Birdwatching in California

Birding contacts and birdwatching information

Local Birdingpal Contacts

Local Birdwatchers Using the Birdingpal resources you must agree to the following: If you contact a local Birdingpal and make arrangement to go birding, you should note it is common courtesy to make sure you show up for the appointment. If for any reason you are unable to do this, the least you must do is contacting the local Pal right away. 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. ____________________________________________________________________ We want to hear about your experiences with Birdingpals. Please contact us with any comments or suggestions you have. CONTACT US ____________________________________________________________________
Shortcuts to Local Pals in major cities: Hollywood Los Angeles Palm Springs Sacramento San Diego San Francisco Santa Barbara Santa Cruz Professional Guides
		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.
		E	Josephy	Alameda	Weekend	English, some Spanish
		I actually live in Alameda - a five by three mile island adjacent to Oakland. It has a 5 mile beach. I am a beginning bird watcher and a nursing student. I am 60 years young.
		R	Wyna	Anaheim	Anytime	English
		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.
		S	Bentall	Aptos	Anytime	English, a little French
		We have incredible birding in our area! I have contacts in this area, bird walks,etc.
		G	Friedrichsen	Arcata	Anytime	English
		I've been an active birder for 40 years and would enjoy sharing our area with guest from abroad.
		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	English
		S	Williams	Bakersfield	Anytime	English
		J	Curley	berkeley, CA	Some weekends or early morning Thursdays	English, Spanish
		I work developing science curriculum for schools. I'm excited to explore urban, bay-shore, forest and grasslands in the hills, or by canoe to see birds and meet interesting folks. I'm not an expert birder but have lived and birded in the area for 15+years. My favorite local birds include western bluebirds, lazuli bunting, and forster's terns. I have a small child and work full time so my availability is limited.		Area: Tilden Regional Park, McLaughlin Eastshore Park, UC Berkeley Botanical Garden, Area Birds: unusual urban nesting population of western bluebirds, burrowing owls in winter	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, butterflies, swimming, beach, amphibians Travel: stroll, walking, hiking, biking, long walk, backpack, canoe, Visit: tourist site, museum, restaurant, club, vineyard, ski run/trail, arboretum, architecture appreciation, Attend: concert, dance show, theatre, live music, sports event, Participate: night life, party, dance, club, bar, rock, classical, jazz, hiphop, rap, swing, wine, beer, liquor, social games, basketball, soccer
		M	Schwartz	Berkeley	Weekend	English
		M	Abbott	Bolinas & Sonoma County	Anytime	English
		I've been birdwatching for years and am especially interested in identifying by song and calls. I live in Bolinas (Marin County), California. Very near to Pt Reyes National Seashore and Sonoma coast sites. I am not exactly advanced but could steer out of towners to the right spots in the Marin and Sonoma area.
		K	Barnett	Borrego Springs	Anytime	English
		I've been working as a park ranger and naturalist in the desert for 20 years. I love sharing the many faces of the Salton Sea with folks. It is a hot bed for migratory birds in winter months with a diverse habitats to see a large variety of bird life. In a recent birding extravaganza at the sea we saw 78 species, including spoonbills, nesting burrowing owls and Sandhill cranes.		Area: Salton Sea region, Sony Bono Wildlife Refuge, Mullet Island, Obsideon Butte Area Birds: migrating,nesting great blue herons, snow geese, sandhill cranes, burrowing owls	Interests: birding
		D	Batzler	Carlsbad	Anytime	English
		Started birding in my forties and now recently retired and in my early sixties. Enjoy the natural world, including birds, mammals, insects, butterflies etc. as well as capturing them with my digital camera. Carlsbad is a coastal community in one of the better bird counties (San Diego) in the U.S.
		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	English
		L	Krasnovsky	Chatsworth	Anytime	English
		M	Skram	Chico	Anytime	English
		S	Kirn	Chico	Anytime	English
		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.
		M	Muchowski	Chico	Anytime	English
		I live in Chico, CA. We are close to the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex and Gray Lodge Wildlife Area (both great winter birding areas). Chico oxidation ponds at the sewer treatment plant are a great place to bird any time of the year. Chico also has a large city-owned park (Bidwell Park) which is good for local birds. It is easy to get yellow-billed magpies here. There are also two reserves: Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve and Butte Creek Ecological Reserve. Chico is also only about a two-hour drive from Lassen Volcanic National Park. I am willing to take people out birding in this area if I am available (no charge).
		R	Peterson	Chico/Sacramento	Anytime	English, Spanish
		D	Quigley	Clearlake Oaks	Anytime	English, a little French
		I live on a canal that leads to Clear Lake and have stable pedal kayaks (1 one-person and 1 two-person) for us to use. I am a beginning birder.
		K	Hendrickson	Clipper Mills	Anytime	English
		We are an hour from great wintertime birding in the Sacramento valley. We often try to do a 100 bird day starting at our house(3600ft), working our way down through the foothills, stopping at the Feather River and ending at Graylodge Wildlife Refuge.
		E	Mayer	Corte Madera	Anytime	English, Spanish
		B	Byerley	Covina	Weekend	English
		A begining birdwatcher, I work full time but have some weekdays off.
		D	Mehta	Daly City	Anytime	English
		T	Colborn	Davis	Anytime	English
		R	Keister	Davis	Weekend	English
		S	Elliott	Davis	Anytime	English
		I have just moved to the area and look forward to exploring the wildlife.
		L	Wallace	Davis	Anytime	English, some French, Italian
		I have been birding for nearly 10 years. There are great birding spots within a 10 minute to 2 hour drive from Davis. I bird in fall, winter and spring. In summer, you'll find me birding in and around Yellowstone Nat'l Park.
		C	Kisling	Dorris(Klamath Basin)	Anytime	English
		N	Ramirez	El Cajon	Anytime	English
		My name is Nicole and I am a photographer of nature and do love birds, as well as flowers, bugs, trails. I live in the suburbs of San Diego, California. Though I am a photographer, I have a published book of the work I have done. Most of my photography is of San Diego, but I have visited other places here in the United States. I have my work in stores around San Diego mostly as greeting cards, but the book is offered as well.
		K	Berniker	El Cerrito	Anytime	English, some Spanish
		San Francisco Bay area, more to east (Richmond, Berkeley, Oakland) and north (Marin County).
		S	Santa Anna	El Dorado Hills	Weekend	English, Spanish
		J	Twamley	Exeter, California	Anytime I'm not traveling	English (some Spanish)
		Birding is not like going to the zoo. Sometimes you get lucky and see dozens of species sometimes you just see a few. My wife and I are just your average crazy birdwatchers! I've been known to put the car into a skid and make a sharp "U" turn just to see what I thought was a widgeon. I should probably not be allowed to drive anywhere there are birds because I am always "watching." But if that were the case I would never be able to go anywhere.		Area: Sequoia National Park, Pixley Reserve Area Birds: Many common North American birds native to the Western USA.	Interests: Nature: birdwatching
		K	Amstutz	El Portal	Anytime	English, little German
		I live in Yosemite National Park. Great birding as the elevation ranges from 2000 feet to over 13,000 feet above sea level (500-4000m). Mono Lake is near, accessible in summer months. This is a must for birders as it is a migration stopover for many species. A great area all around! Birds here in Yosemite are in the beginnings of Spring Showing-their-stuff season. Watched a robin gathering nesting materials and hummingbirds, chickadees, kinglets, Northern Flickers, Song Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds and many more displaying and singing their hearts out! Black-headed Grosbeak also seen and heard singing today! Four woodpeckers...ahhh. It is beginning!
		J.	Poole	Emeryville	Anytime	English, enough Italian to get along
		I live right next to San Francisco Bay (on a peninsula). I've been birding for 25 years.		Area: Area Birds:	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography, hiking, butterflies, fishing, sport fishing, boating, skiing, swimming, surfing, snowmobiling, sky diving Travel: train, bus, car, hitchhiking, biking, long walk, packpack, canoe, portage, dog sled, snow mobile Visit: tourist site, museum, restaurant, club, vineyard, outdoors, nature spot, beach, lake, ocean, architecture, shop, antique, swap Attend: concert, horse race, ballet, dance show, theatre, live music, sports event, auction, antique, convention, political rally, protest, competition Participate: night life, party, dance, club, bar, rock, country, classical, hiphop, rap, swing, wine, beer, liquor, social games, computer games, casino
		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!!!!!
		D	Weinstock	Fairfax	Anytime	English
		I live 20 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. I am a casual but interested bird watcher. I would be glad to help anyone looking for birds in Marin and Sonoma counties and I can help in Contra Costa county and the San Francisco peninsula. A lot of local obsessive birdwatchers use this site to post observations
		K	Stockton	Foothill Ranch	Weekend	English, Spanish
		Happy to share some prime Southern California birding spots with visitors.
		D	Rolfsema	Near Fresno	Weekends	English
		I live near entrance to Kings Canyon Park which has sections of Forest, Foothill, and higher elevation birds. Most weekends, I am volunteering at the Park and can give walks to see birds in the area.		Area: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Area Birds: Acorn woodpecker, California Towhee, Steller Jay, other forest birds.	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, photography, hiking, fishing, skiing Travel: train, bus, car, long walk, backpack Visit: tourist site, museum, restaurant, outdoors, nature spot Attend: concert Participate: rock, classical, jazz
		K	McNew	Fresno	Weekend	English
		P	Palisoc	Fresno	Anytime	English, Tagalog
		Fresno is known for agriculture land.
		K	Enns-Rempel	Fresno	Weekend	English
		I've been birding since the late 1990s and am quite familiar with birding locations in the San Joaquin Valley.
		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.
		A	Avnit	Gilroy	Anytime	English, Hebrew
		My wife Julie and myself live in the breathtaking Santa Cruz mountains. we have every habitat conceivable within 45-60 minutes drive (Forests, brush, riparian, slough and lagoons, seashore and foothills, mountains, lakes and the list goes on). You're also welcome to bird on our property (over 100 species in our property life-list). There are over 25 national, state and county parks within 30 miles of us... you can spend a week here and enjoy only a fraction of the offering. We both work from home and are flexible in our ability to advise, guide, recommend and accompany you if you wish.
		J	Olsen	Grass Valley	Anytime	English
		J	Shower	Greenville/Lake Almanor	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.
		H	Sabin	Hollywood	Weekend	English, a bit of French
		I have been watching birds all my life, but always in a very casual way, so I won't necessarily be able to ID everything, but I love meeting new people and sharing my city.
		M	Taylor	Irvine	Anytime	English, a little Japanese, Chinese
		Have birded for the last 50 years, over 40 in southern California and have led field trips to areas throughout southern California for Audubon chapters and personalized groups. Visit my website.
		T	Harrison	La Canada	Weekend	English
		A	Cain	Lafayette	Anytime	English
		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.
		M	O'Reilly	Lake County	Anytime	English
		R	Carlson	Lake Tahoe(summer only)	Anytime	English
		J	Ivanov	Lawnfale	Anytime	English
		Life long birder/naturalist who works as a biologist in the environmental compliance field. Nearby birding places within an hour or less drive include: shorelines, wetlands, coastal scrub, chaparrel, riparian, desert, and montain habitats.
		V	Gersh	Lee Vining	Anytime	English
		Mono Lake is a good hot spot at the intersection of mountain and sage desert		Area: Mono Lake, Yosemite Area Birds: Eared grebes, Lewis woodpeckers, Clark's nutcrackers	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography
		C	Hawley	Lincoln	Weekend	English
		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.
		H	Bennish	Long Beach	Anytime	English, some German
		I am a professional singer/performer and give voice lessons privately in my home. My schedule is flexible, giving me the opportunity to take people birding on most days. The most famous birding place near Long Beach is Bolsa Chica Wetlands. Central Park in Huntington Beach and Eldorado Park in Long Beach are also popular spots for birdwatching that I am close to.
		E	Pandolfino	Loomis	Anytime	English
		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.
		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
		S	Wells	Los Angeles	Anytime	English
		J	Raskin	Los Angeles	Anytime	English
		J	Drury	Los Angeles	Anytime	English, Spanish
		I know the birds of the wetlands nearby (Bolsa Chica, Malibu) and the Santa Monica Mountains.
		E	Alvarez	Los Angeles	Anytime	English, minimal Spanish, French
		I have birded for years - am a moderate birder not a twitcher - I have traveled extensively and bird wherever I go. If I can be helpful to someone, I would be happy to do so.
		J	Ivanov	Los Angeles	Weekend	English
		Coastal, montane, desert, and near shore pelagic birding via whale watching boats in winter, within reach in a single day. Would be birding with my wife and I.
		E	Greenspan	Culver City/West Los Angeles	Anytime	English, Spanish
		C	Almdale	North Hills, Los Angeles	Anytime	English
		Except for the local mountains, summer is the worst time for birding in the Los Angeles Southern California area. The migrants wintering birds are gone and the deserts are very hot.
		D	Norton	Topanga, Los Angeles	Anytime	English
		E	Uyeki	McKinleyville	Anytime	English
		M	Kotin	Malibu/Los Angeles	Anytime	English
		D	Willey	Mammoth Lakes	Anytime	English
		I live in the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains. Beginning in March when the Mt. Bluebird arrives and the greater sage grouse begin to gather on their leks we have birds non-stop. Many Neo-tropical migrants pass through our mountains and many stay and nest before heading north. I live at 8200 feet,(2400 meters) and near Mono Lake and the eastern entrance to Yosemite N.P. Close by to my home is a unique geo-thermal area called Hot Creek. In the summer many raptors nest in the area.
		C	Vaughn	Ukiah/Mendocino County	Anytime	English
		E	Goodill	Menlo Park	Weekend	English
		I live in the San Francisco Bay Area with access to the Pacific Coast, San Francisco Bay, and the surrounding hills. I am a solid intermediate birder and am fairly good with bird calls and songs.
		J	Goerke	Mill Valley	Anytime	English
		My wife, Betty, and I are interested in bird calls and bird identification. We are average birders. Our area is just north of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and includes PBay, hills, one mountain, and a few creeks.
		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.
		S.	Salerno	Modesto, California	Weekdays	English
		I am a somewhat experienced birder who can either show you some of the San Joaquin Valley specialty bird species, or at least tell you where you can go birding here. This valley is especially interesting during the winter, when waterfowl is abundant in the refuges.		Area: San Joaquin Valley refuges and riparian habitats Area Birds: Raptors in Winter, Corvids, Migratory Songbirds	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, twitching, videography
		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	English
		J	Royer	Los Osos/Morro Bay	Weekend	English
		I live on the edge of Morro Bay and have actively birded in this beautiful area since 1980. September - May, it is easy to see over 100 species in a day. Winter: waterfowl, shorebirds, and owls plus inland wintering hawks, eagles, and Mountain Plovers. Spring: a good variety of migrating warblers,etc. and Allen's Hummingbird as well as breeding LeConte's Thrasher. Summer: breeders such as MacGillivray's Warbler, Lazuli Bunting, Black-chinned Sparrow, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Olive-sided Flycatcher, etc. Fall: good for passerine migration and pelagics. Local resident species include Wrentit, Yellow-billed Magpie, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, etc. Condors are seen 1 1/2 hours drive north of here. I have led bird trips in California for over 30 years and am available many weekends and some weekdays. Local whale watching and Elephant Seal viewing are also recommended. Local events include the Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival in January and the local Big Sit on the second Sunday in October where we always see over 100 species from one spot during that one day. If visiting California for the first time, combine a visit here with the Kern Valley Nature Festival in May or a visit to Yosemite in the Summer.
		C	Johnson	Mountain View, CA	Weekends in the morning/early afternoon	English
		I am a long time birder (20+ years) who has also recently taken up bird photography. I was born and raised in Thailand and saw over 600 species while I was there. I've lived in CA for 15 years and have seen over 400 species in the state. I've also birded in the Neotropics including Costa Rica and Mexico, and get really excited about small woodland birds like warblers. I have a good network of birding friends, so if I can't find the bird you're looking for odds are I'll know someone who can.		Area: Pescadero Marsh and Beach, Shoreline Lake, Rancho San Antonio Preserve Area Birds: Nuttal's Woodpecker, California Thrasher, Burrowing Owl, Lawrence's Goldfinch	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, photography, biking, restaurant, classical, wine, soccer
		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	Newdow	Nice, CA	Anytime	English (y poquito espanol)
				Area: Clear Lake, Rodman Slough Area Birds: Osprey, Double-Crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, White Pelican, Killdeer, ...	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, photography, butterflies, fishing, water skiing, swimming, beach, sky diving Travel: stroll, walking, hiking, climbing, train, bus, car, hitchhiking, biking, long walk, packpack, portage, canoe, pilot Visit: tourist site, museum, restaurant, club, vineyard, monument, arboretum, architecture appreciation, shop, antique, fashion, tech Attend: concert, horse race, ballet, dance show, theatre, live music, sports event, auction, antique, convention, political rally, protest, competition, swap Participate: night life, party, dance, club, bar, rock, country, classical, hiphop, rap, swing, wine, beer, liquor, social games, computer games, casino
		S	Girard	Nipomo	Anytime	English
		I'm just a beginning birder myself, but have lived in San Luis Obispo county for 45 years. Can assist with suggestions for dining, lodging, local communities and history; antiqueing trips on back roads; local year-round farmer's markets; local wine industry. Located near the Morro Bay Estuary and Pismo-Oceano Dunes complex, 60 miles south of Big Sur on the Calif central coast.
		B	Power	Oakland, California	Anytime; gone 2nd half of May; gone 2nd half of June; gone all of August (2015).	English; Smattering of Spanish
		I have a good sense of humor. I'm an excellent driver. I have a keen knowledge of where the species are in the east bay and the likelihood of finding them. I don't do this to miss birds. We have way more hits than misses.		Area: Hayward Shoreline, Redwood Regional Park, Mines Road, Valle Vista Area Birds: Most species with the name California or Western attached to them. Lewis's WP	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, digi-scoping photography Travel: hiking, train, car, backpack Visit: restaurant, vineyard,
		B	Messmore	Oakland, near San Francisco	Anytime	English
		I travel a lot, but happy to help whenever I can.
		E	Gierson	Oakland	Anytime	English
		Retired Educator and proud lesbian birder in Northern California.
		R	Dailey	Orinda	Anytime	English, some Spanish
		Intermediate birder familiar with local birding sites. Best birding in April/May.
		C	Greenstreet	Pacific grove	Anytime	English, some Spanish
		I am an advanced beginner birder, NOT an expert. I have just retired and now have time to spend on improving my birding. I live in an absolutely fabulous area for birding, the Monterey Peninsula of coastal California. I know many of the local birding sites and would enjoy sharing them and learning to be a better birder.
		B	Mantell	Palm Springs	Anytime	English, French, Spanish, Hebrew
		I am very happy to go out with visiting birders. There is good birding year round in the area including the Salton Sea/Imperial Valley, Big Morongo Canyon Preserve and San Jacinto Wildlife Area(winter) plus many other local spots. Visitors favorites include Burrowing Owl, Vermillion Flycatcher, Roadrunner, Abert's Towhee and Bell's Vireo.
		P	Rouzer	Palo Alto	Weekend	English
		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.
		Y	Yoshi	Palo Alto	Anytime	English
		I live near the Palo Alto Baylands and have a limited knowledge of shore/marsh birds. Would like to make more use of my bird books, binoculars, and camera.
		D	Kolher	Palo Alto	Anytime	English
		As a birder I'd say I'm towards the lower end of Intermediate. I live close to the Palo Alto Wetlands and am rather more familiar with the birds there, than those in the hills. I'm retired, so I'm available any time.
		R	Furrow	Palo Alto	Weekend	English fluently, Italian decently, French poorly, Spanish very poorly
		I tend to bird quite locally in the southern part of the SF bay area, mostly confined to Santa Clara and San Mateo County. I especially like birding by bike, and I have an extra (if you're tall) if you wanted to bird by bike. I can give information on birding anywhere in the bay area, but I would probably only come birding with you if you wanted to stay within a 45 minute drive of Palo Alto.
		W	Bousman	Palo Alto/San Jose	Anytime	English
		J	Manoliu	Palo Alto	Weekends	English, French, Japanese
		Areas around the Bay are on a bird migration route and rich in birds; the hills around the area attract different bird species; not very far away the Pacific Ocean affords different bird species viewing; also travel to other birding areas around the world.
		W	Zimmerly	Paradise	Anytime	English
		E	Stonick	Pasadena, CA	Most Saturdays, Mondays, and Tuesdays	English
		I've been birding for many years and enjoy sharing my hobby and finding birds in different places.		Area: Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura Counties Area Birds: Residents and migrants in season	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography, butterflies, Travel: stroll, walking, car, biking, long walk Visit: tourist site, museum, restaurant, club, vineyard, ski run/trail, monument, arboretum, architecture appreciation, shop, antique, fashion, tech, casino Attend: concert swap Participate: rock, country, classical, Play: cards, sports, boardgames
		R	Moss	Pasadena	Anytime	English, Spanish, Russian
		No really good birding near Pasadena, but some decent hikes close by if one has a few hours.
		K	Gin	Pasadena	Anytime	English, German
		K	Lehr	Patterson	Anytime	English
		C	Selvig	Petaluma, Pt Reyes Peninsula	Weekend	American English, un peu de Francais, some German, Spanish
		I'm near the Pt Reyes Peninsula and San Francisco Bay. I enjoy photography and I'm happy to go out in any weather.
		D	Jaffe	San Simeon	Weekend	English, intermediate Spanish
		I have lived and worked in the Sierra Nevada of CA for about 13 years. Working at in a remote location in the Santa Lucia Mountains. I get to town for shopping and outings every 10 days or so. Email to see if we can mingle one of these excursions. I am still learning the coastal birds and feel pretty comfortable with the inland species.
		J	Gray	Petaluma, Petaluma, California	Anytime.	English
		I have been enthusiatically birding for the last two years, and would love to show visitors some of the great birding hotspots here in Sonoma county. I typically like to go out to a single hotspot for 3 to 4 hours and take my time noting all of the birds that I see. I am also love to photograph birds when they are cooperative enough to let me. I have been working on birding by ear, but still have much room for improvement.		Area: Shollenberger Park, Ellis Creek, Spring Lakee, Bodega Bay, Willowside Road Area Birds: American White Pelican, Brown Pelican, Western Bluebird, American Avocet	Interests: birdwatching, photography, swimming, hiking, biking
		C	Spaid	Petaluma, Two Rock	Anytime	English
		J	Ross	Pleasanton (Alameda County)	Weekend	English
		I have been birding for 10 years and volunteered with Golden Gate Raptor Observatory as a hawkwatcher for 5 years. Alameda County is just across the Bay Bridge from San Francisco and has great birding locations like the Hayward Shoreline; Coyote Hills, Shadow Cliffs, and Pleasanton Ridge Regional Parks; Sunol-Ohlone Regional Wilderness; and many other local hot spots. I'd be happy to show any out-of-town birders some of my favorites.
		M	Brady	Potter Valley	Anytime	English some Spanish
		World birder as well as local.
		J	Coumoutso	Rancho Cucamonga	Anytime	English
		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!
		R	Bruun	Redding	Weekend	English, Norwegian
		I live 30 miles east of Redding in the community of Shingletown. Lassen Volcanic National Park is 20 minutes from our house.
		C	Walker	Redlands	Anytime	English, some German
		I am a semi-retired professional person. I love birding, but I am not a world-class birder. I still struggle with many of the raptors and flycatchers but am glad to share what I do know. The Morongo Wildlife Preserve is my favorite place to bird and it is indeed a world-class hot spot featuring birds like the Vermillion Flycatcher, Summer Tananger, Western Tananger, Western Blue Bird, Townsend's Solitaire,and Cactus Wren. Morongo is an oasis in the desert so many species are just passing though. One never knows what will be there even in the heat of the summer. Morongo Preserve is located about 2 1/2 hours east of Los Angeles. There is not charge to visit Morongo. We have a guest house nearby that is available free to birders for stays of up to 3 nights. Joshua Tree National Park is 20 minutes away. You will have to rent a car for there is no public transportation.
		A	Eisner	Redwood City/SF Peninsula	Anytime	English
		The areas described have many excellent birding spots. I have been birding in this area for three decades. With sufficient advance notice, I can be available on the majority of days.		Area: My local areas are San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, just south of San Francisco. Together they cover a wide range of habitats, from the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco Bay, from wetlands to the Santa Cruz and Diablo-range mountains, oak woodlands, agricultural areas and suburban parkland. Area Birds:	Interests: Nature: birdwatching
		V	Vaira	Rio Linda	Anytime	English, Spanish
		I live in the heart of California's great Central Valley where wintering waterfowl is a tremendous birding experience. The Sacramento National Wildlife refuges are all within an hour or so of my home. This area is also home to the Yellow-billed Magpie. We are within two hours of more great birding in the San Francisco Bay area. The Sierra Nevadas are an hour to the east with lots of high elevation birding possibilities including White-headed Woodpecker, Williamson's Sapsucker, White-breasted, Red-breasted, and Pygmy Nuthatches. I am a member of the National, Sacramento,and San Joaquin Audubon Societies. I work as a Critical Care RN and am available for ideas, directions,local information, and love meeting fellow birders!
		J	Caplan	Santa Cruz, California	Varies by the week with work.	English, Spanish
		Great Blue Herons,Western Grebes, Black Necked Stilts		Area: Elkhorn Slough Area Birds: Willets, Godwitts, White Pelicans	Interests: Nature: birdwatching,butterflies, hiking, snorkeling.
		L	Selman	Santa Cruz	Anytime	English
		I am a Bird photographer and birder. Interested in showing other interested photographers around the area.
		R	Iaea	Sacramento, Ca	Weekends	English, Broken Dutch
		I've been birding for two or three years now and love it and I enjoy taking great photos of birds. I find bird behavior very interesting. My favorite birds are songbirds.		Area: Cosumnes River Preserve Area Birds: Waterfowl and shorebirds	Interests:
		K	Guse	Sacramento	Weekend	English
		B	Mendenhal	Sacramento	Anytime	English, Spanish
		M	Getty	Sacramento	Anytime	English
		C	Allen	Sacramento	Anytime	English
		G	Upchurch	Sacramento	Anytime	English
		The California Delta area. Center stage for migratory birds.
		K	Petrik	Sacramento	Weekend	English
		1.5 hours to Sacramento NWR, 1 hour Gray Lodge Wildlife Area [WA], 10 minutes to Yolo Bypass WA
		E	Mattison	Sacramento	Weekend	English, beginner Spanish
		Sacramento is in a big valley with several wildlife refuges. Waterbirds, raptors, and more are common in winter and spring about an hour's drive north. The American and Sacramento rivers converge here. I am not an expert birder, but I have a couple of friends who know birds and where/when to find them, and I don't mind doing a little research and answering questions. I enjoy birdwatching in the backyard (titmice, hummingbirds, crows, cedar waxwings, phoebes), or in foreign lands. Standing out in my memory are toucans over Iguazu Falls (Argentina), scarlet macaws (Costa Rica), scarlet tanager (Arizona, USA), roseate spoonbills (Texas, USA), crowned cranes (Tanzania), and hornbills (Ethiopia). A peacock will still grab my attention, as will the less colorful local wild turkeys. Interests: birdwatching, nature, photography, hiking, tourist sites, butterflies, train travel, beach, museum, long walks, convention, cooking, science, dance Areas: Here are some refuges within an hour or two from Sacramento: American River Parkway--Sacramento and east. Vic Fazio Yolo Wildlife Area--west of Sacramento. Sacramento, Colusa, and Sutter National Wildlife refuges, and Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, Sacramento Valley, wintering sites for waterfowl using the Pacific Flyway, attracting millions of ducks and geese--north of Sacramento. Farmlands south of Sacramento--wintering area for greater and lesser sandhill cranes Map: Sacramento & Central Valley Birding
		T.	Hyde	San Diego, western Riverside County	Anytime	English
		I live in Riverside County but spend a lot of time in San Diego County. I can offer tips on target birds and good birding spots. San Diego County is large county with both desert birds in the east, coastal birds in the west and several mountain ranges that separate the two zones. Southern California is a magical place and a wonderful place to bird. As it currently stands San Diego County has 522 recorded species in the county. LGBT friendly.		Area: Area Birds:	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, nature, photography, hiking
		E	Tweet	San Diego, California	Almost anytime, we get out and travel.	English for me and a little Spanish for my wife.
		Retired husband & wife. Live near bay and bird all San Diego County. Not life time birders but accomplished enough to assist in enjoying our area.		Area: Tiajuana Sloughs, Tecolote Canyon, Lake Murrey, Mission Trails, Mission bay Area Birds: Warblers, Grosbeaks,Thrashers,Sparrows,Kinglets,Hawks,Waders, +	Interests: Nature: birdwatching,photography, butterflies, fishing, swimming, beach, surfing, Travel: stroll, walking, hiking, climbing, train, bus, car,biking, long walk, packpack,Visit: tourist site, museum, restaurant,monument, arboretum, architecture appreciation, Attend: concert, theatre, live music, sports event,competition, Participate: rock, country, classical, definitely wine, beer,
		R	Cuthbertson	San Diego, California	Anytime	english
		Many claim that our area has the most birds in the US. I don't know if that's true but we can have a good day all year long.		Area: San Diego River, along the border with Mexico, National Wildlife Refuge Area Birds: We have a diversity of habits close by.	Interests: Birding and traveling.
		D	Nail	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	English
		W	Arnn	San Diego	Weekend	English, y poquito espanol muy mal
		San Diego County is the second 'birdiest' county in the USA.
		G	Schechter	San Francisco, CA	anytime	English
		Bit of a twitcher. Love helping people get new life or state birds. Can also show local reptiles and amphibians if the location and time of year is right.		Area: Area Birds:	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography Travel: walking, hiking, climbing, car, long walk
		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.
		J	Brodkin	San Francisco	Anytime	English
		Birding about 15 years in San Francisco, Bay Area and Point Reyes. Do not drive.
		M	Shulman	San Francisco	Anytime	English
		I am retired.
		D	Assmann	San Francisco	Weekend	English
		I've birded in the San Francisco Bay Area for more than a decade, and am pretty familiar with the best spots in San Francisco, and many in Marin County.
		C	Evenhouse	San Francisco	Anytime	English, Spanish, French
		I've hosted several birdingpals in the past and enjoy taking people around the San Francisco Bay area. I'm a teacher so I am not available everyday, but certainly when school is out and during school vacations.
		M	Youngman	San Francisco	Weekend	English
		60, male, have lived in SF since 1973, birder for about 6+ years, knowledgeable about most local birds, weak on shore birds. Know area well, am willing to share City and area birding/hiking spots. I work full time, so availability is variable, but Sunday mornings present possiblitles.
		L	Huttinger	San Francisco	Weekend	English, basic French
		Novice birder who is enthusiastic and eager to learn more birding skills.
		J	Mulero	San Francisco Bay (South)	Weekend	English, Spanish
		I live in the Palo Alto/San Jose area (1 hr south of the city of San Francisco) and have a keen knowledge of our South Bay parks. I can help you find our local specialties such as Yellow-billed Magpie, California Thrasher and Wrentit as well as some of our feeder birds such as Oak Titmouse, Nuttall's and Acorn Woodpeckers, California Towhee and Chestnut-backed Chickadees. I travel frequently out of town due to my job but if I am in town I should be able to help you.
		S	Mencher	San Francisco Bay area	Anytime	English
		I am an active birder in area. I do keep up on recent sightings and know where to bird. I may have to rely on your eyes and ID skill a bit.
		J	Ritchie	Concord/San Francisco	Anytime	English
		Concord is 30 miles inland from San Francisco. I have been birding for about 20 years, but a lot of my experience has been in Australia. I belong to my local birding club, and I enjoy many of their field trips.
		C	Cummings	Napa/San Francisco (Bay Area)	Weekend	English, Japanese
		G	Kinsley	San Gabriel	Weekend	English
		I am a member of the Pasadena Audubon Society
		J	Cole	San Jose	Anytime	English
		M	Stiles	San Luis Obispo County	Weekend	English
		D	Worland	San Simeon	Anytime	English
		N	States	Santa Barbara	Anytime	English
		Have been birding for many years, I know all Western bird calls and have guided small groups. I bird in my local area as much as possible and at Mammoth Lakes where I have a condo. I like to travel and bird. Santa Barbara has many good bird sites.
		M	Thompson	Santa Barbara, CA	anytime	English, some Spanish
		many California specialties		Area: Area Birds: ducks, shorebirds, local parks	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, stroll, walking, contra dancing, art
		C	Chang	Santa Barbara	Anytime	English, Mandarin, some French, /Spanish
		Santa Barbara is absolutely brilliant for wildlife---we're just right next to the Los Padres National Forest, have an abundance of riparian, woodland and shrub habitat, and our coastlines support a staggering array of migratory shorebirds. Please feel free to contact me with questions about the area! I'm still relatively inexperienced, though I like to think that I've got a good grasp of local birds in my area.
		R	Denholtz	Carpinteria, Santa Barbara	Anytime	English, a little French
		Santa Barbara County lists 460 species. About 180 resident species. Wintering area for shorebirds and waterfowl. I am a docent at the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Park. I am retired and am often available for spur-of-the-moment birding.
		G	Kincaid	Santa Barbara	Anytime	English, poco Espanol
		Intermediate level birder, sometimes digiscoper. Santa Barbara has a diverse set of ecosystems, from shoreline to mountainous.
		M	Allen	Santa Barbara	Anytime	English
		Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
		B	McLaughlin	Santa Cruz	Anytime	English
		T	Newberry	Santa Cruz	Anytime	English, French
		P	Brown	Santa Cruz	Anytime	English
		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	English
		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.
		K	Rodriguez	Santa Rosa	Anytime	English
		A lot of parks, wetlands. Great for birding or just hiking.
		D	Rasmussen	Scotts Valley	Anytime	English
		Born and raised in Monterey Bay, relocated throughout the Pacific flyway, returned retired to Santa Cruz, CA. An intermediate birder for 50 years. Back packer, hiker and inland kayaker. Married to an awesome newby!
		W	Kalwies	Sebastopol	Anytime	English, Spanish
		Coastal farmland and redwoods. Great area for birding. A must for any Birdingpal coming to the North Bay area.
		A	Armstrong	Sunnyvale	Weekend	English
		East Coast transplant living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Great birding here.
		C	Reid	Torrance	Anytime	English, some Spanish
		I am a docent at the Madrona Marsh Preserve, a stopover on the Pacific Flyway. I live very close to Redondo Beach and Palos Verdes Peninsula. There are free bird walks regularly with expert guides in my area.
		R	Foote	Ukiah	Anytime	English, Spanish, German, Swiss German
		Active in local Peregrine Audubon Club. Two hours north of San Francisco Bay Area.
		S	Laturner	Ventura	Anytime	English, some Spanish
		I live near N.P.S. Channel Islands marine sanctuary's federal visitor center. I spend a lot of time around Ventura harbor and beach area. Lots of seabirds, some waders, and avian panhandlers around outdoor resturants. I lead a busy life becuase I'm retired but I'll try to contribute as often as possible.
		D	DesJardin	Ventura	Anytime	English
		J	Jardine	Walnut Creek(San Francisco)	Anytime	English
		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.
		A	Sheehey	Weldon	Weekend	English, very limited Spanish, French
		Master Naturalist/Photographer. Information on area at my website...www.natureali.org Outreach Director - Audubon Kern River Preserve. Information on preserve here.
		J	Hughes	Westchester	Anytime	English
		Retired, new to birding. Began backyard bird feeding but wish to expand interest and appreciate assistance in learning.
		L.	Richter	Yolo County	Anytime	English, some Spanish
		I live in Davis, California, which is next to the UCD Arboretum, Vic Fazio Yolo Bypass Wetlands, Yolo County's settling ponds, and various City of Davis ponds (all especially great places to bird in the winter). Nearby are Lake Solano Park (good any time of the year), Jepson Prairie, Cache Creek Conservancy, and various rural areas in the county. Within 1-2 hours drive are Sacramento NWR, Colusa NWR, Sutter NWR, and Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. For several years, I have been giving an annual presentation thru the UCD Arboretum called Winter Birds in Davis. I am happy to take people out birding most days (no charge).		Area: Yolo County, Davis, Sacramento, Fazio Yolo Bypass Wetlands, Lake Solano Park, Jepson Prairie, Cache Creek Conservancy Area Birds:	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography, hiking, butterflies, fishing, sport fishing, boating, skiing, swimming, surfing, snowmobiling, sky diving Travel: train, bus, car, hitchhiking, biking, long walk, packpack, canoe, portage, dog sled, snow mobile Visit: tourist site, museum, restaurant, club, vineyard, outdoors, nature spot, beach, lake, ocean, architecture, shop, antique, swap Attend: concert, horse race, ballet, dance show, theatre, live music, sports event, auction, antique, convention, political rally, protest, competition Participate: night life, party, dance, club, bar, rock, country, classical, hiphop, rap, swing, wine, beer, liquor, social games, computer games, casino
		D	Myers	Yorba Linda	Anytime	English
		R	Bates	Yucaipa	Anytime	English
		I work as a wildlife biologist, and have worked around the country with numerous endangered and threatened species of birds. I started birding at a young age, and it has taken me around the world over the years.
Professional Guides If you contact a professional Birdingpal guide you must be prepared to pay a fee for guiding services.
		Initial	Last Name	Area	Available	Language
		M	Ross	Yosemite NP	Anytime	English
		Really enjoyed the last two days of bird study. It has been a long time since I have gone out "into the bush" to look for birds. Most of my watching has been at the seashore. Very different, as the birds are in plain sight- the lazy man's birding. Craig Knox, CA Kathi and I just wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed our outing. The pygmy owl was the bird highlight. Kathi and Greg Jacobs, CA Here are some of the pictures from our June trip to Yosemite. I had a great time! I hope all is well. Prem McMurdo, CA
Local Information
		Name			Description
		Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia			California
		Local weather			Yahoo
		Audubon, California			Club
		Western Field Ornithologists			Club
		Altacal Audubon Society			Club
		Buena Vista Audubon			Club
		Central Sierra Audubon Society			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
		Kern Audubon Society			Club
		Kerncrest Audubon Society			Club
		La Purisima Audubon Society			Club
		Laguna Hills Audubon Society			Club
		Los Angeles Audubon Society			Club
		Madrone Audubon Society			Club
		Marin Audubon Society			Club
		Mendocino Coast Audubon Society			Club
		Monterey Audubon Society			Club
		Morro Coast Audubon Society			Club
		Mt. Diablo Audubon Society			Club
		Mt. Shasta Area Audubon Society			Club
		Napa-Solano 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
		Plumas Audubon Society			Club
		Pomona Valley Audubon Society			Club
		Redbud 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
		San Joaquin Audubon Society			Club
		Santa Barbara Audubon Society			Club
		Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society			Club
		Santa Monica Bay Audubon Society			Club
		Santa Cruz Bird Club			Club
		Sea & Sage Audubon Society			Club
		Sequoia Audubon Society			Club
		Sierra Foothills Audubon Society			Club
		Stanislaus Audubon Society			Club
		Tulare County Audubon Society			Club
		Ventura Audubon Society			Club
		Whittier Audubon Society			Club
		Wintu Audubon Society			Club
		Yolo Audubon Society			Club
		Yosemite Area Audubon Society			Club
		Audublog, conservation news and notes			Blog
		San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory			Banding
		Golden Gate RaptorObservatory			Site
		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
		Monterey Bay			Sites
		Big Morongo Canyon Preserve			Sites
		Joe Morlan's, Birding California			Sites
		Kendric C Smith's			Palo Alto Sites
		Kern Valley			Photos
		Shearwater Journeys			Pelagic
		Breeding Bird			Atlas
		NABA Orange County			Butterflies
		Birding Hotspots around the world			Sites