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 CANCEL
For more information please contact Missy Wipfat 707-781-2555, x 302 or mwipf@prbo.org.
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!
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. Check out the bird list from past walks!
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.
Caspian Tern
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!
Saturday, September 11, 2010: Bird-A-Thon at Abbotts Lagoon - Beaches are Habitat! Join PRBO educators for an opportunity to learn about the
conservation and protection of threatened Snowy Plovers and beach
habitat and participate in PRBO’s largest annual fundraiser, the Bird-A-Thon*.
The walk will be 3 hours, 9 am - 12 pm, in order to identify and count
as many species as possible to raise money for PRBO’s science and
outreach programs! Meet at Abbotts Lagoon parking lot, 9:00 am.
Narrow, dirt trail and sandy beach. *A $25 minimum donation or amount fundraised for the Bird-A-Thon required to participate.Check out the bird list from past walks. Click the link for more information on Abbotts Lagoon and directions.
Point Reyes Beach
Sunday, October 3, 2010: Bird-A-Thonat Helen Putnam and Shollenberger Parks, Petaluma Join PRBO educators for an opportunity to search for any late fall migrants and early winter residents of Sonoma County and participate in PRBO’s largest annual fundraiser, the Bird-A-Thon*. The walk will be 3 hours, 9 am - 12 pm, in order to identify and count as many species as possible to raise money for PRBO’s science and outreach programs! Meet at our Petaluma SF Bay Reserach Center at Shollenberger Park to carpool to Helen Putnam Park at 8:45am. Be prepared to chip in a few bucks for parking at Helen Putnam ($6 per vehicle).Check out the bird list from past walks! We'll migrate back to Shollenberger for the end of our walk and finish our count with some marsh and water birds.*A $25 minimum donation or amount fundraised to the Bird-A-Thon required to participate. Learn more about Helen Putnam Regional Park, 411 Chileno Valley Road, Petaluma, CA 94952. Learn more about Shollenberger Park.
Saturday, November 6, 2010: Shollenberger Marsh and Ellis Creek, Petaluma Join PRBO educators and LandPaths on this collaborative walk to explore our local Petaluma wetlands. Space is limited - signups are required and will be taken through LandPaths, www.landpaths.org. Please check back soon for more updated information!
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!
