Golden Gate Bird Alliance’s monthly Speaker Series features renowned naturalists, photographers, ornithologists, and other fascinating speakers.
How to View Our Speaker Series: Our online events are hosted through Zoom and are provided on a first-come, first-serve basis of up to 500 participants. We will post the Zoom link for each speaker on the web page for that event.
Past Speakers: Video recordings are available of some of our past speakers. View past speakers at goldengatebirdalliance.org/education/past-speakers/.
View Latest Speaker Below or Check out all our Speaker Series Recordings from the Playlist Here
November 19, 2026
Life on the edge: the amazingly adaptable Savannah Sparrow and its persistence in a changing world
Presented by Phred M. Benham
The Savannah Sparrow is one of North America's most widespread and adaptable species. It is found in grasslands everywhere from the Alaskan tundra to salt marshes in Mexico. Phred will discuss how this species has adapted to such a diversity of environments, including the salt marshes of California, how Savannah Sparrows have responded to the past century of habitat and environmental changes in California and their prospects to respond to the next century of change.