Field Trips

Golden Gate Audubon offers more than 100 field trips annually for birders of all levels. Our trips explore local areas from Golden Gate Park to the East Bay shoreline and hills, as well as such wildlife-rich destinations as California's Central Valley and the Sierra Nevada. We also sponsor trips to other parts of the U.S. and to international destinations, including Latin America, Africa, and Australia. Field trips are led by experienced birders who are passionate about sharing their knowledge of birds and their habitats.

Local trips are free, except for any park entrance fees. Advance reservations are occasionally necessary. It is advisable to confirm with the trip leader that a trip will take place as planned, especially if inclement weather is expected. Reports of recent and past field trips are also on these pages.

Download Field Trip Report Form

Download Birds of Northern California Trip List

Traveling Far Afield

Golden Gate Audubon has started a program of excursions, called big trips, to birding destinations outside the Bay Area. The fees are less than customarily charged by professional outfitters. Click here to find out more about GGA's big trips. Or help us by filling out our big field trips survey (.pdf format or Microsoft Word format).

Upcoming Trips

Corona Heights

San Francisco

Friday, July 18, 8 – 10 a.m.

Charles Hibbard; Lewis Ellingham; Brian Fitch; Margaret Goodale, mgoodale@randallmuseum.org , 415.554.9600 x16

Meet in front of Randall Museum , 199 Museum Way , at end of Museum Way off Roosevelt . We will enjoy views of the city and bay as we circle Corona Heights , checking east canyon woodland and north forest for residents and migrants, as well as monitoring hilltop scrub and south cliff.

Lake Merritt and Lakeside Park

Oakland

Wednesday, July 23, 9:30 a.m. – noon

Hilary Powers, 510.834.1066, hilary@powersedit.com ; Ruth Tobey, 510.528.2093, ruthtobey@earthlink.net

Meet at large spherical cage near Nature Center at Perkins and Bellevue . We will bird around there, then go up garden path toward Children's Fairyland or walk down lake toward Embarcadero , after which we will cover what we missed. In summer, the lake has fewer species, but as in previous years we hope to find successful nesting birds, including Black Phoebe, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Double-crested Cormorant, Cooper's Hawk, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Snowy Egret, and Great Egret. We will watch the Canada Geese go through their molt and keep a sharp eye out for Caspian Terns and Ross's Geese.

Take 12, N, or NL bus to Grand and Perkins, and walk into park on Perkins. Best parking is at boathouse lot near spherical cage. Entry (via Bellevue near Children's Fairyland) is free on weekdays.

East Shore State Park

Alameda and Contra Costa Counties

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Kathy Jarrett, 510.547.1233, kathy_jarrett@yahoo.com

Meet at 8:10 a.m. at El Cerrito Del Norte BART Station or 8:30 at end of South 51st St. in Richmond . There is a spur from the SF Bay Trail to this point. We will bird along SF Bay Trail from Richmond to Emeryville and end at Aquatic Park in Berkeley . Bring bicycle lock, and lunch and liquids or purchase at Seabreeze Market on University Ave. in Berkeley . Bicycle helmet required. Rain cancels. Reservations not necessary, but an email or phone call is appreciated.

Take Bayview exit from I-580 north and turn left to cross west over freeway. Go left on Seaport and immediately left on South 51st St. Continue to end and park on street. Entrance to short spur to Bay Trail starts here. If concerned about security, park at Point Isabel and ride north on trail about .75 mile to meet group.

San Francisco Botanical Garden

Saturday, August 2, 10 a.m. – noon

Angie Geiger and Nancy DeStefanis, SF Nature Education; Darin Dawson, SF Botanical Garden docent, 415.387.9160, www.sfnature.org

Meet at front gate of garden in Golden Gate Park , 9th Ave. at Lincoln Way . Families welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Cosponsored by Botanical Garden, SF Nature Education, and Golden Gate Audubon.

San Francisco Botanical Garden

Sunday, August 3, 8 – 10:30 am

Alan Ridley, allanrid@pacbell.net ; Helen McKenna, 415.566.3241; Ginny Marshall, 650.349.3780

Meet at front gate of garden in Golden Gate Park , 9th Ave. at Lincoln Way . This delightful section of 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.