Today’s theme: Features of Nests, Eggs, and Incubation. Why are eggs “the most perfect thing”? How do cigarette butts benefit baby birds? Is nest building all instinct? Meet at the Tilden Nature Area parking lot at the entrance to the Environmental Education Center/Little Farm. We’ll walk a wide path to Jewel Lake and back. Restrooms ... Read more

The UCSF Mount Sutro Open Space Preserve is a 61-acre remnant of more than 2000 acres of eucalyptus trees planted by Adolf Sutro in the late 1800s. UCSF has instituted a long term management plan for the OSP with the initial phase focused on removing dead and dying trees to improve fire safety. Some tree ... Read more

We will walk a relatively flat 2 miles, round trip, up the Abrigo Trail from Bear Creek Staging area through oak woodland and grassland to Maud Whalen campground.  Hope to see Bullock’s Orioles, Lazuli Bunting, Ash-throated Flycatchers, nesting Barn Swallows, Western Kingbird plus various woodland species.    Restrooms or portapotty at the start and supposedly ... Read more

Slowly stroll around the S.F. Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park, exploring the many birds that thrive amidst several micro-habitats with more than 8,000 kinds of plants. This trip is oriented towards helping beginning birders develop their skills, and recurs on the first Sunday of each month. Entry to the Garden is free before 9 ... Read more

Special target birds include California Quail, Wilson’s Warbler, Pacific-slope Flycatcher and Pacific Wren. This is a great trip for those who want to start learning to identify birds by sound, as several of the birds that make their homes here or arrive for the summer have distinctive songs and calls. (I’ll email some suggested birds ... Read more

This trail features a variety of mature trees and grassy hillsides alongside a stretch of riparian habitat. Raptors, nuthatches, and woodpeckers are sighted regularly, along with a variety of sparrows. This is a dirt trail, wide in most areas, mostly level although there are some elevation changes. There are no areas to sit along this ... Read more

Join us for dusk birdsong at Tilden Regional Park. Dawn chorus is much talked about, but birds sing in the evening as well. The star of this show will probably be Swainson's Thrush, though others sing well into the evening. Once light fails, we might hear an owl. Leader: Rusty Scalf, rscalf@sonic.net This trip is ... Read more

Migrating warblers have passed through by now and birds have settled down to nesting, but we can still look for resident and seasonal species, eg Grosbeak, nuthatches, Wilson’s Warblers, California Thrasher and others in Vollmer Peak’s conifer, woodland and scrub habits.  We’ll walk about 1.5 miles  on dirt and gravel trails (Vollmer peak and Seaview) ... Read more

Join Eco-Ed Director Clay Anderson in celebration of Black Birders Week for a beautiful stroll around Lake Merritt. We'll start at the Lake Merritt gardens and make our way over to the Rotary Nature Center (1 mile). We'll talk about the lake's history as a refuge and see some birds along the way. Trip Leader: ... Read more

Summer is upon us and birds are fledging young. On Tuesday we’ll continue with bird phenology in Blake Garden so please join us on our monthly walk. We’ll be looking for the summer resident birds and listen to their chatter. Some species may even be trying for a second brood.  The Blake Garden is a ... Read more

Birding in the Moraga area on level trails and fire roads owned by East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD). This area features a variety of habitats: chaparral and scrub, grassland, pine-oak woodland, marsh, and the top of the reservoir. Likely birds include raptors, sparrows, California Thrasher, nuthatches, wrens, and the shy Wood Ducks. We will ... Read more

June’s walk comes after migration has ended, so our focus will be on nesting birds and year round residents. Likely nesters include Western Bluebirds, Violet Green Swallows, Pigeon Guillemots, Bushtits, Song Sparrows, White-Crowned Sparrows and Red-Masked Parakeets, so we’ll be looking for fledglings.  We’ll also check out the Black Point Battery, and scan Aquatic Park ... Read more

Alcatraz is one of the most important waterbird nesting sites in northern California, with nine species breeding on the island. Alcatraz Waterbird Docent Corny Foster will share an informative look at the natural history of the island and the variety of birds and their life histories. We’ll see the birds up close on their nests, ... Read more

It's the beginning of summer and so the beginning of the quiet season at the lake - but there's always something to see here. It's swallow season, and we'll have pelicans and bluebirds and terns and lots of others, all close enough for long, satisfying looks.... MASKS REQUIRED FOR THIS WALK.  Leader: Hilary Powers, hilary@salamanderfeltworks.com, ... Read more