Monthly Programs

Monterey Audubon's monthly presentations occur at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History on Forest Avenue in Pacific Grove and occur on the second Tuesday of every month. Doors open for refreshments and socializing at 7:00 PM. The program begins at 7:30 PM. Monterey Audubon's Board Meetings are also open to the general MAS membership and begin at 5:30 PM, before the presentation. Agendas, supporting materials as well as past minutes are available upon request.

Tuesday March 12, 2024

Bird Rescue Basics: How we can help our feathered friends

With Laura Lockwood, SPCA Wildlife Rehabilitation Technician

Have you ever seen a bird that looked like it needed help and wondered what to do or who to call? Then this presentation is for you! It will focus on what to do if you see a bird in distress in Monterey County, and will include an overview of the SPCA Wildlife Center, common species we treat, how to identify a bird in distress, and tips for safe handling and transport. We will also cover what to do if you find a baby bird on the ground, and how to provide after hours care when our Wildlife Center is closed.

Bio: Laura Lockwood has been working for the Wildlife Center at the SPCA for Monterey County since 2016, but was volunteering in animal husbandry, rescue, and rehabilitation long before that. Since 2008 she has worked with a variety of species, including sea otters, river otters, sea lions, and many many birds. As a Wildlife Rehabilitation Technician she enjoys providing compassionate care for a wide variety of species, and is the team lead for seabirds, shorebirds, and mammals.

Mark your calendars for the second Tuesday each month to attend our public presentations!

Indoor Events COVID-19 Protocols:

For the health and safety of our members and board, MAS will be implementing the following COVID-19 regulations for all in-person meetings and programs:

1. We ask that all participants be fully vaccinated to attend in person.

2. Masks are recommended but not required.

3. If you have any symptoms of illness, however mild, please do not attend. If you have been recently exposed to someone with COVID, please also do not attend.

Past Presentations

To watch previously recorded presentations, head to the MAS YouTube channel.

NOVEMBER 14, 2023 - Bird of Passage with Alison Világ - In 2021, Alison was embarking on a Big Year–of sorts. Rather than amassing a lengthy list, she was more interested in celebrating birds for their essence and focusing on vulnerable species and the places vital to them. Check out her website at www.passagemigrant.com.

OCTOBER 10, 2023 - Biking For Birds with Dorian Anderson - In 2014, Dorian embarked on his Biking for Birds project, the first North American Big Year completed entirely by bicycle. During this incredible journey, he biked 17,830 miles (28,500 km) and observed 618 bird species while raising funds for bird habitat conservation. His book is Birding Under the Influence.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2023 - How Spatial Science Saves Birds and Their Habitats with Keilani Bonis-Ericksen, Audubon California

AUGUST 13, 2023 - Tools for Travel: How to Find Birds When You Go to a New Place, with Amanda Preece, Monterey Audubon

JULY 11, 2023 - Observing and Conserving the Seabirds that Rely on California’s Central Coast with Dan Robinette, Point Blue Conservation Science

JUNE 13, 2023 - Birds of the World with Brian Sullivan, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

MAY 9, 2023 - Bringing Birds to the Garden: California Native Plants for the Win with Benny Jacob-Schwartz

APRIL 11, 2023: Updates from the Condor Team with Ventana Wildlife Society Wildlife Biologist Danaé Mouton

FEBRUARY 14, 2023: A Peek Into Asilomar’s Nest Box Program with filmmakers Steve and Mary Albert and Program Lead Amanda Preece. Watch the full movie online HERE.

DECEMBER 13, 2022: Past, Present, and Future with Richard Crossley Tales of lessons learned while growing up in the wild British birding scene, from travels around the world, to living in Japan and settling down in his birding utopia, Cape May, NJ.

NOVEMBER 8, 2022: Why Birds Flock with Jessica Griffiths — You may have heard the old saying that birds of a feather flock together. But have you ever stopped to wonder why? Join Jessica Griffiths for a fascinating look at bird flocks and flocking behavior.

OCTOBER 11, 2022: Carmel River FREE Big Sur Land Trust project overview with Nikki Nedeff In partnership with the County of Monterey, Big Sur Land trust is leading the landmark Carmel River Floodplain Restoration and Environmental Enhancement (Carmel River FREE) Project.  Nikki will highlight FREEs importance for our local wildlife, biodiversity and community. 

SEPTEMBER 13, 2022: Emperors of the Ice: Ecology and physiology of an iconic Antarctic predator, the Emperor Penguin with Dr. Gitte McDonald

Emperor Penguins are the largest species of marine bird, and perhaps because of its size, it is able to fast longer, dive deeper, and endure harsher conditions than any other avian species. As a top predator in the Antarctic ecosystem, they have a significant top-down effect on prey. Additionally, as top predators, their survival and reproduction depends on the functioning of the entire food web.

AUGUST 9, 2022: Tools for the Mobility-challenged Birder with Paul Miller

Sacramento Audubon President and Birdability captain Paul Miller shares his journey of finding fulfillment in birding and also adaptive optics and mobility options for folks who have difficulty with getting out to watch birds.

JULY 12, 2022: Tricolored Blackbirds in Central California with Mike Stake of Ventana Wildlife Society and Amanda Preece from Monterey Audubon

Mike and Amanda will cover the natural history, biology, process of listing, and statewide and central coast population trends of this nearly California endemic blackbird species.

JUNE 14, 2022: Cape to Cape Birding with Joe Morlan

Joe Morlan will describe the birds and wildlife encountered while on a three-week cruise from Chile to South Africa in March 2018.

MAY 10, 2022 - Audubon Conservation Ranching: Incentivizing Regenerative Grassland Management by Connecting Certified Ranches to Consumer Markets

Audubon launched its Conservation Ranching program (ACR) here in California in 2019. This program is designed to stem the conversion of grassland ecosystems and improve the ecological functions of rangelands by partnering with ranchers to transition to more regenerative grazing approaches via a ranch certification program. This presentation will highlight the ACR program components which includes the development of ranch-specific Habitat Management Plans and a third-party certified set of regenerative grazing practices to increase climate-driven drought resiliency, rebuild soil organic matter, enhance plant diversity and cover, increase water infiltration and carbon sequestration, and increase overall biodiversity.

APRIL 12, 2022 - Snowy Plover Regional Updates with Kriss Neuman of Point Blue Science

Here in Central and Northern California, the conservation Group, Point Blue, in partnership with State Parks and the USFWS has been a lead NGO, working to study and protect Snowy Plovers, for many years. Join Monterey Audubon as we host Kriss Neuman, project lead for Point Blue, for an important update on the status of our Plovers and their prospects for survival in coming years. For more information, please visit www.pointblue.org.

MARCH 8, 2022 - Seabird Protection with JD Bergeron of International Bird Rescue
Human populations continue to grow along the West Coast and anthropogenic impacts on marine ecosystems continue to escalate. Coastal stewardship of wild coastal bird populations presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Here on the shores of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, our responsibility to protect our coastal birds only grows more important with each passing season. Join us and JD Bergeron for an important overview of projects and priorities to conserve Pacific Seabirds Population. For more information, please visit www.birdrescue.org

JANUARY 11, 2022 - Beginning Birding: New Year, New Hobby with Amanda Preece

Have you started to notice those feathery neighbors of yours? Who are they and what are they doing?
Or perhaps you've always appreciated birds, but now want to be a *birder*. Well, birding is indeed for everyone, and it's not only an enriching and fun way to spend your time, it's good for your physical and psychological health. Join Amanda Preece in January for a review of tips and tricks that will help you find birds, resources to help you identify the many species that are in the Monterey region, and how you can help our neigh-birds, who are facing threats from all sides. Come with ideas and questions for discussion!

TUESDAY, December 14 2021: Birding Spain with Alvaro Jaramillo

The Iberian Peninsula is the crossroads of Europe and Asia. Its avian biogeography reflects a seasonal and richly diverse birdlife. Nowhere else in Western Europe are birds as colorful and alluring. Add to this the incomparable cultural, architectural, historic, and culinary marvels of Spain, and its status as a beloved-if somewhat unsung-destination for bird tourism is unsurprising.

 Alvaro Jaramillo is an author of field guides, tour leader, and is widely regarded as one of the best birders in the Americas. For several years he has led groups to Spain, from the vast, stark Steppelands of Extremadura to the sweltering marshes of Donana. Join us for a special night looking deeply into Spain’s birdlife.