Calling all LGBTQ+ community members and allies!
Come birding with POST, Parks Conservancy, Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance, Golden Gate Bird Alliance, and meet other queers of a feather! Whether you are experienced or completely new to birding, this event will provide a fun opportunity to get out in nature, gain a bird’s eye view of species found locally, and find your flock.
Thanks to our knowledgeable facilitators, this event will be anything but a wild goose chase. They’ll guide us on a leisurely stroll with many stops to get a gander at local birds.
Did you know Alcatraz Island is a seabird sanctuary?
Birding on Alcatraz Island offers a unique experience—while it may feel unexpected to spot wildlife on a former prison, the island has become an important refuge for many bird species. Despite its history as a jail, Alcatraz is now home to thriving seabird colonies that fill the island with life and sound.
Trail Information: Please note that most roadways and walking routes on the island include steep slopes. The walk from the dock to the Cell House at the top is about 1/4 mile (0.4 km) with a 130-foot (40-meter) elevation gain. This is roughly equivalent to climbing a 13-story building, spread out over the distance. We will take frequent stops along the way to rest, observe birds, and stay together as a group. An accessible tram is available for those who prefer not to walk this route. If you would like to use the tram, please indicate this during registration so we can reserve a spot in advance. If you have any questions about accessibility or need to request accommodations, don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected].
Before You Register
- This event typically fills quickly. If your plans change, please cancel your reservation or contact us so we can offer your spot to someone else.
- Space is limited by ferry capacity, and all attendees, including guests, must be registered. We will provide you with ferry tickets; you do not need to purchase them yourself.
- Minors are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. Please notify us in advance at [email protected].
- Please plan to attend for the full duration of the event, as we are on a fixed ferry schedule.
This will be an LGBTQ-centered event led by LGBTQ-identifying facilitators with the purpose of creating a welcoming and inclusive space for queer community members and allies to gather and develop a sense of belonging in the outdoors.
Join us on this beginner-friendly birding outing with experienced facilitators and build community. We look forward to seeing you at this event on Saturday, April 18, at Alcatraz Island. Sign up soon because the early bird gets the spot!
At POST, we use the word “queer” as an umbrella term to include and affirm an array of identities and experiences within the LGBTQ+ community. We know “queer” has a complex history, with many interpretations across the board. We aspire to be sensitive to an array of perspectives.We also embrace expansive thinking about conservation and environmental care. That’s why we celebrate queerness within our interconnected human and ecological communities. It deepens our understanding of biodiversity and the natural world.
Meet the Facilitators
Carolyn Knight, Education & Outreach Manager, Santa Clara Valley Birding Alliance, graduated from UC Davis with a B.S. in Wildlife, Fish, & Conservation Biology. Prior to joining SCVBA she worked with Wood Ducks in the Central Valley, where she officially became a bird nerd. Carolyn has been birding in California for nearly a decade, and searching for wild animals and exploring Santa Clara County’s open spaces for far longer.
Rachel Katz, Instructor, Golden Gate Bird Alliance. Accountant for racial justice organizations during the work week, Rachel likes to dive into nature on the weekends. They leverage their Master’s degree in biology and passion for justice to lead field trips centering the biological and social contexts.
Joe Joseph, Instructor, Golden Gate Bird Alliance, is an avid student of nature with diasporic roots in Southern India. He worked for years as a high school teacher and now engages with his love of learning and teaching along the forests, coastlines, and mountains of the Bay Area. Joe co-teaches a class for the Golden Gate Bird Alliance called “Decolonizing Birding,” which explores the inextricable links between the natural world, queerness, indigeneity, and much more.
Ezekiel Schlais, Land Transactions Project Manager, Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), is a passionate environmental entrepreneur with accomplishments in strategy, development, community organization and ecological research, previously working as a Development Officer for RMI, the Chief Strategy and Development Officer for TreePeople, an Executive Director for Mountains Restoration, the Head of Strategic Initiatives for UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, and as a VP of Origination for a global private equity firm, The Gores Group. He has researched insects, plants and amphibians throughout the US and Costa Rica as a field scientist with Pepperdine and UC Davis and has volunteered with several environmental agencies over the years.
Meeting Location
We will be meeting at Pier 31 in San Francisco. Address: 1398 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94133. Use this google maps pin to navigate.
Please note: if you search Alcatraz Ferry online, it will lead you to Pier 33. Our group will be meeting at Pier 31.
Parking
Parking in this area is limited and can be expensive. We recommend taking public transportation, carpooling, or arriving early. A carpool sign-up will be shared with registered attendees. Please read all posted parking signs carefully.
About the Co-Hosts
Peninsula Open Space Trust protects open space on the Peninsula and in the South Bay for the benefit of all. Since 1977, POST has protected over 97,000 in San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties.
The Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance promotes the enjoyment, understanding, and protection of birds and other wildlife by engaging people of all ages in birding, education, and conservation.
Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is the nonprofit membership organization created to preserve the Golden Gate national parks, enhance the experiences of park visitors, and build a community dedicated to conserving the parks for the future.
Golden Gate Bird Alliance is dedicated to protecting Bay Area birds, other wildlife, and their natural habitats. We conserve and restore wildlife habitats, connect people of all ages and backgrounds with the natural world, and educate and engage Bay Area residents in the protection of our shared, local environment.
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