Mount Diablo Bird Alliance

Birding at Olompali State Historic Park
2021-10-09 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Olompali State Historic Park, 8901 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA, 94945, United States
It’s always an exciting time to birdwatch at Olompali State Historic Park! October can bring fall surprises. This year, with the fires in the northern part of the state, Olompali Park may become home to species typically not seen in the park seeking shelter. Beginning and experienced birders are invited to join leaders Rich Cimino and Janet Bodle to bird the park. We will walk the old ranch road to the park’s reservoir. We hope to see a wide variety of species that thrive in the park’s oak savanna and open grasslands. The field trip will start at 9 AM meeting in the front of the visitor center.

Shorebird Identification with Bob Lewis
2021-10-12 18:00 - 19:00 | Online
Shorebirds flock to the Bay Area in the fall. Many are coming from their breeding sites in the Arctic, others from the prairies. They take advantage of the rich food resources in the Bay to recover from their migration, to molt their feathers, and to prepare for their trip back to their nesting grounds. A few shorebirds breed here and so are here throughout the year. Shorebirds include sandpipers, oystercatchers, stilts, avocets, and plovers. We will study their behaviors and identifying characteristics to enable us to identify them as they gather along our shorelines.
Bob trained as a chemist and worked in the energy industry for 33 years. He’s taught birding classes in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 25 years and is the past chair of Golden Gate Audubon’s Adult Education Committee. His life bird list is over 5000 species, and he loves to travel. He’s an award-winning photographer, focusing on birds. Bob was honored with American Birding Association’s Chandler Robbins Award for Education and Conservation in 2016 and GGAS’ Paul Covel Award for Education in 2017.
Register with your email to attend live and the Zoom information will be sent to you on the day of the event. The event will be closed captioned.

Birding For Fledglings
2021-10-13 19:00 - 21:00 | Online and Field Trip
Instructor: Dawn Lemoine
6 sessions on Wednesdays and Saturdays
Venue: Zoom plus field trips
If you’re ready to dip your wingtips into the world of birds, the Birding for Fledglings class is for you! No experience is necessary. The class will focus on birding tools; keys to bird identification; and finding and IDing the Bay Area’s Fall birds. As a bonus, you will learn the difference between Birdwatching and Birding!

Anna’s Hummingbird by Noreen Weeden
The lecture presentations for this class will not be recorded.

Six Wednesday evening classes by Zoom on October 13, 20, 27 and November 3, 10, 17, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Six three-hour Saturday field trips on October 16, 23, 30 and November 6, 13, 20, from 8 to 11 a.m.
Lectures are via Zoom. Field trip locations will be announced in class.
$150 for GGAS members, $175 for non-members.

Once this class is full, you may sign up to be on a waiting list.

MDAS members pay the same rate as GGAS members!
Registration opens: July 1, 2021

Limited to 20 participants

First Annual Berkeley Bird Festival
2021-10-17 08:00 - 18:00 | Berkeley Bird Festival, Berkeley, CA, United States
On Sunday, October 17, Bay Area residents are invited to enjoy the first annual Berkeley Bird Festival, a free community event organized by Golden Gate Audubon and the California Institute for Community Art and Nature (California I CAN). The event will offer guided birding field trips throughout the city, bird chalk art on the UC campus and downtown, family-friendly arts & craft activities including Origami bird folding instruction, bird-related information and action tables, and a very special virtual and in-person program – “Winged Wonderment” — an afternoon of bird stories, images, poems, songs, and demonstrations by writers, poets, birders, scientists, activists, artists, and bird-lovers broadcast live from the David Brower Center on Allston Way—the location for arts and crafts activities and information tables.
The event will take place all day, with some field trips starting as early as 8 a.m. and others ending as late as 6 p.m.. Some activities will require pre-registration. Brower Center activities will run from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. Indoor activity participants at the David Brower Center must show proof of vaccination and wear masks. To register for individual activities or to learn more about the festival please visit berkeleybirdfestival.org/.

Bringing Back the Burrowing Owl
2021-10-21 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
Once thriving in the East Bay, the Burrowing Owl has been forced to move inland and the consequences for many have been fatal. Conducting long-term research on these colonies, Shawn Smallwood and Doug Bell have observed the rate of mortality for Burrowing Owls living within the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area, as wind turbines within the area continue to contribute to avian bird deaths. During this presentation they will speak on their findings and the management efforts being conducted on East Bay Regional Park District lands, including volunteer-based habitat restoration programs.
Shawn Smallwood earned his Ph.D. in Ecology at the U.C. Davis and has studied wildlife impact from wind turbines for 20 years. Doug Bell serves as the Wildlife Program Manager for the East Bay Regional Park District and has engaged in long-term studies of Golden Eagles, Prairie Falcons and other raptors with an emphasis on assessing and lessening impacts from renewable energy development.
Burrowing Owl nest by Shawn Smallwood

Winter Sparrows Workshop 2021 - Day 1
2021-11-01 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Workshop Dates:
Nov 1 & 3, 2021
6:00pm – 8:00pm
$100 total per person for both sessions
This workshop will be a basis to identify the wintering sparrows in California, with a focus on the Bay Area. We hope to also give you a background to understand a bit about the biology, evolutionary history, migration, and behavior of our sparrow fauna. With regards to identification, we will give more details on the trickier species. Although this is not a bird sound workshop, we will dabble in the vocal aspects of sparrows, particularly those useful for identification or that are particularly interesting, such as the recent song change that is racing through populations of White-throated Sparrows. Apart from the classic field guide, “field mark” approach to identification, we will try to short-cut to holistic ways to identify sparrows by looking at the entire bird, shapes, impression, and facial expression to aid in identification. We are lucky to have a really varied set of sparrows in California that remain with us through much of the winter or move south towards us during this season. Unlike the warblers where most of them are gone in winter, the sparrows are often more abundant and diverse in winter in many spots in the continent, so take this workshop to prepare for the Christmas Bird Counts and a winter full of sparrow watching!

Raptors In Winter
2021-11-02 19:00 - 21:00 | Online and Field Trip
Instructor: Maureen Lahiff, With Anne Ardillo on Field Trips
3 sessions on Tuesdays and Saturdays
Venue: Zoom plus field trips
Year-round resident hawks, falcons, and eagles of the greater Bay Area and the Central Valley are joined by a number of wintering migrants (including Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawks). We’ll explore the rhythm of their lives and discuss identifying juveniles and adult birds, including birds in flight. We’ll travel to eastern Alameda and Contra Costa, and to Napa, Solano, and Sonoma counties. One of the nice things about raptors is that we don’t have to be on scene at daybreak to get good looks at these birds, so we can travel a bit further afield.

Red-tailed Hawk
Recordings of the lecture presentations will be available to class participants for a limited period of time.

Three Tuesday evening classes by Zoom on November 2, 9, 16, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Three Saturday morning field trips on November 6, 13, 20.
Lectures are via Zoom. Field trip times and locations will be announced in class.
$75 for GGAS members, $100 for non-members.

Once this class is full, you can sign up to be on a waiting list.

MDAS members pay the same rate as GGAS members!
Registration opens: July 1, 2021

Limited to 20 participants

Winter Sparrows Workshop 2021 - Day 2
2021-11-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Online

Monthly Program: November 2021
2021-11-04 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom, CA, United States
Birding Info:
Cabin Lake Bird Blinds Photos
Jerry Britten, MDAS President
MDAS President Jerry Britten will share some photos he has taken at the Cabin Lake Bird Blinds in Central Oregon.
Main Program:
Owls Through the Ages
Karla Bloem, Executive Director of the International Owl Center
Owls are omens of death. Owls are creator beings. Owl eggs can cure serious diseases. These are all views that are currently held in different cultures on different continents.
Why is it important to understand these different cultural beliefs? Because conservation efforts depend heavily on cultural attitudes. Where people have positive attitudes towards owls it is much easier to promote actions that are beneficial to owls. If people fear them, they will be more likely to want to kill owls than conserve them.
Education and personal gain have both been successfully used by several innovative individuals to make the world a better place for owls. This presentation will take you on a tour around the world throughout history to see how owls have been viewed, and hear inspiring stories of people who are creatively changing negative views.
You’ll also get to meet a live owl and ask questions. Karla Bloem is the founder and Executive Director of the International Owl Center.

Karla Bloem banding an owlet, photo by Chris Sargent

The Falconer – An Online Film Screening
2021-11-05 21:00 | Online
Join Peninsula Open Space Trust for a special free online screening of “The Falconer” in honor of the Fall Raptor Migration Season! The event is free but registration is required. Guests who register for the event will receive a viewing link and password to access the film anytime between 7pm Friday, November 5 through midnight on Wednesday, November 10th.
The Falconer is a documentary feature that captures beauty and hope in the story of master
falconer Rodney Stotts on his mission to build a bird sanctuary and provide access to nature for his stressed community. Under his organization Rodney’s Raptors, Mr. Stotts creates interactive and educational programming, allowing adults and children of all ages to experience the excitement that comes from holding a live bird of prey.
This is a story of second chances: for injured birds of prey, for an abandoned plot of land, for a group of teenagers who have dropped out of high school, and for Rodney himself. The Falconer weaves Rodney’s present-day mission with the story of his past, both of which are deeply rooted in issues of social and environmental injustice, and consistently orient the viewer to his worldview: nature heals.

MDAS Field Trip—Charleston Slough
2021-11-06 08:30 - 14:30 | Charleston Slough, Mountain View, CA, United States
We see a variety of birds on the water on this trip. Locations might include Charleston Slough, Shoreline Lake, Palo Alto Baylands, Alviso and Redwood Shores.
This hike is limited to 15 participants. All Field Trips are first-registered, first-served. Participants acknowledge the MDAS Liability Waiver (available during registration).
Rating: Moderate
Distance: We do some walking, but drive from location to location
Elevation change: N/A
Leader: Beth Branthaver, please call to confirm: 510-502-4869
Meet: Meet at Terminal Road in Mountain View at 8:30 AM.
Directions: Go south on I-680, take Exit 12, Mission Boulevard west. Continue through two traffic lights and take I-880 ramp south. Exit to SR 237, connect to US 101 north at Moffett Field. Exit at San Antonio Road, turn right (north) to Terminal Road, turn right and park. Entrance is on left. Drive time is about one hour from Walnut Creek/Danville.
Register for this event HERE.
(American Avocets photo by Maren Smith)

WOW Presents: Mount Diablo State Park Centennial
2021-11-10 14:00 - 15:00 | Online
Rising almost 4,000 feet from the valleys of Contra Costa County, Mount Diablo is one of the most recognized geologic features of the San Francisco Bay Area. This year, Mount Diablo State Park is celebrating 100 years since being established in 1921. Join Wonders of the World (WOW) for a webinar that will explore the human history of the mountain from its humble beginnings to present day including the historic Civilian Conservation Corps who built most of its infrastructure. Discussions include the history of early Native Americans, cattle ranching, horse racing, automobile racing, and tourism on the mountain. Learn how the park has grown in size thanks to visionaries like Mary Bowerman and Raymond Force. See how different organizations protect the mountain like Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA) and Save Mount Diablo (SMD). Our speaker will be Steve Smith, President of MDIA.

Cruise w/ Dolphin Charters - Birds of the San Francisco & San Pablo Bay
2021-11-14 09:00 - 16:00 | Berkeley Marina, 201 University Ave, Berkeley, CA, 94710, United States
San Francisco Bay, the largest and one of the most important estuaries along the Pacific Flyway, is right in our own backyard. Join us as we cruise from Berkeley toward the Golden Gate Bridge and north into San Pablo Bay, hugging the shorelines and waters that are home to thousands of wintering birds. We will pass ten islands, under two bridges, and up two creeks in four counties in search of migrating and resident waterfowl, shore-birds and marine mammals. This trip offers water bird and marine mammal viewing in stunning locations, many of which can only be seen by boat. In addition to the many ducks, loons, pelicans and gulls that come into the Bay for the winter, we can also expect to see resident cormorants, grebes, terns, and murres.
The trip costs $120 and is limited to 25 people.
Registration for this trip opens October 8 at 8 AM
All participants must be fully vaccinated. There will be a waiting list if this trip sells out, and you will be notified if space becomes available.

Climate and Birds in California
2021-11-18 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
North America’s bird populations have declined by approximately 3 billion birds since 1970 and two-thirds of North America’s bird species now face an even greater risk of extinction due to climate change. Mike Lynes will discuss the threats California birds face from climate change and how Audubon California is working with chapters, allies, and decision-makers to implement climate-smart, nature-based policies like California’s “30 by 30” initiative aimed at expanding open spaces to meet climate goals and benefit human communities.
About Our Speaker:
Mike Lynes is Director of Public Policy for Audubon California and formerly served as Executive Director of Golden Gate Audubon Society.
Acorn Woodpeckers by Alicia Shaffer

MDAS Field Trip—Mt. View Sanitary/McNabney Marsh
2021-11-23 10:00 - 12:00 | Mountain View Sanitary District, 3800 Arthur Rd, Martinez, CA, 94553, United States
We expect to see a variety of water birds here, from grebes and ducks, to waders and peeps. Marsh passerines and raptors might also be present.
This hike is limited to 20 participants. All Field Trips are first-registered, first-served. Participants acknowledge the MDAS Liability Waiver (available during registration).
Rating: Moderate
Elevation change: N/A
Leader: Randy Huey, please call to confirm: 925-518-8439
Meet: Meet at Mt. View Sanitary Visitor Center at 10:00 AM.
Directions: Exit from I-680 southbound at Arthur Road, turn left and go under the freeway. Exit I-680 northbound at Pacheco Blvd, turn right onto Arthur Road and go under the freeway. Arthur Road will turn left. At .4 miles turn sharp left onto Mt. View Sanitary’s private road. Follow the road through the entry gate, alongside the freeway and through the tunnel under I-680. Park and sign-in at the Visitor Center.
Register for this field trip HERE.
(Snowy Egret photo by Beth Branthaver)

Recent Tech Advancements And Bird In Flight Photography – The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
2021-12-01 19:30 - 21:00 | Online
Burrowing owl flight with dove Photo: Rob Bielefeld
This presentation will focus on recent advancements in camera and lens technology. From sensors, to IBIS, to AF, advancements have made at getting great birds-in-flight images easier than ever before. However, with advancements come potential pitfalls. Speaker Rob Bielefeld will discuss both sides of the technological coin: how tech has made bird photography easier, but also how all these advancements may lead some bird/wildlife photographers astray.

Monthly Program: December 2021
2021-12-02 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom, CA, United States
Birding Info:
Pine Canyon’s Peregrines
Peregrine Team
Members of the Peregrine Team will share a video synopsis of the Pine Canyon peregrines’ historic and memorable year, taken directly from the notes and photography of the Peregrine Team.
Main Program:
From Mono Lake to Mar Chiquita: A Future for Phalaropes and Saline Lakes
Ryan Carle, Science Manager, Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge
Wilson’s and red-necked Phalaropes are tiny but charismatic shorebirds that rely on saline lakes like Mono Lake and Owens Lake as their most critical gas stations on their epic migration to South America. Saline lakes are threatened worldwide by water diversion and climate change, and presumably phalaropes are threatened along with them.
However, basic questions about phalaropes remain unanswered, including: “how many are there?”, “are they declining?”, and “where are they?” Ryan Carle will discuss recent efforts both locally and throughout the western hemisphere to close the gaps in our understanding of phalaropes’ ecology and conservation status, and conservation actions needed to ensure a future for the phalaropes and people that depend on saline lakes.
Ryan Carle is the Science Manager and Shorebirds Program Director for international conservation science non-profit Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge. Ryan currently conducts phalarope research at Mono Lake and the Atacama Desert of Chile, and coordinates with phalarope research partners around the western hemisphere. Ryan has worked for over ten years on conservation and research of seabirds and shorebirds in California and Chile, but his favorite place to work is Mono Lake, where he was born and raised.

Surveying in Andes, photo by Verónica López

MDAS Field Trip—Sacramento/Colusa National Wildlife Refuges
2021-12-04 08:15 - 17:00 | Sacramento/Colusa National Wildlife Refuges, Dunnigan Northbound Rest Area I-5 North of Dunnigan, Dunnigan, 95695, United States
Sacramento/Colusa National Wildlife Refuges

Saturday, December 4, 8:15 AM-5 PM
Leader: Beth Branthaver, 510-502-4869
All the migratory birds will have arrived for the duration of the winter and we expect to see plenty of waterfowl, raptors, other birds, and hopefully Sandhill Cranes. We will drive the auto tour routes at both of these refuges and visit a couple of other nearby locations.
Rating: Category 1-Easy
Distance: Little walking, but plenty of driving, 250-300 miles.
Elevation change: N/A
Leader: Beth Branthaver, please call to confirm: 510-502-4869
Meet: North Dunnigan rest area on I-5 at 8:15 AM
Directions: Go north on I-680, cross the Benica Bridge (toll), merge onto I-80 East at Cordelia. At Vacaville, merge onto I-505 North, follow for 34 miles and merge onto I-5 North just south of Dunnigan. Continue past the town to the rest stop. This is an all day trip and we will not be home until after dark.
The trip is limited to 15 participants.
Register for this field trip HERE.
All MDAS Field Trips are subject to, and will honor, all applicable COVID-19–related restrictions in place for our area.
Participants must acknowledge the MDAS Liability Waiver (available during registration).
Photo: White-faced Ibises at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge by Beth Branthaver.

MDAS Field Trip—American Canyon Wetlands
2021-12-06 09:00 - 12:00 | American Canyon Wetlands Edge Park, 2 Eucalyptus Drive, American Canyon, CA, 94503, United States
American Canyon Wetlands
Monday, December 6, 9 AM-Noon
Leaders: Chris & Teri Wills, 925-408-5364
A walk out to the wetlands, ponds and sloughs along the Napa River produces many exciting birding opportunities. We expect plenty of waterfowl, raptors, waders, shorebirds and passerines. The parking lot porta-potty was removed in July and may or may not have been replaced.
Rating: Category 2-Moderate
Distance: We may walk 2-3 miles depending on the route decided.
Elevation change: none
Leaders: Chris & Teri Wills, please call to confirm:925-408-5364
Meet: Meet at parking lot at the end of Eucalyptus Drive at 9 AM.
Directions: Go north on I-680 to Benicia, merge left onto I-780 west to Vallejo, exit to I-80 East, merge to Hwy 37 west (Exit 33). Exit at CA 29/Sonoma Blvd toward Napa. After 1.5 miles turn left on W American Canyon Road, at end turn right on Wetlands Edge Road. Turn left on Eucalyptus Drive and into parking lot.
This field trip is limited to 15 participants.
Register for this field trip HERE.

All MDAS Field Trips are subject to, and will honor, all applicable COVID-19–related restrictions in place for our area.
Participants must acknowledge the MDAS Liability Waiver (available during registration).

Photo: Northern Harrier over the Napa River by Isaac Aronow.

Yurok Condor Restoration Program
2021-12-08 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom, CA, United States
The potential return of North America’s largest bird to the Pacific Northwest is something to celebrate! Bringing back the California Condor isn’t just an opportunity for restoration and rewilding, but also reconnection and cultural rebirth. Special guest Tiana Williams-Claussen, director of the Yurok Tribe Wildlife Department, provides a brief introduction to the incredible Prey-go-neesh, the California Condor, and discusses the traditional paradigm guiding the Yurok Tribe’s efforts to bring them home to northern California and the Pacific Northwest. She will close with a summary of the current standing of the reintroduction effort, and the next steps to realizing this goal.
Sign-in info for this Zoom event is in the MDAS Monthly Members Newsletter, the Quail. NOTE THAT THE TIME PUBLISHED IN THE QUAIL ARTICLE IS INCORRECT. THE CORRECT TIME IS 7-8 PM.

Adult California Condor
Photo: Yurok Condor Restoration Program

Soundscapes to Landscapes – Audio Bird Monitoring
2021-12-09 10:00 - 11:30 | Online
The earth’s biodiversity and associated ecosystem services are in a severe state of decline due to human pressure. However, our knowledge of these changes and impacts on human society is often incomplete. Join us to learn how Soundscapes to Landscapes is using a combination of multiple technologies and the power of citizen/community scientists to fill this data gap–starting with a focus on Sonoma County bird diversity. In this special presentation, we will hear from a panel of Soundscapes to Landscapes team members about their innovative approach and some of their findings thus far.

2021 East County Christmas Bird Count
2021-12-15 | CA
Hold the date for the 20th annual East Contra Costa County Christmas Bird Count! Species and total numbers of birds within this count circle will be censused. To participate in field trips led by experienced birders on this special occasion, or to tally birds at your yard/feeder if you live within the count circle, contact one of the organizers below. For more details please visit the MDAS CBC page.

2021 Central County Christmas Bird Count
2021-12-18 | CA
Hold the date for the Central Contra Costa County Christmas Bird Count, a tradition going back to 1955! Species and total numbers of birds within this count circle will be censused. To participate in field trips led by experienced birders on this special occasion, or to tally birds at your yard/feeder if you live within the count circle, contact one of the organizers below. For more details please visit the MDAS CBC page.

Down For the Count: Exploring Bird Diversity at Point Reyes
2021-12-19 09:30 - 15:30 | Point Reyes National Seashore – Bear Valley Visitors Center, 1 Bear Valley Visitor Center Access Road, Point Reyes Station, CA, 94956, United States
For fifty years the Point Reyes Christmas Bird Count (CBC) has been an annual tradition monitoring the winter populations of over two hundred species of birds here. Point Reyes National Seashore and adjoining areas rank in the top ten of over two thousand counts nationwide in terms of species diversity. This remarkable accomplishment is mostly the result of the wide variety of habitats here.
The day after the 2021 count we will enjoy some of this amazing avian diversity in a number of short walks. This will be a moderately fast paced outing with the focus of seeing a lot of birds, but allowing time to learn bird identification by sight and sound.

MDAS Field Trip—Lake Merritt and Arrowhead Marsh--High Tide
2022-01-03 08:30 - 13:00 | Lake Merritt, 699 Bellevue Ave, Oakland, CA, 94610, United States
Lake Merritt and Arrowhead Marsh–High Tide
Monday January 3, 8:30 AM-1 PM
Leader: Sandy Ritchie, 925-685-8048
Winter ducks on Lake Merritt and other birds usually means easy viewing from the sidewalk. The lake is one of the few places in the Bay Area where Barrow’s Goldeneyes can be seen. An entry fee past the gate at Children’s Fairyland is usually required.
We will move to Arrowhead in time for the high tide, which will be around 11:15. Ridgeway’s Rails are one of the highlights here, though we will see many other birds. A visit to Garretson Point will follow, bring lunch and drinks.
Rating: Category 1–Easy
Elevation change: N/A
Leader: Sandy Ritchie, please call to confirm, 925-685-8048
Meet: Lake Merritt parking lot off Bellevue Avenue, 8:30 AM
Directions: Take SR 24 to Oakland and I-980, take 27th Street exit and turn left. Cross Broadway and Harrison, then join Grand Avenue. Turn into park at Children’s Fairyland (fee possible) and follow around to parking lot entrance on right between boathouse and aviary.
Register for this field trip HERE. This field trip is limited to 15 participants.
Photo: Barrow’s Goldeneye

Monthly Program: January 2022
2022-01-06 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom, CA, United States
Birding Info:
Highlights Of The 2021 Christmas Bird Counts
Jerry Britten
Mt. Diablo Audubon Society President Jerry Britten will report highlights of the 2021 Christmas Bird Counts.
Main Program:
Audible Mount Diablo
Joan Hamilton, founder and owner, Audio Guides to the Outdoors
Joan Hamilton is a writer, editor, and multimedia producer. She is founder and owner of Audio Guides to the Outdoors, which has created multimedia guides for Save Mount Diablo, Mount Diablo Interpretive Association, Midpeninsula Open Space District, Save the Redwoods League, and Valley of the Moon Natural History Association at Jack London Historic State Park. She’s written for Bay Nature, Sierra, Orion, Mother Jones, the Nation and other publications. She’s a former editor-in-chief of Sierra and was top editor at Climbing and High Country News.
Her presentation will introduce Audible Mount Diablo, an important online resource for people who want to learn more about the natural and cultural history of parks in the Mount Diablo region. She’ll describe the series and its history, profile the main contributors, and show clips from some of the most interesting episodes.

Joan Hamilton

MDAS Field Trip—East Contra Costa County
2022-01-12 09:00 - 13:00 | Big Break Regional Shoreline, 69 Big Break Road, Oakley, CA, 94561, United States
East Contra Costa County
Wednesday, January 12, 9 AM-1 PM
Leader: Paul Schorr, 925-988-0070
We will be birding at Big Break/Delta Science Center, Iron House Sanitary, and possibly other places in the East Contra Costa. Usually good for waterfowl, raptors and some passerines. Dress warmly, bring lunch and drinks.
Rating: Category 1-Easy
Elevation change: N/A
Leader: Paul Schorr, 925-998-0070
Meet: Big Break parking lot in Oakley at 9 AM
Directions: Take Highway 4 east toward Stockton/Pittsburg, after Antioch take right Exit 30 toward CA-160/Sacramento/Rio Vista. Take Exit 1A, East 18th/Main Street, turn right at the bottom of the exit onto Main Street, proceed east a little over 1 mile, then turn left onto Big Break Road. Turn into Big Break Regional Shoreline/Delta Science Center just past the last houses on the right.
Register for this field trip HERE. This field trip is limited to 12 participants.
Photo: Pied-billed Grebe by Isaac Aronow

MDAS Field Trip—Shollenberger Park/Ellis Creek
2022-01-15 08:30 - 14:00 | Shollenberger Park, 1400 Cader Lane, Petaluma, CA, 94954, United States
Shollenberger Park/Ellis Creek
Saturday, January 15, 8:30-2 PM
Leader: Sandy Ritchie, 925-685-8048
Both of these locations are great for wintering waders, shorebirds, waterfowl and a few raptors. Bring lunch and a beverage.
Rating: Category 1-Easy
Elevation change: N/A
Leader: Sandy Ritchie, 925-685-8048
Meet: Point Blue parking lot at 8:30 AM
Directions: Take I-680 across the Benicia Bridge. Go west on I-780 to I-80 towards Sacramento, exit to SR 37. Follow SR 37 16 miles to Lakeville Road, then turn right. Before reaching Petaluma, look for the water recycling facility on the left and turn left on South McDowell Blvd. After a short distance, turn left onto Cypress Dr. The Shollenberger access is behind the Point Blue offices on the right, Ellis Creek is farther along.
Register for this field trip HERE. This field trip is limited to 15 participants.
Photo: Black-necked Stilt by Jean Halford

MDAS Field Trip—Martinez Waterfront Birds
2022-01-25 09:00 - 14:00 | Waterbird Regional Preserve, Martinez, 2701 Waterfront Rd., Martinez, CA, 94553, United States
Martinez Waterfront Birds
Tuesday, January 25, 9 AM-2 PM
Leader: Tracy Farrington, 925-788-6223
We will be birding waterfront areas in the Martinez area, looking for shorebirds, waders, waterfowl, gulls, raptors and others. Dress warmly, bring a lunch and drinks. These areas may include Waterbird Preserve, TransMontaigne Pipeline, Mococo Marsh and Martinez Regional Shoreline.
Rating: Category 1–Easy
Elevation change: N/A
Leader: Tracy Farrington, 925-788-6223
Meet: Waterbird Regional Preserve parking lot at 9 AM
Directions: From I-680, exit Waterfront Road; when driving north this is the last exit before the Benicia Bridge. Go east about 1/2 mile and turn right onto Waterbird Way. Go around the bend to the left and then turn right into the parking lot.
Register for this field trip HERE. This field trip is limited to 15 participants.
Photo: Snowy Egret by Beth Branthaver

Monthly Program: February 2022
2022-02-03 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom, CA, United States
Birding Info:
Mt. Diablo Audubon Society draft Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging statement
Mt. Diablo Audubon board members Juan Pablo Galván Martínez, Ariana Rickard, and Krista Vossekuil will present a draft Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Statement for the chapter.
Main Program:
Mount Diablo—an Island in Suburbia
Michael Marchiano, Naturalist
Michael will provide an overview of plant and animal life on Mount Diablo, including trees, shrubs, wildflowers, insects, spiders, reptiles, birds, and mammals. This short natural history presentation will also cover the best time to see these magnificent creatures in the state park.
Michael Marchiano is a naturalist who has been hiking the Bay Area and California for the last 60 years. Since childhood, he has studied various animals, insects, and flowers. Now he seeks to share his knowledge with those around him in the community.

Michael Marchiano
