For the Birds
By Joan Near
Early Bird Registration for CNCH 2025 at Asilomar has begun!! Get the lowest rate for attending the April 24-27 conference by registering before March 5th. And then book your room & board and you’re all set!
Spotted Towhee
Speaking of birds! The Monterey Bay region, which includes Asilomar, is a haven for a huge array of beautiful birds — and is a famous attraction for birdwatchers! The Asilomar Conference Center is on board with this fun hobby by providing information, enthusiasm and a great link to a birder’s best friend.
The link provided by Asilomar was established back in 2002 and has revolutionized the birding world. It’s called eBird, and it’s a real-time, online checklist so you can follow who’s seen what bird and when. You won’t believe the sheer diversity of birds in this area. It’s known on the eBird website as a “hotspot.”
Hairy Woodpecker
This great tool was launched by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. It lists all the birds sighted at Asilomar within a certain time frame, either on land or on the shore. And each listing has a link to wonderful pictures of the birds, male and female, young and mature. A treasure trove of information!
Plus, there’s even a tutorial to give you “fledgling” birders a head start. So, pack your binoculars when you come to the conference. We can get a group together for bird-spotting, or you can go it alone for a moment of serenity. Happy birding!
Oops! Not a bird! A napping otter!”
Joan