Field Trips: Bringing people to birds
Field Trip Leaders
Hey Birders! Have a favorite birding spot that you’d like to share with others? Consider joining our team of volunteer field trip leaders. We have a lot of fun! To get you started, we can provide mentors and shadowing opportunities. You don’t need to be able to identify every bird; you’ll be successful by organizing an enjoyable walk at an interesting location.
Host for Palo Alto Baylands Drop-in Events
Host a scope and birdwatching station at Palo Alto Baylands. You and 1 to 2 other volunteers will set up a scope at a well trafficked area with loaner binoculars and handouts, and give the passers-by looks at the birds and hopefully, inspire a love of birding. You choose the date and time, and how often to host these events.
Self-Guided Field Trips
Do you have a favorite birding place that would make a great self-guided field trip? We are looking for more submissions. This task does not require any technical skills besides email, it only requires a love of your location and basic birding knowledge. We will make the maps for you, collect any bird photos you need, and even take the location photos.
Self-guided Field Trip Advisors
We like to keep the self-guided field trips up-to-date as possible but sometimes trail conditions changeYou’ll read through the guide of your choice, take the trip, and then report back with any updates. Bonus points for also doing a SBB/Facebook post on your outing.
Please contact Eve Meier at fieldtrips@scvas.org for more information.
Naturalists Needed: OSCSP
Explore the Coyote Valley with us! The Oak Savanna Community Science Project is a three year project funded by the Open Space Authority to bring the community into nature and introduce high school students to community science at the North Coyote Valley Conservation Area.
Monthly Bird Surveys: Wednesday morning, once a month, 7:30-11am. Birders survey transects in the North Coyote Valley Conservation Area, making special note of breeding and nesting birds. This site is closed to the public and has been the location of birds like the Tri-colored Blackbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, and Lawrence's Goldfinch! The next survey will be Wednesday, August 10
Ages 12 & up with parent participation, some birding and eBird experience preferred.
BioBlitz Naturalists: On August 20, 9am-12pm SCVAS will be holding our third BioBlitz in the North Coyote Valley Conservation Area. Naturalists will be asked to help guide groups of 5-10 people in exploring the site and helping document sightings using iNaturalist.
Ages 12 & up with parent participation, familiarity with native species (of any taxa) and iNaturalist preferred.
Contact programs@scvas.org with interest/questions.
Cedar Waxwings: Hita Bambhania-Modha
Outreach Opportunities: Introducing birds to people
Tabling Volunteer: From time to time SCVAS takes part in local festivals, allowing us to interact with the public and introduce them to both our organization and our love of birding. We're looking for friendly, enthusiastic volunteers interested in sharing their understanding of SCVAS and birds with the public in tabling events throughout the year. Typical volunteering shifts are three to four hours, and take place primarily in the fall. Upcoming events:
National Night Out at Los Paseos Park, San Jose: Tuesday, August 2, 5-8PM
First Friday with Veggielution at SoFA Pocket Park, San Jose: Friday, August 5, 4-6PM
First Saturday with Veggielution at Prusch Farms, San Jose: Saturday, August 6, 10AM-12PM
First Saturday with Veggielution at Prusch Farms, San Jose: Saturday, September 3, 10AM-12PM
Outreach at Rengstorff House at Shoreline Lake, Mountain View: Monday, September 5, 11AM-2PM
Reach out to our Outreach Committee Chair, Ann Hepenstal with interest here.
At the Ranch: SCVAS Support
Avocet Coordinator
The Avocet Quarterly comes out seasonally, and is constantly in need of new and exciting content. SCVAS is looking for someone to help define the theme of each issue, collect content from contributors, determine word count for articles, and organize photos to be used. The Avocet Coordinator will work closely with Matthew who will remain as editor on each issue. Graphic design of each issue is not included in this position. Contact Matthew if interested at director@scvas.org
Event Coordinator
Our Speaker Series is looking for compelling guests—field researchers, biologists, artists, authors, explorers, activists and film makers… The Event Coordinator will help us locate and schedule these speakers on a monthly basis. Until further notice, the events will be virtual so location of our guest speakers are not limited by geography. Perhaps soon, we will have a speaker coming to us from overseas… This position may also be important when we begin planning for our Centennial Celebration in 2025! Contact Matthew if interested at director@scvas.org