GGBA BLOG
Welcome to our online blog featuring thoughtful articles on everything from birding hotspots to bird science written by members of our community.
In order to keep this blog as engaging and relevant as possible we welcome all interested contributors to pitch their article idea(s) to our communications desk at rna****@*************ds.org
We are especially interested in publishing blog posts from writers within underrepresented communities including; Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color, LGBTQIA+ individuals and people with disabilities. For more information on contributing blog posts and the editing process visit our Blog Guideline page here.
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The Power of Suggestion Part II: The Wizards behind Merlin Sound ID
By Ryan Nakano Two weeks ago I wrote about Merlin Sound ID in response to a long-time member’s inquiry about the automated bird identification tool’s
The power of suggestion: Birding in the Age of AI
By Ryan Nakano Whenever I hear the phrase “the power of suggestion”, I immediately think of magic, or rather, the role of the magician. Suggestion
Ear Birding with LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
By Helen Doyle, Jeanette Pettibone, and Daniel Scali Dan interrupted us halfway around our introductory circle. “Did you hear that?” Several people had heard the
The Man-Made Mess of Meeker Slough
By Ryan Nakano and Jeni Schmedding As the sky awakens at Meeker Slough, a beautiful array of colors backdrop the channeled saltwater marsh. The morning
The Vanishing Chorus: A Reflection on North American Birds in Decline
by Kenneth Hillan In the bustling and growing town of Paisley, Scotland—the place of my birth—a young Alexander Wilson once wandered the woodlands, unaware that
My Journey and the Bay Birding Challenge
Harmony Yu I’m Harmony Yu, a 13-year-old girl who loves nature. I have a rabbit named Spot, I go to eighth grade, and I plan
Defend These Federal Agencies, Defend Our Birds.
By Sam Zuckerman The Trump administration is taking aim at federal agencies that do the vital work of protecting birds. The sanctuaries where bird populations
Profile of a Lifelong Birder – Betty Carson (1930 – 2025)
By Ann Carson Many GGBA members got a glimpse into the life of my mother, long-time Bay Area birder Betty Carson, when they attended a
Crowns of Gold and Black
by Rebecca Mills They’ve gone. With my morning tea, I open the back door and search. No Golden-crowned Sparrows. A California Towhee shuffles among the
Creating Bird-Friendly Gardens: Native Plants for Bay Area Birds
By Glenn Phillips The San Francisco Bay Area is a hotspot for bird diversity, with its mix of coastal habitats, oak woodlands, and urban green
Embarking on a New Adventure: My Journey with the GGBA Birdathon
by Clive Harrison My wife and I took up birding in 2024—not by accident, but out of curiosity. What began as a simple desire to
Exploring Cypress Grove
Shorebirds, Waterbirds, and Conservation Science with Nils Warnock and Kenneth Hillan Tucked away on the eastern shores of Tomales Bay, Audubon Canyon Ranch’s Cypress Grove