Newsletter - October 2026

Spotlight: The Amazing Eyes of Birds - Seeing the World Through a Bird’s Eyes

Have you ever wondered what a bird sees when it looks at you? A Northern Mockingbird perched on your fence, a hummingbird hovering beside a flower, or a Cooper’s Hawk watching your backyard feeder is not simply seeing the same world we see. Birds have evolved remarkably sophisticated visual systems that help them find food, recognize mates, navigate, avoid predators, locate prey, and maneuver through the air.

Some birds can detect ultraviolet wavelengths that humans cannot see. Raptors can resolve exceptionally fine details from a distance. Owls have eyes specialized for gathering light in dim conditions. Birds that fly over the ocean, hunt underwater, or move through dense vegetation have still other adaptations. There is no single type of “bird vision.” Different species have different visual systems because their eyes have evolved to meet the demands of their particular lifestyles.

The Basic Bird Eye

A bird's eye contains many of the same basic structures found in our eyes, including a cornea, lens, retina, and photoreceptors. The retina contains two major types of light-sensitive cells: rods, which are especially important in low light, and cones, which provide color vision and fine visual detail. The proportions of rods and cones vary among species. A daytime bird generally has a retina well suited to color and detail, while a nocturnal hunter such as an owl has a much greater emphasis on rods.

Bird eyes are also remarkably large relative to body size. Larger eyes can gather more light and produce a larger image on the retina, although there are costs to carrying and supporting such large structures. Evolution has therefore produced different eye sizes and shapes according to each bird's needs.

Eye Shape, Foveae and a Specialized Retina

Researchers generally describe three basic avian eye shapes: flat, globose, and tubular. Many songbirds have relatively flat eyes, diurnal birds of prey tend to have more globose eyes since they’re active during the day, and owls have highly elongated tubular eyes that are particularly effective at gathering available light. Birds also have a ring of tiny bones called scleral ossicles surrounding the eye. These overlapping bones help support the shape of the eyeball, which is especially important in birds with very large eyes.

Inside the eye is another unusual structure called the pecten oculi. Found only in birds, this dark, comb-like structure contains numerous blood vessels and projects into the vitreous chamber. It is thought to help supply nutrients and oxygen to the avian retina, which is largely free of blood vessels in its central region. Scientists continue to study its exact functions.

Many birds have a specialized retinal area called the fovea, where visual acuity is especially high. Humans have one fovea in each eye, while some birds have two. Birds with two foveae essentially have two distinct high-resolution "focus zones" inside each eye, allowing them to see simultaneously in two different directions. This contributes to raptors extraordinary ability to resolve detail, particularly when locating prey at a distance.

Eyes Positioned for Survival

Look at a hawk, eagle, or falcon and compare its face with that of a typical songbird. Raptors have relatively forward-facing eyes, producing a large area of overlapping binocular vision. This helps them judge depth and distance - essential skills when pursuing moving prey.

A songbird faces a different challenge. A House Finch or Lesser Goldfinch feeding in the open needs to remain alert to predators approaching from many directions. Eyes positioned more toward the sides of the head provide a wider field of view.

The placement of a bird's eyes therefore reflects its lifestyle. Forward-facing eyes are particularly useful for precision hunting, while more laterally positioned eyes provide broader surveillance.

Why Birds Move Their Heads

Birds generally have less ability to move their eyeballs within their sockets than humans do. They compensate by moving their heads to change their visual field. That is why a bird may suddenly turn its head when you approach. It is repositioning its eyes to gather more information.

Owls take this adaptation to an extreme. Their eyes are relatively fixed within their sockets, so they rely heavily on head movement. An owl can rotate its head by roughly 270 degrees, giving it an enormous effective field of view without moving its eyes.

The Third Eyelid

Birds have something humans do not: a third eyelid, called the nictitating membrane. This thin, translucent membrane sweeps across the eye from the inner corner. It helps protect and moisten the eye while still allowing some light to pass through. It is particularly useful for birds flying at high speed, moving through dusty vegetation, or diving into water.

The membrane also helps distribute the tear film and remove particles from the surface of the eye.

A World of Color We Cannot See

One of the most fascinating differences between human and bird vision is color. Humans have three types of color-sensitive cones, while birds generally have four, giving them tetrachromatic vision. That fourth cone allows birds to detect shorter wavelengths than humans can see, although there are two different versions of this system: ultraviolet-sensitive (UVS) and violet-sensitive (VS) vision.

The difference is in the wavelength to which that fourth cone is most sensitive. UVS birds, such as American Goldfinches and European Starlings, have a cone that is most sensitive to ultraviolet wavelengths, roughly 355–380 nanometers. VS birds, such as pigeons and Black-chinned Hummingbirds, have a cone that is most sensitive to violet wavelengths, roughly 402–426 nanometers. VS birds can still detect some ultraviolet light, but their visual system is shifted toward violet rather than UV.

This difference gives birds access to visual information that is invisible to us. A bird's feathers may reflect ultraviolet wavelengths that we cannot see, potentially providing information about a mate or rival. American Goldfinches, for example, have ultraviolet-reflective plumage in addition to their familiar yellow coloration.

UV-sensitive vision can also help with finding food. Some fruits and berries reflect UV wavelengths, while certain flowers have UV patterns that can make parts of the flower more visually distinctive to birds. European Kestrels provide an especially unusual example: research has shown that they can use ultraviolet cues associated with the urine trails of small mammals when searching for prey.

Tiny Color Filters

Bird vision has another remarkable feature: many cone cells contain tiny oil droplets containing colored pigments. These droplets filter incoming light before it reaches the light-sensitive portion of the cone. Different pigments filter different wavelengths, effectively fine-tuning the light reaching each cone.

The result is a sophisticated optical system that does more than simply detect four basic colors. The incoming light is modified before the visual information is processed by the brain.

Cryptochrome: The Eye That May Help Birds Find Their Way

Bird eyes may do something even more surprising than detect light and color: they may help birds sense the Earth's magnetic field. Many migratory birds can use the Earth's magnetic field as part of their navigational system. Scientists have found evidence that this magnetic compass is light-dependent and involves the eyes.

One leading explanation involves proteins called cryptochromes, which are found in the retina. When exposed to short-wavelength light, cryptochrome can undergo chemical reactions involving pairs of molecules called radical pairs. The Earth's magnetic field can influence these reactions. Scientists believe this process may allow a bird to obtain directional information from the Earth's magnetic field. In effect, the eye may contribute information about the bird's orientation that can then be processed by the nervous system.

Exactly how this works is still being investigated. Cryptochrome is considered a leading candidate for the receptor involved in the light-dependent magnetic compass, but researchers continue to study how the magnetic signal is generated, separated from ordinary visual information, and interpreted by the brain. This discovery adds an extraordinary new dimension to our understanding of bird vision. A bird's eye may not simply tell it what it is seeing - it may also help tell it which direction it is traveling.

Owls: Seeing in Very Dim Light

Owls demonstrate a different solution to the problem of finding prey: maximize sensitivity to available light. Their large, tubular eyes gather as much light as possible, while their retinas contain a high proportion of rods, which are particularly sensitive in low-light conditions.

An owl cannot see in complete darkness because some light is still necessary. Under moonlight or during the dim conditions of dusk and dawn, however, its visual system is exceptionally well suited to detecting prey. Forward-facing eyes also provide excellent binocular vision for judging distance. Combined with their extraordinary hearing, owl vision forms part of a highly specialized nighttime hunting system.

Raptors: Eyes Built for Precision

Raptors combine several visual adaptations that make them exceptionally effective hunters: large eyes, highly developed retinas, specialized foveae, and forward-facing binocular vision. Many hawks and eagles also have a prominent supraorbital ridge above the eye. This bony structure helps protect and shade the eye from bright sunlight.

Their remarkable vision is not simply a matter of having “better eyes.” It is the result of multiple adaptations working together to detect movement, resolve fine details, judge distance, and track prey.

Not Every Bird Needs Eagle Eyes

A bird's visual system is shaped by its environment and lifestyle. A hawk needs to detect movement at a distance, an owl needs to gather light at night, a hummingbird needs to locate flowers while hovering, a shorebird needs to find food across mudflats, a songbird needs to find food while remaining alert for predators and a seabird may need to see both above and below the water. Each lifestyle presents different visual challenges, and evolution has produced different solutions.

Birds That See in Two Worlds

Water creates another difficult visual environment because light behaves differently as it passes between air and water. Aquatic birds have visual adaptations suited to their environment, including differences in eye and cornea shape.

Penguins provide a particularly interesting example because their eyes must function both underwater, while hunting and swimming, and above the water's surface. While on land, penguins have corneas that are very flat. This takes almost all the focusing power away from the cornea and nearly all the work is done by the lens. To form a sharp image both above and below water, the penguin’s eye must be able to change the shape of the lens a lot more than the lenses in either aquatic or land animals. Penguins’ lenses are softer and the muscles can squeeze them up against the opening of the pupil. This makes them bulge outwards in very rounded shape, allowing them to see clearly underwater.  This technique is used by other aquatic birds, but penguins are the masters.

Their visual systems illustrate another important principle of bird vision: an eye does not have to be optimized for just one environment.

The Next Time You Look Into a Bird's Eyes...

The next time a California Scrub-Jay lands on your fence, an Anna’s hummingbird hovers beside a flower, or a Cooper's Hawk watches your backyard from a nearby tree, take a closer look. Inside those seemingly simple eyes are specialized photoreceptors, color filters, a complex retina, and structures that have no direct counterpart in the human eye. The size, shape, and position of the eye can reveal clues about how a bird finds food, hunts, avoids predators, or navigates.

Perhaps the most amazing thing is that while we are watching the bird, the bird is watching us, too. It may be seeing colors we cannot see, detecting details we cannot resolve, and using its eyes as part of a navigation system that helps it understand the direction of the Earth's magnetic field.

The next time you look at a bird, remember: you may be looking at the same world—but you're not necessarily seeing the same world.


Bird of the Month: Black Phoebe


Adult Black Phoebe, Scripps Ranch (our backyard)

The Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) is one of those San Diego birds that becomes almost impossible to overlook once you know what to watch for. Dressed in contrasting black and white, it often sits quietly on a low branch, rock, fence, or other exposed perch near water. Then, in an instant, it launches into the air to snatch an insect before returning to its perch.

They have adapted remarkably well to places where people live. Natural streams and ponds provide ideal habitat, but irrigation channels, backyard water features, bridges, culverts, and other human-made structures can also provide the water, insects, mud, and sheltered nesting sites they need. In fact, San Diego is an excellent place to get to know this charismatic little flycatcher.

Appearance & Identification

• Black Phoebes are relatively small songbirds, measuring about 6¼–7 inches long, with a wingspan of roughly 11–13 inches. They are compact birds with a large, peaked head and an upright posture.
• Their most obvious feature is their dramatic black-and-white plumage. The head, back, breast, wings, and tail are sooty black or dark charcoal, while the belly is clean white.
• The contrast is particularly striking when the bird is perched in bright sunlight. From a distance, a Black Phoebe can look almost as though someone painted a white bib onto a tiny black bird.
• Juveniles have a somewhat different appearance. Instead of the crisp adult pattern, young birds have buffy or rusty edges on their wings and back feathers, giving them a softer, less sharply defined appearance.
• One of the easiest ways to recognize a Black Phoebe is by its behavior: look for a dark bird sitting upright on a low perch close to water, repeatedly chirping and twitching its tail up and down before suddenly darting away.

Range, Habitat & San Diego Presence

• Black Phoebes live primarily in the western United States, Mexico and Central and South America. They are particularly associated with habitats that provide both water and exposed perches.
• In San Diego County, Black Phoebes are year-round residents. The San Diego Bird Alliance's Christmas Bird Count records show the species has been recorded on every San Diego Christmas Bird Count since the first count in 1922. The 2025 count recorded 549 individuals, compared with an average of 218 between 1963 and 2023.
• San Diego's combination of waterways, wetlands, reservoirs, ponds, coastal habitats, and irrigated landscapes gives Black Phoebes abundant opportunities to find food and nesting sites.
• Particularly promising places to look include Cabrillo National Monument, Mission Trails Regional Park, the San Diego River, Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve, the Tijuana River Valley, the San Diego River, Sweetwater areas, and other parks and wetlands with open water. The National Park Service specifically lists Black Phoebes as year-round residents at Cabrillo National Monument.

What Black Phoebes Eat, their Behavior & Hunting Style

• Black Phoebes are almost exclusively insect and arthropod eaters. Their menu includes flies, beetles, bees, wasps, grasshoppers, dragonflies, damselflies, termites, spiders, and many other small creatures.
• Their hunting technique is called flycatching. The bird sits on a perch, watches for movement, and then launches into a short flight to capture prey.
• They don't always catch insects in midair. A Black Phoebe may pick an insect directly from vegetation, grab something from the ground, or even take prey from the surface of the water.
• On rare occasions, they will catch tiny fish or minnows just below the surface of the water - an unusual addition to an otherwise insect-heavy diet.
• Birds often perch within about seven feet of the ground or water, giving them an excellent vantage point for spotting insects.
• They are agile enough to hover briefly while picking insects from vegetation or the surface of water.
• They generally hunt during daylight hours, although Black Phoebes have occasionally been observed taking advantage of insects gathered around electric lights in the evening.
• Their dependence on insects means that a healthy Black Phoebe habitat is one where insect life is plentiful. A yard that is overly treated with pesticides can therefore be much less useful to them.

Nesting & Family Life

• During the breeding season, Black Phoebes are strongly territorial. They may defend a surprisingly large area around their nest and chase away other birds that come too close.
• Black Phoebes have a remarkable relationship with mud. Their nests are cup-shaped structures made primarily from mud and plant material and are attached to vertical surfaces.
• Historically, suitable nesting locations included protected rock faces, streamside boulders, and cavities. Today, Black Phoebes have embraced human-made structures such as bridges, culverts, building eaves, irrigation structures, and other sheltered surfaces.
• The nest is positioned beneath a protective overhang, generally only a few feet above the ground or water. The shelter above the nest helps protect it from rain and other elements.
• The female does the nest construction, using mud mixed with plant fibers and other soft materials. Building or refurbishing a nest can take one to three weeks.
• A clutch usually contains 3–6 eggs, with four being typical. The eggs are white and may have reddish-brown spots, particularly near the larger end.
• The female incubates the eggs for approximately 15–18 days. After hatching, both parents feed the young, which remain in the nest for another 18–21 days before fledging.
• A successful pair can raise two broods in a season, and occasionally three. Experienced breeding pairs may remain on or near the same territory from one year to the next.

Songs & Sounds

• The Black Phoebe has a distinctive sharp, high-pitched call that is often heard around ponds, streams, and other wet places.
• Its song is described as a thin, buzzy "pi-tsee", usually repeated several times.
• The male incorporates vocalizations into his courtship display. He may flutter rapidly in the air while calling before slowly descending.
• Black Phoebes also become more vocal when defending a territory or responding to potential threats near their nest.
• Their calls are particularly useful to birders because the bird may be sitting motionless and blending into a dark background. Learning the call can reveal a Black Phoebe's presence before your eyes locate it.

How to Attract Black Phoebes to Your Yard

• Black Phoebes aren't birds you attract with seed, but you can certainly attract them with live mealworms.  Not only will they frequent yards offering live mealworms, several people have reported throwing mealworms up in the air, then watching the black phoebe swoop down from a perch and grab it mid-air. 
• Some black phoebes will eat dried mealworms.  To attract them, try presenting them on a low, open platform or tray feeder, scatter a few on the ground where they frequently perch, and try soaking them in a bit of warm water to rehydrate them.
• Be sure to have a water source in your backyard. A pond, recirculating water feature, or other reliable water source can create both drinking opportunities and habitat for insects. Even a birdbath can make a yard more interesting to a Black Phoebe, particularly if it is positioned where the bird has an unobstructed perch nearby.
• Provide low perches near water. A branch, fence, railing, garden structure, or other elevated point gives a Black Phoebe the perfect place to watch for passing insects.
• Avoid eliminating insects from the landscape. Black Phoebes depend on insects, so eliminating pesticide use can make a yard more useful to them.
• If you have a pond or natural water feature, leave some surrounding vegetation rather than making the entire shoreline completely bare. A mixture of open water, plants, and perching locations can provide several of the elements these flycatchers need.

Why We Love Black Phoebes

Black Phoebes may not have the brilliant colors of a hummingbird or the elaborate songs of a mockingbird, but they have something equally captivating: personality and precision.

Their story is also a reminder that wildlife can adapt to our changing world. Black Phoebes have learned to use bridges, culverts, irrigation structures, ponds, and buildings alongside natural streams and wetlands. Yet their continued success still depends on clean water, healthy insect populations, and places where they can find mud and shelter.

So the next time you're near a San Diego stream, pond, lagoon, or even a backyard water feature, look for the little black-and-white bird perched close by.
Watch the tail. Wait for the sudden flight. And you may get to see one of San Diego's most entertaining flycatchers at work.

 

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

• World Beat Center Outing
  • Date: October 11, 2026
  • Time: 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
  • Location: Worldbeat Cultural Center, 2100 Park Blvd., San Diego
  • Event Link

San Diego Bird Alliance (formerly San Diego Audubon Society)

• River Mouth Restoration
  • Date: October 2, 2026
  • Time: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
  • Location: Ocean Beach - Dog Beach, 5156W W Point Loma Blvd., San Diego
  • Event Link
• Tijuana River Action Month: Bilingual Watershed Walk in the Tijuana River Valley
  • Date: October 3, 2026
  • Time: 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
  • Location: Tijuana River Valley Regional Park,2721 Monument Road, San Diego
  • Event Link
• Ecology on the Edge: Birding for Climate and Environmental Justice at TJ Estuary with FBC San Diego
  • Date: October 3, 2026
  • Time: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
  • Location: Tijuana River Estuary, Imperial Beach
  • Event Link
• Anstine Preserve Projects
  • Date: October 3, 2026
  • Time: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM
  • Location: Anstine Nature Preserve, 2437 Hutchison St., Vista
  • Event Link
•  Rose Creek Planting Event
  • Date: October 3, 2026
  • Time: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
  • Location: Rose Creek Cottage 1900,2525 Garnet Ave, San Diego
  • Event Link
• Discovery Sunday Performance of a Black-Billed Cuckoo at La Jolla Playhouse
  • Date: October 4, 2026
  • Time: 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
  • Location: La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego
  • Event Link
• Bird Outing: Lakeside’s River Park
  • Date: October 10, 2026
  • Time: 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM
  • Location: Lakeside Riverpark Conservancy Field Station, 12108 Industry Road, Lakeside
  • Event Link
•  Wonder the Wetlands special event (Bilingual)
  • Date: October 10, 2026
  • Time: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
  • Location: Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve, 2055 Pacific Beach Drive, San Diego
  • Event Link
•  Map Your Watershed at Otay Valley Regional Park
  • Date: October 10, 2026
  • Time: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
  • Location: Otay Valley Regional Park Ranger Station, 2155 Beyer Boulevard, San Diego
  • Event Link
•  Stewardship Thursday at Anstine
  • Date: October 15, 2026
  • Time: 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
  • Location: Anstine Nature Preserve, 2437 Hutchison St., Vista
  • Event Link
•  Rose Creek Habitat Restoration
  • Date: October 16, 2026
  • Time: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
  • Location: Rose Creek Cottage 1900,2525 Garnet Ave, San Diego
  • Event Link
• Native Plant Invasion: Otay Mesa-Nestor Public Library
  • Date: October 16, 2026
  • Time: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
  • Location: Otay Mesa - Nestor Public Library, 3003 Coronado Ave., San Diego
  • Event Link
•  Queer Hike: Spooky Sunset Stroll in IB
  • Date: October 16, 2026
  • Time: 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
  • Location: Bayside Birding and Walking Trail, 495 10th St., Imperial Beach
  • Event Link
•  Grebes at Lake Wohlford
  • Date: October 17, 2026
  • Time: 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
  • Location: Lake Wohlford Ranger Station, 25453 Lake Wohlford Road, Escondido
  • Event Link
•  Bird Photography Club: Photo Stroll at San Elijo Lagoon
  • Date: October 17, 2026
  • Time: 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
  • Location: San Elijo Lagoon, Cardiff By The Sea
  • Event Link
•  Birding Outing: San Diego River Mouth (Robb Field)
  • Date: October 17, 2026
  • Time: 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM
  • Location: San Diego River – Robb Field, San Diego
  • Event Link
•  Birding Outing: Famosa Slough
  • Date: October 17, 2026
  • Time: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
  • Location: 4285 W. Pt. Loma Blvd, San Diego
  • Event Link
• Birding Outing with Friends of Rose Creek
  • Date: October 17, 2026
  • Time: 4:15 PM to 6:15 PM
  • Location: Mission Bay High School,2475 Grand Avenue, San Diego
  • Event Link
•  Birding by Ear: Harry Griffen Regional Park
  • Date: October 18, 2026
  • Time: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
  • Location: Harry Griffen Park, 9550 Milden St., La Mesa
  • Event Link
•  Famosa Slough Habitat Restoration and Maintenance
  • Date: October 23, 2026
  • Time: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
  • Location: Famosa Slough,2551-2599 Famosa Blvd, San Diego
  • Event Link
•  Birding Outing: Tecolote Canyon with Anitra Kaye
  • Date: October 24, 2026
  • Time: 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
  • Location: Tecolote Canyon, San Diego – see link for directions
  • Event Link
•  Wonder the Wetlands: Work Party (Bilingual)
  • Date: October 24, 2026
  • Time: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
  • Location: Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve, 2055 Pacific Beach Drive, San Diego
  • Event Link
• Ancient Spirits Speak Ethnobotany Walk and Oak Gall Pigment Activity
  • Date: October 24, 2026
  • Time: 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
  • Location: Silverwood Wildlife Sanctuary, 13003 Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside
  • Event Link
• “Spooky” Mini Pelagic Trip
  • Date: October 3, 2026
  • Time: 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM
  • Location: Seaforth Sport Fishing, 1717 Quivira Rd, San Diego
  • Event Link

Palomar Audubon Society

• Kit Carson Park
  • Date: October 3, 2026
  • Time: 8:00 AM to 11:30 PM
  • Location: Kit Carson Park, 100 Amphitheatre Dr., Escondido
  • Event Link
•  Oak Hill Memorial Park Field Trip
  • Date: October 10, 2026
  • Time: 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
  • Location: Oak Hill Memorial Park,2640 Glenridge Rd, Escondido
  • Event Link
•  Lake Wolford Field Trip
  • Date: October 17, 2026
  • Time: 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
  • Location: Lake Wolford,Valley Center
  • Event Link

 Buena Vista Audubon Society

• Whelan Lake Bird Sanctuary Walk
  • Date: October 3, 2026
  • Time: 7:45 AM – 9:00 AM
  • Location: 3850 N. River Rd., Oceanside
  • Event Link
•  Kids’ Nature Clubhouse
  • Date: October 11, 2026
  • Time: 11:00 AM  – 12:30 PM
  • Location: Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center, 2202 South Coast Hwy., Oceanside
  • Event Link
• El Corazon Garrison Creek
  • Date: October 14, 2026
  • Time: 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
  • Location: El Corazon Garrison Creek, Oceanside
  • Event Link
•  BVAS Birdhouse and Nature Art Auction
  • Date: October 17, 2026
  • Time: 4:00 PM  – 6:30 PM
  • Location: Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center, 2202 South Coast Hwy., Oceanside
  • Event Link
•  Birding with Barbara
  • Date: October 17, 2026
  • Time: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
  • Location: San Dieguito County Park, 1628 Lomas Santa Fe Dr., Del Mar
  • Event Link
•  Nature Journaling
  • Date: October 18, 2026
  • Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
  • Location: Cottonwood Creek Park, 95 North Vulcan Avenue, Encinitas
  • Event Link
•  Protecting the Birds, People and Habitats of the Salton Sea
  • Date: October 21, 2026
  • Time: 6:45 PM  – 9:00 PM
  • Location: Zoom
  • Event Link
• Preschool Nature Storytime
  • Date: October 26, 2026
  • Time: 10:00 AM  – 11:00 AM
  • Location: Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center, 2202 South Coast Hwy., Oceanside
  • Event Link
• Coastal 101 Birding (Oceanside)
  • Date: October 31, 2026
  • Time: 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
  • Location: 2202 S. Coast Highway, Oceanside
  • Event Link

San Diego Botanical Gardens

• Bird Walk
  • Date: October 14, 2026
  • Time: 8:00 AM
  • Location: San Diego Botanical Gardens, 300 Quail Gardens Dr., Encinitas
  • Event Link
• Butterfly Walk
  • Dates: October 12 and 26, 2026 (weather permitting)
  • Time: 10:00 AM
  • Location: San Diego Botanical Gardens, 300 Quail Gardens Dr., Encinitas
  • Event Link October 12    Event Link October 26

San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy

• SDRVC Creekside Critters featuring Helen Woodward Animal Center
  • Date: October 3, 2026
  • Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Location: Del Mar Library, 1309 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar
  • Event Link
•  SDRVC Slow Flow Outdoor Yoga with Anna at the Birdwing
  • Date: October 10, 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: October 18, 2026
  • Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
  • Location: San Dieguito Lagoon Staging Area, 15648 San Andres Drive, Del Mar
  • Event Link
•  Gonzales Canyon Habitat Restoration
  • Dates: October 24, 2026
  • Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Location: 13655 Sword Way, 13655 Sword Way, San Diego
  • Event Link
• SDRVC Art in Nature Workshop Series
  • Dates: October 25, 2026
  • Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Location: Birdwing Open Air Classroom, 15648 San Andres Dr, Del Mar
  • Event Link
•  SDRVC Monthly Walk N Talk @ Santa Ysabel West
  • Dates: October 30, 2026
  • Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Location: Santa Ysabel County Preserves - West, 29759 Old Julian Highway, Ramona
  • Event Link

San Elijo Lagoon Nature Collective

• Discovery Tour
  • Date: October 3, 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
•  Coffee + Connections Open House
  • Date: October 9, 2026
  • Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
  • Location: San Elijo Lagoon, Nature Center Loop Trail, 2710 Manchester Ave., Cardiff-by-the-Sea
  • Event Link
• Volunteer Orientation
  • Date: October 10, 2026
  • Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Location: Virtual event, see link
  • Event Link
•  Wildlife Tour
  • Date: October 10, 2026
  • Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
  • Location: San Elijo Lagoon (location will be emailed)
  • Event Link
• Volunteer Orientation
  • Date: October 16, 2026
  • Time: 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
  • Location: Virtual event, see link
  • Event Link
•  Volunteer Restoration Event
  • Date: October 17, 2026
  • Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Location: Will be shared before the event
  • Event Link
• Fall Festival
  • Date: October 18, 2026
  • Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
  • Location: San Dieguito County Park, 1628 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Del Mar
  • Event Link

 Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation

• Haunted Corn Maze
  • Dates: October 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, 31, 2026
  • Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location: Carlsbad Strawberry Company, 1050 Cannon Rd, Carlsbad 
  • Event Link
• Discovery Island & Piper’s Playhouse Ribbon Cutting
  • Date: October 17, 2026
  • Time: 11:30 AM
  • Location: The Discovery Campus, 1580 Cannon Road, Carlsbad
  • Event Link
• Mammal Mornings
  • Date: Every Monday
  • Time: 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
  • Location: The Discovery Campus, 1580 Cannon Road, 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

• Sweetwater Safari Hike
  • Dates: October 3, 10, 17 and 31, 2026
  • Time: 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Location: Living Coast Discovery Center, 1000 Gunpowder Point Drive, Chula Vista
  • Event Link

Tijuana Estuary

• Tour of the Tijuana River Valley
  • Date: October 1, 2026
  • Time:  9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
  • Location: Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center, 301 Caspian Wy, Imperial Beach
  • Event Link
•  San Diego Climate Week Water Summit
  • Date: October 1, 2026
  • Time:  4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
  • Location: 1845 Strand Way, Coronado
  • Event Link
•  Tijuana River Valley Watershed Walk
  • Date: October 3, 2026
  • Time:  8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
  • Location: 2721 Monument Rd, San Diego
  • Event Link
•  Climate Week - Day at the Farm
  • Date: October 3, 2026
  • Time:  11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Location: 2225 Hollister St, San Diego
  • Event Link
• Creating the Climate Future We Want: Art, Hope and Community-Led Stewardship
  • Date: October 3, 2026
  • Time:  10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
  • Location: Sweetwater Marsh Unit 1080 Gunpowder Point Drive Chula Vista
  • Event Link
• Experience Monument Mesa @ Border Field State Park
  • Date: October 3, 2026
  • Time:  11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  • Location: 1250 Monument Rd, San Diego
  • Event Link
• Bird Walk
  • Dates: October 10, 17, 24 and 31, 2026
  • Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
  • Location: Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center, 301 Caspian Wy, Imperial Beach
  • Event Link
•  Play: Shuuluk Wechuwvi – Where Lightning Was Born
  • Date: October 4, 2026
  • Time:  11:00 AM – 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 5:00 pm
  • Location: Living Coast Discovery Center, 1000 Gunpowder Point Dr.  Chula Vista
  • Event Link
•  Coastal Defenders Knowledge Exchange: Celestial Navigation
  • Date: October 4, 2026
  • Time:  2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
  • Location: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 8622 Kennel Way, La Jolla
  • Event Link
•  Nature Walk
  • Date: October 10, 2026
  • Time:  11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
  • Location: 5th St & Iris Ave, Imperial Beach
  • Event Link
•  Birds at Sunset: A Free Public Event at Tijuana Estuary
  • Date: October 10, 2026
  • Time:  3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
  • Location: Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center, 301 Caspian Wy, Imperial Beach
  • Event Link
•  Nature Book Club
  • Date: October 24, 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