Marin Audubon Society

Raptor Quest: Chasing America's Raptors
2024-10-10 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Thursday, October 10th
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Speaker: Scott Harris (Author & Photographer)
Register HERE For this Speaker Series
Scott Harris will be discussing his book “Raptor Quest: Chasing America’s Raptors”, which documents his 17-month adventure tracking 53 raptor species across 34 states in the US, from the common (Red-tailed Hawks, Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons) to the rare (Bat Falcon, Steller’s Sea Eagle and Eurasian Eagle Owl). He will share photographs and stories of the many species he encountered; and relate stories of the places and various individuals he met along the way, including adventures, mid-adventures, successes and failures.
Scott is a wildlife photographer, author and speaker, who moved to South Carolina from southern California in 2020, when he first started birding, a hobby he never imagined himself participating in, but now can’t imagine living without. While in California, he had a syndicated newspaper column and two weekly radio shows and has authored over fifty books, mostly Westerns and Children’s books, and has just returned from safari in Africa.
Photo: Bald Eagle by Scott Harris
Next Speaker – Thursday, November 14, 2024
Josiah Clark – Christmas Bird Count

Christmas Bird Count
2024-11-14 19:00 - 21:00
Thursday, November 14, 2024
7:00PM – 9:00PM
Speaker: Josiah Clark
Register HERE for this Speaker Series
Topic:
Josiah will speak to us about the upcoming Christmas Bird Count (CBC), the annual early-winter bird census conducted in December. Josiah will be discussing counting strategies and best practices for counting birds and covering areas on the count, including the virtues of the count circle, methods for preventing undercounting, tips on note taking and how good CBC coverage and data collecting habits set the stage for increasing numbers of detections and the accuracy of counts. He will also discuss strategies for promoting the CBC and attracting younger birders.
Speaker Bio:
Josiah Clark grew up steeped in the natural history of the Bay Area, where he has been birding for more than 20 years. Some of his defining birding experiences include observation and mist-netting on Southeast Farallon Island; extensive travel, study, and tour-leading in Latin America; and a 24-hour birding and bicycling marathon in Marin County during which he spotted 158 species. Josiah runs Habitat Potential, dedicated to interpreting, preserving, and creating productive wildlife habitats in the Bay Area human landscape.

Next Speaker – Thursday, December 12, 2024
Colombia: South America’s Birding Mecca
Speaker: Benny Jacobs-Schwartz

Colombia: South America’s Birding Mecca
2024-12-12 19:00 - 21:00
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Speaker: Benny Jacobs-Schwartz
More information coming soon!

Colombia: South America’s Birding Capital
2024-12-12 19:00 - 21:00
Thursday, December 12, 2024
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Speaker; Benny Jacobs-Schwartz
Register HERE for this Speaker Series
Topic:
Get ready for a dive into South America’s birdiest country! Together we’ll explore Colombia’s unique ecology, breathtaking scenery, and unparalleled avian diversity! Colombia holds the record with nearly 2,000 bird species and an impressive 80 endemics!
During our time together, we’ll discuss what has given rise to such incredible diversity. Topics include the country’s five regions, how the Andes Mountain Range formed into three distinct cordilleras, the importance of the mighty Rio Magdalena, and national conservation successes. From sloth-eating Harpy Eagles to shy antpittas, and menageries of colorful tanagers and hummingbirds, Colombia’s astonishing diversity will leave you wanting more!
Speaker Bio:
Benny Isaac Jacobs-Schwartz owns and operates a bird-guiding business and lifestyle brand called BIRDS by BIJS (pronounced Bee-jus). With a background in biology, ecology, and outdoor education, Benny has worked for over 13 years as a naturalist guide, expedition trip leader, and international bird guide. Benny offers guided birding outings in Southern California and small-group birding tours to his favorite tropical locales like Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Colombia.
Benny is a passionate educator and photographer, specializing in birds! Benny is active on social media where he creates fun, educational videos and posts to inspire others about the natural world with the goal of getting folks to put down their phones and pick up their Binos.
Next Speaker: Migratory Shorebirds
Thursday, January 9, 2025
Speaker: Matt Reiter (Point Blue)

Migratory Shore Bird Project: Connecting Communities of the Americas through Research for Conservation
2025-01-09 19:00 - 21:00
Thursday, January 9, 2025
7:00 – 9:00 PM
Speaker: Matthew Reiter – Point Blue Conservation Science
Register HERE for this Speaker Series
Topic:
Shorebirds are some of the most migratory species on the planet. However, their populations in the Western Hemisphere have been declining over the past 40 years. To better understand what is driving changes in shorebird populations and to turn data into knowledge and then conservation action, in 2011 Point Blue and partners launched a coordinated research, monitoring and conservation network for shorebirds in the Pacific Americas Flyway. The Migratory Shorebird Project is now a network of over 50 partners in 13 countries from Canada to Chile working together to study shorebirds and shorebird habitats and to implement conservation actions at scales that are relevant for these long-distance travelers.
Speaker Bio:
As a Research Director and quantitative ecologist with Point Blue Conservation Science, Dr. Matt Reiter’s work focuses on the ecology and conservation of migratory waterbirds and their wetland habitats in order to understand the impacts of threats such as habitat loss and climate change across broad migratory landscapes. Matt received an M.S. (2006) and Ph.D. (2009) in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Minnesota and has been at Point Blue since 2009.
Next Speaker:
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Bay Area Wildlife: An Irreverent Guide
Speaker: Jeff Miller

Bay Area Wildlife Guide
2025-02-13 19:00 - 21:00
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Speaker: Jeff Miller
Register HERE for this Speaker Series
Jeff Miller will discuss his book ‘Bay Area Wildlife: An Irreverent Guide’, a quirky and entertaining wildlife guide to the greater San Francisco Bay Area, which invites readers to connect with and conserve local species. Featuring over 100 native creatures, from mammals to invertebrates, this informative primer is a treasure map for regional wildlife. Learn about the Bay Area’s furred, feathered, and fork- tongued neighbors—from “screaming death parrots” (aka peregrine falcons) to “bad-ass Looney Tunes velociraptors” (roadrunners). The book’s colorful descriptions cover each species’ natural history and fun facts, tips on when and where to find watchable wildlife, and notes on each animal’s conservation status.
Jeff Miller is an amateur naturalist and professional conservationist, and is the founder of the nonprofit Alameda Creek Alliance, serving as its executive director since 1997. He is a senior conservation advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity, spearheading biodiversity protection campaigns throughout the Bay Area and California. Over the last quarter century, he has been involved in conservation efforts for dozens of the most iconic imperiled wildlife species in the Bay Area, from tule elk to steelhead trout.

Beavers
2025-03-13 19:00 - 21:00
Thursday, March 13th
7:00pm – 9:00pm
Speaker: Heidi Perryman
Register HERE for this Speaker Series
Topic:
Beavers and their dams create wetlands, store and filter water, augment fish populations, raise the number of migratory and songbirds, and have a dramatic positive impact on biodiversity. Dr. Perryman will discuss how working to help people understand and coexist with this single species will continue to have a beneficial trickle-down impact on both humans and wildlife and improve resilience to ongoing climate changes.
Speaker Bio:
Heidi Perryman, Ph.D., is a child psychologist who became an accidental beaver advocate when beavers moved into her hometown in 2006. She started the organization “Worth A Dam” to coordinate solutions and educate others about their value in the watershed. She has helped coordinate information and network support with other beaver advocates across North America and Europe, and her website martinezbeavers.org is an important source of information and advocacy for the species.

Farallon Islands – A Place Like No Other
2025-04-10 19:00 - 21:00
Thursday, April 10, 2025
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Speaker: Pete Warzybok – Point Blue Conservation Science
Register HERE for this Speaker Series
Topic:
Take a deep dive into the Farallon Islands, where Point Blue biologists have spent more than 58 years living and working on the islands. Learn about the 500 thousand seabirds, tens of thousands of pinnipeds, and other wildlife who call these islands home and hear about the threats they face living in an ever-changing environment and some conservation success stories.
Speaker Bio:
Pete Warzybok is a Principal Scientist and Farallon Program Leader with Point Blue Conservation Science. Pete’s work focuses on the ecology and conservation of marine ecosystems, overseeing research activities at Point Blue’s long-term research station on Southeast Farallon Island. Pete has been with the Farallon Program since 2000, and his current research interests include the study of seabird diet and foraging ecology and the impact of ecosystem variability on breeding success and population dynamics of Farallon seabirds and pinnipeds.

Flycatchers - Identification Demystified
2025-05-08 19:00 - 21:00
Thursday, May 8, 2025
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Speaker: Cin-Ty Lee & Andy Birch, Rice University
Register HERE for this Speaker Series
Topic:
Flycatchers are a difficult group of birds to identify. Cin-Ty Lee and Andrew Birch will guide you through the basics of flycatcher identification using a holistic approach. In this tutorial, you will learn how to use relative field marks, such as proportional lengths of tail and primaries, plumage contrasts, bill shape and size, and more. We will also discuss the importance of migration timing and vocalizations in identification.
Speaker Bio:
Cin-Ty Lee is a geologist. Andy Birch is a professional illustrator. Both Cin-Ty and Andy have had a lifelong passion in tackling challenging bird identifications. Together, they have produced the two volume Princeton Field Guide to North American Flycatchers. They are currently working on volume 3, which will include photographs and more of Andy’s illustrations.

Regionally Advancing Living Shorelines Project
2025-06-12 19:00 - 21:00
Thursday, June 12, 2025
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Speaker: Marilyn Latta, California State Coastal Conservancy
Register HERE for this speaker series.
Topic:
Marilyn Latta will share information about living shorelines efforts in San Francisco Bay, including design and monitoring data from the San Rafael Living Shorelines Project, a mix of oyster reefs and eelgrass bed plantings in a multi-objective and experimental living shorelines design. Marilyn will share updates on how this and other pilot projects are providing lessons learned and best practices in support of the Regionally Advancing Living Shorelines in San Francisco Bay Project.
Speaker Bio:
Marilyn Latta is a Project Manager with the California State Coastal Conservancy, a state agency that works to protect and enhance the 1200-mile California coast. She holds a dual degree in Marine Biology/Zoology from Humboldt State University and has worked for multiple education and policy organizations on projects ranging from community-based restoration to planning and implementing large capital projects.

Their Year in Birding
2025-09-11 19:00 - 21:00
Thursday, September 11, 2025
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Speakers: Larry Nigro & Molly Donohue
Event is free. Register HERE for this speaker series.
Topic:
In 2024, Larry and Molly planned a transcontinental birding trip from Fairfax to Key West Florida to identify at least 700 species in the American Birding Association (ABA) They added a trip to Alaska, with the chance of identifying a total of 800 species.
In their presentation, Larry and Molly will re-live their favorite birding moments of 2024, from the cliffs of the Alaskan Pribilof Islands to the southern tip of the Florida Keys. Their slideshow will cover their search for birds like the Golden-Winged Warbler, Bare-throated Tiger Heron, Black-capped Vireo, Steller’s Sea Eagle, Masked Booby, Kirtland’s Warbler, Ross’s gull, Spectacled Eider, Snowy Owl and so much more.
Speaker Bios:
Larry Nigro is a retired Marin County school teacher. His birding started with taking students on bird walks. Now retired he has completed the Master Birding Program at California Academy of Sciences, the California Naturalist Program and numerous volunteer birding surveys including Marin Bird Breeding Atlas II.
Molly Donahue is an educator and nature enthusiast from West Marin. She has been exploring Marin hills since she was a child and now loves to adventure and bird with her husband, Larry Nigro. She is a certified California Naturalist and participated in the Marin County Bird Breeding Atlas. Sharing, learning, and exploring our natural world is one of her greatest joys.

Aves Argentinas: From Rescue to Resilience
2025-10-09 19:00 - 21:00
Thursday, October 9, 2025
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Speakers: Hernan Casanas and Tamara Zalewski
Event is free. Register HERE for this speaker series.
Topic:
For over a century, Aves Argentinas has been at the forefront of bird and nature conservation in Argentina. As the country’s leading ornithological and conservation NGO and the national partner of BirdLife International, its mission is to protect birds and biodiversity through science, education, advocacy, and collaboration.
Hernan and Tamara will discuss how by tending to critically endangered bird species and landscapes they have built large-scale conservation programs.
Speaker Bios:
Hernan Casanas
Hernan is the Executive Director of Aves Argentinas, responsible for the organization’s strategies and the building of strategic alliances, which have been instrumental in the creation of national protected areas. He has a degree in Biological Sciences from the Universidad de Buenos Aires and has written over 100 publications on the environment and ornithology.
Tamara Zalewski
Tamara grew up in Patagonia, where she learned to love and care for nature from a young age. She graduated from college with a degree in fine arts but went to work to protect nature professionally. She leads partnership development efforts, looking for partners worldwide who are driven to save species and ecosystems.

Motus Wildlife Tracking System
2025-11-13 19:00 - 21:00
Thursday, November 13
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Speaker: Kianna Leung
Event is free. Register HERE for this speaker series.
Topic:
The Motus Wildlife Tracking System (‘Motus’) is an international collaborative research network that uses automated radio telemetry to study the movements of birds, bats, and insects. Motus, meaning “movement” in Latin, uses coordinated arrays of receiver stations that detect animals carrying miniaturized radio transmitters, enabling researchers to simultaneously track hundreds of individuals at local to hemispheric scales. Developed as a program of Birds Canada, Motus provides key insights into animal movement and behavior that are fundamental to wildlife conservation and habitat management. This presentation will provide an overview of the Motus system and its research applications.
Speaker Bio:
Kianna Leung is a Motus Technician with Birds Canada and is based in Vancouver, British Columbia. She is currently working to support the growth of the Motus network in Western Canada and has assisted with the development and implementation of Motus-based research projects across northern British Columbia. Since joining the BC Motus team in 2022, Kianna has had the pleasure of collaborating on projects focusing on White-throated Sparrows and Bank Swallows.

Elephant Seals at Point Reyes: 45 Years and Still Growing Strong
2025-12-11 19:00 - 21:00
Thursday, December 11
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Speaker: Dr. Sarah Allen
Event is free. Register HERE for this speaker series.
Topic:
Elephant seals were hunted to extinction at Point Reyes over 150 years ago, but in 1980, the colony recolonized the Point and gradually spread throughout the peninsula. Younger colonies may exhibit novel behaviors such as male altruism and adaptations to changes in climate. Marine protected areas such as national seashores and marine sanctuaries are critical to the recovery and persistence of species and ecosystems.
Speaker Bio:
Sarah Allen grew up in Marin County where she learned and has a passion for conservation. Sarah received her M.S. and Ph.D. studying marine birds and mammals from UC Berkeley and retired after 26 years as an employee of the National Park Service (NPS), 15 years of which were at Point Reyes National Seashore and then as Science Program Lead for the Pacific Region. She previously worked for 15 years with Point Reyes Bird Observatory. She has authored and co-authored publications, including the UC Press, Marine Mammals of the Pacific Coast: Baja, California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia. Sarah lives with her husband in Inverness, California.

Dragonflies
2026-01-08 19:00 - 21:00
Thursday, January 8
7:00 – 9:00 PM
Speakers: Kathy Biggs and Sandra von Arb
Event is free. Register HERE for this speaker series.
Topic:
Learn about the colorful and interesting Dragonflies and their unique biology with enthusiast Kathy Biggs and field biologist Sandra von Arb. These co-authors of Dragonflies (Anisoptera) of California will teach about the 47 species that occur here, how to identify them and present what the Dragonflies need for survival, where to find them and their migratory habits. Seeing these colorful beauties on your screen will be a delight.
Speaker Bios:
Kathy Biggs has been a nature lover all her life. When she built a wildlife pond in the backyard in 1996, dragonflies arrived and she found her true passion. Wanting to share her passion, she developed websites for her wildlife ponds, and those matured into her authoring California’s first Dragonfly Guide, Common Dragonflies of California, as well as other publications.
She manages the eGroup CalOdes and is a member of several other Odonate groups, and tracks flight data and distribution for California and the greater southwest.
Sandra von Arb has been a professional wildlife biologist for 30 years, focusing on sensitive and endangered species in northern California, southern Oregon, and northern Illinois. She is a co-founder of Biodiversity Education and Research Foundation, whose mission is to foster ecological stewardship through science and education.

Phalaropes in the Big City: Can Human Habitats Help Save the Birds of America's Saline Lakes?
2026-02-12 19:00 - 21:00
Phalaropes in the Big City: Can Human Habitats Help Save the Birds of America’s Saline Lakes?
Thursday, February 12
7:00-9:00 PM
Speaker: Nathan Van Schmidt
Event is free. Register HERE for this speaker series.
Topic:
Wilson’s Phalaropes and Red-necked Phalaropes are exceptionally unique shorebirds that specialize in hypersaline habitats. Nathan will discuss the challenges facing phalaropes within the San Francisco Bay and across their intercontinental migration. He will discuss monitoring data within the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, how saline lakes like California’s Mono Lake have declined under the pressure of unstainable water withdrawal and climate change and key research questions and next steps that the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO) plans to address these conservation science needs.
Speaker Bio:
Nathan Van Schmidt is the Director of Regional Strategies at SFBBO. He obtained his B.S. from University of Wisconsin – Madison and his Ph.D. at U.C. Berkeley. He currently leads monitoring and research on non-breeding waterbird guilds, colonial waterbird breeding activity, waterbird disease and abatement research, and is the Lead Author of the Central Coast Regional Report for California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment.
Photo Credit: Don Dvorak

Bluebirds in the 21st Century
2026-03-12 19:00 - 21:00
Bluebirds in the 21st Century
Thursday, March 12
Speakers: Georgette Howington and Mike Azevedo
Event is free. Register HERE for this speaker series.
Topic:
Throughout history, the bluebird has been iconic in many cultures, inspiring art, music, poetry, songs and mythology. Tonight, we invite you to learn about bluebirds and how they are an indicator of ecosystem health, as well as their important place in the ecosystem, where they are incredibly effective at controlling insect populations. Also, we will discuss how conservation efforts such as nest box programs have stabilized their populations in North America.
Speaker Bios:
Georgette Howington is State Co-Director of the California Bluebird Recovery Program and has been a nest box monitor for 25 nesting seasons. She is a certified Horticulturist and UC Davis Naturalist of the Mt. Diablo Region. Her affiliation as a conservationist includes membership in Mt. Diablo Bird Alliance.
Mike Azevedo is co-director for the California Bluebird Recovery Program. Mike has a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Management and has been a wildlife enthusiast for four decades, serving as a naturalist and park ranger. He works with several Audubon Societies in the South Bay.
Photo Credit: Rajesh Ramani

Adelie Penguins: Their Past, Present and Future in a Changing Antarctica
2026-04-09 19:00 - 21:00
Adelie Penguins: Their Past, Present and Future in a Changing Antarctica
Thursday, April 9
Speaker: Grant Ballard
Event is free. Register HERE for this speaker series.
Topic:
Point Blue Conservation Science has monitored the Adelie penguins of Antarctica for decades, witnessing firsthand the profound effects of climate change, including the recent, rapid decline in Ross Sea ice that is now threatening their survival. Grant will share recent research made possible by their advanced technology and extensive, multi-decade datasets, including new findings into the evolutionary past of penguins, and will show how comparing their ancient history with their current condition and challenges can teach us about the unique and globally important Southern Ocean ecosystem.
Speaker Bio:
Grant joined Point Blue as a volunteer in 1991 and is currently Chief Science Officer, responsible for overall leadership and coordination of Point Blue’s scientific activities. He has a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Auckland and a BA in English from Cornell University and has expertise in evaluating climate change impacts on wildlife and human populations.
Photo Credit: Annie Schmidt

The Aquatic World of Penguins - Biology of Fish-Birds
2026-05-14 19:00 - 21:00
The Aquatic World of Penguins – Biology of Fish-Birds
Thursday, May 14, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Speaker: David Ainley
Event is free. Register HERE for this speaker series.
Topic:
Centuries ago, when penguins were first encountered by European explorers, they were not thought to be birds but rather a fish-like relative. Subsequent accumulation of knowledge has shown penguins to be an avian species with unrivaled aquatic attributes owing to a number of evolutionary adaptations. David Ainley will introduce us to the incredible aquatic nature of these creatures, highlighting the foraging ecology and marine lives of penguins.
Speaker Bio:
Dr. David Ainley is a senior Avian ecologist at H. T. Harvey & Associates. He is one of the most published marine scientists globally and has received numerous awards for his research. David has studied all aspects of marine ecosystems, including seabird ecology, for more than 40 years. He has led annual research on marine birds and mammals in Antarctica for more than 35 years and has conducted research for more than 20 years on the distribution of birds and mammals at sea on the West Coast of the United States and in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.
Photo Credit: Emperor Penguins
By David Ainley
