Start building your ticket...

Welcome! We're thrilled you're considering joining us for the Monterey Bay Festival of Birds, especially as we celebrate the Bird School Project's 10-year anniversary! This milestone makes our festival even more special, and we can't wait to share it with you.

Customize your experience by registering below and selecting the field trips and workshops that excite you. For a $15 non-refundable registration fee, you get access to fee-based activities including unique field trips, engaging workshops, and fun evening programs. Best of all, our Trivia Night and Birders Night Market are free to attend—no registration required!

To get started, choose your ticket option (either general registration or child) and then select the activities you'd like to join. You can only purchase one ticket at a time. If you are purchasing tickets for multiple people, please complete each transaction separately. Each trip offers its own unique experience, with some featuring exclusive access or specialized workshops. Activities are conveniently listed by date and location. If you prefer viewing a document instead of scrolling through the site, you can find the same descriptions here. Each trip has a corresponding number for easy reference.

All youth aged 12 and under can attend for free, but they must be accompanied by an adult. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].

Join us in celebrating a decade of connecting people with nature through the Bird School Project and our third year hosting the festival. This is more than just a festival—it's a community celebration of our shared passion for birds and conservation.

A special thank you to Jeff Bleam for his beautiful bird photography.

Tickets	Price
General Registration Fee There is a $15 non-refundable registration fee for all festival participants that are attending fee based activities: field trips, workshops, and evening programs. No registration or fee is required to attend the Trivia Night or Birders Night Market.	$15.00 (+ $0.00 fee)

Kids- Under 12 All youth aged 12 and under can attend for free, but they must be accompanied by an adult. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].	$0.00 (+ $0.00 fee)

Free Events Only Select this ticket level if you want to RSVP for free events ONLY. If you are looking to attend any paid field trips, workshops, and presentations, please select one of the ticket levels listed above.	$0.00 (+ $0.00 fee)

Total: $0.00

Account Login

Do you already have an account? Log in below to add new field trips to your ticket, or make changes to your personal information.

New user? An account creation through the attendee account center can only be created after the purchase of a ticket. The system does not require that someone creates an account in order to purchase tickets.

T-Shirt Pick-Up & Carpooling Info

Save money, save gas, and make new friends! If you are interested in carpooling with other festival attendees please enter your information on the form below.

Carpool Form

We’re excited to offer convenient T-shirt pick-up options for festival participants! You can pick up your T-shirts after your field trips at the The Power Plant Coffee at 7990 CA-1, Moss Landing, CA 95039. We'll be on the south end of the parking lot. This location is also ideal for parking if you plan to carpool with others attending the festival. It’s a safe and accessible spot, and we encourage carpooling to make parking easier at the field trip locations.

The Power Plant Coffee at 7990 CA-1, Moss Landing, CA 95039

Friday: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

You can also pick up your T-shirts at:

Birds and Brews Trivia Night, Friday, October 11th from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm,

817 Soquel Ave. Santa Cruz, CA 95062 or

Birder's Night Market, Saturday, October 12th from 5-9 pm

525 Ortiz Ave Sand City CA

If you have more questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us via email at [email protected].

Student Discount

Please upload a picture, or file of your student I.D. OR some documentation of your current class schedule. We will send you a coupon code to use at check out.

Browse

Volunteer Discount

We are HAPPY to provide volunteers a discount on registration and field trip fees, in addition to lots of fun and cool SWAG (Stuff We All Get). If you are interested in volunteering during, or before the festival, please fill out a volunteer form and we will send you a coupon code to use at check out.

Volunteer Form

If you have more questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us via email at [email protected].

Free Festival Events

Registration for free field trips is required, select the "Free Events Only" ticket option then add your desired free field trips. Bird Trivia Night and Birder's Night Market are free to attend—no registration required! If you are interested in attending, please add them to your cart as a way to RSVP and get reminders prior to the event.

Free Events

Birds and Brews Trivia Night
Date: Friday October 11, 2024
Time: 6:30 pm- 8:30pm

The Central Coast Birding Collective is celebrating our two year anniversary 🥳 We hosted our very first event as a part of the Monterey Bay Festival of Birds in 2022, and cannot wait to participate again this year – hosting our third annual trivia night!

Join us on Friday, October 11 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm for an evening of bird and bird-adjacent trivia 🤓🦉 to kick off the start of the Festival of Birds weekend!

Compete for fun (birdy) prizes with a team of up to six people! If you are planning to attend with a group larger than six, be prepared to split up for some friendly competition. Come as a team, or arrive as a singleton and meet new folks to create a flock when you arrive :)

Location: Gilman Brewing Santa Cruz
817 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Price $0.00
Add this to my ticket!
Birder's Night Market
Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
Time: 5 pm - 9 pm
Free Event - RSVP recommended ("Add to ticket")

This year, we're thrilled to introduce the Birder's Night Market—our exciting new event that replaces the Nature Extravaganza. It’s a chance for the Monterey Bay communities to come together for a memorable evening celebrating the natural world.

At this event, you’ll have the chance to participate in How To Draw Birds Mini-Classes from 5-8pm with John Muir Laws. This hands-on activity is designed to equip you with new skills that you can take home and apply on your next nature journaling adventure. At this family-friendly event, we'll have fun activities like Do-It-Yourself button making and screen printing tote bags, as well as music, food, local vendors selling nature-related art and crafts, and local organizations sharing their work.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Location: Sand City Art Park
525 Ortiz Ave.
Sand City, CA
5 pm - 9 pm

How To Draw Birds - Mini Classes Schedule:
5 pm: Song birds
6 pm: Raptors
7 pm: Waterfowl
8 pm: Flight and Feathers

Bringing your own supplies is recommended but we will have clipboards, paper, and pencils available to use during John Muir Law's How to Draw Birds Mini Classes
Price $0.00
Add this to my ticket!
100 Elkhorn Slough Reserve and Kirby Park [1 remaining]
Date: Friday October 11, 2024
Time: 9:15 am - 11:15 am
Activity Level: Easy

Join guide Steve Johnston at the Elkhorn Slough Reserve to learn about birding opportunities in the area and see what species are visible from the Visitor Center, then the group will travel to nearby Kirby Park to look for ducks, shorebirds, and marsh grass birds along the Slough. Easy walk along flat and mostly paved trail.

Leader: Steve Johnston
Meeting Spot: Outside the Visitors Center of the Elkhorn Slough Reserve
Price $0.00
Add this to my ticket!
101 Granary Tree Galore - Explore Marks Ranch [Sold Out]
Date: Friday, October 11, 2024
Time: 8 am - 12 pm
Activity Level: Easy to Moderate unpaved roads

Join Big Sur Land Trust and Monterey Audubon for a walk at Marks Ranch, once a major egg production ranch, and home of Benjamin and Nisene Marks. This 816-acre property is located at the edge of the Salinas Valley and once part of the much larger Rancho del Toro. Habitats and ecosystems range from grasslands to riparian woodlands, and these habitats form crucial migratory wildlife corridors spanning from the Santa Lucia Mountain range to the Fort Ord coastal area.
Check out this resource to learn more about Marks Ranch.

Leader: Monterey Audubon Society
Meeting Spot: Mark's Ranch, adjacent to Toro Park, Salinas, CA 93908
Meet at the cattle gate in the front entrance of the ranch. Arrive early to find parking along the road, do not block any gates. GPS Coordinates: 36°36'28.0"N, 121°41'30.9"W
Price $0.00
102 Birdability Field Trip: Point Lobos ADA Bird Island Trail [Sold Out]
Date: Friday, October 11, 2024
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 pm
Activity Level: Easy, wheelchair accessible

Point Lobos is considered the "crown jewel" of the California State Park system, and with 245 bird species reported, it's an amazing birding destination as well. This field trip will include a guided trip around the Bird Island Trail loop, one of two ADA accessible trails at the Reserve. Expected species include Brandt's Cormorants, Brown Pelican, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, and other sea and shorebirds. While we'll be mostly on the coastline, forest birds such as Pygmy Nuthatches and Chestnut-backed Chickadees may make an appearance as we make our way through the Monterey pines. Who knows what new birdy friends we'll find? We will have a spotting scope to share with the group as well.
Be dressed for cool weather, as the coast can have variable conditions. Heavy rain cancels.

ADA Accessible restrooms are available at the trailhead parking area. Two handicapped accessible parking spots are available at the Bird Island Parking Lot, but be sure to arrive early to get a parking spot. Carpooling is encouraged! The park opens at 8:00 AM.

Leader: Amanda Preece
Meeting Spot: Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Bird Island Trailhead, GPS coordinates: 36.509836°N 121.940303°W
Price $0.00
200 Elkhorn Slough Reserve [Sold Out]
Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
Time: 8:30am - 10:30am
Activity Level: Easy

Join guide Steve Johnston at the Elkhorn Slough Reserve to learn about birding opportunities in the area and see what species are visible from the Visitor Center, then the group will travel through the Elkhorn Slough Reserve keeping an eye out for birds along the wetlands. Easy walk along flat and mostly paved trail.

Leader: Steve Johnston
Meeting Spot: Outside the Visitors Center of the Elkhorn Slough Reserve
Price $0.00
201 Migratory Bird Day with BSLT [Sold Out]
Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
Time: 8am - 5pm
Activity Level: Moderate, Flat terrain along trail, 5 miles long

Big Sur Land Trust offers a special, all-day event to Mitteldorf Preserve for this year’s festival in partnership with Monterey Audubon Society. We’ll walk about two forested miles through Williams Canyon along a well-graded dirt road to the Mitteldorf Preserve Lodge and Legacy Redwood Tree. We’ll have a snack on picnic tables near the lodge. We’ll then walk an approximately 1-mile Nature Loop trail before heading back out through Williams Canyon. The total distance will be about five miles over well-graded trails and dirt roads.
On this trip through a riparian redwood forest we’re likely to encounter residents of forested canyons such as Pacific Wren, Steller’s Jay, and a variety of woodpeckers. Although far from guaranteed, we may also encounter Mountain Quail and maybe even a Varied Thrush.

Leader: Monterey Audubon Society
Meeting Spot: Carmel Crossroads Park-and-Ride
Since parking is limited at Mitteldorf Preserve, participants will be arranged into carpools for the approximately 20-minute drive from the meet-up location to Mitteldorf Preserve.
Price $0.00
300 Birdability Field Trip: Accessible Asilomar [Sold Out]
Date: Sunday, October 13, 2024
Time: 9:00 AM - noon
Activity Level: Easy, ADA accessible

Join us for a fully ADA accessible birding adventure at Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds! We will be looking for classic Monterey pine forest species such as Pygmy Nuthatches and Acorn Woodpeckers, plus raptors like Red-shouldered Hawks and White-tailed Kites. Getting down to the coast, we can spy on shorebirds like the Black Oystercatcher, Whimbrel and cormorant species. We will have a spotting scope to share as well. We'll travel at a slow pace to better locate birds and have regular stops as needed. Bring a hat and sunscreen as there is little shade on the trail. On the flip side, if it's foggy it could be cold, so bring a jacket too.

You may park anywhere on the Asilomar Conference Grounds for free as long as you're in a designated parking space. The closest parking is Lot F: take a right at the fork as you enter the Conference Grounds. Two handicapped parking spots are available directly adjacent to the Social Hall/Guest Check-In building. We will meet on the west-side patio of the Social Hall/Guest Check-In building for this field trip. There is an ADA accessible restroom inside the Social Hall, along with a cafe to get a hot drink and snack as needed.

Leader: Amanda Preece
Location: 800 Asilomar Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA 93950
GPS coordinates: 36.619154°N 121.937153°W
Price $0.00
313 Birding Walk and Feather Craft hosted by the MPRPD-Let’s Go Outdoors! [Sold Out]
Date: Sunday October 13, 2024
Time: 2:30pm – 4:30pm
Activity Level: Easy
Recommended Ages: Families with children, and for the crafting activity ages 5-10

The Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District (MPRPD) invites families to:
Look for birds in the parks they call home, and watch how they use their wings and tails to fly through the air! Then use your observations to inspire your very own paper feather design, wing, or tail that you can wear! Materials provided to you. Binoculars provided to you.

Leader: Patrick Furtado and Savannah Peña
Meeting Spot: Palo Corona Regional Park Plaza Entry, Carmel (4860 Carmel Valley Rd.)
Price $0.00

312 Birds Bikes Burritos - Biketober Community Ride
Date: Sunday, October 13, 2024
Time: 10 am - 12:30 pm
Activity Level: Moderate to difficult

Join us for the Birds, Bikes, Burritos event in Watsonville, where we'll explore the scenic wetland trails on two wheels! This family-friendly event, led by Ecology Action, Bird School Project, and Latino Outdoors, invites you to bring your own bike and enjoy a guided ride through the beautiful wetlands. Don't worry if you don't have binoculars—we'll have some available to borrow for bird watching along the way. After the ride, we'll gather to enjoy delicious burritos and share our experiences. It's a perfect way to celebrate the beauty of Watsonville's wetlands and the rich diversity of our local community.

Leaders: Ecology Action and Bird School Project staff
Location: Landmark Elementary School, 235 Ohlone Pkwy, Watsonville, CA 95076

Registration for Birds Bikes Burritos will happen via Ecology Action's registration page (Calendly )
https://calendly.com/bikeevents/birds-bikes-burritos-1?month=2024-10&date=2024-10-13
To register for BBB use the link above

Friday Field Trips and Workshops

Santa Cruz - Friday 10/11

103 Sound and Sight at Glenwood Preserve [4 remaining]
Date: Friday, October 11, 2024
Time: 9 am - 11 am
Activity Level: Easy

Interested in identifying birds using sound and sight? Join for a hike around Glenwood Open Space Preserve to do just that. Explore this undeveloped space managed by the Land Trust of Santa Cruz in Scotts Valley that is full of meadows and wetlands. Glenwood is home to a high number of rare and endangered species, including the Ohlone tiger beetle, Opler’s longhorn moth, and the Scotts Valley spineflower. The land also works to recharge the aquifer beneath it, the prime source of water for the community. Some notable bird species encountered here in the fall have been, Northern Flicker, Western Meadowlark, California Thrasher, and several swallows and woodpecker species.

Leader: Paul Miller
Meeting Spot: Glenwood Open Space Preserve, 3 Mountain Valley Dr, Scotts Valley, CA 95066
Price $15.00
Add this to my ticket!
104 Younger Lagoon / Antonelli Pond [3 remaining]
Date: Friday, October 11, 2024
Time: 8:30 am - 11:30am
Activity Level: Moderate

California’s coastal prairie habitats are some of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the state. Join Chris Soriano from the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History on this walk through the special access Younger Lagoon Reserve, coastal prairie at UCSC, and down to Antonelli Pond. The property embraces a large, freshwater pond as well as adjacent riparian lands. Antonelli Pond attracts a variety of waterbirds and the surrounding willow thickets are a haven for migrants and some nesting riparian species. Pied-billed Grebe nests here, and Green Heron and Belted Kingfisher are regular much of the year. Search for a rare American Bittern in the fall and winter. To the west of the pond, search in the open scrub and adjacent areas for fall and winter raptors, sparrows, and other birds of open fields. Palm Warbler is a regular fall visitor, and a variety of unusual sparrows turns up here. After this trip, you can walk or drive down the road to explore West Cliff Drive and the beaches on the Westside of Santa Cruz.

Leader: Chris Soriano
Meeting Spot: 100 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Meet at the whale skeleton for check in and the group will walk over to Younger Lagoon together.
Price $30.00
Add this to my ticket!
105 Beginning Photography Workshop [2 remaining]
Date: Friday October 11, 2024
Time: 2pm - 5pm
Activity Level: Easy

Ever wanted to master bird photography? This hands-on workshop is perfect for beginners. Join Seraphina Landgrebe, an award-winning photographer with extensive teaching experience both locally and internationally. Elevate your skills and capture stunning bird photos under her expert guidance. Don't miss this chance to learn from the best and take your bird photography to the next level! For more of Seraphina's work, visit: https://seraphinalandgrebe.smugmug.com

Leader: Serephina Landgrebe
Meeting Spot: Jetty Rd, Moss Landing

Photo Credit: Seraphina Landgrebe
Price $20.00
Add this to my ticket!
113 Birding Neary Lagoon [9 remaining]
Date: Friday October 11, 2024
Time: 9 am- 12 pm
Activity Level: The trail will be mostly flat, except for one paved ramp down to the lagoon, which is not very steep

Come explore the many water fowl and song birds that live in the reeds at a hidden gem near downtown Santa Cruz. At this oasis for birds, sandwiched between the wastewater treatment plant and the beach boardwalk, will explore the bird diversity within the freshwater marsh and riparian habitat at Neary Lagoon. We will also tour the new interpretive signs along the floating walkways which the tour leader, Jenny Rieke, designed.

Leader: Jenny Rieke
Meeting Spot: Neary Lagoon Park, near the public restrooms at the parking area right before the entrance to the wastewater treatment facility. Additional parking can be found along California Ave, then walk across the street to the park. 110 California St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. We will meet at the grassy area near the restrooms.
Price $15.00
Add this to my ticket!

Watsonville - 10/11

106 Better Birding with Nature Journaling Workshop and Field Trip [7 remaining]
Date: Friday, October 11, 2024
Time: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Activity Level: Light to Moderate

The Birder’s Nature journal connects us to birds through active curiosity and creativity. It is a useful tool for people of all birding experience levels to increase your capacity to discern differences for identification, record behaviors, track seasonal changes, improve learning and memory of birds. Quick sketching helps to focus our attention and can serve as a sensory scrapbook for continued learning and enjoyment of birds. We can note bird calls, behaviors, shapes, colors and other notes.

In this 2-part experience, we’ll start indoors where I’ll introduce you to easy and effective ways to capture more birds in your journal. Then, we’ll travel outdoors to put nature journaling skills into practice with birds that we encounter. We‘ll slow down to nature’s pace to really soak in the experience with birds. Prior drawing or birding experience is not necessary, anyone can learn. Come see how you can boost your birding enjoyment.

All levels of drawing or birding skills. Bring a sketchbook/notebook and pen and your curiosity.

Leader: Melinda Nakagawa
Meeting Spot: Castroville Library Meeting Room, 11160 Speegle St, Castroville, CA 95012
Second spot at Moss Landing Beach
Price $20.00
Add this to my ticket!
107 Pinto Lake - A Local Favorite [1 remaining]
Date: Friday, October 11, 2024
Time: 8 am - 10:30 am
Activity Level: Moderate - This is a large park so be prepared for some stairs, sometimes narrow trails, poison oak and close to 3 miles of walking.

Pinto Lake is home to numerous raptors, woodpeckers, waders, songbirds and especially waterfowl in the fall. If you are looking for California specialities there should be California Quail, Acorn and Nuttall's Woodpeckers, Steller's and California Scrub-jays, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, Wrentit, California Thrasher and Towhee. We’ll wander the trails of Pinto Lake County Park searching for these and other birds. This trip is recommended for both beginners and experienced birders as something unusual nearly always shows up.

Leader: Carlos Mendoza
Meeting Spot: Pinto Lake County Park, 757 Green Valley Rd, Watsonville, CA 95076. Park in the lot near the dog park (first lot on the right). Meet in front of dog park.
Price $15.00
Add this to my ticket!
108 Elkhorn Ranch Birding and Nature Tour [Sold Out]
Date: Friday, October 11, 2024
Time: 7:30 am - 10:30 am
Activity Level: Moderate. Walking on uneven dirt roads.

This is a rare opportunity to bird on the historic Elkhorn Ranch private property in Moss Landing. Elkhorn Native Plant Nursery, located on the property, originally produced California native grass seed for the ranchland’s restoration. The nursery now produces seed for restoration projects throughout the area. You’ll be able to go beyond the nursery on this trip to walk the hills. Birding is superb here, since there is a freshwater pond, as well as grassy hillsides, oaks, willows, conifers, and a stunning overview of Elkhorn Slough.

Thank you to Infinite Safari Adventures for sponsoring this trip.

Leader: Kevin Condon
Meeting Spot: The parking lot at J & S Army Surplus Store - 1956 CA-1, Moss Landing, CA 95039. Meet in the lot. We will arrange groups to drive to the ranch.
Price $30.00
109 Birding at the Watsonville Slough Farm [1 remaining]
Date: Friday October 11, 2024
Time: 7:30am -10am
Activity Level: Easy, mostly flat

Watsonville Slough Farm contains 245 acres of wetland and upland habitat, along with the 245 acres of farmland. With overlapping wetland and grasslands, this area is an important bird nesting and foraging habitat, supporting as many species of raptors such as Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrels, and Cooper’s Hawks. Fall is an excellent season for birding this location, with sightings of grebes, cormorants & pelicans, ducks, herons & egrets, and more!

Leader: Lisa Larson
Meeting Spot: Watsonville Slough Farm, Lee Rd, Watsonville, CA 95076
Price $30.00
Add this to my ticket!
110 California Specialties [Sold Out]
Date: Friday, October 11, 2024
Time: 7:30 am - Full day trip
Activity Level: Moderate

This caravan field trip will aim to target specialties of the California coast and inland areas, including some birds that can be tricky to find. This includes Yellow-billed Magpie, Bell’s Sparrow, Lawrence’s Goldfinch, Tricolored Blackbird, among others. This full day trip will begin at the coast searching the ocean for pelagic specialties like loons, alcids, etc, along with shorebirds like Snowy Plovers in the rich areas around Moss Landing and Elkhorn Slough. From there we will head inland towards Paicines visiting a variety of different habitats of the coastal foothills.

Leader: Kumaran Arul
Meeting Spot: Meet in Moss Landing to caravan and arrange carpools. Exact location to be announced.
Price $30.00
111 Beginner Birding at Carneros Creek - Elkhorn Slough Foundation’s Outdoor Classroom [12 remaining]
Date: Friday, October 11, 2024
Time: 9 am - 12 pm
Activity Level: Moderate
Bilingual

Just over the Monterey County line, in a place where farmland surrenders to wildland and where a small creek has carved out a multifarious habitat for several species of bird and beast, lies a patch of land that educators have transformed into an outdoor classroom. The Carneros Creek Outdoor Classroom is a project of Elkhorn Slough Foundation and Hall District Elementary School. It is located near the school, a tiny portion of the more than 4,000 acres protected by the foundation. [Todd Guild, 2018]

Leader: Juan Ramirez and Bird Leader - Bilingual
Meeting Spot: Las Lomas, CA Exact location to be announced.
Price $30.00
Add this to my ticket!

Monterey - Friday 10/11

112 Exploring Palo Corona and the Carmel River South Bank Trail [7 remaining]
Date: Friday, October 11, 2024
Time: 9 am- 12 pm
Activity Level: Moderate 2-mile loop that is flat and mostly paved

The Carmel River runs through the recently expanded Palo Corona Regional Park which now includes the retired Rancho Cañada Golf Course and South Bank Trail. This is a natural vagrant trap in the fall. Past field trips saw six species of warblers and six species of sparrows among a wider variety of birds. It’s also a good place for out-of-towners to build their California state list!

Leader: Rita Carratello
Meeting Spot: Meet in the parking lot for Palo Corona Regional Park, 4860 Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley. Meet in front of the flagpole, next to the visitor center.
Price $15.00
Add this to my ticket!
114 Owls of Robinson Canyon [2 remaining]
Date: Friday, October 11, 2024
Time: 8 pm
Activity Level: Easy - mostly a car caravan, making stops to listen and look for owls.

Robinson Canyon is one of California’s most productive owling sites. Western Screech, Great Horned, Barn, and Northern Saw-whet owls are all likely. Northern Pygmy and the endangered Spotted Owl are possibilities. These field trips are a must if you’re looking for owls. Bring a flashlight and dress warmly.
Please be aware that most owls will only be heard, and not seen.

Leader: Steve Rovell
Meeting Spot: REI Parking Lot - 145 General Stilwell Dr. Marina, CA 93933. Meet at the seating area in front of REI.
Price $20.00
Add this to my ticket!

Saturday Workshops and Field Trips

Santa Cruz - Saturday 10/12

202 A Walk Among Hawks at UCSC [Sold Out]
Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
Time: 9am- 11:30am
Activity: Easy.

The fields and forests of the UC Santa Cruz campus are home to a diversity of birds of prey. Our group will learn the basics of where to look for raptors and how to quickly identify birds to family, genus, and species. September is migration season for hawks so we will observe both resident birds and passers through. We will begin our walk in the UCSC Arboretum, an internationally famous collection of plant species from the climatically similar regions in Australia and South Africa, and emerge into the Great Meadow above where hawks and vultures are regularly observed hunting and interacting. We will also stop to observe the plentiful array of other bird species that call this campus home, and grow our bird lists as we go. Children are encouraged to attend.

Leader: Zeka Glucs
Meeting spot: Meet at UCSC Arboretum, Arboretum Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Entrance fee: $5 per person. Free for Arboretum members. Meet at the interpretive sign near the roundabout in the parking lot.
Price $15.00
203 Sound and Sight at Glenwood Preserve [Sold Out]
Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
Time: 8 am - 11 am
Activity Level: Easy

Interested in identifying birds using sound and sight? Join for a hike around Glenwood Open Space Preserve to do just that. Explore this undeveloped space managed by the Land Trust of Santa Cruz in Scotts Valley that is full of meadows and wetlands. Glenwood is home to a high number of rare and endangered species, including the Ohlone tiger beetle, Opler’s longhorn moth, and the Scotts Valley spineflower. The land also works to recharge the aquifer beneath it, the prime source of water for the community. Some notable bird species encountered here in the fall have been, Northern Flicker, Western Meadowlark, California Thrasher, and several swallows and woodpecker species.

Leader: Paul Miller
Meeting Spot: Glenwood Open Space Preserve, 3 Mountain Valley Dr, Scotts Valley, CA 95066
Price $15.00
204 Advanced Bird Photography Workshop [4 remaining]
Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
Time: 2pm - 5pm
Activity Level: Easy

Ever wanted to master bird photography? This hands-on workshop is perfect for birders well into their photography journey. Join Seraphina Landgrebe, an award-winning photographer with extensive teaching experience both locally and internationally. Elevate your skills and capture stunning bird photos under her expert guidance. Don't miss this chance to learn from the best and take your bird photography to the next level! For more of Seraphina's work, visit: https://seraphinalandgrebe.smugmug.com

Leader: Seraphina Landgrebe
Meeting Spot: UCSC Arboretum

Photo Credit: Seraphina Landgrebe
Price $20.00
Add this to my ticket!
206 Forest Bathing [9 remaining]
Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
Time: 2pm - 4:30pm
Activity Level: Easy

Forest Bathing is a nature-based wellness practice inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku. On a guided Forest Bathing walk, the focus is on slowing ourselves down, re-awakening our senses, and connecting with nature on a deeper level that we might ordinarily. During this walk, we might only move half a mile. A typical walk begins with a guided meditation to help us relax and awaken our senses. From there, I will provide several different prompts for different ways to deeply engage with the natural world. Throughout the walk, there will be opportunities for community sharing and support. Finally, each walk ends by sharing tea and snacks together.

Leader: Madeleine Gerdes - https://madabouttheforest.com/
Meeting Spot: Elkhorn Slough Reserve
Price $20.00
Add this to my ticket!

Watsonville - 10/12

207 Elkhorn Ranch Birding and Nature Tour [Sold Out]
Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
Time: 7:30 am - 10:30 am
Activity Level: Moderate. Walking on uneven dirt roads.

This is a rare opportunity to bird on the historic Elkhorn Ranch private property in Moss Landing. Elkhorn Native Plant Nursery, located on the property, originally produced California native grass seed for the ranchland’s restoration. The nursery now produces seed for restoration projects throughout the area. You’ll be able to go beyond the nursery on this trip to walk the hills. Birding is superb here, since there is a freshwater pond, as well as grassy hillsides, oaks, willows, conifers, and a stunning overview of Elkhorn Slough.

Thank you to Infinite Safari Adventures for sponsoring this trip.

Leader: Kevin Condon
Meeting Spot: The parking lot at J & S Army Surplus Store - 1956 CA-1, Moss Landing, CA 95039. Meet in the lot. We will arrange groups to drive to the ranch.
Price $30.00
208 Birding at the Watsonville Slough Farm [Sold Out]
Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
Time: 7:30am -10am
Activity Level: Easy, mostly flat

Watsonville Slough Farm contains 245 acres of wetland and upland habitat, along with the 245 acres of farmland. With overlapping wetland and grasslands, this area is an important bird nesting and foraging habitat, supporting as many species of raptors such as Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrels, and Cooper’s Hawks. Fall is an excellent season for birding this location, with sightings of grebes, cormorants & pelicans, ducks, herons & egrets, and more!

Leader: Jeff Miller
Meeting Spot: Watsonville Slough Farm
Price $30.00
209 Elkhorn Highlands [2 remaining]
Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
Time: 9am - 11:30am
Activity Level: Moderate to strenuous
Bilingual

Join the Elkhorn Slough Foundation at a unique property with a long and interesting history, the Elkhorn Highlands Reserve (EHR) contains large amounts of rare maritime chaparral, as well as oak woodlands, grassland, and freshwater wetlands. Despite being only 167 acres, EHR hosts more than 200 species of plants, including many that are rare or endangered. Bird species inlcude Savannah Sparrow, Western Meadowlark, CA Thrasher, Northern Harrier, and many species of warblers. The walk is moderate with some short strenuous stretches, some uneven terrain, and long stretches of relatively flat trail. We will be stopping along the way to look at the flora and fauna. There are no facilities on site, please plan to use the restroom before or after our outing.

Leader: David Valenzuela and Juan Ramirez
Meeting Spot: 103 Desmond Rd, Salinas, CA 93907
Price $30.00
Add this to my ticket!
210 Pinto Lake- A Local Favorite [1 remaining]
Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
Time: 8am - 10:30am
Activity Level: Moderate - This is a large park so be prepared for some stairs, sometimes narrow trails, poison oak and close to 3 miles of walking.
Bilingual Leader

Pinto Lake is home to numerous raptors, woodpeckers, waders, songbirds and especially waterfowl in the fall. If you are looking for California specialties there should be California Quail, Acorn and Nuttall's Woodpeckers, Steller's and California Scrub-jays, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, Wrentit, California Thrasher and Towhee. We’ll wander the trails of Pinto Lake County Park searching for these and other birds. This trip is recommended for both beginners and experienced birders as something unusual nearly always shows up.

Leader: Carlos Mendoza
Meeting Spot: Pinto Lake County Park, 757 Green Valley Rd, Watsonville, CA 95076. Park in the lot near the dog park (first lot on the right). Meet in front of dog park.
Price $15.00
Add this to my ticket!

Monterey - Saturday 10/12

211 Pt. Piños & the Monterey Peninsula [3 remaining]
Date: Saturday, October 12, 2024
Time: 7:30 AM - noon
Activity Level: Easy

Another spectacular destination, including outstanding vagrant traps, rocky shorelines and coastal sea birding. Point Pinos is one of the best locations on the west coast for scoping sea birds from land, and there are often Black Oystercatchers, Black & Ruddy Turnstones and Surfbirds feeding along the rocky shore. Migrant land birds, gulls, and California sea otters are certain to be seen as well. Pacific Grove and the Monterey Peninsula present various options for additional stops and feature pine forest birding in addition to the rocky shoreline. The birding route will traverse 1.5 miles on packed granite paths or pavement. There aren't many options to sit down. Restrooms are available at the start of the trip at nearby Crespi Pond.

Leader: Amanda Preece
Meeting Point: Gravel parking lot on the ocean side of the road at the corner of Asilomar Ave and Ocean View Blvd. Green sign designates it as the "Asilomar Lot". We'll meet near the bench.
GPS coordinates: 36.636722, -121.931639
Price $15.00
Add this to my ticket!
212 Bird Walk with Dudleya Nature Center [1 remaining]
Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
Time: 10 am-12pm
Activity Level: Easy, dirt trail is ADA accessible

Join founder of the Dudleya Nature Center, Shannon Connor, for birding along a shallow freshwater lake near the ocean on the border of Monterey and Seaside. There is a wide, paved, mile-long accessible Loop Trail around Laguna Grande. The lake is fringed with cattails and various willow patches, and is a great place to see a variety of some of the over 250 species of birds recorded here.

Leader: Shannon Connor, Dudleya Nature Center
Meeting Spot: Meet at Laguna Grande Park in Seaside. Exact location to be announced.
Price $15.00
Add this to my ticket!
213 Exploring Palo Corona the Carmel River South Bank Trail [Sold Out]
Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
Time: 8:30am- 11am
Activity Level: Easy

The Carmel River runs through the recently expanded Palo Corona Regional Park which now includes the retired Rancho Cañada Golf Course and South Bank Trail. This is a natural vagrant trap in the fall. Past field trips saw six species of warblers and six species of sparrows among a wider variety of birds. It’s also a good place for out-of-towners to build their California state list!

Leader: Terence Degan
Meeting Point: Meet in the parking lot for Palo Corona Regional Park, 4860 Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley. Meet in front of the flagpole, next to the visitor center.
Price $15.00
214 Rana Creek Ranch [Sold Out]
Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
Time: 8am - 12pm
Activity Level: Moderate

Gain access to Rana Creek Ranch, a newly established preserve that is not yet open to the public to experience the wonderful birding Carmel Valley has to offer. The walk will follow an unused road through the preserve, through some of the best oak woodland habitat remaining in Central California. Home to California Quail, Acorn and Nuttall’s Woodpeckers, and Yellow-billed Magpies, this location also offers the chance to encounter many other oak-loving species. Prepare for walking in mostly sunny conditions by bringing water and sunscreen.

Leader: Everitt Keneipp
Meeting Spot: Meet at Mid-Valley Safeway, Carmel Valley parking lot to carpool
Price $30.00
215 Owls of Robinson Canyon [Sold Out]
Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
Time: 8 pm
Activity Level: Easy - mostly a car caravan, making stops to listen and look for owls.

Robinson Canyon is one of California’s most productive owling sites. Western Screech, Great Horned, Barn, and Northern Saw-whet owls are all likely. Northern Pygmy and the endangered Spotted Owl are possibilities. These field trips are a must if you’re looking for owls. Bring a flashlight and dress warmly.
Please be aware that most owls will only be heard, and not seen.

Leader: Steve Rovell
Meeting Spot: REI Parking Lot - 145 General Stilwell Dr. Marina, CA 93933. Meet at the seating area in front of REI.
Price $20.00

Sunday Field Trips, Workshops, and Presentations

Santa Cruz - Sunday 10/13

301 Wooden Bird Carving Seminar for Beginners [Sold Out]
Date: Sunday October 13, 2024
Time: 9:30am - 1:30pm
Includes additional fee for materials: $20
Activity level: 4-5 hour seminar, Sanderling carving

Bird Carving Seminar for Beginners
Join master carver from the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association for a four-hour carving seminar. All of the necessary materials, including a study guide and the best knives on the market, will be provided for this seminar. Short lectures with lots of hands-on carving will enable you to complete your own Sanderling Topics include where to get your supplies, how to use reference material, wood selection, and how to use hand tools and power tools. The price of the seminar includes a one-year membership in the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association, and a club directory, so you’ll know who is carving in your area. Must be fifteen years old or older.

Presenter: Jim Burcio
Meeting spot: Norris Center for Natural History, Santa Cruz CA
Parking: UCSC Core West Parking Structure, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (GPS coordinates: 36.999212854979284, -122.0636728173285)
Price $40.00
302 Sound and Sight at Glenwood Preserve [5 remaining]
Date: Sunday October 13, 2024
Time: 8 am - 11 am
Activity Level: Easy

Interested in identifying birds using sound and sight? Join for a hike around Glenwood Open Space Preserve to do just that. Explore this undeveloped space managed by the Land Trust of Santa Cruz in Scotts Valley that is full of meadows and wetlands. Glenwood is home to a high number of rare and endangered species, including the Ohlone tiger beetle, Opler’s longhorn moth, and the Scotts Valley spineflower. The land also works to recharge the aquifer beneath it, the prime source of water for the community. Some notable bird species encountered here in the fall have been, Northern Flicker, Western Meadowlark, California Thrasher, and several swallows and woodpecker species.

Leader: Bird School Project
Meeting Spot: Glenwood Open Space Preserve, 3 Mountain Valley Dr, Scotts Valley, CA 95066
Price $15.00
Add this to my ticket!
303 A Walk Among the Hawks [Sold Out]
Date: Sunday October 13, 2024
Time: 8:30am - 11am
Activity Level: Easy.

The fields and forests of the UC Santa Cruz campus are home to a diversity of birds of prey. Our group will learn the basics of where to look for raptors and how to quickly identify birds to family, genus, and species. September is migration season for hawks so we will observe both resident birds and passers through. We will begin our walk in the UCSC Arboretum, an internationally famous collection of plant species from the climatically similar regions in Australia and South Africa, and emerge into the Great Meadow above where hawks and vultures are regularly observed hunting and interacting. We will also stop to observe the plentiful array of other bird species that call this campus home, and grow our bird lists as we go. Children are encouraged to attend.

Leader: TBD
Meeting spot: Meet at UCSC Arboretum, Arboretum Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Entrance fee: $5 per person. Free for Arboretum members. Meet at the interpretive sign near the roundabout in the parking lot.
Price $15.00

Watsonville - Sunday 10/13

304 Sketching Birds at the Beach [4 remaining]
Date: Sunday October 13, 2024
Time: 10 am- Noon
Activity Level: Easy, workshop will involve sitting and drawing
Materials: Bring a notebook for nature journaling and pen to write with.

Join the illustrator behind Ripple in the Wild for an introduction to sketching birds in your nature or field journal. With a focus on gulls, shorebirds, and seabirds, this two hour workshop will cover field sketching basics for capturing bird likenesses and using sketching to improve your memory, ID recall, and field notes. Make sure to bring something to write with and a notebook to record your observations in.

Leader: Morgan Lewis
Meeting Spot: Jetty Road, Moss Landing. Exact location to be announced.
Price $20.00
Add this to my ticket!
305 Elkhorn Ranch Birding and Nature Tour [Sold Out]
Date: Sunday, October 13, 2024
Time: 7:30 am - 10:30 am
Activity Level: Moderate. Walking on uneven dirt roads.

This is a rare opportunity to bird on the historic Elkhorn Ranch private property in Moss Landing. Elkhorn Native Plant Nursery, located on the property and open to the public on Fridays, originally produced California native grass seed for the ranchland’s restoration. The nursery now produces seed for restoration projects throughout the area. You’ll be able to go beyond the nursery on this trip to walk the hills. Birding is superb here, since there is a freshwater pond, as well as grassy hillsides, oaks, willows, conifers, and a stunning overview of Elkhorn Slough.

Thank you to Infinite Safari Adventures for sponsoring this trip.

Leader: Kevin Condon
Meeting Spot: The parking lot at J & S Army Surplus Store - 1956 CA-1, Moss Landing, CA 95039. Meet in the lot. We will arrange groups to drive to the ranch.
Price $30.00
306 Watsonville Slough Farm with CCBC [Sold Out]
Date: Sunday, October 13, 2024
Time: 9:00 - 11:00 am
Activity Level: TBD

Join the Central Coast Birding Collective for a special excursion as we explore the Watsonville Slough Farm, an area typically not accessible to the public. Overlapping wetlands and grasslands, along with a restored oak woodland habitat, will provide an excellent opportunity to see a variety of bird species. This field trip is a sneak peek into one of the first public access projects of its kind in California. We look forward to welcoming and meeting new folks as we revel in the magic of birding together.

Leaders: Central Coast Birding Collective
Meeting Spot: Watsonville Slough Farm
Price $30.00
307 Boat Tour and Birding [9 remaining]
Date: Sunday October 13, 2024
Time: 10:30am- 12:30 pm
Activity Level: Easy, birding will be mostly stationary from the boat deck

Come out and tour the docked Western Flyer and bird from the deck! With the Western Flyer Foundation, you’ll spend about an hour touring the historic boat known for its 1940s expedition with Ed Ricketts and John Steinbeck and now used for inspiring education. After, spend some time birding to see what species can be seen from the deck of the docked boat. Think about the ecology of Moss Landing Harbor and the impact of the human use of the harbor on bird behavior and populations.

Leader: Rebecca Mostow, Western Flyer Foundation
Meeting Spot: Moss Landing Harbor
Price $20.00
Add this to my ticket!

Monterey - Sunday 10/13

308 Hatton Canyon and Carmel Mission Trail [Sold Out]
Date: Sunday October 13, 2024
Time: 8:30 am - 12 pm
Activity Level: Easy

Hatton Canyon and the Carmel Mission trail will offer a leisurely birding walk on flat trails (3.2 miles out and back) through riparian and tall pine woodlands. This is a heavily forested area with a large number of bird species. Regularly seen and heard species include Pygmy Nuthatches, Wrentits, Acorn Woodpeckers, California Thrashers, Band-tailed Pigeons, both Scrub and Steller's Jays, and California Quails. Last year we also saw fifteen Townsend's Warblers and one Black-throated Gray Warbler along this walk. Open to all birding levels, this trip will be slow-paced, and we will be taking the time to appreciate bird behavior along the way. We will be listening for birds as well as looking for them and we will be keeping an e-bird list as we go. Beginning birders and young birders are encouraged to join. Se habla español.

Leader: Nicole Barden
Meeting Spot: Hatton Canyon - Meet at the parking area behind the "From Scratch Restaurant" located off Carmel Rancho Blvd. (36.541124, -121.907868)
Price $15.00
309 Rana Creek Ranch [Sold Out]
Date: Sunday, October 13, 2024
Time: 8am-12pm
Activity Level: Moderate

Please join us and The Wildlands Conservancy for a birding walk on their recently acquired Rana Creek Preserve! Not yet open to the public, it will be a wonderful opportunity to experience the exceptional birding Carmel Valley has to offer. The walk will follow an unused road through some of the best oak woodland habitat remaining in Central California. Home to California Quail, Acorn and Nuttall’s Woodpeckers, and Yellow-billed Magpies, this location also offers the chance to encounter many other oak-loving species. Prepare for walking in mostly sunny conditions by bringing water and sunscreen.

Leader: Everitt Keneipp
Meeting Spot: Meet at Mid-Valley Safeway, Carmel Valley parking lot to carpool to Rana Creek Ranch. Anticipate a 20 minute drive.
Price $30.00
310 Birding Laguna Grande [5 remaining]
Date: Sunday October 13, 2024
Time: 10 am-12pm
Activity Level: Easy, dirt trail is ADA accessible

Join for birding along a shallow freshwater lake near the ocean on the border of Monterey and Seaside. There is a wide, paved, mile-long accessible Loop Trail around Laguna Grande. The lake is fringed with cattails and various willow patches, and is a great place to see a variety of some of the over 250 species of birds recorded here.

Leader: Laura Vivanco Morales
Meeting Spot: Meet at Laguna Grande park in Seaside. Exact location to be announced.
Price $15.00
Add this to my ticket!
311 Morning Boat Trip with Wildlife Field Guide Author Jeff Miller [1 remaining]
Date: Sunday, October 13, 2024
Time: 10 am - 11:30 am
Activity Level: Easy

Join us for an unforgettable wildlife adventure led by Monterey Bay Eco Tours and Jeff Miller, a passionate protector of endangered species and author of a quirky guide to the coolest animal neighbors in the Bay Area. Miller’s field guide, Bay Area Wildlife: An Irreverent Guide takes you on a local safari where you'll explore the fascinating world of more than sixty species of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and insects, learning about their unique behaviors and habitats.

Our journey for this Sunday morning boat trip takes place aboard Monterey Bay Eco Tours' "El Cat," a fully electric catamaran custom-built in Moss Landing. As you glide silently through the calm waters of Elkhorn Slough, you'll have front-row views of a vibrant wetland teeming with wildlife. Expect to see playful otters, sea lions, harbor seals, and a diverse array of birds, all within this crucial part of the Pacific Flyway. This tour offers a unique and immersive wildlife experience you won't want to miss!

Leader: Jeff Miller and Monterey Bay Eco Tours
Meeting Spot: 10932 Clam Way, Moss Landing CA 95039
Price $40.00
Add this to my ticket!

Celebrate 10 Years of Impact: Support Our Schoolyard Birding Programs

We need your help to continue our mission of bringing birding and outdoor experiential learning to schools throughout the Monterey Bay region. As we celebrate the Bird School Project's 10-year anniversary, we humbly ask for your support. A donation of just $10 can make a significant impact by covering the cost for one student to participate in three schoolyard birding lessons during their science class.

Your generosity directly supports The Bird School Project, a certified 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible (FEIN 32-0516805), and every dollar helps us inspire and educate the next generation of bird enthusiasts.

Please join us in making the next decade even more impactful. We are truly grateful for your support and for helping us continue to provide these valuable educational experiences.

Merchandise

2022 Festival shirt [limited sizes]
Short-sleeve and long-sleeve t-shirt with Monterey Bay Festival of Birds Scrub Jay Logo, designed by John Muir Laws. All sizes are unisex.
2023 Festival shirt [limited sizes]
Short-sleeve Monterey Bay Festival of Birds t-shirt with turkey vulture logo, designed by local artist, Morgan Lewis/ Ripple in the Wild . All sizes are unisex
Add

Total

$0.00

Coupon Code

Emergency contact information

What is the name of someone we can contact in the case of an emergency?

What is the best phone number to reach your emergency contact?

Billing Information

Name

Payment Method

Credit Card
Pre Register

Use a previously saved card

Credit Card

Visa
Mastercard
American Express
Discover

Save this card for future use

Address

Mobile Phone Number

Yes, it's okay to send me text messages including confirmations, changes, and updates. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. View our terms of service & privacy policy.

Event Ticketing Software by TicketSpice