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Saturday, April 17, 2021 

8:00am – 11:00am
$35 per person, $30 for Friends of Pepperwood
Ages 13 and up welcome

Early mornings are for the birds, especially in the springtime! Join avid birder and Pepperwood Environmental Educator, Nicole Barden, for a sensational morning of looking and listening for the many birds who grace us with their song and beauty each spring. Nicole will share her knowledge of our local feathered fauna as you wander along grasslands and woodland edges. You will learn tips and techniques for identifying the birds we encounter, including what to notice in their song, habits, and appearance. By the end of our walk, you will have a diverse list of species we’ve found together, as well as improved skills for your birding practice! A few species we may find could include Lazuli Bunting, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Meadowlark, Grasshopper Sparrow, Acorn Woodpecker, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. This walk is appropriate for beginning birders as well as those with more experience.

This event includes a very slow-paced hike, of 1-3 miles on varied terrain. It will go on in light rain, though heavy storms will cancel. All events will align with the current Sonoma County and state health orders and guidelines for group activities to keep everyone safe during COVID-19. In case of cancellation due to weather or health safety measures, refunds will be offered. This event will be limited to a small group of participants per current group gathering requirements. Masks and social distancing will be required. Our bathroom facilities are sanitized before and after visitor groups.

*Binoculars are available to borrow on a first come, first served basis, please email Holland at hgistelli@pepperwoodpreserve.org to request to borrow a pair for the excursion.

We highly recommend that you watch our recorded class presentation, Birding Basics – Terrestrial Birds of Sonoma County featuring Nicole Barden before you join us in the field. This video will give you the background you need to dive right in during our hike! Find it on our YouTube channel here.
You may also be interested in hearing about what we’ve learned through our annual bird monitoring project in our webinar, Tracking our Feathered Friends – Bird Diversity Trends at Pepperwood, available on our YouTube channel here.

Nicole earned her BS in Biology with an Environmental Education minor at Northland College, and is currently an Environmental Educator at Pepperwood. She is an avid birder, and has experience working with animals, including 3 years volunteering at the California Raptor Center. Nicole helps develop and teach Pepperwood’s education curriculum, and serves as the project coordinator for Pepperwood’s breeding bird survey.

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For all questions about this event, please contact Holland Gistelli, Education Specialist, at hgistelli@pepperwoodpreserve.org.

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Register for this class using the secure form below.

To register, select the applicable level below, either General or Friends of Pepperwood and click +Add.

Friends of Pepperwood: Enter the code you received when you donated to receive your discount. If you’re not sure about your Friends of Pepperwood  status, contact Sloane Shinn, Community Associate, at sshinn@pepperwoodpreserve.org or (707) 591-9310 x 133.

This event is now sold out. To be added to the waitlist, please complete this short form