The Point Reyes region is endowed with pristine coastline, beaches, dunes, mudflats, bays, estuaries, freshwater wetlands, forests, grasslands, coastal bluffs and chaparral. This diversity of ecosystems supports one of the highest levels of bird diversity in the country. As home base for some of the nation's top birders and naturalists, Point Reyes offers the ideal setting for a spring festival for bird and nature enthusiasts of all levels.
The Point Reyes Birding & Nature Festival will feature a variety of birding outings, led by highly skilled and well-known birders and naturalists, including Rich Stallcup, David Wimpfheimer, Keith Hansen, Sarah Allen, Al Jaramillo and many more. Half and full day trips will cover the regions best birding hotspots, including Bodega Bay, Bolinas Lagoon, Tomales Bay, Abbott's Lagoon, the Giacomini Wetland, Chimney Rock, Cordell Bank (weather permitting) and many other locations. Other outings will feature marine mammals, wildflowers, tide pools and butterflies. There will be birding-by-ear classes, two evening programs and informative indoor talks and workshops on a variety of topics such as drawing nature, bird research, wildlife photography and conservation issues. A live auction, raffle, and banquet featuring a keynote by John Muir Laws will round out the festivities.
The Point Reyes Birding and Nature Festival is presented by the Environmental Action Committee of West Marin, a non-profit advocacy group that has been working to protect wildlife habitat, ecosystems and environmental quality in West Marin since 1971. Co-sponsors include the PRBO Conservation Science, Marin Agricultural Land Trust, Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, Marin Audubon Society, the Marin chapter of the California Native Plant Society, BayNature and many others.
