Speakers

  • Tales of Animal Sex, Murder and Mayhem

    Join naturalist and conservationist Jeff Miller for a talk about his book Bay Area Wildlife: An Irreverent Guide, to learn about the ecology and antics of the Bay Area’s most charismatic wildlife species. Learn about conservation and recovery of iconic Bay Area critters such as tule elk, elephant seals, river otters, beavers, bald eagles, burrowing owls, salmon, and condors. Jeff’s irreverent and entertaining take on our region’s coolest fauna will inspire your local wildlife viewing excursions and adventures.

    About Our Speaker

    Jeff Miller is a naturalist, conservationist, and passionate advocate for wildlife. He has dedicated several decades to championing protection of endangered species and native wildlife habitat in the Bay Area. He’s the founder of the nonprofit Alameda Creek Alliance and a senior conservation advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity, spearheading biodiversity and wildlife protection campaigns throughout the Bay Area and California.

    The Irreverent Naturalist website.

    Date: Thursday, March 19 @ 7pm

    Location: Hybrid — Tamalpais Room @ the David Brower Center (2150 Allston Way, Berkeley 94704 and online via Zoom

    If you plan to attend in-person, please RSVP at the button below. Otherwise, you can join us via Zoom through the link below.

    RSVP Here

    Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87377145453?pwd=Jt8aYrFqyD9zTBGl09jH58J5s9gbev.1

    Passcode: 052289…

  • Advancing Living Shorelines in SF Bay

    Marilyn Latta will share information about living shoreline efforts in San Francisco Bay led by the State Coastal Conservancy and a diverse mix of partners. Living shorelines utilize natural materials and nature-based and hybrid green-gray approaches to protect shorelines from sea level rise and enhance habitat for fish and wildlife. Marilyn will share updates on how pilot projects since 2012 are providing lessons learned and best practices for the Regionally Advancing Living Shorelines in San Francisco Bay Project.  This new effort includes a targeted approach with a coalition of non-profits, landowners, and agencies to collaboratively design and permit ten future living shorelines sites in SF Bay.  Golden Gate Bird Alliance, Marin Audubon Society, Ducks Unlimited, San Francisco Estuary Institute, and many others are engaging in this work with a goal of raising awareness and building capacity for living shorelines in the Central Bay.

    About Our Speaker

    Marilyn Latta is Project Manager with the California State Coastal Conservancy, a state agency that works to protect and enhance the 1200-mile CA coast.  Marilyn works in the San Francisco Bay Program and manages several regional climate adaptation planning and restoration efforts with a diverse mix of partners and landowners.  These include the Regionally Advancing Living Shorelines Project, Invasive Spartina Project, Subtidal Habitat Goals Project, SF Bay Creosote Removal Projects, and others.  She holds a dual degree in Marine Biology/ Zoology from Humboldt State University and has worked for multiple education and conservation organizations on projects ranging from community-based restoration to planning and implementing large capital projects. 

    Date: Thursday, May 21 @ 7pm

    Location: Online via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84712073948?pwd=D9NMZaJYdE12XAgi9N33eAANAuKwSd.1

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  • The Impact of Artificial Lights At Night on Birds

    A billion birds migrate over the Bay Area every year as they journey from wintering grounds to breeding grounds, and back. Most bird species migrate at night, using the stars to navigate. Artificial lights from our cities and towns cause birds to collide with buildings, veer off course, and tire out, making them vulnerable to predators, starvation, and exhaustion. Learn what you can do to help keep birds safe on their migratory route along the Pacific Flyway.

    About Our Speaker

    Whitney Grover is the Director of Conservation for Golden Gate Bird Alliance. Grover is a life-long coastal Californian, enthusiastic birder, and lover of the Bay Area’s unique ecology. In 2023 she earned a Master of Science degree in Environmental Management from the University of San Francisco, with a concentration in Ecology. She is a long-time volunteer for Golden Gate Bird Alliance, starting as a Field Trip Leader, later Board Member, and the Chair of the San Francisco Conservation Committee. Before joining the GGBA staff in 2022, she worked in healthcare as a Hospital Pharmacy Buyer and served on the Hospital’s Environmental Action Committee. Whitney is a Master Birder, co-founder of the SF Bay chapter of the Feminist Bird Club, gardener, and film buff.

    Date: Thursday, January 22 @ 7pm

    Location: Online via Zoom

    Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87377145453?pwd=Jt8aYrFqyD9zTBGl09jH58J5s9gbev.1

    Password: 683020…

  • Woodpeckers: the heart of North American Forests

    Explore the lives of woodpeckers in every season: courtship and nest selection in spring; life in the nest during summer; fledging and gaining independence in autumn; and the challenges of surviving the winter. Take a close look at the most important woodpecker habitats in North America and what we can do to protect them.

    This talk draws from Paul’s recently published Woodpecker: A Year in the Life of North American Woodpeckers.

    About Our Speaker

    Paul Bannick photographs birds to inspire education and conservation. He is best known for several best-selling books on owls, Paul is based in the Pacific Northwest, where he serves as director for Conservation Northwest,  We encourage you to visit his websites https://paulbannick.com/

    Date: Thursday, November 20 (7pm)

    Location: 55 Frida Kahlo Way, SF — City College of San Francisco Ocean Campus (Room 140 of the Harry Britt Building)

    Advanced Registration Required. This event only takes place in-person and will not be recorded.

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  • Ocean Beach: Fog, Fauna, Flora

    In this talk, Eddy Rubin delves into the human and natural forces—biological and physical—that have shaped San Francisco’s western shoreline. Through a blend of scientific analysis and personal narrative, he explores the interactions of members of this vibrant coastal ecosystem, with particular emphasis on the birds of Ocean Beach.

    About Our Speaker

    Eddy Rubin is a Berkeley scientist and longtime Ocean Beach enthusiast who, in addition to contributing to the Human Genome Project, has spent decades walking, surfing, and foraging along San Francisco’s western edge. He is the author of Ocean Beach: Fog, Fauna, and Flora, which explores the unique ecology of this sandy Pacific shoreline. His work reflects both a deep love for this coastal habitat and a passion for making science accessible to the public.

    Date: Thursday, August 21 (7pm)

    Location: In-person at the David Brower Center (2150 Allston Way Berkeley, CA) and online via Zoom

    Register to attend speaker series in-person here.

    https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87367265546?pwd=aDANKzzKy1IZ0RcYO5PD8bmMuH8hGR.1

    Passcode:261212…