Blake Garden (Kensington)

We are nearing the end of summer, when most breeding birds have finished their efforts at Blake Garden and their young have dispersed to find their own territories. Come join us to seek out a wide variety of resident species throughout the garden on our monthly walk. We may find a few early fall migrants, but the big autumn migration is still to come.

Repeat visitors may notice the bird phenology, or seasonal changes, of the garden throughout the year. Newcomers may discover this beautiful gem in the Kensington hills for the first time. All will find it’s a great place to practice birding by ear, given the garden’s leafy trees and dense shrubs.

The Blake Garden is a public garden and landscape laboratory. In 1957, the Blake Estate was deeded to the UC Berkeley’s Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning. With many horticulture and native plants and 80+ documented bird species, the garden is a model for many sustainable practices such as composting, rainwater-catchment and apiculture. One of the gardeners will give a brief introduction and history of the Blake Garden.

The dirt and gravel trails go up and down hill and are well maintained. There are a few stairs as well. Restrooms are present on the premise. Please bring binoculars if you have them. Scopes are also welcome. We will meet in the parking lot (free parking) at 70 Rincon Rd., Kensington, 94707, at 8:30 am. We will bird for approximately two to three hours.

Leader:  Jan Ambrosini ambros639@gmail.com, cell 510-847-8614

This trip is free but advance registration is required. Registration will open two weeks before the trip and close on at 4 p.m. on Monday, Aug 8. Directions for registered participants are below.

Please note the public health guidelines for this trip, as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic:

• Walk is limited to 25 participants plus the leaders. There will not be a waiting list.

• Participants must register online and acknowledge acceptance of our liability waiver. Each person must register separately. No “drop ins,” please.

Thank you for your flexibility in helping us ensure that everyone remains healthy! Because we have to limit the size of trips, please do not sign up unless you are committed to attending.

Directions: We will meet in the parking lot (free parking) at 70 Rincon Rd., Kensington, 94707 at 8:30am.

Google map: https://goo.gl/maps/RDhjfhvgFsRpLkFg9