• September Bird Walks for Kids & Families

    ByGGBA

    Join our Eco-Education staff for family-friendly bird walks! All events are free, geared to kids, and led by staff members Marissa Ortega-Welch or Anthony DeCicco, sometimes with other expert birders. If you don’t have binoculars, we can lend you some. For more information, call Anthony, our Education Director, at (510) 508-1388 or email him at adecicco@goldengatebirdalliance.org.

     

    Sunday Sept. 21 – Berkeley Waterfront and Bay

     
    Level: This walk is suitable for children of all ages and levels of birding ability.
    Time: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
    We’ll scout out the Aquatic Park area near the Berkeley waterfront for pelicans, hummingbirds, raptors, and then take a quick walk across the bike bridge in search of recently arrived shorebirds.
    Meet in front of the playground at the south end of Bolivar Drive. Bolivar Drive runs north to south and can be accessed by two perpendicular streets, either Addison or Bancroft. Bancroft is closer to the playground. Parking is available along Bolivar or in the small parking lot next to the playground. The area is easily accessible by bicycle.

    Recommended to bring snacks, water, layers of clothes and a lunch for afterward. Restrooms and water faucets available on site.

     

    Tuesday September 23 — Birds and Bats at Lake Chabot (East Bay)

     
    Level: Suitable for ages 8 and older, all levels of birding ability..
    Time: 6 p.m.

    We will explore the birds that are most active at dusk and then look and listen for bats as they come out to hunt at night. A naturalist from East Bay Regional Parks will bring a bat detector to help us hear the high frequency noises made by bats. 

    There is a $5 parking fee at Lake Chabot. Please make sure to bring a flashlight for this walk, which is being offered in partnership with the East Bay Regional Park District.

    RSVP required – group capped at 20 participants.  Details of the event will be emailed to those families who RSVP. Contact Marissa at mortegawelch@goldengatebirdalliance.org.…

  • Join our Bird-Friendly Coffee Club

    ByGGBA

    Wouldn’t you like to wake up every morning knowing that you’re doing your part to preserve important bird habitat?

    We think it’s such an important choice that we’ve organized a Golden Gate Bird Alliance Coffee Club to make buying and enjoying the right bird-friendly coffee a breeze. And if you’re not already drinking shade-grown organic coffee, you’ll be thrilled by the rich, clean flavor of Birds & Beans coffees. Birds & Beans coffees are certified as bird-friendly by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center.

    Golden Gate Bird Alliance volunteer Erica Rutherford is coordinating this effort. She will collect your orders. Then you can pick up your coffee once a month at either:

    • The GGBA Speaker Series in Berkeley, or
    • The GGBA office in Berkeley during office hours.

    Birds & Beans is offering a great incentive by waiving the shipping charges for GGBA Coffee Club members. Golden Gate Bird Alliance is not charging any markup on these orders — you are getting the coffee at cost.

    Take a look at the options below and join the club today.

     

    Roasts 

    12 oz.

    2 lb.
    Wood Thrush (Breakfast Roast)
    Chestnut-sided Warbler (Viennese Roast)
    Scarlet Tanager (Dark Roast)

    $8.50

    $21.35
    American Redstart (Light Roast)

    $8.50

    n/a
    Baltimore Oriole (French Roast Decaf)

    $9.55

    $23.50

    Note: All orders are shipped whole bean unless specified.
    Ground coffee options include: Coarse, Extra Fine, Fine, or Medium grind.
    There is no additional charge for grinding.

     

     

    Birds & Beans Coffee

    Details

    • Place your order and mail your check (made out to Birds and Beans Coffee) to Erica by the last day of the month for delivery during the third week of the following month.
      • Erica Rutherford, 17 Windward Hill, Oakland, CA 94618
    • Pick up your coffee either at the Speaker Series in Berkeley (every other month) or at the GGBA office.
    • Let Erica know if you want your orders to be renewed on a recurring monthly basis.
    • Contact Erica to make alternate payment arrangements such as e-check for recurring monthly orders.
    • Erica will email all coffee club members upon delivery. If you don’t use email, please assume that orders can be picked up at the Berkeley Speaker Series or the GGBA office during the third week of the month.
    • GGBA office hours for coffee pick-up are Monday and Wednesday, 9 am to noon and 1 pm to 6 pm, and Fridays by appointment with Ben Sisson, Office Manager (bsisson@goldengatebirdalliance.org).
    • The address is 2530 San Pablo Avenue, Suite G (at Blake) in Berkeley, phone: (510) 843-2222.
    …

  • New brochure on protecting birds during tree trimming

    ByGGBA

    Take care of trees — without hurting birds!  Check out our new brochure Healthy Trees, Healthy Birds for tips on how to trim your trees and bushes without damaging nests and birds.

    Learn the best time of year to trim trees. (In the Bay Area, that’s between September and February, when you are less likely to encounter nesting birds.) Find out how to detect nests, what to do if you find a nest, pruning techniques to support wildlife, and whom to call for expert or regulatory help.

    Want even more information? Check out the new Tree Care and Bird Safety section of our web site for detailed information on the various kinds of nests, laws protecting birds and nests, how to plan your tree project, as well as species such as herons that have special nesting needs.

    Thank you to the Britton Foundation and arborist Roy C. Leggitt III for helping us prepare this brochure.

    Healthy Trees, Healthy Birds brochureHealthy Trees, Healthy Birds brochure

     …

  • |

    Fall 2014 Gull is available

    ByGGBA

     

     

    The new edition of The Gull newsletter for Fall 2014 is now available online. Read it to learn about the spread of nesting Ospreys around San Francisco Bay, and what Golden Gate Bird Alliance is doing to help them.

    Also get the scoop on how a fallen sparrow inspired school kids to create a bird-friendly classroom, birding at Middle Harbor Shoreline Park in Oakland, and Spotted Towhees. And of course it includes the calendar for our Speaker Series in October and November.

    Click here to read it:  Gull_Fall2014

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

     …

  • Introducing our new Executive Director

    ByGGBA

    Golden Gate Bird Alliance is excited to announce the hire of Cindy Margulis as our new Executive Director.

    Margulis, a longtime GGBA member and volunteer, brings a powerful combination of experience as a birder, wildlife educator, fundraiser, business strategist, and marketing specialist.  Her professional experience spans both the business and non-profit sectors, and she has served as a volunteer for numerous conservation organizations including International Bird Rescue, Oakland Zoo, San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, and East Bay Regional Park District.

    “Cindy is going to be a fantastic leader of GGBA,” said GGBA Board President Laura Gobbi. “Her passion for birds, success with building communities, and business expertise will be huge assets to the organization, especially as we plan for our 100th anniversary in 2017. The board is thrilled and can’t wait to begin working with her!”

    “I am honored to lead this organization that connects people of all ages to birds, wildlife, and ecosystems,” said Cindy Margulis. “Since I am perpetually inspired by the birds that grace our environment — and I enjoy collaborating with people who step up to protect wild birds — so this role certainly feels like the ideal one for me.”

    Cindy Margulis (in blue jacket) discussing Snowy Plover protection with East Bay Regional Parks officials and other GGBA volunteers. / Photo by Ilana DeBareCindy Margulis (in blue jacket) discussing Snowy Plover protection with East Bay Regional Parks officials and other GGBA volunteers. / Photo by Ilana DeBare

    Ms. Margulis has most recently worked for non-profit organizations, including Destiny Arts Center in Oakland and Goodwill Industries of the Greater East Bay.  In the private sector, she has worked as a strategic business development leader and marketing strategist in a range of businesses.

    In her role as a Golden Gate Bird Alliance volunteer, Ms. Margulis has helped advocate for protection of endangered California Least Terns at Alameda, as part of GGBA’ Friends of the Alameda Wildlife Reserve committee. She has served as a Tern Watch monitor, and this year took the lead in seeking protective measures for Western Snowy Plovers that were roosting on the Alameda shoreline. She will succeed former GGBA Executive Director Mike Lynes, who recently left to become Director of Policy for Audubon California.

    GGBA members will have many chances to meet Cindy in upcoming months, starting this week at the Birdathon Awards Celebration on Sunday May 18.

    Founded in 1917, Golden Gate Bird Alliance serves over 5,000 members and supporters in San Francisco and East Bay communities including Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, Orinda and Richmond. Its mission is to share the wonder of birds, and mobilize people to protect Bay Area birds and their habitat.…

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