Meet at the boardwalk at first light for the day's best birding — songbirds are most active and vocal in the cool morning air. Bring binoculars or borrow one of ours.
Getting there: 5 minutes from Highway 1; look for the WCBF banners.
Learn to tell peeps from plovers. A hands-on session at the Harbor Community Center covering shape, behavior, and habitat cues for Central Coast shorebirds, followed by a short practice walk.
Getting there: 5-min walk from Harbor Community Center.
A moderate climb to Pine Ridge for a raptor-migration vantage point — bring water and layers; the ridge is exposed and can be windy.
Getting there: 10-min walk from HQ along the waterfront path.
A slow-paced outing built around getting the shot, not the checklist — composition, light, and patience with a working pro leading the way.
Getting there: 15-min drive from HQ; carpool signup at the registration desk.
A naturalist-led walk through the coastal dune system, covering native plant restoration work and the shorebirds that depend on it.
Getting there: Follow the marina boardwalk past the harbormaster's office.
An after-dark walk for owls — quiet feet and red-light flashlights only. Great chance at Great Horned and Western Screech-Owl.
Getting there: 5 minutes from Highway 1; look for the WCBF banners.
A relaxed field-sketching session at the jetty — no drawing experience required, just curiosity and a pencil (we'll supply the rest).
Getting there: 5-min walk from Harbor Community Center.
An easy, flat boardwalk walk through the estuary — great for first-timers, families, and anyone who wants close looks at herons, egrets, and shorebirds without a long hike.
Getting there: 5-min walk from Harbor Community Center.
A guided boat trip along the harbor mouth for close looks at gulls, terns, and the occasional pelagic surprise. Dress warm — it's breezy on the water.
Getting there: 10-min walk from HQ along the waterfront path.
New to birding? We'll get you comfortable with a pair of binoculars — focus, field of view, and finding the bird — before your first walk.
Getting there: 15-min drive from HQ; carpool signup at the registration desk.
A playful, low-pressure bingo walk for kids and first-time birders — spot the bird, mark the card, win a prize. Free and open to all ages.
Getting there: Follow the marina boardwalk past the harbormaster's office.
This year's keynote — a Willow Creek Bird Observatory researcher shares new tracking data on Central Coast migration routes. Doors open 30 minutes early; seating is limited.
Getting there: 5 minutes from Highway 1; look for the WCBF banners.
A free primer before the Pelagic Seabird Trip — what to expect, what to bring, and which species you're most likely to see offshore.
Getting there: 5-min walk from Harbor Community Center.
Live now — scopes are up at the jetty overlook. Drop in any time during the window; leaders rotate through target species as they show.
Getting there: 10-min walk from HQ along the waterfront path.
A free, casual scope station on the boardwalk — come and go as you please, no registration commitment beyond showing up.
Getting there: 5-min walk from Harbor Community Center.
Park yourself at Marina Dock B for the day and see how many species come to you — drop in any time, stay as long as you like. Free.
Getting there: 10-min walk from HQ along the waterfront path.
A working photo walk around the marina at golden hour — bring whatever camera you've got, phone included.
Getting there: Follow the marina boardwalk past the harbormaster's office.
The marquee trip of the festival — a full-day offshore run in search of albatross, shearwaters, and storm-petrels. Limited to 10 seats; dress for open water and possible seasickness.
Getting there: Follow the marina boardwalk past the harbormaster's office.
Learn to tell peeps from plovers. A hands-on session at the Harbor Community Center covering shape, behavior, and habitat cues for Central Coast shorebirds, followed by a short practice walk.
Getting there: 10-min walk from HQ along the waterfront path.
A moderate climb to Pine Ridge for a raptor-migration vantage point — bring water and layers; the ridge is exposed and can be windy.
Getting there: 15-min drive from HQ; carpool signup at the registration desk.
A slow-paced outing built around getting the shot, not the checklist — composition, light, and patience with a working pro leading the way.
Getting there: Follow the marina boardwalk past the harbormaster's office.
A naturalist-led walk through the coastal dune system, covering native plant restoration work and the shorebirds that depend on it.
Getting there: 5 minutes from Highway 1; look for the WCBF banners.
An after-dark walk for owls — quiet feet and red-light flashlights only. Great chance at Great Horned and Western Screech-Owl.
Getting there: 5-min walk from Harbor Community Center.
A relaxed field-sketching session at the jetty — no drawing experience required, just curiosity and a pencil (we'll supply the rest).
Getting there: 10-min walk from HQ along the waterfront path.
Meet at the boardwalk at first light for the day's best birding — songbirds are most active and vocal in the cool morning air. Bring binoculars or borrow one of ours.
Getting there: 15-min drive from HQ; carpool signup at the registration desk.
A guided boat trip along the harbor mouth for close looks at gulls, terns, and the occasional pelagic surprise. Dress warm — it's breezy on the water.
Getting there: 15-min drive from HQ; carpool signup at the registration desk.
New to birding? We'll get you comfortable with a pair of binoculars — focus, field of view, and finding the bird — before your first walk.
Getting there: Follow the marina boardwalk past the harbormaster's office.
A playful, low-pressure bingo walk for kids and first-time birders — spot the bird, mark the card, win a prize. Free and open to all ages.
Getting there: 5 minutes from Highway 1; look for the WCBF banners.
This year's keynote — a Willow Creek Bird Observatory researcher shares new tracking data on Central Coast migration routes. Doors open 30 minutes early; seating is limited.
Getting there: 5-min walk from Harbor Community Center.
A free primer before the Pelagic Seabird Trip — what to expect, what to bring, and which species you're most likely to see offshore.
Getting there: 10-min walk from HQ along the waterfront path.
Park yourself at Marina Dock B for the day and see how many species come to you — drop in any time, stay as long as you like. Free.
Getting there: 15-min drive from HQ; carpool signup at the registration desk.
An easy, flat boardwalk walk through the estuary — great for first-timers, families, and anyone who wants close looks at herons, egrets, and shorebirds without a long hike.
Getting there: Follow the marina boardwalk past the harbormaster's office.
A moderate climb to Pine Ridge for a raptor-migration vantage point — bring water and layers; the ridge is exposed and can be windy.
Getting there: Follow the marina boardwalk past the harbormaster's office.
A slow-paced outing built around getting the shot, not the checklist — composition, light, and patience with a working pro leading the way.
Getting there: 5 minutes from Highway 1; look for the WCBF banners.
A naturalist-led walk through the coastal dune system, covering native plant restoration work and the shorebirds that depend on it.
Getting there: 5-min walk from Harbor Community Center.
An after-dark walk for owls — quiet feet and red-light flashlights only. Great chance at Great Horned and Western Screech-Owl.
Getting there: 10-min walk from HQ along the waterfront path.
A relaxed field-sketching session at the jetty — no drawing experience required, just curiosity and a pencil (we'll supply the rest).
Getting there: 15-min drive from HQ; carpool signup at the registration desk.
Meet at the boardwalk at first light for the day's best birding — songbirds are most active and vocal in the cool morning air. Bring binoculars or borrow one of ours.
Getting there: Follow the marina boardwalk past the harbormaster's office.
Learn to tell peeps from plovers. A hands-on session at the Harbor Community Center covering shape, behavior, and habitat cues for Central Coast shorebirds, followed by a short practice walk.
Getting there: 5 minutes from Highway 1; look for the WCBF banners.