Birdathon Field Trips

This trip is full. 

Voyage beyond the locked gates of Skaggs Island to learn about its many raptors, eagles, hawks, owls, kites, and falcons. A former naval base, now part of the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge in the North Bay, Skaggs Island is a favored habitat of many birds.

Enjoy a full day exploring Lake Del Valle and Mines and San Antonio Valley Roads that run through varied habitat from Livermore through the mountains of Alameda and Santa Clara Counties.

This is a unique opportunity to visit a major restoration site, Pacheco Marsh, immediately after completion of earthwork. We’ll likely see White-tailed Kite, Northern Harrier, marsh songbirds such as Common Yellowthroat, and we’ll look and listen for rails.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the International Bird Rescue, the world’s leading rehabilitator of wild aquatic birds, as we tour specialized facilities and meet experts. 

Trip is full. Waiting list available. 

This five-mile hike will take you through lush riparian habitat, grassland, coastal chaparral, sand dunes, and beach. Along the way, enjoy wildflowers and ocean views!

This five-mile hike will take you through lush riparian habitat, grassland, coastal chaparral, sand dunes, and beach. Along the way, enjoy wildflowers and ocean views!

This trip is full. Waiting list available. 

Stroll up Mitchell Canyon and Red Roads in the evening as dusk settles for a chance to see and hear Common Poorwills and perhaps some owls and bats. 

Trip is Full. Waiting list available. 

Mitchell Canyon on the north side of Mount Diablo is a magnet for migrating birds seeking a refueling stop, as riparian habitat is scarce in these parts. Along with migrants, you’ll see and hear a number of permanent residents and summer nesting birds.

Learn about Glen Canyon’s unique history as well as its resident avians on this special walk, co-led by Evelyn Rose, Director and Founder of the Glen Park Neighborhoods History Project and Megan Jankowski of the Golden Gate Bird Alliance

This team is full. Waiting list available. 

Who’s got the best birds—San Francisco or the East Bay? Join Rachel Lawrence, top birder in San Francisco in 2020,  on the San Francisco peninsula in a quest to see over 100 species of birds in a single day, beginning at dawn and going until dusk.

This team is full. Waiting list available. 

Who’s got the best birds—San Francisco or the East Bay? Join Alex Henry, top Alameda County birder in 2020, on an East Bay quest to see over 100 species of birds in a single day, beginning at dawn and going until dusk.

Nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Sam McDonald Park features mixed redwood forest and elevated meadows of great scenic beauty. This trip is an intermediate birder expedition, because much of our birding here will be by ear.

Trip is Full. Waiting list available. 

Even before leaving the dock, you’ll spot diving ducks and grebes feeding! At Mare Island, you’ll pass Ospreys and Egrets tending their nests or roosting in nearby trees on this Napa Rive boat trip. 

This trip is full. Wait list available. 

You’ve been to Hayward Shoreline, but have you been to the locked area with the Least Tern nesting sites? Join us to go beyond those gates for a two-mile walk on level ground to see Laughing Gull, Red Phalarope and others. 

Yes, you can sleep in and still enjoy the beauty of bird song! Birding-by-ear instructor Denise Wight will lead you on a mid-morning hike around Vollmer Peak in Tilden Park. Her expert instruction will help you identify the many songs and calls.

Trip is full. Waiting list available. 

Popular birding-by-ear instructor Denise Wight will lead you on an early morning hike through the rich habitat around Vollmer Peak in Tilden Park, when birds are most active and vocal. Her expert instruction will help you identify the many songs and calls.

Trip is Full. Waiting list available. 

Experience the sounds and sights of spring migration on this walk through the heart of the Presidio: the Tennessee Hollow Watershed. Learn how San Francisco’s unique ecology combines with the wonders of migration to create a magical place.

This trip is full. Waiting list available. 

With astonishing volcanic formations, majestic Valley Oaks and a resident flock of California Condors, a visit to Pinnacles can be unforgettable. Come explore this beautiful and fascinating place with a  veteran condor tracker to maximize your chances of seeing these magnificent birds, as well as a variety of other birds that inhabit the area.

This trip is full. Waiting list available. 

This trip is timed to enjoy the arrival of springtime’s special birds. House Wrens will be singing. Both Bullock’s and Hooded Orioles are usually present. Soaring overhead you might catch Golden Eagles as well as White-tailed Kites. In the past, participants have seen both Rufous-crowned and Grasshopper Sparrows. 

Trip is Full. Waitlist Available.

Enjoy a bird-filled jaunt on the finest remaining tract of the Franciscan Biological Region: San Bruno Mountain. Called “one of the most important and threatened biodiversity sites in the world” by E.O. Wilson in 1999, this unique area hosts an incredible number of species including many endemics.

This trip is full. Waiting list available. 

Journey by boat up the Elkhorn Slough for opportunities to photograph ducks and other aquatic birds (coots!) as well as, possibly, loons in breeding plumage. An early start and an optimal tide promise good photos, as does a captain experienced at leading photo tours.

The sagebrush basin and range country east of the Sierras offers a starkly beautiful landscape filled with fascinating birds and wildlife.The centerpiece of your trip will be watching male Greater Sage-Grouse dance at dawn for females’ attention. Nearby, you’ll look for Sagebrush Sparrow and Sage Thrasher, to complete the “sage trifecta.”

Trip Full. 

The sagebrush basin and range country east of the Sierras offers a starkly beautiful landscape filled with fascinating birds and wildlife.The centerpiece of your trip will be watching male Greater Sage-Grouse dance at dawn for females’ attention. Nearby, you’ll look for Sagebrush Sparrow and Sage Thrasher, to complete the “sage trifecta.”