Birding with Kids in Tow - Lake Temescal (Oakland)

Leaders: Evan Weissman and Cindy Pfost

Date: Sunday, June 7 -- 10 a.m. to noon

Description: We'll explore the birds of Oakland's Lake Temescal with a focus on enjoying time in nature with young kids in tow (ages 0 to around 5). This trip is designed to offer caregivers an opportunity to bring their young kids along while they bird: it's okay if you need to take breaks, change diapers, or sing loudly with your child. Interested toddlers may also learn a thing or two about the birds and nature!

We'll meet by the South entrance playground and bathrooms, and slowly walk about 0.3 miles north on the paved path and grass areas along the south and east side of the lake, returning along the same route. The path is mostly flat, with no steps, but with some bumps and cracks in the asphalt. Bathrooms and water are available at the start and along the way. Bring binoculars if you have them, and toddler binocs (two toilet paper rolls taped together) if your child might enjoy them. We will also have a few pairs of real and toddler binocs to share.

We will be participating in the California Breeding Atlas big weekend, too, so come along and learn how you can contribute to the effort to document where our birds breed. “Breeding Bird Atlases are large-scale efforts that tell us not just where birds are, but how birds actually use our landscapes. This initiative is critical to understanding the current status of birds in our state.” — Morgan W. Tingley, Professor, Dept of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UCLA

Trip Size: Limit of 10 adults. (Register for adults only; no need to count your young ones when signing up.)

Meet by the playground and bathrooms at the South entrance parking lot at 6502 Broadway Terrace, Oakland. Parking is $5 if the kiosk is staffed (free if not). Street parking may be available, and requires walking down a steep drive to enter the park. If you arrive late, simply follow the path north until you find us; we will make ourselves visible.

Google Map: https://share.google/LRjH8U9APugbfGNoO

Registration opens on Tuesday, May 19, at 1 pm and closes on Thursday, June 4, at 11 pm.