I have been a member of Golden Gate Audubon for many years and have benefited from many of their opportunities, such as field trips and travel trips with great leaders, and the enjoyable success of meeting excellent people who commit outstanding efforts to the natural world.
Another event that is so outstanding is the Speaker Series. The Speaker Series is offered the third Thursday of each month, either in Berkeley or San Francisco, and I’ve been attending the Berkeley Speaker Series (https://goldengateaudubon.org/education/speaker-series) for many years. The Speaker Series offers magnificent information, not just about bird species, but about critical efforts that facilitate our commitment to nature. GGAS is an essential organization that addresses our concerns for protecting the natural world.
I have been a volunteer on Golden Gate Audubon’s conservation committee for about 5 years now. We advocate for the conservation and enhancement of natural habitats for birds (and people!). I enjoy working with other like minded folks towards this goal. Its been very gratifying to learn that I can help GGAS to make a difference! GGAS has a strong volunteer base and enlists them for habitat restoration, nature education in the schools and to provide information (bird surveys, etc) to other local organizations, the SFPOrt and others. Also GGAS provides many free birding field trips to anyone who wants to learn about birds. It’s a great organization and is so necessary in these difficult times.
My wife signed us up for a family membership at Golden Gate Audubon Society about ten years ago. Over the years, I've gone on some of their free field trips and have always enjoyed the trip leaders, the other people I've met--and the birds. Then a couple of years ago I signed up for the year-long class on Master Birding that GGAS offers in partnership with the California Academy of Sciences. It was an extraordinary program. I learned so much from it and it introduced me to bay area birding hotspots that I hadn't know about. Part of the program requirement was 100 hours of nature-related community service, so I started volunteering for GGAS in several different capacities. This led to an invitation to join the board of directors. The more I become involved with this superb nonprofit, the more I realize what a gem it is! From its work on conservation issues to its award-winning eco program in bay area schools, GGAS is an amazing local resource!
Golden Gate Audubon is an amazing organization. With a very small (but excellent) staff, and lots of talented and devoted volunteers, they engage people to experience the wonder of birds and work to protect Bay Area birds and their habitats. GGAS offers habitat restoration events, 150+ bird walks each year (mostly free), opportunities for conservation advocacy, education for adults and youth, and much more! Join us!
I'm proud to be on the board of this great organization. We are part of an unofficial Bay Area network of nature organizations --- others include the California Native Plant Society, the California Oaks Foundation, Wild Equity Institute, and others. Each organization has its own focus and expertise; ours is birds. Birds are the one kind of wildlife you can count on seeing every day, and we take advantage of that fact with our educational programs, birding walks, and other activities. We pursue two missions: (1) to protect birds and bird habitat in the area, and (2) to educate and inspire others to appreciate birds and nature. So we're part advocacy, part recreation, part education. Check out our website and our newsletter to find out more.