Let’s Go Birding

SATURDAY BIRD WALKS:

These walks start on location at 8:30 am and finish around 10:00 am. Please call 408-358-9453 to reserve your space for the current month’s walk (i.e. July sign-ups open on July 1st). Limited to 20 participants. Details will be provided upon confirmation. Locations are selected depending on seasons, bird activity, parking, and easily accessible trails. Everyone drives themselves. FREE 

• July 9 – Guadalupe Oak Grove Park, San Jose

• July 23 – “Sunset Hike” Field Trip, Calero Reservoir (see below)

• August 13 – Sunnyvale Water Pollution Control Plant

• August 27 – Consider joining our “Out After Dark” Fundraiser (see below).

• Sept 10 – Bear Creek Redwood Preserve, Los Gatos

• Sept 24 – Emily Renzel Wetlands, Palo Alto

Sunset Hike Field Trip –Saturday, July 23

• 6 pm–Sunset (8:23 pm) • Calero Reservoir   

On this Let’s Go Birding walk during the sunset hours, we’ll watch insect-eating birds come out and forage for food before they head in for the night and we’ll be on the lookout for swallows including Purple Martins. Please call the store to register at 408-358-9453. Free ($6 parking fee)

FUNDRAISER IN THE FIELD:

“Out After Dark” – Saturday, August 27

• 6:00 pm – after dark • Location TBD near Skyline Blvd.   

The location for this private docent-led nature walk will be finalized closer to the event date. Led in partnership with Lisa Myers and the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space docents, this nighttime adventure is a fundraiser for the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley. Participants will drive themselves and meet at a beautiful open space off Skyline at 6:00 PM. From the parking lot, we will start our nature hike joined by several experienced MIDPEN docents who will share their nature knowledge from bugs to shrubs. Continuing our walk after the 8 PM sunset, we’ll look for birds and wildlife that come out at dusk, then hike back to our cars around 10 PM. We are so grateful for the assistance provided by the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley, our local wildlife rescue non-profit, that 100% of the money collected for this event will be donated to them.  Limited to 20 people. $50.00 per person. Call the store to reserve your space. 408-358-9453

BIRD ID WORKSHOPS:

These free workshops are open to all levels and help customers learn how to identify four different species of birds per season. We’ll review each species’ behaviors, food and habitat preferences plus species vocalizations. Workshops will take place at the Los Gatos Birdwatcher outside in our back parking lot, so please bring your own chair and field guide. Limited to 30 people. Call the store to save your spot. 408-358-9453.

Bird ID Workshop–Tuesday, July 19 • 5:30–6:30 pm at the store  

The species we are featuring in July are located just outside the Bay Area: White-headed Woodpecker • Black-backed Woodpecker • Williamson’s Sapsucker • Lewis’s Woodpecker

Bird ID Workshop–Tuesday, August 23 • 5:30–6:30 pm at the store

These species we feature in August are more difficult to find: Purple Martin • White-throated Swift • Black Swift • Bank Swallow

Bird ID Workshop–Tuesday, September 20 • 5:30–6:30 pm at the store

September featured species: Great Blue Heron • Sandhill Crane • American Bittern • Black Skimmer

TOURS:

SOUTH TEXAS • January 2022 

It was awesome. South Texas is a birder’s paradise at any time of the year for enjoying the array of resident birds. In addition to the abundance of wintering shorebirds and waterfowl, we also experienced wintering Whooping Cranes.

MEET YOUR TOUR GUIDE:

Lisa Myers, a South Bay Area California native, has been watching and studying birds since childhood. She channeled her love of birding into Let’s Go Birding–designing fun, friendly tours, and classes for folks eager to learn about birds.