Birding

San Diego Audubon Birding Outings introduce newer birders, visiting birders, and anyone else who is interested to the varied habitats and avian inhabitants of San Diego County. Everyone is welcome. On-line registration is required. Caps on the number of participants on each outing are specified.

Bring binoculars, your scope, water, sunscreen, hat, and enthusiasm.  Sign up by clicking on the field trip you would like to join.

Would you like to lead a Birding Outing? Let us know by completing this form.

If you have questions about Birding Outings contact Jen Hajj.

Online advanced registration is required for all trips. Registration typically opens one month prior to the field trip.

Confirmation of your registration and additional information (if applicable) will be sent to you by email immediately following your registration.

Birding at our wildlife preserves

Our field trips fill up quickly, but did you know? Our sanctuaries have visiting hours.
Silverwood Wildlife Sanctuary is open to the public on Sundays from 9 am to 4 pm, October through July, reservation required. Guided nature walks are on hiatus due to COVID concerns.

Anstine-Audubon Nature Preserve is a North County birding hot-spot and is open to the public Saturdays, 9am-12pm, reservation required.

Please consider your impact on birds and their habitats when you go birding.  Ethical Birding Guidelines

Accessible Birding

Do you love birding but have mobility challenges? Here are some spots that offer great birding opportunities, with great access for people who need a little more time or space to get around.  

1) Santee Lakes- a great birding spot and it has a paved trail that goes around every lake. Over 200 species have been logged there. Lake 5 is our favorite, but during the nesting season there are Least Bitterns that can be seen or heard between lakes 2 and 3. There is a gazebo near lake 5 that is a great place for "bird sitting" where you just park and watch the birds that come by. Parking is inexpensive and you can get close to each lake. And the restrooms are accessible and modern.

2) Bayside Birding and Walking Trail  This one is on South Bay and gives you nice views of all of the restoration that has gone on down there. It's pretty awesome. When Birdability was here for San Diego Bird Festival, they did a field trip to this trail.

3) Robb Field- this one requires a little bit of care, because the path is shared between all sorts of recreationists, but it is a nice spot to see shorebirds as the tide is out.  Check the tides before you go. If the tide is in, this spot does not offer quite as much. 2525 Bacon St, San Diego, CA 92107 Park at the skate park parking area. There is a sidewalk ramp and it is pretty easy to get up to the trail, which is flat. I think it is a combination of asphalt and compacted dirt.   There are narrow areas where you can get off trail to watch the birds. Visibility is good, so people who are running or biking should have adequate time to see you and correct their course. There are restrooms near the skate park parking.

You can also go to the opposite side of the river to watch from Quivira Way, near the parking for the Aquarius Grill. The parking area is larger, and there is more space to spread out. Sometimes the placement of the sun makes one side or the other more pleasant. This side does not have close restrooms (but there are restrooms available at nearby Hospitality Point).

If you are a birder with mobility challenges and would like to share your ideas for great birding spots, please share them with us!