Monterey Bay Birding Festival

Half-day and Full-day Field Trips, practical, hands-on Workshops and Enlightening Presentations
September 24 – 26 • Watsonville Civic Plaza, 275 Main Street, Watsonville

The Monterey Bay Birding Festival is home to one of the most spectacular birding and wildlife venues in North America. September marks the peak of fall migration, with wintering shorebirds arriving en masse. Warblers and other passerines as well as wintering ducks and other waterfowl are also in abundance. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to see more than 250 species in one of the world’s greatest environments.

The festival takes place for three nights starting Friday, September 24, with each night hosting a featured speaker and eight workshops throughout the festival.

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Kickoff Presentation: Dr. Mike Murray
Thursday, September 24 • 7 p.m.
A Glimpse Behind the Curtain: Birds at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

Aquarium Director of Veterinary Services Dr. Mike Murray is a key figure in sea otter recovery efforts from California to the Russian far east. He is also deeply engaged in the aquarium’s Project White Shark exhibit and field research, cares for the aquarium’s living collection, and has worked to support recovery of endangered bald eagles and California condors.

As staff veterinarian, he provides routine health care for exhibit sea otters and other animals in the aquarium’s living collection, from shorebirds to giant Pacific octopus. He is the veterinarian for the aquarium’s pioneering Sea Otter Research and Conservation program, which rescues and rehabilitates stranded sea otters for return to the wild, and is a partner in the recovery program for the southern sea otter.

Dr. Mike also supports medical and surgical activities for a variety of researchers working with marine mammals.

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Friday Presentation: Greg Meyer
Friday, September 25 • 7 p.m.
The Baja Connection

Many of the birds that we see in Monterey Bay spend part of their year in Baja California. Some of the more common species like Elegant Terns, Brown Pelicans and Hermann’s Gulls, nest on isolated desert islands that hold the future for these iconic seabirds. Other rare birds, such as three species of Murrelets, the Black-vented Shearwater, the endemic Yellow-footed Gull and Black and Least Storm-petrels, also nest there but their populations are smaller and conservation threats are less known.

Baja also holds large populations of tropical seabirds such as Red-billed Tropicbirds, Blue-footed Boobies and Magnificent Frigatebirds. This talk will discuss the ecological factors that make Baja an important seabird habitat and highlight the remarkable natural history of these birds.

Greg Meyer has been a professional naturalist since graduating from the University of California, Santa Cruz and has traveled to all seven continents in search of birds. He has been working in Baja California for 30 years, watching marine mammals, compiling bird sightings and researching this fascinating area.

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Friday Presentation: Jon Young
Saturday, September 26 • 7 p.m.
What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World

Ever wonder what our feathered friends are squawking about? Jon reveals how to easily decode their messages and why this is an essential survival skill and a powerful nature connection routine.

Many report that training themselves in this ancient discipline gives them an edge in their modern lives, including their perception of complex human interactions, heightened creativity and understanding of entire ecological systems.

These talks are part of Bird Language Leaders events in collaboration with the National Audubon Society. This is a must-go event for educators, community leaders, conservationists, and anyone who wants to go outside, have fun and connect with nature in your own backyard.

Jon Young is the author of What the Robin Knows – How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Nature World, The Kamana Naturalist Training Program, Animal Tracking Basics and Coyote’s Guide To Connecting with Nature. As founder of the 8 Shields Institute, Nature Connection Mentoring Foundation, Bird Language Leaders and Wilderness Awareness School, he has pioneered nature connection models for over 30 years.

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Workshop Schedule

Thursday, Sept. 24 • 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.
Birding Optics Demystified

Thursday, Sept. 24 • 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Carbon Neutral Cuckoos: Chasing Birds & Planting Seeds

Friday, Sept. 25 • 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.
Pelagic Birds Identification

Friday, Sept. 25 • 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Photography Gear and Techniques Lecture and Demonstration

Friday, Sept. 25 • 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.
Photography Field Workflow

Saturday, Sept. 26 • 9:30 a.m. to noon • 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Field Sketching

Saturday, Sept. 26 • 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Bird Photography Basics

Saturday, Sept. 26 • 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
What’s That Bird? — Merlin and eBird Can Help!

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For Workshop details and info visit the Birding Festival Website: http://montereybaybirding.org
Contact:  888-909-7829, montereybay birding@gmail.com