Newsletter - July 2026

San Diego Wild Birds Unlimited Upcoming Events

Dez Brooks is the Operations Director at SoCal Parrot, a wildlife rehabilitation center dedicated to providing care for the naturalized populations of parrots found in Southern California. A wildlife rehabber with almost 8 years of experience, Dez leads SoCal Parrot in rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing more than 125 wild parrots annually. SCP also provides sanctuary to non-releasable wild parrots and parrots saved from smuggling and cruelty cases. They will discuss the ins and outs of wild parrot rehabilitation, why parrots live in Southern California, and the many species that call San Diego home.
 
  • Presentation by the San Diego Bird Alliance “10 birds of San Diego you might not know (but you’ll want to)” – August 15 at 11:00 AM
Are you just starting to notice birds? Do you want to put names to their faces, and learn more about how they live and what they need? This presentation will be a good start. San Diego Bird Alliance will present "10 Birds that you should know in San Diego." You'll find out about 10 species that are common in San Diego, but might have escaped your notice until now.
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Quote of the Month:

In July, every tree seems to hold a feathered musician -  Anonymous

Spotlight: Feathers – One of Nature’s Greatest Innovations

Feathers are one of the most remarkable structures in the natural world. They allow birds to fly, stay warm, attract mates, hide from predators, communicate, float on water, and even make sound. They are lightweight yet incredibly strong, delicate yet durable, and so perfectly engineered that scientists still study them for inspiration in aviation, clothing, and materials science.

Most of us admire feathers for their beauty - but the deeper you look, the more astonishing they become. A single feather is an intricate structure made of interlocking parts so sophisticated that it functions almost like a living zipper. Entire birds are covered in carefully arranged feather systems, each designed for a specific purpose, and perhaps most amazing of all: feathers are unique to birds. No other living animal has anything quite like them.

What Exactly Is a Feather?

Feathers are specialized structures made mostly of keratin, the same protein found in human hair and fingernails. But unlike hair, feathers branch into complex shapes that create smooth aerodynamic surfaces, insulation layers, waterproof barriers, and elaborate displays.

Each feather grows from a tiny follicle in the skin. During growth, blood supplies nutrients to the developing feather, but once fully formed, the feather itself is no longer living tissue.

A typical feather contains several parts:
  • Quill (calamus): the hollow base anchored in the skin
  • Rachis: the central shaft
  • Barbs: branches extending from the shaft
  • Barbules: microscopic hooks that lock barbs together
Those tiny hooks are what allow birds to “zip” feathers back into place while preening. If you’ve ever watched a bird grooming itself, it’s actually performing feather maintenance - realigning thousands of microscopic feather parts.

Feathers Changed the History of Life on Earth

Scientists believe feathers first evolved from reptiles long before modern birds existed. Fossils show that some dinosaurs had feather-like structures millions of years before birds took flight.

Early feathers may have evolved for:
  • Insulation
  • Display and communication
  • Camouflage
  • Egg protection
Only later were feathers adapted for powered flight.  That means the feathers on a hummingbird or hawk today are descendants of structures that first appeared on dinosaurs.

Different Types of Feathers on a Bird
Most people think of feathers as all being the same—but birds actually wear multiple types of feathers, each with a different job.
Contour Feathers
These are the visible outer feathers that give birds their shape and coloration. They streamline the body and help with flight.

Flight Feathers
The large feathers on the wings and tail are highly specialized for flying.
  • Primaries: provide thrust
  • Secondaries: provide lift
  • Tail feathers (rectrices): help steer and brake
These feathers must withstand enormous stress during flight.
 
Down Feathers
Soft and fluffy, down traps air to keep birds warm. Baby birds are often covered almost entirely in down.  Waterfowl like ducks and geese have exceptionally thick down layers - which is why down has long been used in jackets and bedding.

Semiplumes
These feathers provide insulation and help maintain body shape.

Filoplumes
Tiny hair-like feathers that act as sensors, helping birds monitor the position of other feathers during flight.

Bristles
Often found around the mouth or eyes, bristles may help protect the face or assist birds that catch insects in flight.
 
Not All Feathers Are Created Equal
Different birds have evolved extraordinary feather adaptations depending on how they live.
 
Owls: Silent Flight Specialists
Owls have fringed wing feathers that muffle sound, allowing nearly silent flight. This helps them hunt prey without being heard.

Penguins: Feather Armor
Penguins have incredibly dense, overlapping feathers that trap heat and repel water in freezing conditions.

Hummingbirds: Feather Precision
Hummingbird feathers are tiny, lightweight, and designed for extreme maneuverability. Their wing feathers allow hovering flight unlike any other bird.

Woodpeckers: Shock Absorption
Woodpecker tail feathers are stiff and strong, acting like props to support birds while climbing tree trunks.

Peacocks: Display Masterpieces
Peacock tail feathers are among the most elaborate display feathers in the animal kingdom, evolved primarily to attract mates.

Where Feather Colors Come From
Bird feathers produce color in two major ways:
 
Pigments
These include:
  • Melanins: blacks, browns, grays
  • Carotenoids: reds, oranges, yellows
Many bright carotenoid colors come directly from diet. Flamingos, for example, get their pink coloration from pigments in the food they eat.

Structural Color
Some feather colors are not pigments at all. Instead, microscopic feather structures bend and scatter light. This creates:
  • Iridescent hummingbird throats
  • Blue jay blue feathers
  • Shimmering grackle plumage
Interestingly, blue jay feathers contain no blue pigment.

How Feathers Are Formed
New feathers begin growing beneath the skin inside protective sheaths called “pin feathers.”

As feathers grow:
  • Blood vessels nourish the feather
  • The feather gradually unfurls
  • The protective sheath flakes away
If you’ve ever seen a molting bird with spiky-looking feathers, those are developing pin feathers.  Because growing feathers require protein and energy, feather production is one of the most demanding processes in a bird’s life.

Molting: Birds Replace Their Entire Coat
Feathers wear out over time from sunlight, weather, parasites, and daily use. Unlike hair, feathers cannot repair themselves once damaged.  So, birds molt - replacing old feathers with new ones. Most birds molt at least once a year, often after breeding season.

How Birds Can Still Fly While Molting
This is one of the most amazing parts of bird biology.
Most birds molt gradually in a carefully planned sequence:
  • A few feathers are shed at a time
  • Matching feathers are often lost symmetrically on both wings
  • Enough flight feathers remain for flying
This allows birds to continue escaping predators and finding food.

Some species, however, temporarily lose flight ability during molt.

Ducks and Geese
Many waterfowl undergo a rapid molt where they lose all wing flight feathers at once, becoming flightless for several weeks.  To survive this vulnerable period, they usually molt in protected wetlands with abundant food.

Different Birds Molt in Different Ways
Molting strategies vary tremendously.
  • Songbirds - Usually replace feathers gradually over weeks or months.
  • Raptors - Large hawks and eagles may take multiple years to fully replace all flight feathers.
  • Hummingbirds - Must molt while maintaining extremely high energy needs.
  • Seabirds - Some species time molt around long ocean journeys and breeding cycles.
The timing of molt is one of the reasons birds can look so different throughout the year.

Feathers and Waterproofing
Many birds coat feathers with oil from a gland near the tail called the uropygial gland.

During preening, birds spread this oil across feathers to:
  • Maintain flexibility
  • Improve waterproofing
  • Reduce bacteria and parasites
Without regular maintenance, feathers quickly lose effectiveness.
That’s why birds spend so much time preening—it’s essential survival behavior.

Amazing Feather Fun Facts
  • A bird may have anywhere from 1,000 to over 25,000 feathers depending on species. Swans can have more than 25,000.
  • Feathers are incredibly light, but they make up a substantial part of a bird. They typically account for 5-10% of a bird’s weight which can often be 2-3 times heaver than their skeleton!
  • Peregrine falcons can withstand enormous feather stress during dives exceeding 200 mph.
  • Some birds make sounds with feathers rather than voices. Male hummingbirds and snipe produce special feather sounds during courtship dives.
  • Powder down feathers on herons and some parrots slowly disintegrate into a fine powder used for feather cleaning.
  • Grebes actually eat some of their own feathers, which may help protect their digestive system from sharp fish bones.
  • The oldest known fossil feathers are over 150 million years old.
Why Feathers Matter
Feathers are more than decoration. They are survival tools, communication devices, insulation systems, and aerodynamic masterpieces.  Every feather on every bird serves a purpose.

The next time you see a hummingbird flashing in the sun, an owl gliding silently overhead, or a hawk soaring effortlessly on the wind, remember: those incredible feathers are the result of millions of years of evolution and refinement.

For bird lovers, feathers are a reminder that some of nature’s greatest wonders are often hidden in plain sight.

Birds of the Month: Spotted Towhee

Spotted Towhee, Scripps Ranch (our backyard)
 
Fun Facts about the Spotted Towhee
The handsome ground-scratcher with striking colors and a big personality

The Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) is one of the most eye-catching birds in San Diego's chaparral, canyon edges, and backyard gardens. With its bold black, white, and rusty-orange plumage, bright red eyes, and energetic foraging style, it's a bird that's hard to forget once you've seen one. Often heard rustling through leaf litter before it's spotted, the Spotted Towhee combines beauty, attitude, and fascinating behavior into one remarkable package.

While they may spend much of their time on the ground beneath shrubs, these birds are full of surprises—and they are among the most entertaining visitors many San Diego bird lovers encounter.

Appearance & Identification
  • Male Spotted Towhees are striking birds with glossy black heads, backs, and upper breasts, contrasted by bright white spots on their wings and back and rich rusty-orange sides.
  • Females have the same pattern as males, but their black feathers are replaced with a softer chocolate-brown color.
  • Both sexes have brilliant red eyes that seem to glow in the sunlight and give them an intense, alert expression.
  • Their white-spotted wings and backs give the species its common name and help distinguish them from similar towhees.
  • Juveniles are heavily streaked brown and can look surprisingly different from adults until they molt into their mature plumage.
  • They are relatively large sparrows, measuring about 7–9 inches long, with a sturdy body, rounded wings, and a long tail.
Range, Habitat & San Diego Presence
  • Spotted Towhees are found throughout western North America, from southern Canada to Mexico.
  • In San Diego County, they are common year-round residents in many areas and can be found in:
    • Chaparral
    • Coastal sage scrub
    • Brushy canyons
    • Oak woodlands
    • Dense backyard landscapes
    • Natural open spaces and preserves
  • Excellent local locations for spotting Spotted Towhees include:
    • Mission Trails Regional Park
    • Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve
    • Tecolote Canyon
    • San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve
    • Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
  • They prefer areas with dense shrubs for cover and open ground beneath where they can forage.
What Spotted Towhees Eat
  • Spotted Towhees are omnivores whose diet changes throughout the year.
  • During spring and summer, they consume large numbers of insects and other invertebrates, including:
    • Beetles
    • Ants
    • Caterpillars
    • Grasshoppers
    • Spiders
    • Wasps
  • During fall and winter, seeds and berries become increasingly important.
  • They readily eat fruits from native plants such as:
    • Toyon
    • Elderberry
    • Coffeeberry
    • Sumac
    • Blackberry
  • One of their most famous feeding behaviors is the double-scratch, where they hop backward with both feet simultaneously and then lunge forward to uncover hidden insects and seeds beneath leaves.
  • If you've ever heard loud rustling coming from beneath a shrub, there's a good chance a Spotted Towhee was responsible.
Nesting & Reproduction
  • Spotted Towhees typically place their nests low in shrubs, dense vegetation, or occasionally on the ground beneath protective cover.
  • Females build cup-shaped nests using bark, twigs, grasses, rootlets, and leaves.
  • Typical clutches contain 3–5 eggs, which are pale with reddish-brown speckles.
  • Females perform most of the incubation, while males help defend the territory and assist with feeding nestlings.
  • Young birds leave the nest after about 10–12 days but continue receiving parental care as they learn to forage.
  • Pairs may raise more than one brood during a productive breeding season.
Songs & Sounds
  • The Spotted Towhee's song is one of the characteristic sounds of western shrublands.
  • Birders often describe the song as:
    "Drink-your-tea!"
    or
    "Tow-heeee!
  • Males often sing from exposed perches on shrubs, fence posts, or low tree branches.
  • Their call note is a sharp, metallic "chewink," a sound many birders learn to recognize before they ever see the bird.
  • Throughout the breeding season, males can be surprisingly vocal and persistent singers.
Behavior & Personality
  • Spotted Towhees are energetic, inquisitive birds that spend much of their time near the ground.
  • Although they often remain hidden in dense vegetation, they are not particularly shy and may forage openly once they feel secure.
  • They frequently flick their tails, flash white tail corners, and hop through undergrowth while searching for food.
  • Males can become highly territorial during breeding season and vigorously defend nesting areas.
  • Like many members of the sparrow family, they often forage alone or in pairs but may join mixed-species feeding groups during winter.
  • Their combination of bold plumage and secretive habits makes every sighting feel special.
Interesting & Unexpected Facts
  • The Spotted Towhee was once grouped with the Eastern Towhee as a single species known simply as the "Rufous-sided Towhee." Scientists split them into separate species in 1995.
  • The name "towhee" comes from one of the bird's common calls, which early naturalists thought sounded like "tow-hee."
  • Spotted Towhees occasionally mimic sounds from their environment and can have regional variations in song.
  • The oldest recorded Spotted Towhee lived more than 12 years in the wild.
  • They are important seed dispersers for many native shrubs and help control insect populations throughout their range.
How to Attract Spotted Towhees to Your Yard
  • Spotted Towhees are among the easiest native songbirds to attract if your yard provides dense cover and natural food sources.
  • Add native plants that attract towhees to your yard.
  • They prefer landscapes with layered vegetation and shrubs that provide both shelter and nesting opportunities.
  • Leaving some leaf litter beneath shrubs creates excellent foraging habitat.
  • Fresh water from a birdbath is especially attractive during San Diego's warm summer months.
  • Unlike many sparrows, Spotted Towhees frequently feed on the ground beneath feeders and readily eat:
    • Black oil sunflower
    • Sunflower chips
    • Millet
    • Cracked corn
  • Many Wild Birds Unlimited customers find that No-Mess Blend, Shelled Sunflower, and Millet-based blends attract towhees when offered on platform feeders or allowed to scatter beneath feeders.
Why We Love Spotted Towhees

Spotted Towhees bring together the best qualities of a backyard bird: they're beautiful, active, vocal, and full of personality. Whether they're scratching through leaves beneath a shrub, singing from a canyon hillside, or flashing those brilliant red eyes from a garden fence, they add life and excitement to every habitat they call home.
 

What’s happening in San Diego:


Please note: This information is compiled by hand (not AI) and mistakes or changes are possible. Please be sure to confirm dates/times/locations on the pages linked before leaving for an event.

SoCal Bird Nerds

  • Bird Outing
    • Date: July 12, 2026
    • Time: 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
    • Location: Kate Sessions Park, 5115 Soledad Rd., San Diego
    • Event Link
 Solana Beach Eco Rotary Club
  • Movie screening: The Little Things That Run The World
    • Date: August 1, 2026
    • Time: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
    • Location: Dove Library, 1775 Dove Lane, Carlsbad
    • Event Link

San Diego Bird Alliance (formerly San Diego Audubon Society)

  • Map Your Watershed at Otay Valley Regional Park
    • Date: July 5, 2026
    • Time: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
    • Location: Otay Valley Regional Park Ranger Station, 2155 Beyer Boulevard, San Diego
    • Event Link
  •  Reptile Walk
    • Date: July 8, 2026
    • Time: 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
    • Location: Provided once you register
    • Event Link
  •  Anstine After Sunset
    • Date: July 10, 2026
    • Time: 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM
    • Location: Anstine Nature Preserve, 2437 Hutchison St., Vista
    • Event Link
  •  Bird Outing: Lakeside’s River Park
    • Date: July 11, 2026
    • Time: 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM
    • Location: Lakeside Riverpark Conservancy Field Station, 12108 Industry Road, Lakeside
    • Event Link
  • Wonder the Wetlands: Fish Seining, Invertebrates & Water Qualify
    • Date: July 11, 2026
    • Time: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
    • Location: Crown Point Dr, San Diego – details on link
    • Event Link
  •  Queer Hike – Trans-Only Day: Marian Bear
    • Date: July 14, 2026
    • Time: 7:30 AM to 10:00 AM
    • Location: 5544 Regents Road - East side, San Diego
    • Event Link
  • Love Birds Screening at the Nat
    • Date: July 15, 2026
    • Time: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
    • Location: San Diego Natural History Museum, 1788 El Prado Balboa Park, San Diego
    • Event Link                
  • Stewardship Thursday at Anstine
    • Dates: July 16, 2026
    • Time: 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
    • Location: Anstine Nature Preserve, 2437 Hutchison St., Vista 
    • Event Link                
  • Wonder the Wetlands
    • Date: July 16, 2026
    • Time: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
    • Location: Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve, 2055 Pacific Beach Drive, San Diego
    • Event Link
  •  Rose Creek Habitat Restoration
    • Date: July 17, 2026
    • Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
    • Location: Rose Creek Cottage 1900, 2525 Garnet Ave, San Diego
    • Event Link                
  • Birding Outing: Famosa Slough
    • Date: July 18, 2026
    • Time: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
    • Location: 4285 W. Pt. Loma Blvd, San Diego
    • Event Link
  •  Clapper Stick Workshop with Native Pathways
    • Date: July 18, 2026
    • Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
    • Location: Anstine Nature Preserve, 2437 Hutchison Street, Vista
    • Event Link
  •  Famosa Slough Habitat Restoration and Maintenance
    • Date: July 24, 2026
    • Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
    • Location: Famosa Slough, 2551-2599 Famosa Blvd, San Diego
    • Event Link
  • Silverwood After Sunset: Owls, Moths and More!
    • Date: July 24, 2026
    • Time: 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM
    • Location: Silverwood Wildlife Sanctuary, 13003 Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside
    • Event Link
  •  Queer Hike: Hillcrest
    • Date: July 25, 2026
    • Time: 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM
    • Location: Old Town (intersection of Vermont St. and Cypress Ave.), San Diego
    • Event Link
  •  Wonder the Wetlands: Work Party
    • Date: July 25, 2026
    • Time: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
    • Location: Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve, 2055 Pacific Beach Drive, San Diego
    • Event Link
  •  Birding Outing with Friends of Rose Creek
    • Date: July 25, 2026
    • Time: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
    • Location: Mission Bay High School, 2475 Grand Avenue, San Diego
    • Event Link
  •  Birding by Trolley:  Old Town to Mission Bay
    • Date: July 30, 2026
    • Time: 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
    • Location: Old Town Transit Station, 4009 Taylor St, San Diego
    • Event Link

Palomar Audubon Society

  • Mile 19 Pullout, Laguna Mountains Field Trip
    • Date: July 4, 2026
    • Time: 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
    • Location: Mile 19 pullout, Mount Laguna (see link for directions)
    • Event Link
  •  Tijuana Estuary Field Trip
    • Date: July 11, 2026
    • Time: 8:00 AM to 121:00 AM
    • Location: Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center, 301 Caspian Way, Imperial Beach
    • Event Link
  •  William Heise County Park (Julian) Field Trip
    • Date: July 18, 2026
    • Time: 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
    • Location: Heise, 4945 Heise Park Road, Julian
    • Event Link
  • Birding Adventure: Maine
    • Dates: July 18 to 23, 2026
    • Time: 8:00 AM July 18 to 5:00 PM July 23
    • Location: See Link
    • Event Link
 Buena Vista Audubon Society
  • Whelan Lake Bird Sanctuary Walk
    • Date: July 4, 2026
    • Time: 7:45 AM – 9:00 AM
    • Location: Whelan Lake, 3850 North River Road, Oceanside
    • Event Link
  •  El Corazon Garrison Creek
    • Date: July 8, 2026
    • Time: 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
    • Location: El Corazon Garrison Creek, Oceanside
    • Event Link
  •  Buena Vista Lagoon Nature Camp
    • Dates: July 13 to 17, 2026
    • Time: 9:00 AM July 13  – 12:00 PM July 17
    • Location: Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center, 2202 South Coast Hwy., Oceanside
    • Event Link
  •  Birding with Barbara
    • Date: July 18, 2026
    • Time: 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM
    • Location: La Orilla Trail at San Elijo Lagoon
    • Event Link
  •  Nature Journaling
    • Date: July 19, 2026
    • Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
    • Location: Self-Realization Fellowship Meditation Gardens, 215 W. K Street, Encinitas
    • Event Link
 San Diego Botanical Gardens
  • Bird Walk
    • Date: July 8, 2026
    • Time: 8:00 AM
    • Location: San Diego Botanical Gardens, 300 Quail Gardens Dr., Encinitas
    • Event Link
  • Butterfly Walk
    • Dates: July 13 and 27, 2026 (weather permitting)
    • Time: 10:00 AM
    • Location: San Diego Botanical Gardens, 300 Quail Gardens Dr., Encinitas
    • Event Link

San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy

  • SDRVC Slow Flow Outdoor Yoga with Anna at the Birdwing
    • Date: July 11, 2026
    • Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
    • Location: San Dieguito Lagoon Staging Area, 15648 San Andres Drive, Del Mar
    • Event Link
  •  SDRVC Outdoor Yoga with Susan at the Birdwing
    • Dates: July 19, 2026
    • Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
    • Location: San Dieguito Lagoon Staging Area, 15648 San Andres Drive, Del Mar
    • Event Link
  •  SDRVC Monthly Walk N Talk @ Crest Canyon & River Path Del Mar
    • Dates: July 31, 2026
    • Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
    • Location: 2351 Lozana Rd, Del Mar
    • Event Link
 San Elijo Lagoon Nature Collective
  • Discovery Tour
    • Date: July 4, 2026
    • Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
    • Location: San Elijo Lagoon, Nature Center Loop Trail, 2710 Manchester Ave., Cardiff-by-the-Sea
    • Event Link
  •  Volunteer Restoration Event
    • Date: July 8, 2026
    • Time: 8:30 AM – 11:30 PM
    • Location: Will be shared before the event
    • Event Link
  •  Wildlife Tour
    • Date: July 11, 2026
    • Time: 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
    • Location: San Elijo Lagoon (location will be emailed)
    • Event Link
  •  Volunteer Restoration Event
    • Date: July 18, 2026
    • Time: 8:30 AM – 11:30 PM
    • Location: Will be shared before the event
    • Event Link
 Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation
  • Trail Restoration – Hubbs Trail
    • Date: July 22, 2026
    • Time: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
    • Location: Hubbs Trail, 4200 Garfield Street, Carlsbad
    • Event Link
  • Carlsbad Wine & Food Festival
    • Date: July 25, 2026
    • Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
    • Location: Viasat East Campus – 2456 Town Garden Rd, Carlsbad
    • Event Link
  • Marine Monday
    • Date: Every Monday
    • Time: 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
    • Location: The Discovery Campus, 1580 Cannon Road, Carlsbad
    • Event Link
  •  Terrific Bug Tuesday
    • Date: Every Tuesday
    • Time: 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
    • Location: The Discovery Campus, 1580 Cannon Road, Carlsbad
    • Event Link
  •  Tales & Trails
    • Date: Every Tuesday
    • Time: 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
    • Location: The Discovery Campus, 1580 Cannon Road, Carlsbad
    • Event Link
  •  Wiiwish & More
    • Date: Every Wednesday
    • Time: 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
    • Location: The Discovery Campus, 1580 Cannon Road, Carlsbad
    • Event Link
  •  Chicken Check-In
    • Date: Every Wednesday
    • Time: 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
    • Location: The Discovery Campus, 1580 Cannon Road, Carlsbad
    • Event Link
  •  Quail Encounters
    • Date: Every Thursday
    • Time: 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
    • Location: The Discovery Campus, 1580 Cannon Road, Carlsbad
    • Event Link
  •  Little Owl Thursday
    • Date: Every Thursday
    • Time: 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
    • Location: The Discovery Campus, 1580 Cannon Road, Carlsbad
    • Event Link
  •  Friday Fairy Fables
    • Date: Every Friday
    • Time: 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
    • Location: The Discovery Campus, 1580 Cannon Road, Carlsbad
    • Event Link
  •  Falcon Feeding Friday
    • Date: Every Friday
    • Time: 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
    • Location: The Discovery Campus, 1580 Cannon Road, Carlsbad
    • Event Link
  • Snake Slither Sessions
    • Date: Every Saturday
    • Time: 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
    • Location: The Discovery Campus, 1580 Cannon Road, Carlsbad
    • Event Link
  • Sensory Sunday
    • Date: Every Sunday
    • Time: 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
    • Location: The Discovery Campus, 1580 Cannon Road, Carlsbad
    • Event Link

Living Coast Discovery Center

Tijuana Estuary

  • Bird Walk
    • Dates: July 11, 18, and 25, 2026
    • Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
    • Location: Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center, 301 Caspian Wy, Imperial Beach
    • Event Link
  •  Nature Walk
    • Date: July 11, 2026
    • Time:  11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
    • Location: 5th Street & Iris Avenue, 5th St & Iris Ave, Imperial Beach
    • Event Link
  •  Nature Book Club
    • Date: July 25, 2026
    • Time:  10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
    • Location: Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center, 301 Caspian Wy, Imperial Beach
    • Event Link

 Additional Resources:
San Diego Bird Alliance
Buena Vista Audubon Society
Palomar Audubon Society
San Diego Natural History Museum Canyoneers Hikes
San Diego Natural History Museum Nat Talks
San Diego Natural History Museum Community Science
San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy
San Dieguito Lagoon
San Elijo Lagoon
Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation
Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve
Living Coast Discovery Center
California State Parks Foundation
San Diego County Parks and Recreation
California Native Plant Society San Diego Chapter
San Diego Canyonlands
Wildlife Research Organization
Ramona Barn Owls
Project Wildlife

Organizations we support:

San Diego Bird Alliance
Wildlife Research Organization
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Ramona Barn Owls
Project Wildlife