Birders flock to Watsonville

David Styer (left) heads up a field trip for beginning birders Friday at Pajaro Dunes as part of the Monterey Bay Birding Festival. Assemblyman Luis Alejo (second from left), Karina Cervantez and Dobie Jenkins are also shown. (Photos by Tarmo Hannula/Register-Pajaronian).

WATSONVILLE — Bird enthusiasts fanned out from Watsonville Thursday and Friday in hopes of spotting some of the Monterey Bay’s rich variety of birds as the Monterey Bay Birding Festival got under way.

With field trips on land and sea, birders from as far away as Hawaii, the United Kingdom and Canada set out on a number of excursions headed up by expert birders.

“It's my first time at this festival,” said Iris Schumacher who came to the event with her husband from Marietta, Georgia. “In fact, this is my first time to the west coast. So far I’ve seen about 50 new birds I can add to my life list; that’s a lot.” Schumacher said she plans to attend a night owl walk, other field trips and a few lectures.

Organizer Dave Brockmann said several field trips have sold out but there’s plenty of spaces available on a host of field trips.

“We’re enjoying good attendance and we have more vendors this year,” he said. “Our photo contest is really taking off. It’s only the second year for the contest and people are submitting some incredible images.” Those photos are being displayed in the hallway of the top floor of the Watsonville Civic Plaza building.


For the complete article see the 09-15-2012 issue.

Click here to purchase an electronic version of the 09-15-2012 paper.

Share on Facebook