Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society

Next Saturday, 7/17, we're exploring Rancho Canada del Oro with our friends @savedbynatureducation! Join us as we explore the oaks in the Santa Cruz Mountains in this gentle 2 mile hike.

We had a fantastic time with Dr. Kaeli Swift last night! If you missed the presentation, or just want to revisit the curiosities of corvids, check out the recording of the night on our YouTube channel.

Questions about crows? Dr. Kaeli Swift of the University of Washington is talking corvids with us at 7PM this Wednesday! Tune in to learn about this fascinating family of birds with us!

Take a dip this summer and go on a search for our aquatic songbird! Lisa Meyers from Los Gatos Birdwatcher shares the tips and tricks for spotting this swimming songster along the Los Gatos Creek trail in this self-guided field trip.

The Chestnut-backed Chickadee is our Backyard Bird of the Month for July! https://scvas.org/backyard-bird-b/chestnut-backed-chickadee Did you know that the Chestnut-backed Chickadee is a nuclear species? And are you wondering what that means? Read Dave Zittin’s latest article to learn all about this petite, chipper bird and how to attract it to your yard.... Photo by Tom Grey

Summer’s here - devoted parents, sparring rivals, and lots of splashing in the bath! Learn about summer bird behavior, and get tips for providing water to birds, in our Backyard Birder’s latest article, Love, War, and Water. https://scvas.org/backyard-bird-blog/june Photo by Brooke Miller

The 2021 AOS Supplement is out! - American Birding Association

We're talking advocacy in Coyote Valley next Wednesday, July 7 at 10 AM with Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful and Mothers Out Front Silicon Valley ! In this virtual tour of the Coyote Valley Open Space Preserver we're exploring how advocacy works, as well as exploring some of what these efforts protects.

Environmental Action Alert: Los Gatos residents, please join us in speaking for bird safe design and dark skies as Los Gatos updates its General Plan. Come on out to the virtual Community Meeting at 6PM this Tuesday and lend your voice to the birds!

SCVAS Egret Office Hours

Check out our recording of last night's Egret Office Hours, where we took a virtual trip through the rookery of Shorebird Way! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgoCE954YCI

We went for a bird walk! Thanks to the Billy DeFrank LGBTQ Community Center for partnering with us on our Let's Go Birding Together trip to Charleston Slough this Saturday, we had an awesome time!

Pop in for office hours this Thursday at 6PM and explore a rookery with us!

Birds can be funny - and that humor can help conserve them! Cartoons, humor, and art are unexpectedly important tools in the fight against biodiversity loss, climate change, and other threats to birds. Cartoonist and science author Rosemary Mosco, creator of Bird and Moon comics, will explain why science needs humor and art, talk about the path that led her to her work, and share examples of her comics. Join us Wednesday, July 21 at 7PM (Pacific Time)! https://scvas.ticketbud.com/scvas-speaker-series-rosemary-m

Wildlife & Harvest Festival 2020 is virtual! This year SCVAS has gone virtual with our annual Wildlife & Harvest Day festival! We've gathered content from more than 20 conservation, wildlife, and environmental organizations from Santa Clara County and beyond, and are excited to share the crafts, animal presentations, nature walks, and environmental talks with you! The festival begins this Saturday, October 24, and will continue through November 29. Each day we'll post new vid...eos to check out, featuring everything from beavers to tarantulas, nest boxes and walks through parks across Santa Clara County. Tune in on our website (https://scvas.org/wildlife-harvest), or YouTube(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw65RGDsD7TsUW6jSf_W7sQ), and come explore nature with us! Check out the trailer introducing the event, and watch this page or the website page above to see when new videos are released! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlPTESQhddg

WHD 2020: SCVAS Nest Boxes: Chuck, a long-time volunteer for SCVAS, has built hundreds and hundreds of nest boxes that benefit our local population of Bluebirds and other cavity nesters. He has helped still more children build their own boxes and gotten them involved with watching birds. He will demonstrate how to assemble the nest box kits, and talk about where to put it to attract birds. https://buff.ly/3bUEAOo https://buff.ly/382XZh9

San Jose has moved to protect more open space in Coyote Valley! As our own Shani Kleinhaus puts it: "They do not make Open Space anymore. Let's take good care of nature - perhaps she will be gentler with us."

WHD 2020: WERC: Anna from the Wildlife Education & Rehabilitation Center does important work. She, along with other staff members, care for injured and orphaned birds and other animals. If the animals cannot be returned to the wild they enlist the animals to be wildlife ambassadors for local schools. She will introduce us to Luna, the Great Horned Owl ambassador. https://buff.ly/35Qe1Zc https://buff.ly/380DKRs

WHD 2020: Our City Forest: Our City Forest plants trees to help keep our environment healthy. In this presentation, you will learn about why trees are so important for our community and how you can become involved to help planting them. https://buff.ly/2Iqa2ZA https://buff.ly/34KZZZC

We're learning about wildlife rehabilitation with W.E.R.C. , supporting our urban ecosystems with Our City Forest , and how to build nest boxes to improve habitat for our native cavity nesters today in the Wildlife & Harvest Festival! https://scvas.org/wildlife-harvest

WHD 2020: Mickaboo: Beth and Jonathan talk about African Gray Parrots, some of the smartest birds in the world. They describe the habits of Cookie, Molly, and Lou, and how their surroundings mimic elements of their natural home. https://buff.ly/3jpAVve

WHD 2020: California Waterfowl: Miss Molly describes what Waterfowl are, and how to recognize them. They aren’t all ducks! See some of the different ways they have adapted to their watery environment. https://buff.ly/37Dhn49

SCVAS members have seen lots of great birds in their yards lately! Find out what folks have spotted in our new feature "All Around Town: Backyard Bird Sightings from our Members. https://scvas.org//all-around-town-backyard-bird-sightings

WHD 2020: Happy Hollow 3 Desert Tortoise: Kaitlin, one of the knowledgable staff members at Happy Hollow introduces us to Tortolini, the California Desert Tortoise. We will learn about how Tortolini lives and what he likes to eat. https://buff.ly/34u48Rz https://buff.ly/2FUGwMa

Today we're learning about parrots with Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue, exploring what makes waterfowl unique with California Waterfowl , and finding the facts on tortoises with Happy Hollow Park & Zoo! Get your animal facts at the Wildlife & Harvest Festival! https://scvas.org/wildlife-harvest

Coming soon! I am putting together something really fun. This will be a membership site, where you will find birding classes, ID information, how-to, tips and t...ricks, fun conversation, live events, and a private birder social network, and forums. This is going to be really fun. I have been waiting for this opportunity for my entire life, there is nothing I like more than encouraging birding, teaching and community. Now the tech allows us to do this and I can't wait! The techy stuff is being built now, and once we have it live, be the first to find out details. No commitment, just to be informed. You can add your name to the mail list below to be in the know! https://mailchi.mp/alvarosadventures/comingsoon See more

WHD 2020: SCVAS Binoculars: Hey kids! You can make your own binoculars! With some simple materials you can make, and decorate your own pair. Use them to look at birds and animals in your yard. Carolyn will show you how. https://buff.ly/2HzkLC0

WHD 2020: Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley: Sometimes our animal friends need a little help. The WCSV is here to help, nursing these animals back to health, and release them into the wild. Watch us set a variety of animals free. https://buff.ly/31A5hVJ

WHD 2020: Happy Hollow Blue tongued Skink: Kendra, one of the staff at Happy Hollow introduces us to Raj, the Indonesian Blue-tongued Skink. Learn about it lives and what he likes to eat. See if you can spot his blue tongue. https://buff.ly/34u48Rz https://buff.ly/3js7Uij