Golden Gate Bird Alliance offers more than 200 free local field trips annually all around the Bay Area. Our trips welcome birders of all skill levels, especially beginning birders. Join us for these guided trips at some of our favorite birding hotspots.
Most trips are free but advanced registration is required.
Registration opens each month on the 3rd Tuesday at 1pm. Trips will be marked as closed before they open and once they are full to capacity.
To cancel your registration for a free field trip please email info@goldengatebirds.org
Field Trip FAQ’s
Golden Gate Bird Alliance Field Trips are sponsored by JoinBIRFA
Paid Trips
For the few fee based trips we offer, if you need to cancel we will refund your registration fee if :
(1) You withdraw more than two weeks before the start of the trip or class, AND (2) We can fill your spot with someone from the class waiting list.Please note that there will be a $5 cancellation fee to cover the credit card transaction costs for your sign-up and cancellation.
Further afield
We also sponsor trips to other parts of the U.S. and to international destinations, including Latin America, Africa, and Australia. See our Travel with GGBA page for upcoming travel opportunities.
Seeking New Field Trip Leaders
If you’re a birder with favorite spots you’d like to share, consider joining our cadre of volunteer field trip leaders. It might sound a little scary (“Who, me? I can’t lead a field trip!”) but it’s really fun and quite easy.
We can provide training walks and mentors, help you write trip descriptions, and find background resources on the birding spots you love. You don’t need to be able to identify every bird: You’ll be successful by organizing an enjoyable walk at an interesting location.
If you’re interested (even if you’re maybe a little interested, but also a little nervous) contact Maureen Lahiff, Adult Education Committee chair, at 510.484.6529, MLahiff@aol.com or Field Trip Coordinator, Chris Tarr at fieldtrips@goldengatebirds.org
Birding Ethics Statement
Golden Gate Bird Alliance adheres to the Code of Birding Ethics of the American Birding Association and to the National Audubon Society’s Guide to Ethical Bird Photography.
Please follow these codes whether you are birding by yourself or attending a GGBA or other birding event.
The golden rule of birding: When in doubt, first consider the welfare of the bird.
Thanks for being a responsible birder!