San Francisco is known for its iconic landmarks, cultural diversity, and stunning natural beauty. For bird lovers, the city offers world-class birding opportunities throughout the year. From shorebirds along the beaches to raptors soaring above city parks, avian life thrives in San Francisco.
To fully experience the area’s remarkable bird diversity, joining a local birding group or club is highly recommended. Birding groups offer camaraderie with like-minded people, expert guidance from seasoned birders, and access to the best birding hotspots. They also provide a chance to give back through conservation initiatives that protect birds and their habitats.
Major Birding Groups and Clubs
There are several prominent birding groups and clubs active in the San Francisco area:
Golden Gate Audubon Society
The Golden Gate Audubon Society (GGAS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting Bay Area birds and important bird habitats. With nearly 10,000 members, GGAS is one of the largest and most influential birding groups in San Francisco.
Some key things to know about GGAS:
– Offers frequent bird walks and field trips to top regional birding sites like the Marin Headlands, Pt. Reyes, and Golden Gate Park. Trips are free for members and led by experienced birders.
– Has 11 active chapters with monthly meetings across the Bay Area. Great way to meet other local birders.
– Runs environmental education programs for youth and adults.
– Leads conservation initiatives for threatened birds like the California Spotted Owl and Ridgway’s Rail.
– Manages the Richardson Bay Audubon Center, a native plant nursery and environmental education center.
San Francisco Bird Observatory
The San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO) is a conservation-focused birding group working to protect migratory and resident birds in the Bay Area. Key aspects of SFBBO include:
– Conducts research and habitat restoration for declining species like the Burrowing Owl and Western Snowy Plover.
– Offers guided field trips and bird walks at sites like the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
– Runs two bird banding stations to monitor the region’s birds.
– Provides educational programs to raise awareness about birds.
– Hosts an annual Songbird Festival with speakers, workshops, and guided birding trips.
San Francisco Nature Education
San Francisco Nature Education promotes environmental education through classes, camps, and guided trips focused on wildlife and nature. Their birding programs include:
– Regular beginner bird walks in San Francisco to learn common urban species.
– Custom field trips to regional birding hotspots like Point Reyes and Big Basin.
– Overnight birding excursions to places farther afield like the Central Valley.
– Classes on bird biology, migration, photography and identification.
Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society
Though based in Santa Clara County, the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society arranges birding activities across the wider Bay Area including San Francisco County. Highlights include:
– Weekend field trips to destinations like the Farallon Islands, Marin Headlands, and Pacifica.
– Mid-week bird walks to sites along the Peninsula and in San Francisco.
– Monthly member meetings featuring speakers on bird research, travel, and conservation.
– Breeding bird surveys to enhance knowledge about resident populations.
– Habitat restoration projects to benefit native birds.
California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences offers public programs, lectures, and guided trips related to natural history and science. Their bird-focused programming consists of:
– Bird identification walks in Golden Gate Park led by expert naturalists.
– Special workshops on attracting/photographing birds.
– Scientific lectures by preeminent ornithologists.
– Bird-themed Bioblitzes and BioBashes where the public helps survey local diversity.
– Citizen science programs for collecting data on everything from hummingbirds to shorebirds.
Sequoia Audubon Society
The Sequoia Audubon Society serves San Mateo County by leading bird walks, conducting conservation initiatives, and offering educational programs throughout the year. Relevant activities include:
– Weekly bird walks at locations across San Mateo and into southern San Francisco.
– Christmas Bird Counts to survey wintering bird populations.
– Habitat restoration projects in San Bruno Mountain, Crystal Springs, and other reserves.
– Educational meetings featuring speakers on ornithology, travel, and photography.
Birding Locations in San Francisco
San Francisco’s diverse habitats and landscapes support an abundance of resident and migratory birds throughout the year. Here are some top birding sites to visit on your own or with a group:
Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park offers excellent birding thanks to its lakes, botanical gardens, woodlands, and other green spaces. Some birds to spot here:
– Allen’s Hummingbird
– Chestnut-backed Chickadee
– Red-tailed Hawk
– Anna’s Hummingbird
– American Robin
Crissy Field
This former airfield along the bay is now a prime shorebirding locale. Look for:
– Whimbrel
– Marbled Godwit
– Heermann’s Gull
– American Avocet
– Black-bellied Plover
Presidio
Bird the forested parklands and beaches of this historic military base. Target birds include:
– Nuttall’s Woodpecker
– White-crowned Sparrow
– Chestnut-backed Chickadee
– Black Phoebe
– Brown Creeper
Lake Merced
Scoping the lake, wetlands, and trails of this urban oasis can yield species like:
– Canvasback
– Ruddy Duck
– Pied-billed Grebe
– Barn Owl
– Great Egret
Fort Funston & Ocean Beach
Coastal bluffs and beaches offer sea watching and access to pelagic species like:
– Brown Pelican
– Sooty Shearwater
– Black Oystercatcher
– Surfbird
– Pigeon Guillemot
Hawk Hill
This Marin Headlands lookout is the best place to witness the autumn raptor migration. Look for:
– Sharp-shinned Hawk
– Cooper’s Hawk
– Red-tailed Hawk
– American Kestrel
– Turkey Vulture
Types of Birds in San Francisco
San Francisco hosts an impressive diversity of resident and migratory species from landbirds to waterfowl to raptors. Some major categories include:
Seabirds
Examples: Western Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Rhinoceros Auklet
Where to see them: Ocean Beach, Fort Funston, Crissy Field
Shorebirds
Examples: Black Turnstone, Whimbrel, Marbled Godwit
Where to see them: Crissy Field, Lake Merced, Candlestick Point
Waterfowl
Examples: Canvasback, Northern Shoveler, Ruddy Duck
Where to see them: Lake Merced, Sutro Baths, Palace of Fine Arts
Raptors
Examples: Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, American Kestrel
Where to see them: Hawk Hill, Fort Funston, Lake Merced
Woodland Birds
Examples: Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Bushtit
Where to see them: Golden Gate Park, Presidio, Sutro Heights Park
Urban Birds
Examples: House Finch, Mourning Dove, Black Phoebe
Where to see them: City parks, cemeteries, urban wetlands
Hummingbirds
Examples: Anna’s Hummingbird, Allen’s Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird
Where to see them: Golden Gate Park, backyard feeders, botanical gardens
Tips for Birding in San Francisco
Here are some top tips for an enjoyable, rewarding birding experience in San Francisco:
Pack Binoculars
Bring a good pair of binoculars. For viewing on trails, 8x or 10x binoculars work best. For hawkwatching, some prefer more powerful 10x binoculars.
Bring a Field Guide
National Geographic and Sibley produce excellent West Coast bird guides. Downloading a bird ID app is handy too.
Focus on Bird Sounds
Tune in to birdsongs, chip notes, and calls to detect species hidden in bushes or trees. Apps like Merlin Bird ID can ID birds by sound.
Look High and Low
Scan treetops and skies for hawks, egrets, and other soaring birds. Also check pond edges and bushes for sparrows, warblers, and more.
Time It Right
Dawn and dusk offer peak activity for many species. Visit habitats at low tide for shorebirds. See raptor migration in September-October.
Join a Group
Joining a walk or class with local birding groups or nature centers enhances skills and access to hotspots.
Help Document Birds
Report interesting sightings to eBird or share photos with groups to contribute to bird documentation and conservation.
Conclusion
San Francisco provides world-class birding with its vibrant diversity of habitats and avian residents. Exploring the city’s neighborhoods, parks, and natural areas offers chances to see everything from hummingbirds to hawks throughout the year. Joining organized birding activities with the region’s many Audubon chapters and other groups maximizes birding fun and enhances skills. As one of North America’s best birding cities, San Francisco promises rewarding experiences for birders of every skill level.