Elephant Seals at Point Reyes: 45 Years and Still Growing Strong
2025-12-11 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
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.

The Ponds at the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District (LGVSD) - San Rafael
2026-01-01 08:30 - 12:00
Thursday, January 1, 2026
8:30 AM to noon
Birding with Mark Clark
Registration is not required. All participants are welcome to join this trip.
We welcome bird enthusiasts of all levels, especially beginning birders, to join leader Mark Clark on our monthly walk around the ponds at Las Gallinas. On our search we’ll be looking for waterfowl, waders, songbirds and raptors. We are likely to spot some interesting species, so come assist in our search.
The packed dirt paths around the ponds are wide, flat and easy to navigate. Heavy rain cancels
DIRECTIONS: From Hwy 101, exit at Smith Ranch Rd. Drive east on Smith Ranch Rd. toward McInnis Park. Turn left immediately after crossing the railroad tracks and drive about 0.5 mile through the LGVSD gates and into the parking lot at the end of the road. Meet the group by the bridge just past the parking lot. There is a portable restroon in the parking area for public use.

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.

Skaggs Island Road
2026-01-16 10:00 - 14:00
Friday, January 16, 2026
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Birding with Daniel Edelstein
Register HERE for this Field Trip
Registration required. Registration opens January 6 at 8 AM.
Skaggs Island Road; flat, level hiking on road for no more than 1.5 miles; lunch at bridge (~.6 mile from the parking area at Highway 37.)
Daniel invites you to discover the joy of a wilderness-like paradise — Skaggs Island Road — that often attracts dozens of shorebird and duck family members, in addition to uncommon, visiting non-breeding raptors such as Rough-legged Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, and Merlin (along with sightings of White-tailed Kite and other raptor species).
Closed to the public, Skaggs Island Road is accessed by meeting our group in the parking area adjacent to Hwy. 37 (approximately 3 miles east of Reclamation Road and 2 miles east of the Highway 121/Sears Point Raceway intersection (at the stoplight). We’ll meet on the north side of Hwy. 37 where it intersects with Skaggs Island Road.
Please be careful turning into this road when coming from Marin County. Oncoming traffic is often heavy.
Here’s a map link that shows where we’ll meet:
https://www.google.com/maps/search/Skaggs+Island+Road,+Highway+37/@38.1563398,-122.3935838,14z
Daniel is a freelance Birding Guide (WarblerWatch.com) and Consulting Avian Biologist. His web site (WarblerWatch.com) features abundant birding information, in addition to his 17-year-old warbler-centric blog (WarblerWatch.blogspot.com).

Corte Madera Marsh
2026-01-22 09:00 - 12:00
Corte Madera Marsh
Thursday, January 22, 2026
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Birding with Michelle Muir and Rich Cimino
Register HERE
Limit of 15 participants for this trip.

Registration is required. Registration opens January 12 at 8 AM.

This trip is perfect for both beginning birders looking to learn how to identify waterfowl and shorebirds, as well as experienced birders interested in honing their skills. We will explore the Corte Madera Ecological Reserve. Much of the area has undergone extensive restoration for rare and endangered saltmarsh species. On this field trip, we will walk the Reserve starting at the Marin Audubon Society site lookout. The walk is level and easy, about two miles.
Dress with warm layers, and bring binoculars, scopes, snacks and water. In case of rain, participants will receive an email by 7:00am the morning of the field trip informing them of cancellation. There are restrooms at nearby stores, though no public restrooms on the walk.
DIRECTIONS: Corte Madera Marsh Ecological Reserve is located behind Trader Joe’s in Corte Madera. Meet in the parking lot behind the store, accessed by the driveway on the southside of World Market.

Jean and John Starkweather Shoreline Park - San Rafael
2026-02-01 12:00 - 14:00
Jean and John Starkweather Shoreline Park – San Rafael
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Noon – 2:00 PM
Birding with Rich Cimino and Janet Bodle
No registration required. All participants are welcome to join this trip.
Jean and John Starkweather Shoreline Park is a narrow strip of parkland in east San Rafael that stretches for 2 miles along the Bayshore and freshwater ponds. We will walk a section of the Bay Trail that travels the edge of the park, including two ponds, and will be provided with plentiful birdwatching of wintering diving ducks, dabbling ducks, wetland waders, peeps, shorebirds and possible rail.
Directions: Meet in the Target parking lot, 125 Shoreline Parkway, at the southeast corner close to the pond vista point. Bring your scope. Rain at any level cancels.

The Ponds at the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District (LGVSD) - San Rafael
2026-02-05 08:30 - 12:00
Thursday, February 5, 2026
8:30 AM to noon
Birding with Mark Clark
Registration is not required. All participants are welcome to join this trip.
We welcome bird enthusiasts of all levels, especially beginning birders, to join leader Mark Clark on our monthly walk around the ponds at Las Gallinas. On our search we’ll be looking for waterfowl, waders, songbirds and raptors. We are likely to spot some interesting species, so come assist in our search.
The packed dirt paths around the ponds are wide, flat and easy to navigate. Heavy rain cancels
DIRECTIONS: From Hwy 101, exit at Smith Ranch Rd. Drive east on Smith Ranch Rd. toward McInnis Park. Turn left immediately after crossing the railroad tracks and drive about 0.5 mile through the LGVSD gates and into the parking lot at the end of the road. Meet the group by the bridge just past the parking lot. There is a portable restroon in the parking area for public use.

Winter Birds of the Delta - Boat Trip
2026-02-08 08:30 - 16:00
Sunday, February 8, 2026
8:40 AM to 4:00 PM
Birding with David Wimpfheimer
Register HERE for the Boat Trip
Registration for this trip opens January 6 at 8 AM.
The trip costs $130. Limit of 25 participants for this trip.
This popular cruise is a winter highlight for birders and provides a specialized look at the richness and history of the California Delta. After meeting at 8:40 for sign in and instructions, we’ll depart from the Antioch Marina at 9 AM
As we head east, we enter sloughs and waterways with views out over the flooded agricultural fields that provide a refuge for flocks of geese, ducks, swans and shorebirds that nest in the north but winter here. Well known birder and naturalist David Wimpfheimer will provide commentary and captain Ronn Patterson will fill in bits about the history of the delta.
Coffee, tea, hot chocolate is provided, bring lunch and snacks. As bad weather can cancel as with any winter trip, there is an inclement weather date set for February 22. Light rain will not cancel.
Waitlist: A waitlist will open if the trip sells out. Add your name to the list by clicking Contact Organizer prompt.
Cancellation: If you cancel your registration before February 1 and we can fill your spot with someone else on the waitlist, you will be reimbursed, unless you would like to convert your registration fee into a tax-deductible donation to MAS.
Directions: Approximately one week prior to the trip, ticketholders will receive instructions and directions to the Antioch Marina, where the trip begins and ends.

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

Hamilton Wetlands - Novato
2026-02-20 08:30 - 12:00
Friday, February 20, 2026
8:30 AM to noon
Birding with David Sexton and Matt Keller
No registration required. All participants are welcome to join this trip.
Birders of all experience levels are welcome to join us for an exciting morning at Hamilton Wetlands with Point Blue Conservation Science! Spotting scopes and binoculars will be available. We recommend bringing your own pair of binoculars, water, sun protection, layers of clothing, and comfortable walking shoes. We will be on a wide, flat compacted dirt/gravel levee. A fully accessible bathroom will be available at the start and end of the event.
Directions: meet at Point Blue’s Novato Baylands native plant nursery at 737 Aberdeen Road, Novato, CA. From Hwy 101, take exit 458 to merge onto Nave Dr toward Hamilton Field. Turn right onto Hamilton Pkwy. Turn left through an open gate onto Aberdeen Rd, then keep to the right at the fork to proceed to the nursery.

Rodeo Lagoon - Marin Headlands
2026-02-25 07:30 - 12:00
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
7:30/8:00 AM to noon **Please note below start times for this field trip
Birding with William Legge and David Wiechers
REGISTER HERE
Registration is required for this trip. Registration opens on Sunday, February 15 at 8 AM.
Limit of 15 participants for this trip.
With early spring migration underway will be looking out for migrant wildfowl, grebes, loons, gulls, and passerines. As usual, the weather will dictate our focus with onshore northwest winds ideal for spring sea watches, while offshore easterly winds promise a good selection of late winter and early summer passerine migrants. Join us for a Sea Watch at 7:30 AM or arrive later at 8:00 AM for a circuit of the lagoon. A brief mid-morning ‘coffee-stop’ is planned at Headlands Center for the Arts and it would be appreciated if participants come willing to contribute via the onsite ‘tip-jar’ as a thank you to the Headlands Center for the Arts for accommodating our group. This field trip is less suitable for beginners.
DIRECTIONS: Head south on Hwy 101 and take the last Sausalito exit just before the Golden Gate Bridge. At the exit stop sign, turn right and go under the freeway, then follow the road down to the left. Within
300 feet turn left at the sign to the Marin Headlands; this is the only available left turn before you begin the descent into Sausalito. You should see the tunnel with the five-minute signal light. Proceed through the tunnel on Bunker Road to the Rodeo Lagoon Parking Lot at the end and meet by the bridge over the channel to the beach.

The Ponds at the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District (LGVSD) - San Rafael
2026-03-05 08:30 - 12:00
Thursday, March 5, 2026
8:30 AM to noon
Birding with Mark Clark
Registration is not required. All participants are welcome to join this trip.
We welcome bird enthusiasts of all levels, especially beginning birders, to join leader Mark Clark on our monthly walk around the ponds at Las Gallinas. On our search we’ll be looking for waterfowl, waders, songbirds, raptors and swallows. We are likely to spot some interesting species, so come assist in our search.
The packed dirt paths around the ponds are wide, flat and easy to navigate. Heavy rain cancels
DIRECTIONS: From Hwy 101, exit at Smith Ranch Rd. Drive east on Smith Ranch Rd. toward McInnis Park. Turn left immediately after crossing the railroad tracks and drive about 0.5 mile through the LGVSD gates and into the parking lot at the end of the road. Meet the group by the bridge just past the parking lot. There is a portable restroon in the parking area for public use.

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

Rodeo Lagoon - Marin Headlands
2026-03-25 07:30 - 12:00
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
7:30/8:00 AM to noon **Please note below start times for this field trip
Birding with William Legge and David Wiechers
REGISTER HERE
Registration is required for this trip. Registration opens on Sunday, March 15 at 8 AM.
Limit of 15 participants for this trip.
With early spring migration underway will be looking out for migrant wildfowl, grebes, loons, gulls, and passerines. As usual, the weather will dictate our focus with onshore northwest winds ideal for spring sea watches, while offshore easterly winds promise a good selection of late winter and early summer passerine migrants. Join us for a Sea Watch at 7:30 AM or arrive later at 8:00 AM for a circuit of the lagoon. A brief mid-morning ‘coffee-stop’ is planned at Headlands Center for the Arts and it would be appreciated if participants come willing to contribute via the onsite ‘tip-jar’ as a thank you to the Headlands Center for the Arts for accommodating our group. This field trip is less suitable for beginners.
DIRECTIONS: Head south on Hwy 101 and take the last Sausalito exit just before the Golden Gate Bridge. At the exit stop sign, turn right and go under the freeway, then follow the road down to the left. Within
300 feet turn left at the sign to the Marin Headlands; this is the only available left turn before you begin the descent into Sausalito. You should see the tunnel with the five-minute signal light. Proceed through the tunnel on Bunker Road to the Rodeo Lagoon Parking Lot at the end and meet by the bridge over the channel to the beach.

The Ponds at the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District (LGVSD) - San Rafael
2026-04-02 08:30 - 12:00
Thursday, April 2, 2026
8:30 AM to noon
Birding with Mark Clark
Registration is not required. All participants are welcome to join this trip.
We welcome bird enthusiasts of all levels, especially beginning birders, to join leader Mark Clark on our monthly walk around the ponds at Las Gallinas. On our search we’ll be looking for waterfowl, waders, songbirds, raptors and swallows. We are likely to spot some interesting species, so come assist in our search.
The packed dirt paths around the ponds are wide, flat and easy to navigate. Heavy rain cancels
DIRECTIONS: From Hwy 101, exit at Smith Ranch Rd. Drive east on Smith Ranch Rd. toward McInnis Park. Turn left immediately after crossing the railroad tracks and drive about 0.5 mile through the LGVSD gates and into the parking lot at the end of the road. Meet the group by the bridge just past the parking lot. There is a portable restroon in the parking area for public use.

Birds, Plants and Wildflowers of Mt. Burdell
2026-04-02 08:30 - 13:30
Thursday, April 2, 2026
8:30 am – 1:30 pm
Birding with David Edelson and Michelle Muir
REGISTER HERE
Registration is required. Registration opens Monday, March 23 at 8 AM.
Limit of 15 participants for this trip
On this moderate 4-mile hike, we will look and listen for birds, and also stop to appreciate native plants and habitat, particularly wildflowers which should be in abundant bloom.
Mount Burdell, a Marin County Open Space Preserve located just west of Novato, is a hotspot of plant and avian diversity, with diverse oak woodlands, grasslands, serpentine outcrops and a vernal pool (Hidden Lake). Some of the birds we’ll hope to see include spring migrants like orange-crowned warblers, house wrens, lark sparrows, and Bullock’s orioles, as well as year-round residents like oak titmice, Bewick’s wrens, western bluebirds, and multiple species of woodpeckers. This trip is suitable for all levels of birders and plant enthusiasts.
We’ll meet at the San Andreas trailhead. To get there, exit Highway 101 at San Marin Drive, go west approximately 2.5 miles, turn right (north) on San Andreas Drive and go roughly .6 mile to the trailhead. There is parking along the road but no bathrooms or water. We are planning a 4-mile hike which includes some uphill and/or rocky sections where hiking poles might be useful. We recommend hiking shoes or trail shoes with good traction. Please bring lunch/snacks, ample water, sunscreen, a hat, and of course binoculars.

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

Dominican University - San Rafael
2026-04-15 08:30 - 11:30
Wednesday April 15, 2026
8:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Birding with Rich Cimino and Janet Bodle
REGISTER HERE
Registration is required. Registration opens on April 5 at 8 AM.
Limit of 12 participants for this trip.
Spring migration birding on the Dominican University grounds will take us to riparian, sycamore and oak habitat. Species we hope to see might be, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Cassin Viero as well resident birds.
Address for Dominican University is 50 Acacia Ave in San Rafael – meet at the free visitors parking lot at the intersection of Grand and Acacia avenues (the Conlan Center lot).

Rodeo Lagoon - Marin Headlands
2026-04-22 07:30 - 12:00
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
7:30/8:00 AM to noon **Please note below start times for this field trip
Birding with William Legge and David Wiechers
REGISTER HERE
Registration is required for this trip. Registration opens on Sunday, April 12 at 8 AM.
Limit of 15 participants for this trip.
With early spring migration underway we will be looking out for migrant wildfowl, grebes, loons, gulls, and passerines. As usual, the weather will dictate our focus with onshore northwest winds ideal for spring sea watches, while offshore easterly winds promise a good selection of late winter and early summer passerine migrants. Join us for a Sea Watch at 7:30 AM or arrive later at 8:00 AM for a circuit of the lagoon. A brief mid-morning ‘coffee-stop’ is planned at Headlands Center for the Arts and it would be appreciated if participants come willing to contribute via the onsite ‘tip-jar’ as a thank you to the Headlands Center for the Arts for accommodating our group. This field trip is less suitable for beginners.
DIRECTIONS: Head south on Hwy 101 and take the last Sausalito exit just before the Golden Gate Bridge. At the exit stop sign, turn right and go under the freeway, then follow the road down to the left. Within
300 feet turn left at the sign to the Marin Headlands; this is the only available left turn before you begin the descent into Sausalito. You should see the tunnel with the five-minute signal light. Proceed through the tunnel on Bunker Road to the Rodeo Lagoon Parking Lot at the end and meet by the bridge over the channel to the beach.

The Ponds at the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District (LGVSD) - San Rafael
2026-05-07 08:30 - 12:00
Thursday, May 7, 2026
8:30 AM to noon
Birding with Mark Clark
Registration is not required. All participants are welcome to join this trip.
We welcome bird enthusiasts of all levels, especially beginning birders, to join leader Mark Clark on our monthly walk around the ponds at Las Gallinas. On our search we’ll be looking for waterfowl, waders, songbirds, raptors and swallows. We are likely to spot some interesting species, so come assist in our search.
The packed dirt paths around the ponds are wide, flat and easy to navigate. Heavy rain cancels.
DIRECTIONS: From Hwy 101, exit at Smith Ranch Rd. Drive east on Smith Ranch Rd. toward McInnis Park. Turn left immediately after crossing the railroad tracks and drive about 0.5 mile through the LGVSD gates and into the parking lot at the end of the road. Meet the group by the bridge just past the parking lot. There is a portable restroon in the parking area for public use.

Birds, Plants and Wildflowers of Mt. Burdell
2026-05-12 08:00 - 13:30
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
8:00 am – 1:30 pm
Birding with David Edelson and Michelle Muir
REGISTER HERE
Registration is required. Registration opens Saturday, May 2 at 8 AM.
Limit of 15 participants for this trip
On this moderate 4-mile hike, we will look and listen for birds, and also stop to appreciate native plants and habitat, particularly wildflowers which should be in abundant bloom.
Mount Burdell, a Marin County Open Space Preserve located just west of Novato, is a hotspot of plant and avian diversity, with diverse oak woodlands, grasslands, serpentine outcrops and a vernal pool (Hidden Lake). Some of the birds we’ll hope to see include spring migrants like orange-crowned warblers, house wrens, lark sparrows, and Bullock’s orioles, as well as year-round residents like oak titmice, Bewick’s wrens, western bluebirds, and multiple species of woodpeckers. This trip is suitable for all levels of birders and plant enthusiasts.
We’ll meet at the San Andreas trailhead. To get there, exit Highway 101 at San Marin Drive, go west approximately 2.5 miles, turn right (north) on San Andreas Drive and go roughly .6 mile to the trailhead. There is parking along the road but no bathrooms or water. We are planning a 4-mile hike which includes some uphill and/or rocky sections where hiking poles might be useful. We recommend hiking shoes or trail shoes with good traction. Please bring lunch/snacks, ample water, sunscreen, a hat, and of course binoculars.

Rodeo Lagoon - Marin Headlands
2026-05-13 07:30 - 12:00
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
7:30/8:00 AM to noon **Please note below start times for this field trip
Birding with William Legge and David Wiechers
REGISTER HERE
Registration is required for this trip. Registration opens on Sunday, May 3 at 8 AM.
Limit of 15 participants for this trip.
With spring migration coming to an end, we’ll be looking out for late migrants, including passing loons, shorebirds and scarcer passerines. As usual, the weather will dictate our focus with onshore northwest winds ideal for spring sea watches, while offshore easterly winds promise a good selection of passerine migrants even at this late date. Join us for a Sea Watch at 7:30 AM or arrive later at 8:15 AM for a circuit of the lagoon. A brief mid-morning ‘coffee-stop’ is planned at the Headlands Center for the Arts. Your contribution for coffee via the onsite “tip-jar” would be appreciated. This field trip is less suitable for beginners.
DIRECTIONS: Head south on Hwy 101 and take the last Sausalito exit just before the Golden Gate Bridge. At the exit stop sign, turn right and go under the freeway, then follow the road down to the left. Within
300 feet turn left at the sign to the Marin Headlands; this is the only available left turn before you begin the descent into Sausalito. You should see the tunnel with the five-minute signal light. Proceed through the tunnel on Bunker Road to the Rodeo Lagoon Parking Lot at the end and meet by the bridge over the channel to the beach.

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

Spring Residents at Olompali State Park - Novato
2026-05-17 08:00 - 11:00
Spring Residents at Olompali State Park – Novato
Sunday, May 17, 2026
8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Birding with Rich Cimino and Janet Bodle
Register HERE
Registration is required for this trip. Registration opens Thursday, May 7 at 8 AM.
Limit of 10 participants for this trip.
Species we hope to see might be, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Hooded Oriole, Cassin’s Viero, Hutton’s Vireo, Western Warbling Vireo, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, a calling Pileated Woodpecker and resident species.
Meet in the parking lot at 8:00 AM. There is an $8 parking fee. Portable bathroom near the parking lot
DIRECTIONS: Exit Hwy 101 at Atherton Ave/ San Marin Dr in Novato. Follow the signs to Olompali State Historic Park. A right turn onto the Old Redwood Hwy frontage road will take you to the park.

De Silva Island Heron Colony
2026-05-26 10:00 - 12:30
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Birding with Ron Brown
REGISTER HERE
Registration required for this trip. Registration opens Saturday, May 16 at 8:00 AM. Trip limit is 15.
De Silva Island is home to a long-established colony of Great Blue Herons, residing in a grove of eucalyptus trees on the banks of Belloch’s Lagoon (Strawberry Cove) in Richardson Bay. In recent years Great Egrets and Double Crested Cormorants (colonial nesting species) have moved into this fine breeding site.
Although the start of the breeding season is somewhat variable, we should see late-stage Heron and Egret chicks and early-stage Cormorant chicks. The colony is best seen by a scope from across Belloch’s Lagoon (Strawberry Cove). One scope will be available, but others would be welcome. The viewing area is the sidewalk and there is no easy parking. I can take a couple of people with difficulty walking, others can move their cars a short distance and walk a short distance.
DIRECTIONS: From Hwy 101 south, exit at 446 toward Seminary Drive, make a left onto Redwood Hwy frontage road, and follow as it goes under the freeway. Continue for 1/2 mile, make a right on Seminary Drive to the Fitness outdoor workout at 107b Seminary Drive and find street parking. From Hwy 101 north, exit at 446 toward Seminary Drive, make a left at Redwood Frontage Road. In about 1/2 mile make a right on Seminary Drive to the Fitness outdoor workout at 107 Seminary and find street parking.
We will meet on Seminary Drive near the outdoor workout area at 10 am. It will be a short walk on the somewhat uneven public footpath around the marsh with a set of stairs up to view the colony trees.

The Ponds at the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District (LGVSD) - San Rafael
2026-06-04 08:30 - 12:00
Thursday, June 4, 2026
8:30 AM to noon
Birding with Mark Clark
Registration is not required. All participants are welcome to join this trip.
We welcome bird enthusiasts of all levels, especially beginning birders, to join leader Mark Clark on our monthly walk around the ponds at Las Gallinas. On our search we’ll be looking for waterfowl, waders, songbirds, raptors and swallows. We are likely to spot some interesting species, so come assist in our search.
The packed dirt paths around the ponds are wide, flat and easy to navigate. Heavy rain cancels.
DIRECTIONS: From Hwy 101, exit at Smith Ranch Rd. Drive east on Smith Ranch Rd. toward McInnis Park. Turn left immediately after crossing the railroad tracks and drive about 0.5 mile through the LGVSD gates and into the parking lot at the end of the road. Meet the group by the bridge just past the parking lot. There is a portable restroon in the parking area for public use.

Rodeo Lagoon - Marin Headlands
2026-06-05 07:30
Marin Audubon Hosts Field Trips for California Bird Atlas BIG WEEKEND. California Bird Atlas Big Weekend is a four-day statewide celebration of birds and the new California Bird Atlas – featuring dozens of field trips, and a collective mission to document as many species breeding in as many blocks as possible.
Field trips introduce Atlas basics in the field, with leaders showing how to contribute. The goal is to make it easy for first-time participants to get involved and continue contributing beyond the weekend.
Marin Audubon is sponsoring the following field trip for the CBA Big Weekend:
Rodeo Lagoon, Marin Headlands
Friday, June 5, 2026
7:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Birding with William Legge and David Wiechers
REGISTER HERE
Registration is required for this trip. Registration opens on Tuesday, May 26 at 8AM
Limit of 15 participants for this trip.
The primary focus of this Field Trip will be seeking out and documenting breeding birds for the California Bird Atlas (CBA). Join us for a Sea Watch at 7:30 AM or arrive later at 8:00 AM for an expanded circuit of the lagoon to include trails that are rarely birded.
DIRECTIONS: On Hwy 101 and take the last Sausalito exit just before the Golden Gate Bridge. At the exit stop sign, turn right and go under the freeway, then follow the road down to the left. Turn left at the sign to the Marin Headland. Proceed on Bunker Road to the Rodeo Lagoon Parking Lot and meet at 7:30 by the bridge over the channel to the beach.

San Geronimo Community Center environs
2026-06-05 09:00 - 12:00
Marin Audubon Hosts Field Trips for California Bird Atlas BIG WEEKEND. California Bird Atlas Big Weekend is a four-day statewide celebration of birds and the new California Bird Atlas – featuring dozens of field trips, and a collective mission to document as many species breeding in as many blocks as possible.
Field trips introduce Atlas basics in the field, with leaders showing how to contribute. The goal is to make it easy for first-time participants to get involved and continue contributing beyond the weekend.
Marin Audubon is sponsoring the following field trip for the CBA Big Weekend:
San Geronimo Community Center environs
Friday, June 5, 2026
9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Birding with Liz Lewis and Susan Kelly
REGISTER HERE
Registration is required for this trip. Registration opens on Tuesday, May 26 at 8 AM
Limit of 14 participants for this trip.
On this trip we will be introducing the CBA and the breeding codes to those who are new to the Atlas. All experience levels are welcome for this easy, three miles roundtrip. We will meet in the parking lot of the former San Geronimo Golf Club now offices of Marin County Fire. There is a porta potty in the parking lot. We will hike the paths and grounds of the former golf course.

Birding the Southern Oceans and Antarctica
2026-06-11 19:00 - 21:00
Birding the Southern Oceans and Antarctica
Thursday, June 11, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Speaker: Alvaro Jaramillo
Event is free. Register HERE for this speaker series.

Topic:
There is no greater wilderness than the Southern Ocean! Between Antarctica and the southern points of the continents, there are islands with hundreds of thousands of penguins, millions of prions (a small seabird) and astounding numbers of fur seals, elephant seals and whales.

Alvaro will talk about some of the wonderful birds and wildlife of the subantarctic islands of New Zealand, as well as South America. Places like South Georgia, the Chatham Islands, Macquarie and of course the Antarctic Peninsula.
Speaker Bio:
Alvaro Jaramillo, owner of international birding tour company Alvaro’s Adventures, was born in Chile but began birding in Toronto, where he lived as a youth. He was trained in ecology and evolution studying the co-evolution in cowbirds. He has published several books and field guides, including the Birds of Chile, a major New World sparrow chapter for Birds of the World, and the ABA Field Guide to Birds of California. He organizes and leads international birding tours, as well as a full schedule of pelagic trips in central California. He now lives with his family in Picton, Ontario, Canada.
Photo Credit: Royal Penguin
By Alvaro Jaramillo

Rodeo Lagoon - Marin Headlands
2026-07-29 07:30 - 12:00
Rodeo Lagoon, Marin Headlands
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
7:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Birding with William Legge and David Wiechers
REGISTER HERE
Registration is required for this trip. Registration opens on Wednesday, July 15 at 8 AM
Limit of 15 participants for this trip.
Join William and David for the first of five fall migration field trips at Rodeo Lagoon. This is their long-time “patch,” which never seems to disappoint birders with daily variations in species and the chance of an unusual sighting. On this July trip, we will be targeting northward bound Heermann’s Gulls and Elegant Terns, and hopefully the first southbound migrating shorebirds, and early western passerine migrants. We will begin with a Sea Watch at 7:30 AM from Rodeo Beach. Those arriving later may join us at 8:00 AM for a circuit of the lagoon, about 2-3 miles of light to moderate hiking. A brief mid-morning ‘coffee-stop’ is planned at Headlands Center for the Arts and it would be appreciated if participants come willing to contribute ($3) via the onsite ‘tip-jar’ as a thank you for accommodating our group. This field trip is less suitable for beginners.
DIRECTIONS: Head south on Hwy 101 and take the last Sausalito exit just before the Golden Gate Bridge. At the exit stop sign, turn right and go under the freeway, then follow the road down to the left. Within 300 feet turn left at the sign to the Marin Headlands (This is the only available left turn before you begin the descent into Sausalito). You should see the tunnel with the five-minute light. Proceed through the tunnel on Bunker Rd to the Rodeo Lagoon Parking Lot at the end. Meet by the footbridge over the channel to the beach or join MAS birders with scopes along the nearby beach area.
