Education

 

Monthly Programs

Our monthly programs include guest speakers, unusual bird sightings, refreshments, and conversation. Visitors are always welcome. Meetings are held at 7 pm on the first Thursday of every month (except July and August when we take a summer break) in the Camellia Room at The Gardens at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Drive, Walnut Creek.

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Education Committee

Our Education Committee organizes birding classes for members and the public, conducts birding presentations for area youth and teachers through in-school and after-school programs, educates the public at tabling events and via informational kiosks and birding brochures at Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek, and collaborates with area conservation groups to provide birding expertise for partnership hikes and Bioblitz events.

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Birding Classes

Our Education Committee organizes classes for chapter members and the public to improve birding skills and enhance bird-watching experiences. Knowledgeable instructors provide engaging classroom lectures and guide class field trips to gain practical experience. Past classes have included Birding By Ear, Avian Treasure Hunt (migrants), Beginning Birding, Raptor ID, and Gull ID.

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Outreach Activities

Volunteers representing our chapter reach out to the public at tabling events at area festivals, science fairs, and community events.

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Youth Education

Our Education committee works with youth and teachers through in-school and after-school programs. In addition, “No Child Left Inside” introduces Antioch students to the joys of birding through in-class and field trip experiences.

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Education Resources

Learn about local and area classes and activities that may be of interest to members. Also, find links here to online classes and other educational resources related to birding.

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Upcoming Education Events

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March 2022

Monthly Program: March 2022

March 3, 2022 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Zoom CA United States

Birding Info: The Mt. Diablo Audubon board will provide an overview of the chapter's activities, projects, and programs. Main Program: SF Baykeeper and the State of the Bay Sejal Choksi-Chugh Sejal Choksi-Chugh, Executive Director of San Francisco Baykeeper, will discuss the state of the Bay and the major issues Baykeeper is tackling. San Francisco Baykeeper has defended the Bay since 1989 by patrolling on the water, investigating pollution, holding polluters accountable, and strengthening the laws that protect the Bay and…

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April 2022

Monthly Program: April 2022

April 7, 2022 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Zoom CA United States

Main Program: Cooperation and conflict in the communal world of the Acorn Woodpecker Walt Koenig Acorn Woodpecker, best known for their unique habit of storing acorns by the thousands in special structures known as “granaries”, exhibit one of the most complex social systems of any bird. Family groups of this species, sometimes numbering a dozen or more birds, contain multiple breeders of both sexes, a rare phenomenon called “polygynandry”, along with young from prior years that serve as “helpers-at-the-nest”. Based…

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May 2022

Monthly Program: May 2022

May 5, 2022 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Zoom CA United States

Main Program: Soundscapes to Landscapes Dr. Leo Salas and David Leland The earth’s biodiversity and associated ecosystem services are in a severe state of decline due to human pressure, however, our knowledge of these changes and impacts is often incomplete and limited to few and small areas. Join us to learn how Soundscapes to Landscapes is using a combination of multiple technologies and the power of citizen/community scientists to fill this data gap – starting with a focus on Sonoma…

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June 2022

Monthly Program: June 2022

June 2, 2022 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
The Camellia Room at The Gardens at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Drive, Walnut Creek, 1540 Marchbanks Drive
Walnut Creek, CA 94598 United States

Birding Information: Local Birds from MDAS Photo Contests Krista Vossekuil, MDAS Education Chair Krista Vossekuil will share some of the photos from the MDAS Photo Contests! Check out all the amazing entries and enjoy pictures of some of our incredible local birds. Bullock's Orioles, Morgan Territory, photo by Jerry Britten Main Program: Emperors of the Ice: Ecology and physiology of an iconic Antarctic predator, the emperor penguin Dr. Gitte McDonald Emperor penguins are the largest species of marine bird, and perhaps…

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September 2022

Monthly Program: September 2022

September 1, 2022 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Lakeside Room of the Heather Farm Community Center at Heather Farm, 301 N. San Carlos Drive
Walnut Creek, CA 94598 United States
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Birding Information: Eagle Scout Nest Box Projects Georgette Howington, Nest box monitor for the California Bluebird Recovery Program Georgette Howington will introduce several Eagle Scouts who completed Nest Box and other projects to help birds and wildlife in our community. Be inspired by their hard work and ingenuity! Main Program: A Gallop Through the Galapagos Wayne Narr The Galapagos Islands sit in isolation more than 1000 km west of northern South America. This small, remote archipelago has had a strong…

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October 2022

Monthly Program: October 2022

October 6, 2022 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
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Birding Information: MDAS President Jerry Britten will present highlights of his summer Alaskan birding trip to the High Arctic Tundra and the Anchorage area. Main Program: Gardening for Birds with California Native Plants Eddie Bartley and Noreen Weeden You can have a beautiful native plant garden that attracts amazing birds, butterflies and other wildlife. Learn about the benefits of local, native plants and some of the wonderful birds that are drawn to this place and to these plants. We will…

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November 2022

Monthly Program: November 2022

November 3, 2022 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
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Birding Information: Mt. Diablo Audubon Society is way ahead of a lot of other bird conservation groups. We help birds where they live year round, not just where we see them around Diablo. Many of California’s birds are migratory, and spend half the year south of the border. We financially support conservation groups in Latin America where birds winter, but also where the species and habitats are much more numerous and diverse than around here. Juan Pablo Galván Martínez, our Conservation…

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December 2022

Monthly Program: December 2022

December 1, 2022 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
McHale Room of the Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Drive
Pleasant Hill, 94523 United States
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Birding Information: The Race to Bring Northern White Rhinos Back from the Brink of Extinction Jill Hedgecock Northern white rhinos were deemed functionally extinct in March 2018 after the death of Sudan, the last male rhino. Currently, only two females remain on the planet. Jill Hedgecock will describe science’s innovative solution to hopefully save the species. Jill Hedgecock has long-standing roots with MDAS, serving as the International Conservation Coordinator in the early 1990s. She has a master’s degree in Environmental…

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A Day with Richard Crossley

December 4, 2022
Wild Birds Unlimited, Pleasant Hill, 692 Contra Costa Blvd
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 United States
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A DAY WITH RICHARD CROSSLEY Wild Birds Unlimited of Pleasant Hill is pleased to present, A Day with Richard Crossley on Sunday, December 4, 2022. Please join us at the store for either a “Learning to Look – A Field Exercise” and/or the “Past, Present and Future” talk and book signing. Richard Crossley is an internationally acclaimed birder, photographer and award-winning author of “The Crossley ID Guide” series. THESE ARE FREE EVENTS BUT RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. Please email the store…

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January 2023

Monthly Program: January 2023

January 5 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
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Birding Information: Highlights Of The 2022 Christmas Bird Counts  Jerry Britten, MDAS President Mt. Diablo Audubon Society President Jerry Britten will report highlights of the 2022 Christmas Bird Counts. Main Program: Highlights of a Career in Journalism Joan Morris Joan Morris will talk about the highs, lows, and crazy assignments she had during her 44-year career as a newspaper reporter and columnist — assignments that included a double homicide on her first day on the job, a mass shooting in Concord…

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February 2023

Monthly Program: February 2023

February 2 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
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A 27 Year Wildflower Journey: The Making of Beauty and the Beast: California Wildflowers and Climate Change Rob Badger and Nita Winter Rob Badger and Nita Winter take you behind the scenes on their 27-year journey photographing wildflowers throughout California and the West. It began in 1992 when they discovered and fell in love with California's spectacular wildflower blooms in the Mojave Desert's Antelope Valley California Poppy Preserve. Photographing these beautiful landscapes and individual flowers evolved into their documentary art…

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March 2023

Monthly Program: March 2023

March 2 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
McHale Room of the Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Drive
Pleasant Hill, 94523 United States
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Native Bird Connections Jenny Papka The birds and people of Native Bird Connections offer experiences that go beyond the ordinary. From school programs tailored to the national standards to presentations for seniors, scouts and special interest groups, they strive to immerse the audience in an intimate view of a wild bird's behavior, life choices and needs. Regardless of age, participants find themselves personally connecting with a living being through empathy and awe, emerging inspired. Native Bird Connections are privileged to…

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April 2023

Monthly Program: April 2023

April 6 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Zoom CA United States + Google Map

Ornitherapy: Watching birds: not only fun, it’s good for you!  Holly Merker Learn why getting your daily dose of Ornitherapy is just what the doctor ordered….Long to-do lists, digital demands, people to connect with- life can be busy! If we allow birds and nature to slow us down, we are practicing “selfcare”. Research shows that exposure to nature actively reduces stress, depression, and anxiety, while helping build a stronger heart and immune system. Birds are gateways into deeper experiences with…

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Pollinator and Friends Day at Ruth Bancroft Garden

April 8 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Ruth Bancroft Garden, 1552 Bancroft Road
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
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Join Mt. Diablo Audubon Society at Pollinator and Friends Day at Ruth Bancroft Garden! Each year the Ruth Bancroft Garden hosts Pollinator and Friends Day. Join us for a celebration of pollinator and friends and what we can do to protect them and their habitat. This drop-in event will feature other educational organizations, unique vendors and various stations throughout the Plaza and Building. The event takes place on our Plaza and Building is FREE. Garden admission fees apply to those…

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Lafayette Earth Day Festival

April 23 @ 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Join Mt. Diablo Audubon Society at Lafayette’s annual Earth Day Festival! Sustainable Lafayette presents this free event at Lafayette Plaza Park with live music, kids & family activities, and a petting zoo! For more information, visit: https://www.sustainablelafayette.org/2023-earth-day-festival

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May 2023

Monthly Program: May 2023

May 4 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Zoom CA United States + Google Map

The Magic of Central America: Costa Rica’s Birds and Ecology Benny Jacobs-Schwartz Costa Rica has long been regarded as one of the top tropical birding destinations in the world and with good reason! This small Central American country is roughly the size of West Virginia yet is home to ~5% of the world’s biodiversity, 900+ species of birds with 47 avian endemics to the country! During our presentation, we’ll visit a variety of ecosystems including the cloud forest, the Caribbean…

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The Shoreline Festival in Crockett

May 20 @ 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

Join Mt. Diablo Audubon Society at The Shoreline Festival! FREE ADMISSION ​ENJOY LIVE MUSIC ALL DAY! This is a first-of-its-kind festival in Crockett, California, on May 20th, 2023, from 11 am to 6 pm! The Shoreline Festival will celebrate air, fire, water, and earth—the elements that are the essential forces that shape our natural environment. Amazing performers, dance troops, and live bands will delight you with their talents on two stages. Scheduled wine and beer tastings will take place throughout…

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June 2023

Monthly Program: June 2023

June 1 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
McHale Room of the Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Drive
Pleasant Hill, 94523 United States
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The Mt. Diablo Audubon Society will meet Thursday, June 1, in the McHale Room of the Pleasant Hill Community Center at 320 Civic Drive, Pleasant Hill, 94523.   Everyone is welcome to bring a snack to share, if they wish. Parking is free.   6:30 PM Doors Open 7:00 PM Birding Info: Winners of the MDAS photo contest 7:25 PM Announcements 7:40 PM Refreshments and Raffle 8:00 PM Main Program: Antarctica *as a conservation organization we encourage you to bring…

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The Beaver Festival in Martinez

June 24 @ 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Join Mt. Diablo Audubon Society at The Beaver Festival in Martinez! The Beaver Festival is finally back! Show your support for urban beavers and join your friends and favorite nature organizations at the FOURTEENTH festival celebrating the Martinez Beavers. Beavers have become big news lately but this is the festival that started it all. Don’t miss our many nature displays, children’s activities, excellent music, silent auction and dynamic chalk mural by Amy Gallaher Hall of Napa. Learn why beavers are…

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September 2023

Monthly Program: September 2023

September 7 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Zoom CA United States + Google Map

Bloody Feather—Death of the Cardinal, A New Anti Bird Poaching Novel   Bruce Lewis   Bruce Lewis was an award-winning crime reporter for several California daily newspapers, including the Contra Costa Times. After leaving the Times, he spent nearly a decade in corporate public relations at Kaiser Permanente and McKesson Corp. before co-founding Lewis & Summers PR (LSPR). Over 24 years, LSPR won 30 awards for excellence in communications. After retiring, he wrote what he thought would be his first…

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