Monthly Programs
Typically, Monterey Audubon's monthly presentations occur at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History on Forest Avenue in Pacific Grove and occur on the second Tuesday of every month. Doors open for refreshments and socializing at 7:00 PM. The program begins at 7:30 PM. Monterey Audubon Society's Board Meetings are also open to the general MAS membership and begin at 5:30 PM, before the presentation. Agendas, supporting materials as well as past minutes are available upon request.
Upcoming meeting:
Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 7:30 PM
Seawatching with Alison Vilag
Join us for a lively and engaging evening with Alison Vilag, Monterey Audubon’s Seawatch counter for the past four years. Alison brings the magic of the Pacific flyway to life through her deep experience at Point Pinos, her keen eye for migration, and her warm, humorous storytelling style.
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In this talk, she’ll share the art and adventure of seawatching, what makes it special, what makes it challenging, and why it keeps drawing her back day after day. Expect stunning observations, memorable moments from the past four seasons, and a glimpse into the fascinating world of ocean-bound bird migration.
Whether you’re a seasoned birder or simply curious, this presentation will leave you seeing the sea through new eyes. Join us!
Future Presentations
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Feb 2026 - Brad Keitt, American Bird Conservancy at Hopkins Marine Station
December 2025 - Alison Vilag, Point Pinos Seawatch Scientist
February 2026 - Brad Keitt American Bird Conservancy @ Hopkins Marine Station
May 2026 - Dr. John McCormack, Director & Curator, Moore Laboratory of Zoology
Indoor Events with Monterey Audubon Society - ​For the health and safety of our community,​ we ask that everyone in attendance be up to date on all of their Flu/Covid/RSV vaccinations as appropriate. We invite you to wear a mask if that makes you more comfortable and request you to consider staying home if you have any symptoms of illness.​
Past Presentations
To watch previously recorded presentations, head to the MAS YouTube channel. We are making every effort to Live Stream each month's presentation on YouTube. Most recent talks are avaialbe.
Previous recorded presentations include:
December 10, 2024 - Migration on Manitou with Alison Világ, Point Pinos Seawatch Counter and Storyteller - On a Tuesday night in late April 2024, Alison's friend Tim Baerwald, a fellow migration counter, asked if she’d be able to meet him Thursday morning at a remote Upper Peninsula boat launch 8 hours away. She said yes: the boat would be taking them to Manitou Island—5 miles off the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula—and Manitou Island is an incredible concentration point for migrating birds. But Manitou’s migration is little-studied: the island, situated in a particularly treacherous sweep of Lake Superior, is uninhabited; its only accommodation is a decommissioned lighthouse built in the 1860s. Tim was particularly interested in banding hawks and owls, which had never been done on Manitou. Alison will be sharing what she and Tim learned about raptor migration on Manitou—and will share, too, the general experience of witnessing avian movement from a remote island.
https://youtube.com/live/jGJ4F1rrw7k?feature=share
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November 12, 2024 - Meet MAS! - Monterey Audubon Society hired the first Executive Director in September of this year. Join our board members as they talk about what they are passionate about with MAS, our plans for the future, and answer any burning questions from our community. https://youtu.be/UakfdY70Z-k?feature=shared​
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March 12, 2024 - Bird Rescue Basics: How we can help our feathered friends with Laura Lockwood, Wildlife Technician Have you ever seen a bird that looked like it needed help and wondered what to do or who to call? Then this presentation is for you! It will focus on what to do if you see a bird in distress in Monterey County, and will include an overview of the SPCA Wildlife Center, common species we treat, how to identify a bird in distress, and tips for safe handling and transport. We will also cover what to do if you find a baby bird on the ground, and how to provide after hours care when our Wildlife Center is closed. https://youtu.be/eheWaoB5Kg4?feature=shared
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February 13, 2024 - Black Oystercatcher Monitoring Project Update with Rick Hanks - The MAS California Central Coast Black Oystercatcher Monitoring Project keeps a close eye on the locally breeding Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani) from Point Lobos in the south, north to Pescadero State Beach in San Mateo County. Listed as a federal species of special conservation concern, this project will help to contribute to our understanding of this amazing shorebird species and inform policy related to the protection of the rocky intertidal habitat that they depend on. After retiring from managing the California Coastal National Monument, Rick Hanks continued to “keep on coastin’” and volunteered to manage this unique community science project, while also securing funds to hire seasonal staff biologists and expanding the area surveyed. A constant presence on the rocky coastline throughout the BLOY breeding season, Rick always has a story to tell and a brochure to hand out. https://youtu.be/-ksyrgEKhFE?feature=shared​