2021 California Fall Challenge Events
|
Get involved by joining one of our upcoming California Fall Challenge (CFC) in-person and virtual fundraising events below! In-person events follow Covid-19 safety protocols.
Donations of $75 or more are eligible to receive our 2021 CFC T-Shirt (pictured) designed by science illustrator and graphic designer Julie Ho. The estimated value of the 100% cotton, water-based ink, Leaf Green t-shirt ($20) is not tax deductible. Learn about all the species showcased on the shirt and their connection to SFBBO's work on our blog. You can also learn about our other California Fall Challenge opportunities and the important research and outreach programs your donations support, make a donation to the Band-a-Thon, and participate in our Online Silent Auction, and more! Take your support to the next level by asking your friends to pledge to donate a certain amount to SFBBO per bird you see during your activity, and ask your company to make a matching gift. Registrations and donations can also be made by check to San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, 524 Valley Way, Milpitas, CA 95035. Please include a note about what event or activity it is for and send an email to outreach@sfbbo.org so we can reserve a spot for you. Contact outreach@sfbbo.org for more information. |
Donations of $75 or more to our 2021 California Fall Challenge (CFC) are eligible to receive our 2021 Leaf Green CFC T-Shirt. The shirt was designed by artist Julie Ho and is available in women's and unisex styles in small, medium, large, XL, and (in unisex only) XXL sizes.
|
Upcoming Events
|
Bird Watercoloring Painting Workshop with Yongchun Huang
Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Virtual Event Register today! Have you ever wanted to capture the beauty of birds through watercolor painting? Chun Huang, who led her popular bird sketching workshop for SFBBO's 2020 CFC, is back again this year to teach a virtual workshop on how to create watercolor paintings. In the workshop, Chun will teach participants simple techniques to paint birds and will share bird photos the group can use as painting subjects. This is a relaxing, family-friendly workshop, and adult participants are also invited to sip a glass of wine at home as they paint. Chun is an internationally trained artist who is now an art teachers for children. She also spent time in Israel as a volunteer banding birds. |
|
|
2021 Band-a-Thon
Sept. 18 - Oct. 17, 2021 Virtual Activity Donate Today! Have you ever visited our bird banding station at the Coyote Creek Field Station (CCFS), toured our mist nets, and seen birds up close and "in the hand?" Do you value long-term datasets that help scientists understand how changes in habitat and climate may be impacting birds? Do you want students to have the chance to see biologists in action and explore science as a career? Support our 2021 Band-a-Thon, a special campaign to raise money for our field station. You can make a lump sum donation or pledge to donate a certain amount per bird we capture at CCFS during the Band-a-Thon month. Participants can also play our new BirbGo game and test their knowledge about the birds that frequent our banding station. Donations of $75 or more are eligible to receive our 2021 CFC T-Shirt! Check out our teaser trailer today! |
|
Past Events
Snowy Plover Tour with Anqi Chen
Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021
7:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Limited to 6 participants
Join SFBBO Biologist Anqi Chen for a birding tour at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve in Hayward to see Western Snowy Plovers roosting on the dry pond bed habitat where they live. Since 2003, SFBBO has studied and protected this charismatic threatened species. In addition to seeing plovers in an area not normally accessible to the public, participants may get to see other Bay Area Birds, including shorebirds, wading birds, ducks, gulls, terns, and a few raptors and learn about the nearby efforts of the Salt Pond Restoration Project. All staff and participants will be asked to follow social distancing protocols.
Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021
7:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Limited to 6 participants
Join SFBBO Biologist Anqi Chen for a birding tour at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve in Hayward to see Western Snowy Plovers roosting on the dry pond bed habitat where they live. Since 2003, SFBBO has studied and protected this charismatic threatened species. In addition to seeing plovers in an area not normally accessible to the public, participants may get to see other Bay Area Birds, including shorebirds, wading birds, ducks, gulls, terns, and a few raptors and learn about the nearby efforts of the Salt Pond Restoration Project. All staff and participants will be asked to follow social distancing protocols.
Bird Photo Big Day with Kitty O'Neil and Bill Pelletier
Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021
All Day
Virtual Event
Join volunteers Kitty O'Neil and Bill Pelletier for the Bird Photo Big Day to photograph as many bird species as possible in a single day. All levels of birders and photographers are welcome. The goal is to capture photos of over 150 Bay Area bird species in one day, as one distributed team. The theme for this Big Day is "A Day In the Life." Participants are invited to snap photos of birds: birds having family time, playtime, and siesta time. Preening to get ready for work. On the commute. Getting children fed. Even a date night! We will also have a photo contest with prizes for Best Bird At Work, Best Bird In Flight, Best Backyard Bird Photo, Best Group Shot, and Funniest Photo.
Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021
All Day
Virtual Event
Join volunteers Kitty O'Neil and Bill Pelletier for the Bird Photo Big Day to photograph as many bird species as possible in a single day. All levels of birders and photographers are welcome. The goal is to capture photos of over 150 Bay Area bird species in one day, as one distributed team. The theme for this Big Day is "A Day In the Life." Participants are invited to snap photos of birds: birds having family time, playtime, and siesta time. Preening to get ready for work. On the commute. Getting children fed. Even a date night! We will also have a photo contest with prizes for Best Bird At Work, Best Bird In Flight, Best Backyard Bird Photo, Best Group Shot, and Funniest Photo.
Air, Water, and Earth Tour with Merav Vonshak, Michael Hawk, and Karan Gathani
Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021
8:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Limited to 30 participants (three groups of 10)
Join naturalists Dr. Merav Vonshak, Michael Hawk, and Karan Gathani for a family-friendly educational walking tour at Hellyer Park in San Jose that will explain the ecology of life in three environments: air, water, and soil. Participants will learn about the diverse natural history at local parks, discover how this diversity supports bird life, and develop newfound respect for often overlooked, but equally fascinating, creatures. Each participant will walk away with a portable microscope at the end of the tour. All volunteers and participants will be asked to follow social distancing protocols.
Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021
8:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Limited to 30 participants (three groups of 10)
Join naturalists Dr. Merav Vonshak, Michael Hawk, and Karan Gathani for a family-friendly educational walking tour at Hellyer Park in San Jose that will explain the ecology of life in three environments: air, water, and soil. Participants will learn about the diverse natural history at local parks, discover how this diversity supports bird life, and develop newfound respect for often overlooked, but equally fascinating, creatures. Each participant will walk away with a portable microscope at the end of the tour. All volunteers and participants will be asked to follow social distancing protocols.
Fall Challenge Birdy Hour with Stephanie Ellis: The Amazing Wildlife of Cape Cod
Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Virtual Event
What makes Cape Cod so unique? Miles of beautiful coastline and an abundance of wildlife inspires visitors to flock from all over the world annually. At this special Birdy Hour, learn about the Cape's Great White Shark population, where White Sharks come closer to the shore than anywhere else in the world. The Bay is also the wintering ground for nearly the entire population (only 400!) of North Atlantic Right Whales. Stephanie will also discuss sea turtle standings and charismatic bird species and will touch on two conservation success stories - the localized recovery of Osprey and Bald Eagles. In 2021, Bald Eagles nested for the first time on Cape Cod in 100 years!
Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Virtual Event
What makes Cape Cod so unique? Miles of beautiful coastline and an abundance of wildlife inspires visitors to flock from all over the world annually. At this special Birdy Hour, learn about the Cape's Great White Shark population, where White Sharks come closer to the shore than anywhere else in the world. The Bay is also the wintering ground for nearly the entire population (only 400!) of North Atlantic Right Whales. Stephanie will also discuss sea turtle standings and charismatic bird species and will touch on two conservation success stories - the localized recovery of Osprey and Bald Eagles. In 2021, Bald Eagles nested for the first time on Cape Cod in 100 years!
Raptor Tour with Eric Lynch
Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021
8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Limited to 10 participants
Join SFBBO Biologist Eric Lynch for a morning of birding focused on raptors in Joseph D. Grant County Park, a great spot for migrating, wintering, and breeding raptors. Eric will discuss the basics of raptor identification and migration before leading the group on a brief tour of this raptor heaven. Eric is a senior ecologist at SFBBO who has always had a fondness for raptors. He has almost completed his master's degree at Sonoma State focused on raptor migration phenology at the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory where he has banded raptors since 2014 as a volunteer. All staff and participants will be asked to follow social distancing protocols.
Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021
8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Limited to 10 participants
Join SFBBO Biologist Eric Lynch for a morning of birding focused on raptors in Joseph D. Grant County Park, a great spot for migrating, wintering, and breeding raptors. Eric will discuss the basics of raptor identification and migration before leading the group on a brief tour of this raptor heaven. Eric is a senior ecologist at SFBBO who has always had a fondness for raptors. He has almost completed his master's degree at Sonoma State focused on raptor migration phenology at the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory where he has banded raptors since 2014 as a volunteer. All staff and participants will be asked to follow social distancing protocols.
Fall Challenge Birdy Hour with Ted Cheeseman: All the Humpback Whales of the Pacific Ocean
Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Virtual Event
Over the past six years, Ted Cheeseman has led a team building the research collaboration and citizen science Happywhale project, gathering ID images of individual humpback whales worldwide. In the North Pacific they have achieved a milestone: the project has now identified the majority of living humpback whales in the entire ocean basin. Join us for an exploration of how the public has contributed to whale science, what can be learned by following an entire ocean's worth of whales, and a few food fish stories, too.
Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Virtual Event
Over the past six years, Ted Cheeseman has led a team building the research collaboration and citizen science Happywhale project, gathering ID images of individual humpback whales worldwide. In the North Pacific they have achieved a milestone: the project has now identified the majority of living humpback whales in the entire ocean basin. Join us for an exploration of how the public has contributed to whale science, what can be learned by following an entire ocean's worth of whales, and a few food fish stories, too.
Fall Challenge Birdy Hour with Sharol Nelson-Embry: Bird-Friendly Chocolate
Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Virtual Event
Do you love chocolate and are also passionate about bird conservation? Join Sharol Nelson-Embry at this virtual event to learn about bird-friendly chocolate harvesting practices such as agroforestry, wild harvesting, and shade growing and how they connect to cool bird species. In addition, Sharol created special bird-themed chocolate-tasting kits available on her online chocolate company's website and will donate 10% of sales of these kits to SFBBO! Sharol is a retired supervising naturalist at East Bay Regional P
Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Virtual Event
Do you love chocolate and are also passionate about bird conservation? Join Sharol Nelson-Embry at this virtual event to learn about bird-friendly chocolate harvesting practices such as agroforestry, wild harvesting, and shade growing and how they connect to cool bird species. In addition, Sharol created special bird-themed chocolate-tasting kits available on her online chocolate company's website and will donate 10% of sales of these kits to SFBBO! Sharol is a retired supervising naturalist at East Bay Regional P
Fall Challenge Virtual Event with Debbie Wong: Sit and Sip - Tea and Backyard Birding
Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Virtual Event
Join SFBBO board member and bird banding volunteer Debbie Wong for a morning of virtual backyard bird watching while enjoying a cup of tea or another favorite beverage. Participants are invited to share the unusual species of birds they see in their yards that day and discuss the history and development of Chinese tea in between bird watching. Whoever spots the most unusual species that day in their yard and also the highest number of species will receive prizes of delicious tea donated by Debbie! Debbie is a certified master bander and has banded birds around the globe.
Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Virtual Event
Join SFBBO board member and bird banding volunteer Debbie Wong for a morning of virtual backyard bird watching while enjoying a cup of tea or another favorite beverage. Participants are invited to share the unusual species of birds they see in their yards that day and discuss the history and development of Chinese tea in between bird watching. Whoever spots the most unusual species that day in their yard and also the highest number of species will receive prizes of delicious tea donated by Debbie! Debbie is a certified master bander and has banded birds around the globe.
Gallinago Go Gos Trip with Lisa Myers
Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Limited to 10 participants
Join Lisa for the Gallinago Go Gos' 17th year in the Fall Challenge! No matter if you are an experienced birder, or if this is your first bird-a-thon, the Go Gos welcome all birding levels. The goal is to have a great time while learning about the birds that can be found in the fall near Charleston Slough. Lisa owns the touring company Let's Go Birding and leads tours throughout California and Central America. She also teaches birding classes and provides a fun, easy-going environment to learn and ask questions, and owns the Los Gatos Birdwatcher, a strong supporter of SFBBO. All volunteers and participants will be asked to follow social distancing protocols.
Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Limited to 10 participants
Join Lisa for the Gallinago Go Gos' 17th year in the Fall Challenge! No matter if you are an experienced birder, or if this is your first bird-a-thon, the Go Gos welcome all birding levels. The goal is to have a great time while learning about the birds that can be found in the fall near Charleston Slough. Lisa owns the touring company Let's Go Birding and leads tours throughout California and Central America. She also teaches birding classes and provides a fun, easy-going environment to learn and ask questions, and owns the Los Gatos Birdwatcher, a strong supporter of SFBBO. All volunteers and participants will be asked to follow social distancing protocols.
Wandering Vagrants Trip with Scott and Linda Terrill
Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021
7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Limited to 10 participants
Join Scott and Linda Terrill during the migration season to spot birds that deviate from their normal migratory routes. In California, most "vagrants" are birds that typically occur in eastern North America, but a few Asian vagrants show up as well. Scott specializes in avian ecology and has written over 30 scientific papers, primarily on bird migration. He served on the California Bird Records Committee, is past Board Chair at SFBBO, and is the primary author of Audubon Society Master Guide to Birding. All volunteers and participants will be asked to follow social distancing protocols.
Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021
7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Limited to 10 participants
Join Scott and Linda Terrill during the migration season to spot birds that deviate from their normal migratory routes. In California, most "vagrants" are birds that typically occur in eastern North America, but a few Asian vagrants show up as well. Scott specializes in avian ecology and has written over 30 scientific papers, primarily on bird migration. He served on the California Bird Records Committee, is past Board Chair at SFBBO, and is the primary author of Audubon Society Master Guide to Birding. All volunteers and participants will be asked to follow social distancing protocols.
Fall Challenge Birdy Hour with Lynne Trulio: Efforts to Protect Breeding Burrowing Owls in Our Region
Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Virtual Event
Western Burrowing Owls are a native species to California and long-time residents of our region. But we are in danger of losing them as a breeding species in the South San Francisco Bay Area. Research the Dr. Lynne Trulio and her colleagues conducted on wintering Burrowing Owls, using field and cutting-edge genomic analyses, is helping us understand how to protect our breeding birds. They are also undertaking active efforts to preserve the Bay Area's existing breeding colonies with a unique approach that protects Burrowing Owls. Learn about all of these exciting activities!
Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Virtual Event
Western Burrowing Owls are a native species to California and long-time residents of our region. But we are in danger of losing them as a breeding species in the South San Francisco Bay Area. Research the Dr. Lynne Trulio and her colleagues conducted on wintering Burrowing Owls, using field and cutting-edge genomic analyses, is helping us understand how to protect our breeding birds. They are also undertaking active efforts to preserve the Bay Area's existing breeding colonies with a unique approach that protects Burrowing Owls. Learn about all of these exciting activities!
Varied Twitchers Trip with Mike Rogers
Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021
7:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Limited to 10 participants
Mike is an expert birder who knows all the best birding spots of Santa Clara County. This fast-paced walk will take avid birders to the best Alviso and Shoreline Lakes birding locations, with the goal to see and hear 100 species. Mike is a former member of the California Bird Records Committee and is currently Northern California regional editor for the journal North American Birds. He is also a part of the many-times SFBBO champion Mewaldt Cup bird-a-thon team, the Refugees. All volunteers and participants will be asked to follow social distancing protocols.
Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021
7:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Limited to 10 participants
Mike is an expert birder who knows all the best birding spots of Santa Clara County. This fast-paced walk will take avid birders to the best Alviso and Shoreline Lakes birding locations, with the goal to see and hear 100 species. Mike is a former member of the California Bird Records Committee and is currently Northern California regional editor for the journal North American Birds. He is also a part of the many-times SFBBO champion Mewaldt Cup bird-a-thon team, the Refugees. All volunteers and participants will be asked to follow social distancing protocols.