May Field Trips
San Francisco Botanical Garden
Golden Gate Park
Sunday, May 2, 8 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Alan Ridley, allanrid@pacbell.net; Helen McKenna, 415.566.3241; Ginny Marshall; Dominik Mosur, polskatata@yahoo.com
Meet at the front gate of the garden in Golden Gate Park, 9th Ave. at Lincoln Way. This delightful section of the park has several micro-habitats that attract an array of resident, migrant, and vagrant birds. This monthly trip is oriented toward helping beginning birders develop their skills in spotting and identifying birds.
Jewel Lake
Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley
Friday, May 7, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Phila Rogers, 510.848.9156, philajane6@yahoo.com
We continue our monthly first Friday trips at Tilden Park. Meet at the parking lot at the north end of Central Park Dr. for a 1-mile, 2-hour-plus stroll through this lush riparian area. In early April, the spring breeding birds are returning, and many will be singing. We’ll look for Black-headed Grosbeaks, Wilson’s Warblers, and Warbling Vireos, among others.
Wildcat Canyon Regional Park
El Cerrito, Contra Costa County
Saturday, May 8, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Malcolm Sproul, 925.376.8945
Meet by the Arlington Clubhouse on Arlington Ave. in El Cerrito, next to the tennis courts between Brewster Dr. and Thors Day Rd. We’ll drive to the trailhead on Rifle Range Rd., then walk a hilly transect of the canyon to bird the brushlands, oak woodlands, riparian areas, and grasslands. This is a 5-mile hike led and is being by Malcolm Sproul for the 30th year! Bring lunch and liquids.
2010 Annual Spring Bird Survey
Presidio, San Francisco
Saturday, May 8, 8 a.m. – noon
Steve Phillips, SPhillips@presidiotrust.gov, 415.561.4446
Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day by collecting data on the Presidio’s breeding bird species. Since 2005, one morning each spring, volunteer bird-watchers have walked one of eight designated routes through the Presidio counting species of concern such as Wrentits, Wilson’s Warblers, and Olive-sided Flycatchers.
These estimates will help document trends in bird populations in the Presidio and the effect that restoration and reforestation are having on breeding habitat in the park. The data is only strengthened by continued monitoring—but we need your help. Novice birders will be paired with experienced birders, so this is a great way to learn to identify common San Francisco birds both by sight and by their spring songs. After walking their routes, teams will reconvene at the Crissy Field Center to share their birding highlights. The walk will begin at the old Crissy Field Center, located at the corner of 603 Mason and Halleck St.
Garin Regional Park
Hayward, Alameda County
Sunday, May 9, 8 a.m.
Anne Hoff, anne2210b@sbcglobal.net
Birds we might see are breeders in spring plumage, including goldfinches and finches, orioles, Western Bluebirds, swallows, and sparrows. It is likely we will see raptors soaring over the hillside.
Take I-880 south to Tennyson Rd. (exit 26). Drive east on Tennyson to Mission Blvd., turn right, and go south on Mission for about 1 mile. Turn left onto Garin Ave. and continue up the hill. The road ends at the park entrance kiosk. Meet in the parking lot nearest the creek to the left after kiosk. $
Alcatraz Island
Wednesday, May 12: Bob Lewis, bob@wingbeats.org
Wednesday, June 9: Eddie Bartley, eddie@naturetrip.com
Spaces may still be available on these trips offered exclusively to Golden Gate Audubon Supporting Members. Each trip is limited to 10 participants. Participants can expect to see numerous breeding birds: Western and California Gulls, Brandt’s and Pelagic Cormorants, Pigeon Guillemots, Snowy Egrets, Black-crowned Night-Herons, and Black Oystercatchers. Participants need to meet at 8:30 a.m. to board the ferry. The trip ends at 11 a.m., though participants may stay on the island later.
Reserve your spot by contacting Stephanie Strait, GGA Office Manager, ggas@goldengateaudubon.org or 510.843.2222. Once you have received confirmation, book space on the ferry with Alcatraz Cruises at 415.981.7625 or www.alcatrazcruises.com. Buy a ticket ($26) for the 9 a.m. Early Bird Tour. Tickets sell out several days in advance, so reserve as soon as possible. The ferry departs from Pier 33, near the corner of Bay St. and Embarcadero. Each walk is about 1.5 hours.
Corona Heights
San Francisco
Friday, May 21, 8 – 10 a.m.
Charles Hibbard; Brian Fitch; Dominik Mosur, polskatata@yahoo.com
Meet in front of the Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way, at the end of Museum Way off Roosevelt. We will enjoy views of the city and bay as we circle Corona Heights, checking the east canyon woodland and the north forest for residents and migrants, as well as monitoring the hilltop scrub and south cliff.
Point Reyes National Seashore
Marin County
Sunday, May 23, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Emilie Strauss, 510-540-8749
Meet at Five Brooks Pond parking lot, located 3–4 miles south of Olema. We will spend the first hour exploring the Five Brooks pond on a flat trail of about .5 mile, where we expect to see Wilson’s Warblers and possibly Wood Duck). Afterward, we will get our lunches, water, and daypacks from our cars and head upslope into the forest searching for Pileated Woodpecker while listening to a chorus of Winter Wrens. The hike will be about 4 miles round-trip, and we may climb as much as 800 feet. We will picnic on a flat spot with downed logs if we can find one. The trail may be muddy, and the weather may be foggy and cool.
Lake Merritt and Lakeside Park
Oakland, Alameda County
Wednesday, May 26, 9:30 a.m. – noon
Meet at the large spherical cage near the Nature Center at Perkins and Bellevue. We will bird around there, then go up the garden path toward Children’s Fairyland or walk down the lake toward Embarcadero, after which we will cover what we missed. Now that spring has arrived at Lake Merritt, come see our regular visitors and, with luck, a few surprises, too.
Take the 12, N, or NL bus to Grand and Perkins, and walk into the park on Perkins. The best parking is at the boathouse lot near the spherical cage. Entry (via Bellevue near Children’s Fairyland) is probably free on weekday mornings, but will be $3 if the kiosk is occupied when you arrive.