Kate Marianchild doesn’t chase rare birds—she chases fascinating information about the so-called ordinary birds of California’s oak woodlands. If you think you already know everything worth knowing about oak titmice, acorn woodpeckers, or western bluebirds, you might be in for a surprise. Have you heard the lowdown on the birds that engage in simulated sex rituals every night? Do you know which baby birds buzz like bees to scare away predators? Or who defends oak mistletoe berries from other birds? Are you aware that one species relies on poison oak berries for seven months of the year—and collects spider webs with its tail? If you would like to know more about the marvelous survival strategies, behaviors, and social structures of various birds found in California’s signature ecosystem, you will adore this talk.
This event is part of the Twelfth Annual Monterey Bay Birding Festival. For the line-up of field trips and speakers, or for registration, go to http://montereybaybirding.org/.