Learn to identify birds by their songs and calls in a lush coastal valley. Develop skills to understand the hidden life of birds all around.
About this event
Point Reyes offers a deep, rich underworld of life and bird-talk awaiting the patient listener, and birding by ear can be accelerated with some simple techniques and awareness training. Participants will practice deep listening in the field and learn how to understand baseline bird sounds, alarms, and other types of avian conversation.
Our day starts near the Five Brooks pond where you will learn useful mnemonics for remembering bird sounds as well as some best practices for learning and establishing a "sit spot" practice. We will then car pool to the Olema Valley Trail head near Dogtown, then slowly make our way north back to Five Brooks, pausing along the way for some sound journaling and lunch.
Expect to hear dozens of species, including grosbeaks, orioles, warblers, ducks, flycatchers, sparrows, and birds of prey.
Todd Plummer is a former wildlife biologist and owns Wild Marin Nature Tours. He teaches science and math at a local high school, and has 30 years' experience leading birding and nature hikes on both the east and west coasts of the U.S.