Birding By Ear

This class is FULL. You may register to be on a waiting list.

Autumn is a great time to start slow and learn some of our local bird sounds.  This class will introduce you to 20 common birds found in the East Bay in fall. We will cover a wide variety of techniques used for learning bird sounds, as well as prepare and review bird sounds we might expect on each location. Field trip will focus on all the bird sounds we hear as well visual important visual comparisons.

Northern Mockingbird with toyon berries by Steve Zamek

This 6-week course will take place between September 30 and November 13, with a possible week off in the middle to the instructor’s need to travel for a special family celebration that is still being planned. Due to the interactive nature of this course, class presentations will not be recorded.

Please visit the instructor’s website for more information: denisewightbirds.com/

  • Six Thursday evening classes by Zoom, between September 30 and November 11— from 7 to 8:30 pm.
  • Six Saturday morning field trips, 2 days after the lecture—from 8 to 11 a.m.
  • Lectures are via Zoom. Field trip locations will be announced on the instructor’s website.
  • Limited to 20 participants
  • $150 for GGBA members, $175 for non-members

Once the class is full, you may sign up to be on a waiting list.…

California Shorebirds

California Shorebirds

This class is FULL. You may sign up to be on a waiting list in case of cancellations.

Fall shorebirding in the San Francisco Bay Area is world class. By mid-August, hundreds of thousands of “wind birds” have winged their way from their northern breeding grounds to the globally significant San Francisco Bay – a key portion of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network .

Shorebirds by Bob Lewis

In three two-hour Zoom lectures, we will focus on the amazing evolutionary adaptations, life histories and identification techniques of the 30 plus species of shorebirds that reside, pass through in migration or overwinter in California. On three Sunday field trips we’ll have opportunities to view and focus on this order but not at all ignore the myriad of other fall migrants and resident birds that we will encounter.

  • Three 2-hour Wednesday classes by Zoom, August 11, 18, 25 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm
  • Three 3-hour Sunday field trips, August 15, 22, 29.  Some may be in the afternoon.
  • Lectures are via Zoom. Field trip times and locations will be announced in class.
  • $75 for GGBA members, $100 for non-members

Inclement weather postpones field trips. Contact instructor for additional information: eddie@naturetrip.com  If the class is full, you may sign up to be on a waiting list.

Recordings of the lecture presentations will be available to class participants  for one week following each class.…

Bird City (San Francisco)

Birds are living their fascinating lives all around us even in this second most densely populated city in the U.S. Join us to learn about bird identification, behavior, migration, habitat, song and more, and increase your appreciation for nature here in San Francisco. This course is for you if you’ve always wondered about the birds around you, but have not been sure how to take the first steps to learn more.

Red-shouldered Hawk at Crissy LagoonRed-shouldered Hawk at Crissy Lagoon / Photo by David Assmann
  • Seven Monday evening classes by Zoom: August 9, 16, 23, 30; September 13, 20, 27  — 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
  • Six three-hour Sunday field trips, August 15, 22, 29; September 12, 19, 26 — 8 to 11 a.m.
  • Lectures are via Zoom. Field trip locations will be announced in class.

Cost: $175 for GGAS members, $200 for non-members.

This class is now FULL, but you may sign up for the waiting list in case of cancellations.

Recordings of the lecture presentations will be available to class participants for a limited period of time.

…

Nest Searching and Monitoring

Go deeper with bird watching by learning techniques that researchers use to find and monitor nests, and how you can safely and responsibly contribute to community science nest monitoring projects. Even the House Finch nest on your porch can contribute valuable data! The class will primarily focus on techniques used for passerine nests.

Two Zoom sessions: Monday May 10 and Wednesday, May 12, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Zoom links for the presentations will be sent when you register and again a few days before the first class.

The presentations will be recorded; the instructor will send participants a Zoom link and passcode.  Recordings will be available until the end of May.

Cost: $50

Registration closes at 10 p.m. on Wednesday, May 5.

Questions?  Email the instructor at mindfuldocumentation@gmail.com…

Nature Journaling at Lake Merritt

Class is held the 2nd Thursday of each month, beginning March 11, 2021 through June 10, 2021

Four (4) Zoom presentations, Thursdays, 7-8 pm

Instructor: Clay Anderson

Venue: Zoom

Registration opens Monday, March 1st at 9 am and closes Tuesday, March 9th at 9 am

Limit 12 students. Waitlist available. 

GGBA award-winning educator Clay Anderson will be starting a virtual version of his popular nature journaling class online in March. Through Zoom sessions and field assignments on your own, increase your observation skills and relationship to nature, learning the natural history of Lake Merritt and sharing the joy of the Bay Area’s awakening to spring.

$85 for GGBA members; $120 for non-members.…