Oarnithologists

A synopsis of our Oarnithologist's Big Day was posted earlier, but here is the bird list!

Acorn Woodpecker

American Avocet

American Coot

American Crow

American Kestrel

American Robin

Anna's Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Bewick's Wren

Brewer's Blackbird

Brown Creeper

BushtitCalifornia Gull

California Quail

California Scrub-Jay

California Towhee

Canada Goose

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Common Yellowthroat

Cooper's Hawk

Double-crested Cormorant

Downy Woodpecker

Eurasian Collared-Dove

Gadwall

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Great Egret

Great Horned Owl

Green HeronHouse Finch

House Sparrow

Killdeer

Lesser Goldfinch

Lincoln's Sparrow

Long-billed Curlew

Mallard

Marbled Godwit

Marsh Wren

Mourning Dove

Mute Swan

Northern Flicker

Northern Harrier

Northern Mockingbird

Oak Titmouse

Pied-billed Grebe

Red-shouldered Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-winged Blackbird

Rock Pigeon

Say's Phoebe

Snowy Egret

Song Sparrow

Turkey Vulture

Western Meadowlark

Western Sandpiper

White-crowned Sparrow

White-tailed Kite

Yellow-rumped Warbler

The Oarnithologists’ Big Day began on October 4th with an auspicious sign: our first bird of the day was a Bewick’s Wren, the 47th annual Rich Stallcup Bird-A-Thon mascot, which cheekily greeted us from a small bush as we pulled into the Point Blue headquarters parking lot!

As the team arrived and congregated in the kitchen at Point Blue's headquarters, we reviewed our ambitious plan; we sought to hit two birding hotspots for an hour each before heading to the Petaluma River for two hours of kayak-based birding (hence the “oar” in “Oarnithologists”!). The turnout was fantastic, with a lively mix of seasoned birders and enthusiastic newcomers. Our group included Lucy Stevenot, an Oarnithologists co-captain and a co-chair for the Young Friends of Point Blue; Christina Burnham and Amy Li, current and former Antarctica Program biologists; and a contingent from STRAW, including Jordan Dixon, Nick Arriaza, Sandra Sublette, and Dante Khan, joined by new STRAW apprentices Mason Collins and Alejandro Vazquez. Also present were Lala Movsesian, Amanda Nolen, and Allison Yan from the Marine Lab team, along with Rushi Tawade, former Working Lands technician and illustrator, and Jack Hagenbuch, a graduate student at UC Berkeley. We also had a couple of our youngest Young Friends join the party, Yvie and Adela! Both are 5 months old and were accompanied by their mothers, Myrna Stevenot and Shadi Dizechi. Myrna (and technically Yvie) were a part of our BAT in 2024 and were excited to participate again!

With muffins, coffee, and binoculars firmly in hand, our group set out for a day of birding, camaraderie, and adventure.

Our first stop was Schollenberger Park, where Rushi gave newcomers a quick lesson in birding basics and pointed out several common residents of the area, including an Anna’s Hummingbird and several Sparrows. To maximize our efficiency, we decided to split into two teams: one led by Rushi and the newer birders, who continued along the main trail with the scope in search of shorebirds, and another composed of more experienced birders familiar with the area, who set off at a brisk pace toward Ellis Creek to target waterfowl in the managed ponds.

Despite the ticking clock, the Ellis Creek team did not get but a few steps along the trail before pausing to admire the sight of two White-tailed Kites gleaming like beacons in a young oak tree; upon closer inspection, one kite was enjoying its own breakfast of yummy rodent.

With some effort we refocused and made quick time to the Ellis Creek ponds, where we added Pied-billed Grebe, Gadwall, and Common Yellowthroat to our list, along with Mute Swans and Mallards. With only a few minutes left at our first destination, we jogged back to the office and reconvened with the other team. They were smiling wide as they recounted the many Curlews, Godwits, Sandpipers, and Gulls out on the mud flats that morning.

We carpooled together to beautiful downtown Petaluma and reconvened at Petaluma River Park. There, we met with an unexpected welcome, as the Petaluma River Park Foundation was hosting an event to promote the park’s expansion and kindly shared their refreshments with us. The staff were delighted to see so many young birders making use of the open space, and we were happy to connect with other nature-loving members of the community!

We set out along the river trail, tallying California Towhee, White-crowned Sparrow, and Downy Woodpecker, all sharing the bounty of the same coyote brush. On the adjacent riverbank, a stately group of Double-crested Cormorants were spotted atop a dead tree, drying their wings in the strong sunlight. By then it was late morning, and temperatures had climbed into the 80s. We paused for lunch beneath a shade cloth, enjoying sandwiches, fresh fruit, and a lively airshow: a crow bullishly mobbing a nonplussed Red-tailed Hawk, a Coopers hawk diving through a frantic flock of pigeons with talons outstretched; a kestrel hovering almost motionless in the shimmering air as it sought its own lunch above the grassy flats…

Restored and in good spirits, we left the park and made our way to our final destination: the Petaluma River. The Floathouse, which kindly offered us a discount on kayak rentals, quickly situated our team in an assortment of single and tandem kayaks and sent us off. The rhythmic dip of paddles and cheerful shouts of new bird IDs carried our small armada north up the river, where the noise of the city gave way to a quiet stretch of water alive with wildlife. With great satisfaction, we spied a Belted Kingfisher posed regally on a high branch and an Oak Titmouse busily flitting among the trees-- the final two sightings that completed the trio of mascots featured on our 2025 Oarnithologists’ logo.

As we turned our kayaks back toward downtown, a quiet sense of fulfillment settled over us. New birders had discovered their spark, seasoned naturalists had shared their wisdom, and together we had deepened our appreciation for the landscapes and wildlife that connect us all. It was a moment that perfectly captured the spirit of the Rich Stallcup Bird-A-Thon: community, conservation, and joy in the natural world!

Epilogue:

The fun didn’t stop there! In a determined effort to complete the Farallon-themed Marcia Grand Challenges, Allison woke up bright and early on October 5th and birded along Highway 1 as she made her way back to Santa Cruz. Though the morning fog obscured many of the challenge species, her persistence allowed us to add several more seabirds to our list before our 24 hours were up, including Pelagic Cormorant, Western Gull, and our beloved Black Oystercatcher. Others also contributed birds after the event, including a Great Horned Owl heard by Jordan and Nick. Lucy, Shadi and Myrna also spotted some bonus birds in the evening after the Oarnithologists’ adventure, adding Northern Mockingbird, American Robin, California Quail, Eurasian-collared Dove and Mourning Dove to our total count!

It was a beautiful day to share with fellow bird-lovers and The Oarnithologists spotted 57 species total! A HUGE thank you to all who participated and all who donated!