As spring rolls in, it’s once again time for the Audubon Society’s annual Bird Festival — and local bird fans are in luck because this year’s fest features a couple La Jolla events. The Birch Aquarium at Scripps has been added to the society’s list of field trips, giving birders a behind-the-scenes tour of the aquarium, as well as a presentation on the North Pacific Gyre and the impact of ocean trash on marine life on March 4. Then, birders will descend the hill to observe birdlife at the Scripps campus, ending up at La Jolla Shores. From the Shores, the group will travel by bus to the Cave Store, then bird down the hill to the La Jolla Cove, Boomer, Shell Beach and the Children’s Pool, ending up at La Jolla Rocky Shores. In addition, Birch is co-sponsoring one of the Audubon Society’s many pelagic birding boat trips on March 3. Birch personnel, including Director Nigella Hillgarth and Catie Fyfe, will be aboard helping guests spot and identify exotic pelagic birds, as well as marine mammals such as whales, dolphins, sea lions and harbor seals. The Birch’s co-sponsor is Shearwater Journeys founder Debi Shearwater, known as the “Queen of Pelagic Birding.” As always, the Bird Festival will feature the Pacific Rocky Shores Trip on March 3, which will take place along the rocky shores of La Jolla (south of the Children’s Pool). The leader will be Stan Walens, who has spent more than 30 years scanning La Jolla’s waters and amassing extensive knowledge of birds found along the rocky shores. “The San Diego Bird Festival has been a popular annual destination for birders for 15 years, and this new partnership with the Audubon California Assembly means that San Diego in March will be the place to be for bird and nature enthusiasts,” said Chris Redfern, executive director of the San Diego Audubon Society. “If you care about birds – either as a recreational birder or as an environmentalist – you can’t miss this event.” The festival’s keynote speaker is Peter Harrison, a world authority on seabirds. Several Sunday events are planned especially for kids, including a free exhibit of posters created by children to “Share the Shore” with endangered western snowy plovers. Other kids events on Sunday include a bird artwork workshop for $25, a free bird-calling workshop and the workshop “Birds & Youth: The Future of Conservation.” The festival’s non-refundable registration fee is $20 per person (free for children 12 and under). Events prices vary, with some being free. Registration information and a schedule can be found at www.sandiegoaudubon.org/birdfest.htm or by calling (858) 273-7800.
