Birdwatching in California
California is the third largest and most populous state in United States bordered by Oregon to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west, Mexico to the south and Arizona and Utah to the east.
With its staggering array of natural habitats, many National Parks, wildlife refuges, marine sanctuaries, mountains, desert, forest, lakes and coastline it is a birders paradise boasting more than 600 bird species recorded including 105 endemics to North America and 2 state endemics.
The popularity of birdwatching in California reflects in the many Birdingpals willing to help a visiting birder.
Local Birdingpal Contacts
|
Local Birdwatchers Please note that most Birdingpals are serious birdwatchers. It is a privilege to contact them, and your message should reflect it. A local Pal does not get paid, but should he/she offer to take you out birding, using their own vehicle, it would be courteous to pay for the fuel. A lunch and/or a small gift would also be appropriate, something as simple as a souvenir of your country, or a pin from your local birding club.
|
Initial |
Last Name |
Area |
Available |
Language |
D
| Lee
| Alameda
| Anytime
| English
|
|
| I am past president of Napa-Solano Audubon and enjoy taking people birding in the Bay Area, Sierras, nearby ocean, and Central Valley.
|
R
| Wyna
| Anaheim
| Anytime
|
F
| Gray
| Antelope
| Anytime
| English | some Spanish
|
| I recently retired from employment as a biologist for the California Department of Fish and Game. I am interested in birding with visitors to California and also birding with Birdingpals in other states.
|
C
| Moyer
| Arcata
| Weekend
| English
|
|
| Arcata is on the Coast 6 hours drive north of San Francisco. We have a variety habitats - marsh, dune forest, beach, Redwood forest, fields, ocean, bay, and more.
|
M
| McQuerrey
| Bakersfield
| Anytime
|
S
| Williams
| Bakersfield
| Anytime
|
M
| Schwartz
| Berkeley
| Weekend
|
D
| Dash
| Berkeley
| Anytime
| English
|
|
| Fantastic birding around the Bay Area - loads of different microclimates for varied
species sightings. I'm not an expert, but rather a novice for life. I keep learning all the time. Happy birding!
|
S
| Remley
| Big Bear Lake/San Bernardino Mountains
| Anytime
|
S
| Dryden
| Carmel
| Anytime
| English | Un poquito Espanol
|
| I have been birding for about 10 years and know almost all of the birds and the best birding sites on the Monterey Peninsula, and can identify most local birds by sound. Monterey County is one of the birdiest counties in the USA, with a wide variety of habitats -- shore, wetlands, forests, etc.
|
P
| Wiggins
| Carpinteria/Santa Barbara
| Weekend
| English
|
|
| I am an experienced birder and live near Santa Barbara, California. The annual Christmas bird count regularly lists this area as one of the top five locations for bird diversity in the United States. Besides birding, I am a volunteer at our local seal rookery (wildlife protection), and I previous worked at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden where I learned about native plants. I wouldn't consider myself an expert naturalist, but I enjoy hikes and the outdoors and like sharing my interests with others.
|
L
| Petrulias
| Cazadero
| Anytime
|
L
| Krasnovsky
| Chatsworth
| Anytime
|
M
| Skram
| Chico
| Anytime
|
S
| Kirn
| Chico
| Anytime
|
D
| Koenig
| Chico
| Weekend
| English | some Spanish
|
| I am a biologist. I am interested in mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and plants. The area in which I live has riparian, wetland, grassland, oak forest, coniferous forest, and alpine ecosystems. The Altacal Audubon Society and the CSU,Chico Bird Club hosts free birding field trips within the area.
|
R
| Peterson
| Chico/Sacramento
| Anytime
| English/Spanish
|
E
| Mayer
| Corte Madera
| Anytime
| English/Spanish
|
D
| Mehta
| Daly City
| Anytime
|
T
| Colborn
| Davis
| Anytime
| English
|
R
| Keister
| Davis
| Weekend
| English
|
C
| Kisling
| Dorris(Klamath Basin)
| Anytime
| English
|
J
| McKenzie
| El Segundo
| Weekend
| English
|
|
| I live in So. California not to far from LAX and the beach areas. I like to bird the Del Rey Lagoon and Ballona Freshwater Marsh on a fairly regular basis. Occasionally some of the neighboring parks such as Sand Dune Park and Pollywog Park. I'm looking for a birding buddy to do birding field trips with, especially the ones offered by the Los Angeles Audubon Society.
|
V
| Calhoun
| Encinitas
| Anytime
| English/French | Spanish
|
| Docent at Batiquitos Lagoon in Carlsbad and San Elijo Lagoon in Cardiff. Excellent birding locations in north San Diego county!!!!!
|
R
| Hewitt
| Eureka
| Anytime
| English/Scottish
|
K
| Stockton
| Foothill Ranch
| Weekend
| English/Spanish
|
|
| Happy to share some prime Southern California birding spots with visitors.
|
K
| McNew
| Fresno
| Weekend
|
J
| Sooter
| Garberville
| Anytime
| English/Spanish
|
|
| 200 miles north of San Francisco, just off hwy101. Community park with bird checklist and trails nearby (1mile), a good stop on the way to Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Arcata Marsh, Godwit or Aleutian Goose Festivals.
|
J
| Olsen
| Grass Valley
| Anytime
|
J
| Shower
| Greenville
| Anytime
| English | A little Spanish
|
| We have a nice studio apartment that is available to share with birding/flyfishing guests, that is located in N. CA. (Sierras). We are part of the Pacific Flyway and welcome visitors to our home and studio. There are excellent birding and fishing opportunities. We area near Lassen Nat. Park, Sierra Valley, Numerous lakes and streams and the northern part of the Great Central Valley (which has quite a number of protected birding areas). The stay at our studio would be without cost. Birding visitor(s) would be our guest(s)and we are avid birders. Our phone # is 530-284-6856.
|
D
| Studebaker
| Hollister
| Anytime
| English/some German
|
|
| I am a Registered Nurse who enjoys the birding opportunities of the Central Coast
area of California. I live only 30 minutes from the Pinnacles National Monument (one of the locations where the California Condors are being released and are seen frequently) and not far from the Elkhorn Slough on the Pacific Flyway.
|
J
| Marshall
| Jacumba
| Anytime
|
T
| Harrison
| La Canada
| Weekend
|
K
| Johnson
| La Canada
| Weekend
|
M
| Alderson
| Laguna Beach
| Weekend
| English
|
|
| I have been a backyard birder for many years. Very familiar with the local song and sea birds. When traveling, I always try to add to my lifelist. Think this is a wonderful site. Hope many people can connect and enjoy new discoveries.
|
R
| Carlson
| Lake Tahoe(summer only)
| Anytime
|
C
| Hawley
| Lincoln
| Weekend
|
M
| Fuhs
| Lodi
| Anytime
| English
|
|
| We have 10 acres of easy birding, The Mokelumne River and the delta are a 20 minute drive, 330 bird species in this county, 70 nest here. Sacramento airport is 45 minutes away, Amtrak and Greyhound stop in
Lodi. This is a great area to bicycle as well.
|
P
| Croft
| Lodi/Sacramento
| Anytime
| English
|
|
| My husband and I will take people out anytime. We live l hour from Sacramento and 15 minutes from Stockton in the Central Valley of California.
|
E
| Pandolfino
| Loomis
| Anytime
|
K
| Robertson
| Los Altos
| Weekend
| English
|
|
| Los Altos is located 30 miles south of San Francisco on the peninsula. Extensive birding opportunities are available, including shore, wetlands and forest environments. Birds of Northern California is a
useful guide. Also Sibley's Birds of the Western United States.
|
S
| Wells
| Los Angeles
| Anytime
|
J
| Raskin
| Los Angeles
| Anytime
|
B
| Zielenbach
| Los Angeles
| Anytime
| English
|
|
| I live in Los Angeles County and have a keen interest in reviving my birding skills.
|
C
| Taylor
| Los Angeles
| Anytime
| English
|
|
| I have been birding with my dad since I was 8 years old. I also enjoy bird and wildlife photography: http://www.kiwifoto.com
|
E
| Uyeki
| McKinleyville
| Anytime
|
M
| Kotin
| Malibu/Los Angeles
| Anytime
| English
|
C
| Vaughn
| Ukiah/Mendocino County
| Anytime
| English
|
R
| Little
| Milpitas/San Jose Areas
| Weekend
|
D
| Gurley
| Miranda
| Anytime
| English(American style) | enough of a 'smattering' of Spanish to have fun
|
| I live in Humboldt County. The Humboldt Bay NWP is an hour's drive to the north. The Arcata Marsh is also close by, and there's a newly discovered breeding area for the Grasshopper Sparrow in our local community park. I am not a professional birder by any means. I am a very enthusiastic four year novice married to a very understanding Woman. I have an irresistable Marsh Wren call imitation, and my imitation of a Western meadowlark has gotten me into trouble with a couple of my professional guide-friends who are also members with me in the Redwood Region Audubon Society.
|
J
| DeLeon
| Mission Viejo
| Anytime
| English | basic Spanish
|
| Retired and enjoy birding in the spring and early fall. I live in Orange County not far from the coast and Saddleback Mts. Not as strong on shore birds as I am on land birds.
|
J
| Rudesill
| Modesto
| Anytime
| English
|
|
| I live in the Central Valley of California which is a winter flyway for many waterfowl and Sandhill Cranes. We have several wildlife refuges nearby that are full of birds in the winter time.
|
J
| Herr
| Moraga
| Weekend
|
S
| Brown
| Los Osos/Morro Bay
| Anytime
| English/French
|
|
| Great birding area. Brant Geese, waterfowl and hawks in winter.
|
J
| Royer
| Los Osos/Morro Bay
| Weekend
| English
|
|
| Great coastal birding September - April, but May - August is a little slow except for shorebirds in July and August. It is not too difficult to see over 100 species in a day. I am an experienced fieldtrip leader and birder for over 25 years.
|
B
| Adams
| Monterey
| Anytime
| English/French
|
|
| Frequent Big Sur and Elkhorn Slough.
|
J
| Vincent
| Monterey
| Anytime
| English/Spanish | some French
|
| I have been birding since 1980s in Houston, Texas for 10 yrs, Salem, Oregon for 15
yrs and now in Monterey, CA. Not a lister but at last count had seen 475+ birds in North Central Americas + Galapagos. I know the good places to see birds on Monterey Bay Peninsula, one of unique habitats in the world.
|
P
| Turner
| Myrtle Beach
| Anytime
|
J
| Angelo
| Newark
| Weekend
| English
|
|
| I Live near the Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge. I'm an avid birder with about 7-8 years worth of birding to my experience. Yet I still feel an amateur with many aspects. I have three young children who enjoy meeting other kids. My kids are 9, 5, and 3.
|
M
| Scannell
| Novato
| Anytime
|
B
| Messmore
| Oakland, near San Francisco
| Anytime
| English
|
|
| I travel a lot, but happy to help whenever I can.
|
E
| Harold
| Orange County
| Anytime
| English/French
|
B
| Mantell
| Palm Springs
| Anytime
| English/French | Spanish/Hebrew
P
| Rouzer
| Palo Alto
| Weekend
|
N
| Teater
| Palo Alto
| Anytime
| English
|
|
| South San Francisco Bay and the surrounding area has many birding hot spots, from the Bay, to the valley floor, to the surrounding foothills. We are blessed with abundant open space. Birders see about 300
different species each year.
|
W
| Bousman
| Palo Alto/San Jose
| Anytime
|
W
| Zimmerly
| Paradise
| Anytime
| English
|
E
| Stonick
| Pasadena
| Weekend
|
K
| Lehr
| Patterson
| Anytime
|
C
| Spaid
| Petaluma, Two Rock
| Anytime
|
R
| Cimino
| Pleasanton
| Weekend
|
M
| Brady
| Potter Valley
| Anytime
| English | some Spanish
|
| World birder as well as local.
|
J
| Coumoutso
| Rancho Cucamonga
| Anytime
|
J
| Cash
| Redding
| Anytime
| English
|
|
| I am just getting into studying birds, especially birds of prey. I have a great appreciation for them and hope to learn more. I love to watch them soar!
|
M
| Baker
| Redlands
| Anytime
| English
|
|
| Southern california!! Near mountains, desert, ocean, and the Salton sea.
|
A
| Eisner
| Redwood City/SF Peninsula
| Anytime
|
K
| Guse
| Sacramento
| Weekend
|
P
| Toomey
| Sacramento
| Weekend
|
B
| Mendenhal
| Sacramento
| Anytime
| English/Spanish
|
M
| Getty
| Sacramento
| Anytime
|
C
| Allen
| Sacramento
| Weekend
|
D
| Nail
| Fallbrook/San Diego
| Anytime
| English
|
|
| I live in Fallbrook 60 miles north of San Diego, but I also bird San Diego, so folks from overseas also can contact me. Some people that come into Los Angeles can also contact me, since I am south of LA and able to take them out in Riverside and San Bernadino Counties.
|
L
| Heinz
| San Diego
| Anytime
|
W
| Arnn
| San Diego
| Weekend
| English/y poquito espanol muy mal
|
|
| San Diego County is the second 'birdiest' county in the USA.
|
M
| O'Reilly
| San Francisco
| Anytime
|
C
| Evenhouse
| San Francisco
| Weekend
| English/French | Spanish
D
| Diller
| San Francisco (Bay Area)
| Anytime
| English/German | French/Spanish
C
| Okon
| San Francisco
| Weekend
| English | some German
|
| I'm happy to point visiting birders to areas where they can experience the beautiful and diverse wildlife habitat of San Francisco and the Bay area. I also encourage visitors to check out goldengateaudubon.org
to find out about birding trips.
|
G
| Kinsley
| San Gabriel
| Weekend
| English
|
|
| I am a member of the Pasadena Audubon Society
|
J
| Cole
| San Jose
| Anytime
|
M
| Stiles
| San Luis Obispo County
| Weekend
|
D
| Worland
| San Simeon
| Anytime
|
D
| Das
| Santa Clara
| Anytime
| English
|
|
| I am interested in Birding, Wildlife Watching and Photography. I live and work close to the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Palo Alto Baylands Park, Shoreline Park, Stevens Creek Park.
|
M
| Thompson
| Santa Barbara
| Anytime
| English/Spanish
|
B
| McLaughlin
| Santa Cruz
| Anytime
|
T
| Newberry
| Santa Cruz
| Anytime
| English/French
|
G
| Meyer
| Santa Cruz
| Anytime
|
P
| Brown
| Santa Cruz
| Anytime
|
L
| Selman
| Santa Cruz
| Anytime
| English
|
|
| I am a Bird photographer and birder. Interested in showing other interested photographers around the area. Visit my website http://MostlyBirds.com.
|
S
| Phukan
| Santa Cruz
| Anytime
| English | Spanish/Italian Hindi/Urdu Bengali/Persian
|
| I am a mid-level birder, but I know the central coast of California quite well; I am also a foodie, so if you are looking for good eats to celebrate a good sighting of a local bird, I can definitely help with that. The best days for me to go out birding are Fridays and Saturdays. Thursdays may also work.
|
D
| Vander Pluym
| Santa Cruz/Ventura
| Anytime
|
J
| Deacon
| Santa Maria
| Weekend
| English | some Spanish
|
| The Central Coast of California is an amazing birding area. The Santa Maria area, Santa Barbara, Lompoc and Morro Bay are all within easy driving distance. It is conceilvable to see 100 or more species in day.
|
D
| Norton
| Topanga(Los Angeles)
| Anytime
|
A
| Armstrong
| Sunnyvale
| Weekend
| English
|
|
| East Coast transplant living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Great birding here.
|
A
| Oddo
| Truckee
| Anytime
| English
|
|
| Truckee is 20 minutes from Lake Tahoe at and above 6000'. We have many woodpeckers including the Pileated and lots of Finches, Sparrows and Mountain Bluebirds. Although we have less birds that winter-over, we
do have many spring and summer visitors. I am an avid but not professional bird watcher.
|
D
| DesJardin
| Ventura
| Anytime
|
J
| Jardine
| Walnut Creek(San Francisco)
| Anytime
|
J
| Friedberg
| Watsonville, Santa Cruz to Monterey area
| Weekend
| English | some German
|
| Several sloughs in the Watsonville area provide excellent wetlands birding, while inland birding also is available at Watsonville parks and lakes. I am a beginning-intermediate level birder, with much more enthusiasm than expertise. My wife and I are only available on Sundays.
|
L
| Richter
| Yolo County
| Anytime
| English | some Spanish
|
| Birder, artist, homemaker, kittenpetter, Quaker, radio host*, TV show producer*, garden enthusiast, letter-writer, Arboretum docent, teacher/tutor, founder of several clubs including "ATC Exchange of Northern California" and "Internet Users Group", problem solver, woman. | (*= shows on local public access stations).
D
| Myers
| Yorba Linda
| Anytime
|
J
| Myers
| Yosemite
| Anytime
|
| Professional Guides
Initial
| Last Name
| Area
| Available
| Language
|
S
| Huber
| Chico
| Anytime
| English
|
S
| Sosensky
| Los Angeles
| Weekend
|
K
| Dailey
| Arcata
| Anytime
| English
|
R
| Fournier
| Monterey
| Anytime
| English
|
D
| Edelstein
| Novato
| Anytime
|
N
| Weeden
| San Francisco
| Anytime
|
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Local Information
|
| Name | Description
|
| Audubon, California | Club |
|
| Western Field Ornithologists | Club |
|
| Altacal Audubon Society | Club |
|
| Buena Vista Audubon | Club |
|
| Conejo Valley Audubon Society | Club |
|
| Eastern Sierra Audubon Society | Club |
|
| El Dorado Audubon Society | Club |
|
| Fresno Audubon Society | Club |
|
| Golden Gate Audubon Society | Club |
|
| Kerncrest Audubon Society | Club |
|
| Los Angeles Audubon Society | Club |
|
| Madrone Audubon Society | Club |
|
| Mendocino Coast Audubon Society | Club |
|
| Marin Audubon Society | Club |
|
| Mojave Desert Bird Club | Club |
|
| Morro Coast Audubon Society | Club |
|
| Ohlone Audubon Society | Club |
|
| Palomar Audubon Society | Club |
|
| Palos Verdes/South Bay Audubon Society | Club |
|
| Pasadena Audubon Society | Club |
|
| Peregrine Audubon Society | Club |
|
| Redwood Region Audubon Society | Club |
|
| Sacramento Audubon Society | Club |
|
| San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society | Club |
|
| San Diego Audubon Society | Club |
|
| San Fernando Valley Audubon Society | Club |
|
| Santa Barbara Audubon Society | Club |
|
| Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society | Club |
|
| Santa Cruz Bird Club | Club |
|
| Sierra Foothills Audubon Society | Club |
|
| Whittier Audubon Society | Club |
|
| Yolo Audubon Society | Club |
|
| Audublog, conservation news and notes | Blog |
|
| Latest Sights | RBR |
|
| San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory | Banding |
|
| Golden Gate RaptorObservatory | Club |
|
| Godwit Days | Festival |
|
| Aleutian Goose Festival | Festival |
|
| Central Valley Birding Symposium | Festival |
|
| Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua | Festival |
|
| Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival | Festival |
|
| Flyway San Francisco Bay | Festival |
|
| Bird Guide | Sites |
|
| Bodega Bay, Chanslor Wetlands Project | Wetlands |
|
| Monterey Bay | Sites |
|
| Big Morongo Canyon Preserve | Sites |
|
| New River Wetland | Wetlands |
|
| Joe Morlan's, Birding California | Sites |
|
| Mojave Desert | Shorebirds |
|
| Kendric C Smith's | Palo Alto Sites |
|
| Birding Hotspots around the world | Festival |
|
| Kern Valley | Photos |
|
| Searcher Natural History Tours, San Diego | Pelagic |
|
| Shearwater Journeys | Pelagic |
|
| Breeding Bird | Atlas |
|
| NABA Los Angeles | Butterflies |
|
| NABA Orange County | Butterflies |
|
| Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia | California |
|
| Local weather | Yahoo |
|
| Electronic maps | MapQuest |
|
| Find lowest prices for field guides, books, maps etc. | |
|
| Field guides recommended by Birdingpals | |
|
| Printable bird check list | |
|
| Trip Reports from California | |
|
| Steve Sosensky's guide to Southern California |
Last update 18/06/2009