Bird LA Day is fast becoming an exciting tradition throughout greater Los Angeles, with bird- and nature-themed events across the Westside and Santa Monica. Events run the spectrum from bird walks to photography classes to lectures to bar meet-ups and everything in between. Most are family-friendly and free-of-charge. Here is what’s happening in our neck of the woods, Saturday, May 7. And check out birdla.org/ for a photo contest and more.
Yoga with the birds at The G2 Gallery
9 to 10am: Start your Bird LA Day at the beautiful G2 Gallery with a gentle yoga flow filled with bird soundscapes. The class will feature a light, easy flow to warm the body before moving into restorative/yin poses. Class will end with a brief meditation to focus on specific bird songs.
Instructor, David Ezekiel, has taught yoga and meditation throughout Los Angeles since 2011. David is also the founder of Yoga Conservation Alliance, a nonprofit that brings awareness to our natural world through yoga.
Please RSVP to The G2 Gallery at rsvp@theG2gallery.com.
Bring a mat, water and something comfortable to sit on.
Top Floor of the G2 Gallery: 503 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice 90291
Learn bird photography from an expert at the G2 Gallery and Ballona Wetlands
Learn bird and wildlife photography from expert Dave Collins.
7 am: Meet at the G2 Gallery in Venice. Orientation and coffee.
Then the group will head over to the Ballona Wetlands to take pictures until around noon.
Birding at the King Gillette Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains
8:30 to 10 am: Bird walk at the beautiful King Gillette Ranch. Meet at the Visitor Center.
Address: 26800 West Mulholland Highway Calabasas 91302
Call 805.370.2301 for more information.
Check out marine birds with Heal the Bay
12:30 to 5pm: Stop by the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium on Bird Day LA – May 7th during our open hours and join the hunt to find all 22 species of birds in the Aquarium.
2:30 pm: Want a guided tour? Join our aquarium staff for a tour to the beach to identify birds through our community science project in partnership with Cornell. No RSVP is required.
1600 Ocean Front Walk, Santa Monica 90401 – underneath the Santa Monica Pier)
Explore ancient bird art of the Americas at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
From the nimble hummingbird to the iridescent quetzal, the skies of the Ancient Americas were always rich and diverse. Come to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to learn how the scribes of mesoamerica masterfully depicted birds and other wildlife so wonderfully detailed on ceramics vessels. Our conversation of the objects will revolve around how our avian friends helped communicate ancient stories, mythologies, and royal life of the ancient Maya and Aztecs.
Tour will be lead by Museum Educator, Eduardo Sanchez, Content Specialist of Latin American Art.
2 to 3pm, Free of charge. Participation is limited to 15 people.
RSVP to events@theg2gallery.com and put Bird LA Day/LACMA in subject line. More details will be sent to you.
Bird the Ballona Wetlands saltwater marsh
9am-noon: Bird walk and exploration of the wetlands with Los Angeles Audubon. Birders of all experience levels welcome.
Group will use binoculars, microscopes, and spotting scopes on site.
Directions: Enter the site through the gate located in the northeast corner of the parking lot behind Alkawater/Gordon’s Market, in the 300 block of Culver Blvd. in Playa del Rey.
Bird the Ballona Wetlands freshwater marsh
9am to 2pm: Learn about the fascinating natural world in the Ballona Wetlands freshwater marsh with the Friends of Ballona Wetlands and the Los Angeles Audubon Society.
Featuring live birds from South Bay Wildlife Rehab.
9:30 bird walk led by Lisa Fimiani of the Friends of Ballona Wetlands.
Noon walk led by Bob Shanman of Wild Birds Unlimited.
Located in Playa Vista near intersection of Lincoln & Jefferson Blvds.
Family Birding Day with NatureBridge in the Santa Monica Mountains!
9 to 11am at Rancho Sierra Vista in Newbury Park.
From the intersection of Goleta & Potrero Roads, at the park’s Main Entrance, drive a half mile into the park to the largest parking lot. Also known as the ‘Car Park for Sycamore Canyon’. We will assemble there. NatureBridge staff wear black hats. Directions and information about the site can be found here. Main Entrance: Ventura Fwy (101) to Lynn Rd exit. South on Lynn Rd 5.25 miles to Via Goleta. Park entrance is on the left. Main entrance –
cross street is Via Goleta and Potrero Road, Newbury Park 91320
This event will be hosted by NatureBridge’s staff educators, and will be a great opportunity to introduce your entire family to the wonderful world of birding. We will play games, go on a hike, look for birds with provided binoculars, and identify some of the birds that call the Santa Monica Mountains home.
NatureBridge will provide light snacks and will raffle off some prizes during the event.
Please bring your own reusable, filled water bottle(s), sunscreen, and weather-appropriate clothes including a hat and layers. This is a family friendly program great for kids of all ages, but the trails are not stroller friendly; please plan accordingly! Rain: Check registration email by 8am on May 7 to see if heavy rain will cancel the program.
Space is limited. Please RSVP to Elise Roberts at eroberts@naturebridge.org.
Evening cocktail presentation: The Birds of UCLA Campus
7:00 to 8:30pm: Enjoy wine and food on the hummingbird feeder- filled UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability patio. Sid Shah, IoES Alum, will give a brief presentation followed by Q&A on the extensive undergrad-led 2015 survey of birds on the UCLA campus. As the campus landscape has changed over several years, so has the campus biodiversity.
Address: LaKretz Hall, 619 Charles E Young Dr E #300, Los Angeles 90024.
UCLA Parking and La Kretz Hall: Please park at Parking Structure 2 on UCLA’s Westwood campus. Exit Parking Structure 2 onto Charles E. Young Drive. Walk south to the intersection of Charles E. Young Drive and Manning Avenue and cross the street. Head into campus (west) along concrete and brick pedestrian pathway. La Kretz Hall will be straight in front of you across the courtyard. Take the stairs in the front of the building or the elevator (to the right of the stairs) to the third floor. Enter the third floor of La Kretz through the main door.
Visit a natural treasure in Westwood
Experience the birds of the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden on the campus of UCLA in Westwood.
Walking tour hosted by the UCLA Bruin Naturalists Club.
