Backyard Birds for Beginners at McClellan Ranch Preserve

TRIP POLICY: Please limit your sign-ups to 1 weekend trip and 2 weekday trips per month. Also, please take a moment to read our other policies here.

Backyard Birds for Beginners at McClellan Ranch Preserve

Learn birding basics and your backyard birds on this beginners' bird walk, meet some new people, and experience the joys of birding! This event will start outside the SCVAS Nature Shop in Cupertino, where we will focus on the birds that visit our feeders. These are the same backyard birds that you may see in your garden. With the help of our volunteers, you’ll learn how to use binoculars to observe the birds that come to the feeders, how to use Merlin, (a free bird identification app for both android and iPhones) that is helpful for new birders, and learn birding basics. We’ll then take a short stroll together along the Stevens Creek Trail, looking for and identifying birds in varied habitats. Afterwards, we’ll email you a list of the bird species observed and a guide to additional birding resources. Trip limited to 8 participants.

Trip Difficulty: less than 1 mile, paved flat path

Other Trip Notes: loaner binoculars available

Leaders: Peg Albrets (408) 891-3554 and Eve Meier (408) 569-9391

Beginner Friendly, Wheelchair Accessible, Loaner Binoculars Available

Meet: In front of the SCVAS Nature Shop

Directions: From I-280 in Cupertino, exit Foothill Expy. Travel south onto Foothill Blvd for 1.3 miles. Turn left onto McClellan Rd and continue for 0.5 miles. Turn left into the overflow parking lot (Latitude/Longitude: 37.313534, -122.064897). The nature shop is located across the creek at the preserve entrance (address: 22221 McClellan Rd, Cupertino, CA 95014, Latitude/Longitude: 37.313072, -122.063695.

Facilities: ADA compliant bathroom, drinking water

Parking Type and Fees: no fees, 2 ADA compliant parking spots in the main parking lot and 2 more in the overflow parking lot

Banner Photo: Lesser Goldfinch by Deanne Tucker

Questions? Email general questions to [email protected] or contact the trip leader for questions regarding the event.

Host or Publisher Santa Clara Valley Audubon