Bird the world with us in 2016

Bird the world with us in 2016

ByGGBA
Secretary Bird from South Africa trip by Adam RileySecretary Bird from South Africa trip by Adam Riley

Just announced — our lineup of amazing international birding tours for 2016!  Make this the year to fulfill your travel dreams. Explore the birds of the Amazon rain forest. View African elephants, lions, vultures and Secretary Birds on safari. Make new friends while sighting Elegant Trogons and Vermilion Flycatchers in southeastern Arizona. And more….

Our 2016 destinations include:

Costa Rica
South Texas
Southeast Arizona
Southern Oregon
South Africa
Amazon Ecuador
Oaxaca, Mexico

Golden Gate Bird Alliance birding travel offers expert naturalist guides, comfortable lodging, seamless logistics, and great companionship.

See the Travel page of our web site for descriptions and photos of our 2016 trips. Or click here to download a brochure that you can print out and share with friends.

Elegant Trogon by Bob LewisElegant Trogon (Southeastern Arizona trip) by Bob Lewis Resplendant Quetzal (Costa Rica trip) by Elizabeth LauerResplendant Quetzal (Costa Rica trip) by Elizabeth Lauer…
Share your love of birds: volunteer!

Share your love of birds: volunteer!

ByGGBA

Want to share your love of birds and nature with other people ? Volunteer with Golden Gate Bird Alliance’s youth or adult education programs in 2015-16!

We’re holding trainings during September for volunteering with either our award-winning Eco-Education program in elementary schools, or our Burrowing Owl docent program in Berkeley.

Eco-Education

Eco-Ed student learns to use binoculars / Photo by Eva GuralnickEco-Ed student learns to use binoculars / Photo by Eva Guralnick

Our Eco-Ed program works throughout the school year with low-income elementary schools in Oakland, San Francisco, and Richmond, providing classroom instruction and field trips. We need people to help during weekday field trips to local parks with 3rd through 5th graders. No prior experience is necessary – just a love of nature and children. You can choose the city and dates to fit your schedule.

Join in the fun this coming school year by attending one of our upcoming trainings, which run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.. Choose ONE of the following sessions:

  • Thursday Sept. 3 at Point Pinole Regional Shoreline in Richmond
  • Wednesday Sept. 9 at Arrowhead Marsh, MLK Jr. Regional Shoreline in Oakland
  • Monday Sept. 14 at Pier 94 in San Francisco
  • Tuesday Sept. 15 at Point Pinole in Richmond

To sign up for a training or for more information, contact Anthony atadecicco@goldengatebirdalliance.org.

Click here to see what it’s like to go on an Eco-Ed field trip!

Burrowing Owl Docents

Burrowing Owl docents introduce passersby to the small population of owls that overwinter at Cesar Chavez Park along the Berkeley waterfront. Docent training happens just once a year. This year’s training is on Saturday September 26 in Berkeley.
Docents monitor with the goals of:
  • Protecting the over-wintering Burrowing Owls and encouraging their propagation.
  • Educating the public about the presence of Burrowing Owls and the need to protect them and coexist with them.
  • Encouraging the protection of grassland bird species.
  • Helping these charismatic little owls stimulate public interest in bird conservation.
  • Collecting data on Burrowing Owl numbers and their human visitors.
Docents commit to shifts of an hour or more, at least once every two weeks from October through March. To sign up, email nweeden@goldengatebirdalliance.org.
Docent Doug Donaldson helps a park visitor spot Burrowing Owls / Photo by Ilana DeBareDocent Doug Donaldson helps a park visitor spot the owls / Photo by Ilana DeBare Eco-Ed Director Anthony DeCicco and students at Point Pinole / Photo by Eva GuralnickEco-Ed Director Anthony DeCicco and students at Point Pinole / Photo by Eva Guralnick
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Burrowing Owl tote bags

Burrowing Owl tote bags

ByGGBA

Let a fierce little Burrowing Owl protect your beach towels, birding gear, or groceries!  Display your love of birds while supporting Golden Gate Bird Alliance with one of our brand-new tote bags.

This oversized bag is generous enough to hold everything you would need for a day at the beach or in the field, plus its long straps make it easy to carry. It’s made from recycled plastics too, so carry it with green pride.

Bag is 20 inches long, 15.5 inches tall, and 5 inches deep, not counting the straps.

Cost: $9 for GGBA members, $10 for non-members.

Click here to order one from our online store, Or save the shipping costs and pick one up at a GGBA event like our Speaker Series or in our office. (Our office is at 2530 San Pablo Avenue in Berkeley, at the corner of Blake, and we are open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 9 to 12 or other times by appointment.)

GGBA volunteers with our new Burrowing Owl tote bags. GGBA volunteers with our new Burrowing Owl tote bags.

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Invertebrates of Lake Merritt class

Invertebrates of Lake Merritt class

ByGGBA

NEW CLASS! September is a great time to see the invertebrates of Oakland’s Lake Merritt, as the waters are clear and many of the seasonal sea slugs have just finished laying their eggs masses. Instructor Damon Tighe will take you through a brief history of the tidal mudflat including a prospectus on its future now that the channel back to the bay is being opened back up. Damon will introduce you to many of the creatures that you can find within Lake Merritt, from sea anemones to shrimp to nudibranchs. The following Saturday there will be a chance to go find some of these invertebrates along the shores of Lake Merritt.

  • One classroom session on Tuesday September 15 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
  • One two-hour field trip on Saturday September 19. Meet at 10 a.m. at the Lake Merritt boat house.
  • Instructor: Damon Tighe
  • Limited to 15 participants. There will be a waiting list in case any participants drop out.
  • Fee: $20 for Golden Gate Bird Alliance members, $25 for non-members.
  • Location: Ed Roberts Campus, Koret Room, 3075 Adeline Street, directly across the street from Ashby BART in Berkeley. Free parking in the lot behind the center.
  • Click here to register.

ALSO:  There are still a few spaces available in our fall Beginning Birding (evening session) and Advanced Beginning Birding classes. Both start in mid-September. For details and registration, see goldengatebirdalliance.org/education/classes/ 

One of the invertebrates we may find in Lake MerrittOne of the invertebrates we may find in Lake Merritt…
Summer 2015 Gull is available
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Summer 2015 Gull is available

ByGGBA

TheGull_Summer2015The new edition of The Gull newsletter for Summer 2015  is now available online. Read it to learn about how Golden Gate Bird Alliance members are working to protect the extensive nesting colony of Black-crowned Night-Herons and Snowy Egrets in downtown Oakland.

Also get the scoop on birding at Heron’s Head Park; tackling the problem of fishing line pollution; and final results of Birdathon 2015.  And of course it includes the calendar for our Speaker Series in July, August, and September.

Click here to read it:  TheGull_Summer2015

Note: Because this is a large file, it may take a minute or two to download. Be patient.   🙂…

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