Test Events Page

9 to 10:30am

15 participants

Explore the wonder of birds in the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (UCBG) with former Director of Collections Chris Carmichael and UCBG volunteer Susan Greef. The Garden’s diverse plantings and topography, along with adjoining woodland and chaparral habitat, make for good birding in every season. In addition to year-round resident species such as Wrentits, jays, hummingbirds, and raptors, we may see migrants passing through as fall migration winds down. We’re highly likely to see winter visitors including warblers, Hermit Thrushes and if we’re lucky, sapsuckers. Starting at the entrance plaza, we’ll plan on going up to the Garden of Old Roses for a panoramic view of the Bay and to the Oak Knoll. which often shows good flocks of gleaners in the oaks.

The UC Botanical Garden has varying elevations and can be quite steep in some places. We will stay along main, paved path with occasional forays onto gravel/dirt. The walk will take about 1.5 hours and the distance is approximately 1.25 miles. Restrooms are available in two places.

Curious what birds you might see? eBird has a list of species sighted here in previous Octobers.

Note: the Garden has generously waived the entrance fee, but you will need to park in the paid lot adjacent to the garden, and the lot fee is NOT waived.

Leader: Chris Carmichael and Susan Greef

Make a bird zine with Bay Area Queer Zine Fest! Zines are DIY magazines that anybody can make and publish – we’ll guide you through the process of transforming a plain piece of paper into a bird-y minizine that you can share with friends and family. Reference books, collage materials, and art supplies will be provided.

Times: Please register at the link below and choose one of five time slots; 12 to 1pm, 1 to 2pm, 2 to 3pm, 3 to 4pm, or 4 to 5pm

(or, if you missed the registration period,  just drop in to see if there’s a seat available when you arrive – check in with any BBF staff member in a blue BBF t-shirt when you arrive on the Terrace).

Location: 2nd Floor Terrace, David Brower Center, 2150 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94704

Please note: this is an outdoor event.

Registration will open at 1pm on Friday, September 29 and close on October 14 at 11pm. 

Please only choose one event session to allow room for others to register

8:30 to 11 a.m.

The Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park, which opened in 1940, is a 10-acre gem devoted to the preservation of the native plants of California. It’s also a great place to go birding, and over 150 species have been seen there. A Botanic Garden docent will accompany us on the walk. We may stop to view birds, flowers, mammals, insects, and other critters. The trails are a mixture of paved, gravel, and dirt, and include both uphill and downhill sections, some with steps and many without handrails. Restrooms and water fountain are located in the parking lot outside the garden. Heavy rain cancels. More on the Botanic Garden at nativeplants.org

Leader: David Mostardi

Limit: 15

Directions: Google Maps Link to meetup location will be sent after registration

2 to 3pm

Meet in front of Shorebird Nature Center, We’ll travel along the coast toward Seabreeze market then back up through the Berkeley meadow, through the marina to the pier. Then back to the Nature Center. Birds we’ll look for are: Black-Crowned Night Heron, Western and Least Sandpiper, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, Western Gull, Wild Turkey, Willet, Audubon’s Warbler, Turkey Vulture and Marbled Godwit.

Easy, flat and accessible.

Leader: John Poole

Learn about the Peregrine Falcon pair that nest each spring on the Campanile! Play a fun falcon game. Watch a live video feed from Hawk Hill in the Marin Headlands and get your questions about the annual autumn hawk migration and count answered.

Noon to 4 p.m.

Plaza near the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. Click here for a Google Maps link or here for a printable map.