During Summer 2026 at Monterey Peninsula College, Braulio Beltran participated in the Black Oystercatcher Monitoring Project with Monterey Audubon Society. His experience influenced his perspective on bird wildlife.

The Green Heron skulks in reeds and occasionally delights the dedicated birder. Although present in low densities, it is the most widespread of the breeding herons according to the 1993 Monterey County Breeding Bird Atlas (BBA). An unusual recent sighting included four chicks waiting hungrily in the reeds while a parent feeds them.

A shared passion for wildlife conservation untes CSUMB students Aidan Randall and Maxwell Frantz. They've teamed up to monitor the Seaside Heermann's Gulls. Their work blends rooftop observations, GoPro footage, and drone surveys to track nest locations, chick development, and interactions with neighboring Western Gull colonies.

Monterey County participation for the California Bird Atlas Big Weekend included four events led by Monterey Audubon Society

Black Oystercatchers are excellent indicator species of the rocky shoreline habitat. One thing that makes them a valuable indicator species is that they do not go across any other habitats. They nest on rocky shores, are territorial, and easy to spot (and hear) from shore. Join us to monitor these unique birds.

Did you know that a dedicated group of volunteered is continuing to count migrating seabirds at Point Pinos? You can still drop by for this informal Seawatch. The Red-throated Loons continue to stream past the Point. One of five species of loons, the Red-throated Loon, Gavia stellata, may undoubtedly win the title of “Most Adaptive” among this group of clumsy-footed birds. Translation of the scientific name describes a starry (stellata) Sea Mew (Gavia), a reflection of