I joined the San Francisco Audubon Society on their monthly bird walk. The society’s mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity.
San Francisco’s Botanical Gardens has 50+ acres of gardens and flowers, which also creates a great place for hummingbirds to hang out.
It’s spring and birds in the area are nesting. The visit revealed several active nests and many migrants making their way north.
Each year, hundreds of bird species make their way along the Pacific Flyway for the winter and the summer.
Point Reyes National Seashore has an incredible amount of natural species diversity. Over 45% of North American avian species and nearly 18% of California’s plant species are found in the park (source: National Park Service).
A long weekend retreat to Petaluma (Sonoma County) is a wonderful way to relax and get away from modern life.
An hour and a half drive north of San Francisco lies Tomales Bay, a long channel of water from between Point Reyes and Marin.
Close to downtown Oakland is Lake Merritt, a mini refuge for people and birds. It offers a three-mile trail around a v-shaped lagoon.
Along the bay in South San Francisco lies Sierra Point and Oyster Point Marina. These two infill land masses create a small channel and marshland, outlined by a trail.
El Polin Spring was fairly quiet on a mostly overcast day. Different birds prefer to hunt for food in different lighting conditions. During the visit, a lighter red-tailed hawk continued to scan for prey while a careful vole came out to eat plants.