Birds

At the bookstore located in the Headquarters of the Point Reyes National Seashore at Bear Valley, one can find a rucksack full of great birding books. While there pick up a copy of the Field Checklist of Birds for Point Reyes National Seashore, compiled by local naturalist Rich Stallcup. It's 20 pages lists almost 500 birds that have been viewed in the local area.

Using one of the 16 inns in the Point Reyes Lodging group as your base, you can easily journey south to Stinson Beach and the Audubon Canyon ranch for the egret and heron nesting season in late Spring. Some of the best viewing spots also include Bolinas Lagoon, Tomales Bay, Limantour Estero, Abbott's Lagoon, Drakes Bay, Point Reyes Lighthouse and Chimney rock. These spots are likely to put you in contact with the many birds that make their home or living on or near the water. In addition check out these other locations: Five Brooks Pond, Limantour Road, Muddy Hollow, Olema Marsh, Tomales Bay State Park, Drakes Estero Trail, Mount Vision, Tomales Point. or any of the access trails along the east shore of Tomales Bay.

Photo by Brett Poirier

Wonderful birding takes place during all the seasons. Uniquely located on the conjunction of the north-south and east-west flyway, a vast array of aviary migration takes place right over our heads. One of the best times is to join the annual Christmas bird count where the species names are called out at the dinner following a full day of counting. Frequently 200 species have been observed, from ducks and gulls to raptors and owls.

Plan to make Point Reyes your home base and departure for wonderful birding. Do it on your own or take advantage of workshops, seminars and group or private naturalist activities.

Here is a listing of many useful website links to whet your birding appetite:

www.nps.gov/pore/activ_view_bird.htm

www.prbo.org/cms/index.php?mid+59 Point Reyes Bird Observatory

www.ptreyes.com/parknews.html

http://www.ptreyes.org/fieldseminars/seminarlistbirding.shtml

www.pointreyes.net/reports/birdcount_2004.shtml Christmas Bird count

www.buteo.com/ptreyes/babirding.html

www.egret.org Audubon Canyon Ranch

www.audubon.org (search for Point Reyes)

www.pointreyes.areaparks.com (click wildlife)

www.calnaturalist.com/birds.html The California Naturalist: David Wimpfheimer is a naturalist and a biologist with a passion for the birds and a natural history of the West. During his twenty years of expeditions, he has imparted a great deal of knowledge about all aspects of nature.

www.marintrails.com/birds.html

www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?_id+470

www.hearbirds.com

www.enature.com

www.viamagazine.com/top_stories/articles/pointreyes05.asp

Photo: Ulla McLean