Wildlife tours, old paint and drones

Hit the flyway!
The Gray Lodge Wildlife Area (outside of Gridley, along the Pacific Flyway) has once again started up its guided nature walks for prime birdwatching season, through Feb. 2, according to a press release I received recently from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

“As one of the premier birding spots in northern California, Gray Lodge Wildlife Area offers guided tours every Saturday and Sunday, 12:30-2 p.m.,” the press release said. Local experts will guide tour-goers on a 0.3-mile “stroll” on a paved trail, to an elevated wildlife-viewing deck.

“Your guide will inform you of wildlife adaptations, natural history [and] conservation efforts, and help you better identify our wildlife.”

Cost of the tour is included in the Gray Lodge entrance fee of $4.32 (!). Call 846-7505 or go to www.tinyurl.com/graywild for more information.

Recycle unused paint
A press release from Tyler Tronson, on behalf of Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit PaintCare, advises that “two new PaintCare drop-off locations have been established in Butte County” for those wanting to recycle unwanted leftover paint: Butte County Household Hazardous Waste (1101 Marauder St.) and Northern Recycling & Waste Services (920 American Way in Paradise). The former will accept paint on Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; the latter on “rotating Wednesdays and Saturdays,” from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The two venues join the Habitat for Humanity ReStore (220 Meyers St.), Kelly-Moore Paints (1221 Mangrove Ave.) and Sherwin-Williams (2412 Cohasset Road) as participants in PaintCare’s California Paint Stewardship Program. Go to www.paintcare.org for more info.

BEC board boss says thanks!
On the heels of the Butte Environmental Council’s recent gala fundraiser and awards ceremony honoring local environmentalists Wes Dempsey, Dave Garcia, and Susan and Stephen Tchudi (see “BEC bestows honors,” Earthwatch, Oct. 24), BEC board chairman Mark Stemen wanted to extend his appreciation to the Butte County District Attorney’s Office for helping close down the dioxin-spewing Pacific Oroville Power Inc. (POPI) co-generation plant in south Oroville, and also to thank CN&R News Editor Tom Gascoyne for his coverage related to that controversial plant.

Tamales and drones
Everyone is invited to the ACLU Annual Dinner Meeting on Saturday, Nov. 2, at 6 p.m., says local ACLU member Leslie Johnson. Held at the Dorothy Johnson Center in the Chapmantown neighborhood (775 E. 16th St.), the tamale dinner will feature keynote speaker Linda Lye, an ACLU attorney and drone expert, and there will be a silent auction. Free to ACLU members; non-members may join at the door for $20 ($5 for students and people of low income). Call Johnson at 518-9992 to learn more.

Don’t forget
Anti-GMO activist Pamm Larry wanted me to remind folks of the Uniting Generations for Action community-building event on Nov. 2 at Trinity United Methodist Church (285 E. Fifth St.), from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (See “Let us unite,” Guest comment, Oct. 24).

“This will be an unforgettable event and a prime opportunity to pair new activists with longstanding organizations and individuals,” said Larry in an email. Go to www.facebook.com/events/397543767021567 for a schedule of events.

If water is safe after fracking, let Nestle’s bottle it! – activist’s sign at Power Shift 2013, held in Pittsburgh on Oct. 21