April lies within the heart of the Bay Area’s spring bird migration. This month, we will be on the lookout for Allen's hummingbirds. This time of year, these colorful migrants pass through our region on their way to nesting sites along the coast. With luck, we may also see rufous hummingbirds bound for Oregon and further north.

We will discuss why some very similar species, such as Allen’s and rufous hummers, are so similar that they cannot be truly identified unless they are net-captured and ID’ed “in the hand” by experts. In our wetlands and ponds, we may spot migrating ducks, including gadwall, American widgeon, cinnamon teal, green-winged teal, greater scaup, bufflehead, red-breasted merganser, and ruddy duck, along with various species of grebes and other birds.

Naturalist Jerry Coe will show us how to identify birds by shape, flight patterns, calls, and habitat. In addition, he’ll offer tips on how to effectively use binoculars and bird guides. Jerry has over eight years of intensive training in ornithological field identification. He spent 15 years as a volunteer in Nevada’s Great Basin National Park, using bird activities to assess the health of habitats. Jerry has also guided outdoor expeditions all over the world.