Bird Walk Information:

• 1st weekend every month (see dates below)
• 2-hour (9 - 11 am) birding trips to PRBO research locations or other habitats in the North Bay
• Meet PRBO biologists, learn about local birds and habitats
• Discover some birding hotspots!
• Free to PRBO members; $10 donation request for non-members
• Sign ups are not necessary except with groups of 5 or more
• You can become a member of PRBO at the bird walk! (individuals $40; family $55)

*To determine if a PRBO monthly bird walk is cancelled due to weather, please call (707) 781-2555, ext 355. RAIN CANCELS

For more information please contact Missy Wipf at 707-781-2555, x 302 or mwipf@prbo.org.

Please check our accesibility information in each bird walk description or call the contact above for further inquiries.

PRBO urges birders and wildlife watchers to act responsibly while viewing birds and other wildlife. Please heed restrictions on access to land, respect nesting birds, and avoid disturbing birds and other wildlife while you are viewing them. For more information you can review the American Birding Association's code of ethics.

 
2009 Monthly Bird Walks
*Please note there will not be a walk in January 2009* 

Long-billed Dowticher

Sunday, February 8, 2009: Wetland Waterbirds at Shollenberger Marsh
Observe migratory and resident shorebirds, ducks, and waders, and learn about their unique adaptations as we hike the levee trail surrounding this Petaluma wetland – the site of PRBO’s San Francisco Bay Research Center & Headquarters. Petaluma Wetlands Alliance will also be sharing their knowledge of the wetlands on this walk! DIRECTIONS: Take Lakeville exit off Hwy 101; follow Lakeville eastbound and turn right on S. McDowell Blvd. Turn right onto Cypress, second building on right. Follow parking lot to the back end at Shollenberger Park wetlands. Meet at 9 am. Check out a bird list for this walk.

Sunday, March 8, 2009: Seabirds & Seals at Chimney Rock
Join a PRBO biologist as we visit the point of Point Reyes National Seashore to take a look at some of PRBO's seabird study species. We will be looking for elephant seals finishing their breeding season, seabirds beginning theirs, and migrating gray whales. Learn about the amazing adaptations that allow seabirds to survive along the rugged West Coast. Meet in the Drakes Beach parking lot at 9:00 am. Bring $5.00 (under 16 free) to ride the bus from Drakes Beach to Chimney Rock (roads are closed to most cars during the winter). Walk follows a paved road, which is steep; there is a narrow, dirt trail to the seal overlook which we will visit. Buses are not wheelchair accessible, but folks can register with Park staff in morning, and follow in their car behind bus and meet us at Chimney Rock.  Directions to Drakes Beach (you will need Adobe Acrobat).  Check out the bird list from past walks!

Saturday, April 4, 2009: Wood Ducks and Woodpeckers at Five Brooks
Join PRBO biologists as we search for Wood Ducks, woodpeckers, and spring’s first migrants. Meet at Five Brooks parking lot, about 10 minutes south of Olema on Hwy 1.  Click here for a map and directions on the Five Brooks Ranch web page.  Check out the bird list from past walks!

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RESCHEDULED! Sunday, May 10, 2009:  Birds of California Grasslands at Tolay Lake Regional Park, 9am-12pm
California grasslands are "powerhouses" of biological productivity and critical habitat for a remarkable array of birds, including raptors such as red-tail hawks, northern harriers, white-tail kites and golden eagles.  Join Lishka Arata of Point Reyes Bird Observatory and Wade Belew, Vice-President of the California Native Grasslands Association as we scan the skies for birds and examine the grass at our feet, and make the ecological connection between the two.  Space is limited on this walk.  Please RSVP at 707-781-2555, x 354 or larata@prbo.org.  Check out the bird list from past walk.  Learn more about Tolay Regional Park.

Sunday, June 7, 2009: Exploring Oak Woodlands at Mount Burdell, Novato (Marin County Open Space)
This is sure to be a fantastic birding adventure in oak woodlands. We'll likely see nesting migrants, including Bullock's Orioles and Western Kingbirds. From Hwy 101, take the San Marin/Atherton exit and go west on San Marin Blvd. Turn up San Andreas Dr. Meet at the Marin Open Space gate at the top of San Andreas Dr. Please make sure to bring water, as the temperature is usually very warm. There are NO restroom facilities. Check out the bird list from past walks! Learn more about Marin County Open Space Preserves.

Saturday, July 11. 2009: Muddy Hollow Migrants and Mist-netting
We will hike through the central part of the Burn Zone of the 1995 Mt. Vision Fire, examine the remarkable extent of vegetative recovery, and discuss how monitoring songbird response to natural disturbances like this can teach us many important lessons. We'll also have a chance to experience science-in-action as we check mist-nets for songbirds and observe bird banding. A great opportunity to see birds up close and learn about breeding biology. Meet at the Muddy Hollow parking lot at 9:00 am. Check out the bird list from past walks!
Directions: From San Rafael, follow Sir Francis Drake about 18 miles until Olema. You will arrive at a “T” intersection in Olema; turn RIGHT onto Shoreline Highway (Hwy 1). Follow directions listed here http://www.bahiker.com/northbayhikes/muddy.html. There are NO bathroom facilities at Muddy Hollow, but there are some at Limantour Beach.

Sunday, August 2, 2009: Stopover at Bodega Bay
This is a fun walk to learn about and observe migrants at this important migration stopover site. Learn about the critical role that wetlands play in the lives of waterbirds, and why so many of these birds are migratory superheroes. We'll likely see adult and young Caspian Tern, Heermann's Gull, Brown Pelicans and many shorebirds. Meet at 9:00 am in the main parking lot (paved) at Doran Beach about ¼ of a mile past the park kiosk, next to a grove of cypress trees. Please bring $6 to park (try to car pool!). A mix of paved, bumpy dirt trail, and sandy beach. Please visit the following link for more information on Doran Regional Park. Check out the bird list for past walks!

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Caspian Tern

Saturday, September 12, 2009: Abbott’s Lagoon - Beaches are Habitat!
This special walk led by PRBO Snowy Plover biologists will focus on the conservation and protection of threatened Snowy Plovers and beach habitat. Biologists will discuss the successes and challenges from the breeding season for Snowies. This walk also coincides with fall migration so we'll spend time admiring some far-flung, feathered travelers, including waterfowl and shorebirds. Meet at Abbott’s Lagoon parking lot at 9:00 am. Narrow, dirt trail and sandy beach. Check out the bird list from past walks. For more information on Abbott's Lagoon and directions.

Point Reyes Beach

Sunday, October 4, 2009: Rush Creek Preserve (Marin Open Space), Novato
A walk through beautiful wetland, grassland and oak woodland habitats with great opportunities to view migratory and resident shorebirds, dabbling ducks, songbirds, and raptors. Meet at the Marin Open Space trailhead on Binford Rd at 9 AM. DIRECTIONS: Take the Hwy. 101 San Marin/Atherton exit and go eastbound on Atherton Ave. to the east side of overpass; turn left on Binford Rd., around commuter parking lot, for short distance; park on shoulder near gated trailhead on right. A well-maintained dirt road, mostly flat. Check out the bird list from past walks! Learn more about Marin Open Space's Rush Creek Preserve.

Saturday, November 7, 2009: Winter Birds at Helen Putnam Park, Petaluma
Winter brings a completely new group of birds to northern California. As we walk along we will search for some of Sonoma County’s winter residents including Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned kinglets, Townsend's Warblers, and Golden-crowned Sparrows. Meet near the entrance from Chileno Valley Rd. in the main parking lot at 9:00 am. Bring $5 to park. Check out the bird list from past walks! Learn more about Helen Putnam Regional Park, 411 Chileno Valley Road, Petaluma, CA 94952.

Saturday, December 5, 2009: Wintering Waterbirds on Bolinas Lagoon: Join us to welcome back the wintering populations of shorebirds and waterfowl to this beautiful lagoon. We'll work on waterbird ID at a few stops alongside the Lagoon. Bring rubber boots for exploring the pickleweed marshes at Pine Gulch. Meet at 9:00 am in the large dirt parking lot next to Bolinas School, 125 Olema Bolinas Rd, in Bolinas. Check out the bird list from past walks!

Bird Lists from past Monthly Bird Walks:

Sunday, February 8, 2009. Shollenberger Park, Petaluma, CA
1. American White Pelican
2. Double-crested Cormorant
3. Snowy Egret
4. Mute Swan
5. Canada Goose
6. Mallard
7. Northern Pintail
8. Northern Shoveler
9. Blue-winged Teal
10. Green-winged Teal
11. Domestic Mallard
12. Canvasback
13. Greater?? Scaup
14. Bufflehead
15. Ruddy Duck
16. Turkey Vulture
17. American Coot
18. Virginia Rail
19. Black-bellied Plover
20. American Avocet
21. Black-necked Stilt
22. Greater Yellowlegs
23. Willet
24. Marbled Godwit
25. Dunlin
26. Western Sandpiper
27. Least Sandpiper
28. Dowitcher sp.
29. Ring-billed Gull
30. Glaucous-winged Gull
31. Western Gull
32. Anna's Hummingbird
33. Downy Woodpecker
34. Black Phoebe
35. American Crow
36. Tree Swallow
37. Marsh Wren
38. American Robin
39. European Starling
40. American Pipit
41. Myrtle's Yellow-rumped Warbler
42. Savannah Sparrow
43. White-crowned Sparrow
44. Song Sparrow
45. Red-winged Blackbird
46. House Finch

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March 2009. Chimney Rock, Pt. Reyes National Seashore
1.Common Loon
2.Western grebe
3.Double-crested Cormorant
4.Mallard
5.Surf Scoter
6.Bufflehead
7.Red-breasted merganser
8.Turkey Vulture
9.Northern Harrier
10.Red-tailed Hawk
11.American Kestrel
12.Peregrin Falcon
13.Willet
14.Sanderling
15.Western Gull
16.Great Horned Owl
17.Downy Woodpecker
18.Black Phoebe
19.Common Raven
20.American Crow
21.Red-breasted Nuthatch
22.Ruby-crowned Kinglet
23.Western Bluebird
24.European Starling
25.Yellow-rumped Warbler
26.White-crowned Sparrow
27.Song Sparrow
28.Red-winged Blackbird
29.Brewer's Blackbird

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Saturday, April 4, 2009. Five Brooks Ranch, Olema, CA
1.  Double-crested Cormorant
2.  Mallard
3.  American Wigeon
4.  Ring-necked Duck
5.  Bufflehead
6 Turkey Vulture
7.  Accipter sp.
8. Red-shouldered Hawk
9. Red-tailed Hawk
10. Osprey
11. California Quail
12. Band-tailed Pigeon
13. Anna's Hummginbird
14. Allen's Hummingbird
15. Acorn Woodpecker
16. Downy Woodpecker
17. Northern Flicker
18. Pacific-slope Flycatcher
19. Black Phoebe
20. Hutton's Vireo
21. Steller's Jay
22. Western Scrub-jay
23. Common Raven
24. American Crow
25. Tree Swallow
26. Chestnut-backed Chickadee
27. Bushtit
28. Pygmy Nuthatch
29. Brown Creeper
30. Winter Wren
31. Wrentit
32. Golden-crowned Kinglet
33. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
34. American Robin
35. European Starling
36. Orange-crowned Warbler
37. Wilson's Warbler
38. Spotted Towhee
39. California Towhee
40. Song Sparrow
41. Oregon Junco
42. Red-winged Blackbird
43. Brewer's Blackbird
44. Purple Finch
45. House Finch
46. Pine Siskin
47. American Goldfinch

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Sunday, May 10, 2009. Tolay Lake Regional Park, Petaluma, CA
collaborative walk w/ PRBO, Cotati Creek Critters/California Native Grasslands Association
Birds detected on "bird loop"
1. Great Blue Heron
2. Great Egret
3. Turkey Vulture
4. Cinnamon Teal
5. Mallard
6. Red-tailed Hawk
7. California Quail
8. Sora
9. Killdeer
10. Mourning Dove
11. Anna's Hummingbird
12. Allen's Hummingbird
13. Nuttall's Woodpecker
14. Black Phoebe
15. Western Kingbird
16. Common Raven
17. Tree Swallow
18. Cliff Swallow
19. Barn Swallow
20. American Robin
21. European Starling
22. Wilson's Warbler
23. California Towhee
24. Song Sparrow
25. Red-winged Blackbird
26. Brewer's Blackbird
27. Brown-headed Blackbird
28. Bullock's Oriole
29. House Finch
30. American Goldfinch
Other birds detected on "grass loop"
31. American White Pelican
32. Brown Creeper
33. Western Bluebird
34. Western Meadowlark

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Sunday, June 7, 2009. Mount Burdell, Novato (MCOS), San Andreas Fire Rd.
1.  Turkey Vulture
2.  Red-tailed Hawk
3.  California Quail
4.  Rock Pigeon
5.  Band-tailed Pigeon
6.  Mourning Dove
7.  Anna's Hummingbird
8.  Acorn Woodpecker
9.  Downy Woodpecker
10. Nuttall's Woodpecker
11. Western Wood-pewee
12. Pacific-slope Flycatcher
13. Black Phoebe
14. Ash-throated Flycatcher
15. Western Kingbird
16. Hutton's Vireo
17. Warbling Vireo
18. Western Scrub-jay
19. American Crow
20. Common Raven
21. Violet-green Swallow
22. Barn Swallow
23. Cliff Swallow
24. Oak Titmouse
25. Chesnut-backed Chickadee
26. Bushtit
27. White-breasted Nuthatch
28. Brown Creeper
29. Bewick's Wren
30. House Wren
31. Golden-crowned Kinglet
32. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
33. Western Bluebird
34. European Starling
35. Orange-crowned Warbler
36. California Towhee
37. Spotted Towhee
38. Lark Sparrow
39. Grasshopper Sparrow
40. Oregon Junco
41. Bullock's Oriole
42. Red-winged Blackbird
43. Brewer's Blackbird
44. Brown-headed Cowbird
45. House Finch
46. Purple Finch
47. Lesser Goldfinch
48. American Goldfinch

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Sunday, July 6, 2008. Muddy Hollow Mist-netting Site, Point Reyes National Seashore
1. Turkey Vulture
2. Red-tailed Hawk
3. Osprey
4. California Quail
5. Band-tailed Pigeon
6. Anna's Hummingbird
7. Allen's Hummingbird
8. Hairy Woodpecker
9. Northern Flicker
10. Western Wood-pewee
11. Pacific-slope Flycatcher
12. Black Phoebe
13. Hutton's Vireo
14. Western Scrub-jay
15. Common Raven
16. Barn Swallow
17. Chestnut-backed Chickadee
18. Bushtit
19. Bewick's Wren
20. Wrentit
21. American Robin
22. Swainson's Thrush
23. European Starling
24. Common Yellowthroat
25. Wilson's Warbler
26. Hooded Warbler
27. Spotted Towhee
28. California Towhee
29. White-crowned Sparrow
30. Song Sparrow
31. Brown-headed Cowbird
32. Brewer's Blackbird
33. Purple Finch
34. American Goldfinch

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Saturday, August 2, 2008. Doran Regional Park, Bodega Bay
1. Pacific Loon
2. Western Grebe
3. Clark's Grebe
4. Brown Pelican
5. Brandt's Cormorant
6. Pelagic Cormorant
7. Double-crested Cormorant
8. Great Blue Heron
9. Great Egret
10. Snowy Egret
11. Mallard
12. Turkey Vulture
13. Red-tailed Hawk
14. Black-bellied Plover
15. Snowy Plover
16. Long-billed Curlew
17. Marbled Godwit
18. Willet
19. Ruddy Turnstone
20. Black Turnstone
21. Sanderling
22. Western Sandpiper
23. Least Sandpiper
24. Red-necked Phalarope
25. Long-billed Dowitcher
26. Short-billed Dowitcher
27. Ring-billed Gull
28. California Gull
29. Western Gull
30. Heerman's Gull
31. Caspian Tern
32. Elegant Tern
33. Common Murre
34. Belted Kingfisher
35. Western Scrub-jay
36. American Crow
37. Common Raven
38. Barn Swallow
39. Bewick's Wren
40. European Starling
41. Savannah Sparrow
42. Song Sparrow
43. House Finch
44. American Goldfinch

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Sunday, September 7, 2008. Abbott’s Lagoon, Pt. Reyes National Seashore
1. Pacific Loon
2. Sooty Shearwater
3. Brown Pelican
4. American White Pelican
5. Double-crested Cormorant
6. Pelagic Cormorant
7. Brandt's Cormorant
8. Great Blue Heron
9. Great Egret
10. Snowy Egret
11. Turkey Vulture
12. Northern Harrier
13. White-tailed Kite
14. Semipalmated Plover
15. Killdeer
16. Willet
17. Marbled Godwit
18. Least Sandpiper*
19. Red-necked Phalarope
20. Ring-billed Gull
21. California Gull
22. Western Gull
23. Heermann's Gull
24. Common Murre
25. Anna's Hummingbird
26. Black Phoebe
27. Say's Phoebe
28. Cassin's Vireo*
29. Common Raven
30. American Crow
31. Violet-green Swallow
32. Barn Swallow
33. Bewick's Wren
34. Marsh Wren
35. Yellow Warbler
36. Common Yellowthroat
37. Wilson's Warbler
38. Spotted Towhee
39. Savannah Sparrow
40. White-crowned Sparrow
41. Song Sparrow
42. Red-winged Blackbird
43. Brewer's Blackbird
44. American Goldfinch

*Denotes bird species observed after the scheduled walk ended.

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Saturday, October 7, 2006. Rush Creek Preserve, Novato, CA
1. American White Pelican
2. Great Blue Heron
3. Great Egret
4. Snowy Egret
5. Canada Goose
6. Mallard
7. Northern Pintail
8. Gadwall
9. American Wigeon
10. Northern Shoveler
11. Blue-winged Teal
12. Cinnamon Teal
13. Green-winged Teal
14. Turkey Vulture
15. Red-shouldered Hawk
16. Virginia Rail
17. American Coot
18. Black-necked Stilt
19. American Avocet
20. Greater Yellowlegs
21. Western Sandpiper
22. Least Sandpiper
23. Ring-billed Gull
24. Belted Kingfisher
25. Anna’s Hummingbird
26. Northern Flicker
27. Downy Woodpecker
28. Nuttall's Woodpecker
29. Black Phoebe
30. Stellar's Jay
31. Western Scrub-jay
32. Oak Titmouse
33. Chestnut-backed Chickadee
34. Bushtit
35. Marsh Wren
36. Golden-crowned Kinglet
37. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
38. American Robin
39. Hermit Thrush
40. Cedar Waxwing
41. European Starling
42. California Towhee
43. Spotted Towhee
44. Fox Sparrow
45. Song Sparrow
46. Oregon Junco
47. Golden-crowned Sparrow
48. White-crowned Sparrow
49. Red-winged Blackbird
50. American Goldfinch

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Sunday, November 2, 2008. Helen Putnam Park, Sonoma County
1. Turkey Vulture
2. Northern Harrier
3. Cooper's Hawk
4. Red-shouldered Hawk
5. Red-tailed Hawk
6. Anna's Hummingbird
7. Nuttall's Woodpecker
8. Northern Flicker
9. Black Phoebe
10. Say's Phoebe
11. Hutton's Vireo
12. Western Scrub-jay
13. Common Raven
14. Oak Titmouse
15. Chestnut-backed Chickadee
16. Bushtit
17. Bewick's Wren
18. Golden-crowned Kinglet
19. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
20. Western Bluebird
21. American Robin
22. European Starling
23. American Pipit
24. Cedar Waxwing
25. Yellow-rumped Warbler
26. Townsend's Warbler
27. Spotted Towhee
28. California Towhee
29. Golden-crowned Sparrow
30. Oregon Junco
31. Western Meadowlark
32. Brewer's Blackbird
33. Purple Finch
34. House Finch
35. Lesser Goldfinch
36. American Goldfinch

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Sunday, December 6, 2008. Bolinas Lagoon
1. Western Grebe
2. Great Egret
3. Canada Goose
4. Mallard
5. Gadwall
6. Green-winged Teal
7. American Wigeon
8. Northern Pintail
9. Northern Shoveler
10. Scaup sp.
11. Common Goldeneye
12. Bufflehead
13. Red-breaseted Merganser
14. Ruddy Duck
15. American Wigeon
16. Turkey Vulture
17. Osprey
18. Red-tailed Hawk
19. Peregrine Falcon
20. Virginia Rail
21. American Coot
22. American Avocet
23. Willet
24. Greater Yellowlegs
25. Long-billed Curlew
26. Marbled Godwit
23. Greater Yellowlegs
24. Ring-billed Gull
25. California Gull
26. Western Gull
27. Anna's Hummingbird
28. Belted Kingfisher
29. Nuttall's Woodpecker
30. Hairy Woodpecker
31. Black Phoebe
32. Huttons Vireo
33. Western Scrub-jay
34. Common Raven
35. Wrentit
36. Chestnut-backed Chickadee
37. Pygmy Nuthatch
38. Marsh Wren
39. Bewick's Wren
40. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
41. American Robin
42. Orange-crowned Warbler
43. Yellow-rumped Warbler
44. Common Yellowthroat
45. Song Sparrow
46. White-crowned Sparrow
47. Golden-crowned Sparrow
48. Oregon Junco
49. House Finch
50. Pine Siskin