drive south of La Rue Road.

Tour — Explore the Redwood Grove. 2 p.m. April 25, Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center.

Tour — Simple Tips for Great Container Gardening. 11 a.m. May 1, Arboretum Terrace Garden, Davis Commons, First Street and Richards Boulevard.

Oak Discovery Day — 1-4 p.m. May 2, Shields Oak Grove. This spring celebration will spotlight oaks with an Arbor Day ceremony; oak tours; talks by oak experts; demonstrations of traditional Native American uses of acorns; hands-on, oak-related family activities; and exhibits of animals and insects associated with oaks — all centered around the newly constructed Oak Discovery Trail.

All events are free and open to the public. More information: (530) 752-4880 or arboretum.ucdavis.edu (for directions, click on “Plan Your Visit”).

AT STEBBINS COLD CANYON RESERVE

NATURE OUTINGS

Wildflowers: The Colors of Early Spring — A walk along the Homestead Trail at the height of the blooming season. 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 17.

A Look at Trees — On this one-mile hike, a certified arborist talks about eight common native species and how trees adapt to microclimates in the canyon. 9 a.m.-noon Sunday, April 18.

Bobcat Ranch: A Look at Restoration in Practice — Moderate hike on this 6,800-acre ranch northeast of Stebbins Cold Canyon. 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 24.

A Glimpse From the Past: A History of Berryessa — Discover the region’s human drama, from the native inhabitants and early settlers to the construction of Monticello Dam and the creation of Lake Berryessa. This outing will meet in the Stebbins parking lot and wind up at the dam. 9 a.m.-noon Sunday, April 25.

Nocturnal Happenings — What sort of things go “bump in the night” at Stebbins Cold Canyon? The walk will include a number of experiential activities for children (ages 8-12) and adults. 8-10 p.m. Saturday, May 8.

The Homestead Jamboree — An impromptu concert under the tall tree canopy at the Stebbins homestead site. Keith Cary and Wyatt Hesemeyer are among the local musicians who plan a jam session of bluegrass, hillbilly and jazz songs, with hikers invited to gather round to experience the sights and musical sounds of the canyon. Bring picnic meals. The hike is 2.5 miles round trip, with a slight grade and a few steps. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, May 22.

NATURE’S THEATRE: NATURE PLAY FOR KIDS

All programs run from 10 a.m. to noon, except for Mother Nature and the Toddlers, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

AGES 1-4 — Mother Nature and the Toddlers, April 17.

AGES 4-8 — Nature Heroes, May 2. To Be a Tree, May 16.

AGES 6-10 — World of the Small, April 25. Glug Glug and the Water Boss (water play), May 23.

All activities are open to the public. Optional fees: $5 per person or $10 per family. Activities fill up fast; reservations are required. E-mail Jeff Falyn, jfalyn@ucdavis.edu, with your name, address, event date, and phone number and/or e-mail address, and indicate whether you need directions. More information and the complete schedule: nrs.ucdavis.edu/stebbins.html.