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Monthly Bird Walks
 


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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.

 
2010 Monthly Bird Walks

*Please note there will not be a walk in January 2010* 


Long-billed Dowticher

Satuday, February 6, 2010: 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 7, 2010: 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 3, 2010: 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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Saturday, May 8, 2010:  Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day with PRBO at Redwood Creek!
Join PRBO biologists on this very important day for international migratory birds as we explore the riparian habitat, check mist-nets for songbirds and observe biologists band and release songbirds. We will keep our eyes and ears out for signs of nesting, and discuss how and why we monitor nesting songbirds. Find out why songbirds sing and other fascinating tidbits about their lives!  Meet at the Muir Woods National Monument parking lot for a shuttle ride to PRBO’s mist netting station at Redwood Creek.  Then come back to Muir Woods and celebrate the IMBD festival with shade-grown coffee and organic chocolate!  Learn more about IMBD.

Sunday, June 6, 2010: 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 10. 2010: 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 1, 2010: 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 11, 2010: Abbott’s Lagoon - Beaches are Habitat!
This special walk led by PRBO educators will focus on the conservation and protection of threatened Snowy Plovers and beach habitat. Educators will discuss the successes and challenges during 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 3, 2010: Location TBD

Saturday, November 6, 2010: 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 $6 to park.
Check out the bird list from past walks! Learn more about Helen Putnam Regional Park, 411 Chileno Valley Road, Petaluma, CA 94952.

Sunday, December 5, 2010: 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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Saturday, July 11, 2009. Muddy Hollow Mist-netting Site, Point Reyes National Seashore
1.  Turkey Vulture
2.  Red-tailed Hawk
3.  Osprey (with fish)
4.  California Quail
6.  Mourning Dove
7.  Allen's Hummingbird (caught)
8.  Anna's Hummingbird (caught)
9.  Northern Flicker
10.  Downy Woodpecker
11. Hairy Woodpecker
12. Pacific-slope Flycatcher
13. Western Scrub-jay
14. American Crow
15. Tree Swallow
16. Violet-green Swallow
17. Barn Swallow
18. Chesnut-backed Chickadee
19. Bushtit
20. Bewick's Wren
21. Winter Wren
22. Wrentit (banded)
23. Western Bluebird
24. American Robin
25. Swainson's Thrush (banded)
26. European Starling
27. MacGillivray's Warbler
28. Common Yellowthroat (banded)
29. Wilson's Warbler (banded)
30. California Towhee
31. Spotted Towhee
32. Song Sparrow (banded)
33. Brown-headed Cowbird
34. Purple Finch (banded)
35. American Goldfinch (banded)

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Saturday, August 2, 2009. Doran Regional Park, Bodega Bay

1. Pacific Loon
2. Common Loon
3. American White Pelican
4. Brown Pelican
5. Double-crested Cormorant
6. Brandt's Cormorant
7. Great Egret
8. Snowy Egret
9. Turkey Vulture
10. Canada Goose
11. Osprey
12. Peregrine Falcon
13. Black-bellied Plover
14. Snowy Plover
15. Semipalmated Plover
16. Willet
17. Whimbrel
18. Marbled Godwit
19. Black Turnstone
20. Surfbird
21. Red Knot
22. Western Sandpiper
23. Dunlin
24. Short-billed Dowitcher
25. Ring-billed Gull
26. Western Gull
27. Caspian Tern
28. Common Murre
29. Murrelet sp.
30. Common Raven
31. Barn Swallow
32. European Starling
33. Song Sparrow
34. White-crowned Sparrow
35. Brewer's Blackbird
36. American Goldfinch
Mammals
1. Brush Rabbit, Sylvilagus bachmani
2. Dolphin sp.
3. California Sea Lion

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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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Sunday, October 4, 2009. Rush Creek Preserve, Novato, CA
1. Canada Goose    
2. Northern Shoveler    
3. Northern Pintail    
4. Great Egret    
5. Turkey Vulture    
6. Red-tailed Hawk    
7. American Kestrel    
8. Sora    
9. Killdeer    
10. Black-necked Stilt    
11. American Avocet    
12. Greater Yellowlegs    
13. Western and/or Least Sandpiper    
14. Rock Pigeon    
15. Anna's Hummingbird    
16. Acorn Woodpecker    
17. Red-breasted Sapsucker    
18. Nuttall's Woodpecker    
19. Northern Flicker    
20. Black Phoebe    
21. Western Scrub-Jay    
22. Common Raven    
23. Oak Titmouse    
24. Marsh Wren    
25. Western Bluebird    
26. Spotted Towhee    
27. Song Sparrow    
28. White-crowned Sparrow
29. Golden-crowned Sparrow
30. Red-winged Blackbird
31. Lesser Goldfinch

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Saturday, November 7, 2009. Helen Putnam Park, Sonoma County
1.  Turkey Vulture
2.  White-tailed Kite
3.  Red-shouldered Hawk
4.  Red-tailed Hawk
5.  American Kestrel
6.  Anna's Hummingbird
7.  Downy Woodpecker
8.  Nuttall's Woodpecker
9.  Northern Flicker
10. Black Phoebe
11. Say's Phoebe
12. Hutton's Vireo
13. Western Scrub-jay
14. American Crow
15. Common Raven
16. Oak Titmouse
17. Bushtit
18. White-breasted Nuthatch
19. Bewick's Wren
20. Golden-crowned Kinglet
21. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
22. Western Bluebird
23. European Starling
24. American Pipit
25. Yellow-rumped Warbler
26. California Towhee
27. Spotted Towhee
28. Savannah Sparrow
29. White-crowned Sparrow
30. Oregon Junco
31. Brewer's Blackbird
32. House Finch
33. Lesser Goldfinch
34. American Goldfinch

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Saturday, December 5, 2009. Bolinas Lagoon
1. Clark's Grebe
2. Double-crested Cormorant
3. Great Egret
4. Canada Goose
5. Mallard
6. Northern Pintail
7. American Wigeon
8. Eurasian Wigeon
9. Northern Shoveler
10. Green-winged Teal
11. Canvasback
12. Bufflehead
13. Common Merganser
14. Turkey Vulture
15. Red-shouldered Hawk
16. Peregrine Falcon
17. American Avocet
18. Greater Yellowlegs
19. Whimbrel
20. Gull spp.
21. Anna's Hummingbird
22. Belted Kingfisher
23. Downy Woodpecker
24. Hairy Woodpecker
25. Red-breasted Sapsucker
26. Nuttall's Woodpecker
27. Northern Flicker
28. Black Phoebe
29. Stellar's Jay
30. Western Scrub-Jay
31. American Crow
32. Chestnut-backed Chickadee
33. Bushtit
34. House Wren
35. Marsh Wren
36. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
37. American Robin
38. Hermit Thrush
39. Orange-crowned Warbler
40. Yellow-rumped Warbler
41. Townsend's Warbler
42. Common Yellowthroat
43. California Towhee
44. Savannah Sparrow
45. Golden-crowned Sparrow
46. White-crowned Sparrow
47. Fox Sparrow
48. Song Sparrow
49. Western Meadowlark
50. Brewer's Blackbird
51. Pine Siskin
52. American Goldfinch



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