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 rnakano@goldengatebirds.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.
GOLDEN GATE BIRDER BY EMAIL
Click to follow our blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.
![](https://goldengatebirdalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/Hooded-Oriole-feeding-Cycad-and-Palm-Garden-Paul-Licht-300x200.jpg)
Birding Hotspot: U.C. Botanical Garden
This is the third in a series of occasional reviews of Bay Area birding locations. Do you have a favorite site you’d like to share?
![](https://goldengatebirdalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/Quartz-Creek-300x225.jpg)
Audubon birders in Nome, Alaska
By Carol and Steve Lombardi If you’ve only seen Nome as the snow-covered finish line for the Iditarod, well — as Madeline Kahn sang, “You’d
![](https://goldengatebirdalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/Barn-Owl-lewis-300x200.jpg)
Barn Owls in our urban Bay Area
By Lisa Owens Viani My owl obsession began when I moved to Berkeley in 2003. One evening while on an evening walk with a friend,
![](https://goldengatebirdalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/130108SF-herring-run3-nw-300x199.jpg)
Herring! Gulls! Birders!
By Ilana DeBare Last week saw one of the first big herring runs of the season in San Francisco Bay. What’s a herring run? It’s
![](https://goldengatebirdalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/IMG_7992-300x225.jpg)
Rapid response for Berkeley Burrowing Owls
By Ilana DeBare Q: What’s more exciting than a new Burrowing Owl roosting site in Berkeley? A: When city officials, park district officials and
![](https://goldengatebirdalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/TV-larryjordan-300x240.jpg)
In praise of Turkey Vultures
Remember that old Rodney Dangerfield line: “I don’t get no respect?” The same could be said about Turkey Vultures, one of our most common Bay
![](https://goldengatebirdalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/coffeelogo-300x300.jpg)
A 2014 resolution – buy shade-grown coffee
By Scott Weidensaul Migratory birds—which must overcome so many natural challenges as they journey from one end of the globe to another—are having a much
![](https://goldengatebirdalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/IMG_77961-300x300.jpg)
SF Christmas Bird Count sets record
By Ilana DeBare What a glorious day for a count! It started out cool and windy, especially for the teams by the ocean, but by
![](https://goldengatebirdalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/Rich_prbo-246x300.jpg)
Remembering Rich Stallcup
By Mike Lynes, GGBA Executive Director Amidst the excitement of the Oakland Christmas Bird Count on Sunday, we were saddened to hear news that Rich
![](https://goldengatebirdalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/IMG_7591-300x300.jpg)
Oakland Christmas Bird Count finds 177 species
Sunday December 16th was Golden Gate Bird Alliance’s 72nd annual Christmas Bird Count in Oakland. About 200 volunteers fanned out in a 15-mile circle, from the
![](https://goldengatebirdalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/IMG_7471-300x225.jpg)
Birding Hotspot: Lake Merritt
This is the second in an occasional series of reviews of Bay Area birding locations. Do you have a favorite site you’d like to share?
![](https://goldengatebirdalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/finch-feeder-likeaduck-300x199.jpg)
Being a good (bird) host
By Phila Rogers While others are thrilled with Pine Siskins visiting their feeders, I experience mostly foreboding. Several years ago, when the siskins were on