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We are pleased to partner
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online registrations for field seminars.
Acteva is a low-cost e-commerce solution
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transactions, without the expense of setting
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like to take advantage of online registration,
you will see a "Register Now"
button (like the one below) at the end
of each seminar description. Just click
on it to register. A minimal processing
fee will be charged.
You can also call us to register for classes at (415) 663.1200, extension 373 or click here to print a registration form that you can mail or fax to us.
Please Note:
Our birding seminars usually sell out.
Don't be left out of the fun! Register
early to secure spots in the seminars
of your choice.
David Wimpfheimer
Saturday, August 22 • 9 AM - 3 PM • $55 ($50 members)
Come spend the day looking for and observing migrant shorebirds that have traversed thousands of miles from their Arctic breeding areas. Some may stay within the rich habitats well into the winter. Others will pause only briefly before traveling south. Join David for a hike out Limantour Spit or around Abbotts Lagoon, based on where the birds are. Both are wonderful places to learn the difference between a plover and a phalarope or how to tell sanderlings from other sandpipers. We will focus on identification and behaviors of shorebirds and other avian residents.
Lisa Hug
Saturday, August 29 • 8:30 AM - 3 PM • $55 ($50 members)
Spend a day in bountiful Bodega Bay early in the fall migration season. The bay is in full glory at this time of year, with shorebirds migrating through en masse, landbirds showing up in the bushes, and seabirds passing by off the headland! In addition to seeing a large variety of birds, you will also learn some of the best strategies for timing tides to maximize your shorebird sightings. Discover some of the lesser-known areas of Bodega Bay with an experienced, Sonoma County naturalist.
Josiah Clark
Sunday, August 30 • 9 AM - 3 PM • $55 ($50 members)
Bird migration is like a tide that washes over us twice per year, bringing both abundance and diversity. Unlike the ephemeral movements of spring when the birds are racing to be the first to set up territories on newly-leafed and thawed habitats, in fall, with the breeding season behind them, birds are content to move south more slowly. We will visit several habitats and study numerous bird guilds, discussing when, why and where each group may be coming from and going to. Josiah will also teach us about general weather patterns and how they affect bird migration in our area. We will also study plumages of immature sparrows and other breeding songbirds and listen for the late summer and fall begging calls that can confuse even experienced birders. We will be looking to find and acquaint ourselves with the first passing fall migrants as they come into basic plumage.
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David Wimpfheimer
September 26-27 • 9 AM Saturday - 4 PM Sunday • $150 ($140 members)
By focusing our visit on the Point Reyes Headlands and staying overnight at the Historic Lifeboat Station, we’ll have a unique opportunity to experience this special area and its avian inhabitants. On Saturday, a series of short walks may take us to the Lighthouse, Chimney Rock and Drakes Beach. Depending on weather patterns, many migrant warblers, sparrows and other passerines concentrate in the surrounding cypress groves and willow patches. Ranch ponds and marsh habitat hold shorebirds while scoters, loons and other waterbirds rest on Drakes Bay—there is almost always a surprise. We’ll spend the night in this dramatic setting and watch
a digital presentation on the birds of Point Reyes. Sunday morning may find us visiting some of the same locations as the previous day, but we will also take a walk at Abbotts Lagoon. The variety of sandpipers, ducks, terns and other waterbirds there in the fall can be dramatic. Many raptors take advantage of this rich feeding area, as well. Accommodations, with optional Friday evening arrival, are included at the Historic Lifeboat Station at Chimney Rock.
Eddie Bartley
Sunday, October 4 • 10:30 AM - 3 PM • $65 ($60 members)
Each fall, up to nineteen species of diurnal raptors ride the winds of the Coast Ranges toward their winter homes. We will visit the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory in the Marin Headlands for a slide show covering the identification and life histories of these hawks, eagles, vultures, osprey, harriers, falcons and kites. Next, we’ll put our new skills to the test in the field on Hawk Hill, where raptor numbers may reach 100 hawks per hour! This is a unique opportunity to study raptor identification during peak migration at the premiere raptor migration site in the west.
Lisa Hug
Sunday, October 25 • 9 AM - 3 PM • $55 ($50 members)
West Marin is a very special area. It is endowed with a variety of natural habitats that invite human exploration. From Douglas fir forests to open woodlands, to mudflats to the rocky coast, there are many different kinds of birds that utilize each of the very special habitats in their own ways. Join naturalist Lisa Hug for a day of exploring a variety of habitats in and around Point Reyes with an emphasis on discovering which birds prefer to live in each kind of habitat.
David Lukas
November 14-15 • 9 AM Saturday - 4 PM Sunday • $155 ($145 members)
This class combines two very popular programs into one fun weekend learning about birds. Have you ever wondered about the inner workings of birds and how they behave? Our first day focuses on bird structure and function as we examine bones, feathers and anatomy, and talk about muscles, metabolism, and digestion in preparation for a hands-on dissection of a pigeon. On the second day we build on our exploration of anatomy to learn why birds behave in the ways they do, from the minutia of daily grooming to the global sweep of migration. When not in the
classroom, we will venture into the natural laboratory around Limantour Beach to apply our knowledge and enjoy the world of birds in a new light. Accommodations, with optional Friday evening arrival, are included at the Environmental Education Center.
Josiah Clark
Saturday, November 21 • 9 AM - 3 PM • $55 ($50 members)
Those “Little Brown Jobs” sure are common, but if you don’t know what you are looking at, they are surely not as interesting. Sparrows may not be colorful, but this hardy, successful group deserves our attention. On this field trip, we will attempt to seek out and study at least six kinds of sparrows, looking through flocks in a variety of habitats until we become familiar with the characteristic field marks of this well-represented taxa. We’ll also be on the lookout for some less common winter sparrow species. Josiah will also reveal some intimate details of sparrow life as he tells us
about the foraging methods, movement patterns and breeding strategies of each species. As always, Josiah will also focus on the relevance of each habitat visited, discussing how the resources of the land have shaped the evolution of each particular sparrow species. While sparrow study will be the focus of the day, we will be sure not to overlook the dozens of other interesting wintering birds we encounter.
Pamela Llewellyn
Sunday, November 22 • 9 AM - 4 PM • $125 ($115 members)
San Francisco Bay, the largest and one of the most important estuaries along the Pacific Flyway, is right in our own backyard. Join Pamela and Dolphin Charters as we cruise from Berkeley to Point Bonita and north into San Pablo Bay, hugging the shorelines that are home to thousands of wintering birds. Leaving from Berkeley, we will pass Alcatraz and head toward Point Bonita, where we will tour the southern edge of the Marin Headlands and, weather-permitting, travel under the Golden Gate Bridge to the point. Continuing on our exploration, we will travel along the shore
of Angel Island, under the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge, past the Marin Islands, the Brothers and Sisters Islands, over to Red Rock and back down along the Richmond Shoreline. This trip offers views of hundreds of scaup, scoters and other waterfowl in stunning locations, many of which can only be viewed by boat. In addition to the many ducks, loons, grebes and gulls that come into the Bay for the winter, we can also expect to see resident cormorants, pelicans and murres. We will also find seals and sea lions feeding and basking and, with luck, an occasional porpoise.
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David Wimpfheimer
Saturday, December 5 • 9 AM - 3:30 PM • $55 ($50 members)
Winter is actually the time of greatest abundance for many birds at Point Reyes. Coastal estuaries such as Limantour Estero are extremely rich feeding areas for thousands of ducks, shorebirds, grebes and other waterbirds. Over ten species of hawks, falcons and other raptors occur in large numbers due to these rich feeding conditions. Warblers, thrushes, kinglets, flycatchers and other landbirds are also found here in huge numbers. The annual Christmas Bird Count often records more individuals of many species than any other location in the country. This class will
cover the basics of field identification in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. While observing birds in a variety of habitats, this program will offer insights into the use of binoculars, scopes and field guides. David will share techniques that will enhance your birding skills. Come discover why birding is one of the most popular pastimes in the country and why Point Reyes is one of the best locations to enjoy it.
Lisa Hug
Sunday, December 6 • 9 AM - 3 PM • $55 ($50 members)
Many birders find identifying gulls an intimidating process, but it doesn’t have to be! Join Lisa and learn some simple strategies that can take some of the intimidation and frustration our of gull identification. You won’t become an expert overnight, but you may become more courageous! We will start in the classroom with slides and discussion, and then head outdoors to practice identifying gulls in the field and on the way. A great way to practice for the upcoming Christmas Bird Count!
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This page last
modified
June 29, 2009
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