Each year from spring through fall, Chirp Nature Center hosts Bird Walks, Talks, and How-To presentations. These events were hosted free and in-person in Big Bear Lake. New this year, we added Chirp’s Book & Craft events every 3rd Saturday of the month from May to October. Explore this page to view all the fun we had with photos, videos, and finished craft products.
Book & Craft: Build a Bird House
October 15, 2022
We had local educator and wild bird enthusiast Rebecca Emig will read a nature-filled story about tips, tricks, and creative ways to have fun while birdwatching. Following the book reading, Chirp’s Team taught participants how to build a creative and easy Bird Feeder to attract wild birds to their own backyard.
Nature Talk: Ominous Owls
October 8, 2022
We joined Big Bear Alpine Zoo Lead Animal Keeper Christy McGiveron as she took an up-close and personal look at these magnificent animals and their many unique characteristics. Filled with fascinating facts and features a live owl! Watch this video we recorded from that presentation.
Bird Cruise
October 1, 2022
During Chirp’s Bird Cruise, participants boarded the Big Bear Queen for an exclusive birding cruise around Big Bear Lake. Circumnavigate the Lake, eyeing the location of Big Bear Lake’s Bald Eagle nest, and admiring historical landmarks around the shoreline. Birdwatchers of all experience levels were invited to participate in this event as we search for American white pelicans, western grebes, and a variety of waterfowl and shorebirds in the area.
20 species were observed during the Wild Bird Cruise in Big Bear Lake on October 1, 2022. Click to view the E-bird Checklist of birds we saw that day.
Book & Craft: Build a Bird House
September 17, 2022
We joined local educator and wild bird enthusiast Scott Waner will read a fun-filled story about observing and appreciating the natural world right outside your window. Following the book reading, Chirp’s Team taught them how to build a creative and easy Bird Feeder to attract wild birds to their own backyard.
Nature Talk: Photographing the Spirit of Birds
September 10, 2022
This event was canceled due to the Radford Fire in Big Bear Lake, CA.
Bird Walk: Rathbone Creek Trail
September 3, 2022
Led by Chirp Bird Guides, we walk along a winding water-course in search of an assortment of local wild birds from regal hawks to singing sparrows.
8 species were observed during this Wild Bird Walk in Big Bear Lake on September 3, 2022. Click to view the E-bird Checklist of birds we saw that day.
Book & Craft: Build a Bird House
August 20, 2022
Local educator and nature enthusiast Nate Haston read a fun-filled story about appreciating the variety of wild birds found in nature. Following the book reading, Chirp’s Team taught the children how to build a creative and easy Bird House to attract wild birds to their own backyard.
Nature Talk: The Art Of The Bird
August 13, 2022
Humans have watched, and even worshiped, birds for 40,000 years. We joined ornithologist Roger J. Lederer as he shared the history of fine-feathered art and artists as diverse as their subjects. A soaring exploration of our fascination with the avian form, The Art of the Bird is a testament to the ways in which the intense observation inherent in both art and science reveals the mysteries of the natural world.
Watch the recording we took from that day.
Book & Craft: Build A Bird Feeder
July 16, 2022
Local educator and bird enthusiast Mary Dobis read a fun-filled story about how to create a garden to help support wild birds. Following the book reading, Chirp’s Team taught participants how to build a creative and easy Bird Feeder to attract wild birds to your own backyard.
Nature Talk: Birds In My Backyard
July 9, 2022
We’ve all been there – a new bird visits our feeders, and we have no idea what it is. Wild bird specialist Matthew Schreiner shared tips for easily identifying common wild birds, reveals molting’s effects on feather patterns, and reviews common backyard birds found in the Big Bear Valley. It was a beneficial talk for beginner and expert birders alike.
About our speaker: Matthew Schreiner began birding in 1992 and has been a bird enthusiast for over 29 years. He has been involved in multiple research projects including working with The Department of Fish and Wildlife in Big Bear Lake on migratory avian productivity and survival. He has also done bird banding and presented at the Western Bird Banding Association on the Nat Catcher in the 1990s. His research allowed developers and conservationists to preserve enough habitat to not decimate the species. When not birding, he is a daytime banker and is the Vice President and Product Implementation Manager for Deposits and Online Mobile Banking.
Bird Walk: Happy Hills
July 2, 2022
During Chirp’s Bird Walk at Happy Hills in Big Bear Lake, CA (San Bernardino National Forest), we got an exclusive tour of one of Big Bear’s birding hotspots. We searched for warblers in the willows, hawks circling the open meadow, and waterfowl wading in the shallows. Participants learned tips and tricks to enhance birding skills and increase birding knowledge.
18 species were observed during the second Wild Bird Walk in Big Bear Lake on July 2, 2022. Click to view the E-bird Checklist of birds we saw that day.
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Book & Craft: Build A Bee Home
June 18, 2022
On June 18th, 2022, Chirp hosted a special book reading and bee-themed craft. Local educator and nature enthusiast Jeanne Gardner kicked off the event by reading a nature-filled story about bee keeping and bee’s positive impact in nature. Following the book reading, Chirp’s Team taught participants how to build a fun and easy Bee Home to help support bee populations.
Photo credit: Anthony B. from Irvine, CA
Nature Talk: Past and Present Of SoCal’s Wild Birds
Recorded live on June 11, 2022
It’s undeniable. Wild bird populations have been affected by the continued development of Southern California. But how? On June 11th, 2022, Sean Lyon, Curatorial Assistant at the Moore Lab of Zoology at Occidental College, shared how museum specimens can be combined with cutting-edge technology to unlock the past and document how nature has changed in the Los Angeles Basin. Watch this recorded video for a deep dive into the historical change of bird populations and specific steps we can take to help support local declining wild bird populations.
Sean Lyon is a Curatorial Assistant at the Moore Laboratory of Zoology at Occidental College and is doing graduate work at California State University, Los Angeles. Sean has worked for natural history museums, conservation organizations, government agencies, and universities. He also runs guided birding tours through his website, www.birdwalkswithsean.com. His current research involves museums, citizen science, and fieldwork to assess the impacts of urbanization on bird populations in Southern California.
Bird Walk: Bluff Lake
June 4, 2022
During Chirp’s Bird Walk at Bluff Lake in Big Bear Lake, CA (San Bernardino National Forest), we got an exclusive tour of one of Big Bear’s birding hotspots. Bluff Lake’s variety of habitats and year-round water supply attract a diverse group of local and migrating wildlife. While enjoying the breathtaking views, we learned how to better identify waterfowl, marsh birds, and woodpeckers often spotted in the area.
21 species were observed during the second Wild Bird Walk in Big Bear Lake on June 4, 2022. Click to view the E-bird Checklist of birds we saw that day.
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Book & Craft: Build A Hummingbird Feeder
May 21, 2022
On May 21st, 2022 we hosted our first book & craft. During this event, we gatehred for a Hummingbird-themed craft, story, and book signing with Author Susanne Strauss. Susanne read her captivating story “Little Jewel’s Remarkable Journey” about one hummingbird’s adventure from egg to fledgling. Following the book reading, we built a fun and easy Humminbird Feeder to attract hummingbirds to our own backyards.
Nature Talk: Big Bear Lake’s Magnificent Bald Eagles
Recorded live on May 14, 2022
In this video, you get to join Chirp Nature Centers and featured speaker, Big Bear Bald Eagle specialist, Sandy Steers, as they show you captivating images from the Friends of Big Bear Valley eagle-cam, share the history of Big Bear’s local Bald Eagles and update you on the 2022 nesting season. For all you eagle lovers out there, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.
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Bird Walk: Meadow’s Edge
May 7, 2022
During Chirp’s first wild Bird Walk at Meadow’s Edge in Big Bear Lake, CA (San Bernardino National Forest), we traveled into the San Bernardino National Forest to observe and identify local Big Bear Lake birds, learn bird watching tips, and enjoy Big Bear’s unique natural setting. While on this hour and a half walk, we were on the lookout for swallows tumbling through the air, lake birds sunbathing just offshore, and jays calling from the trees.
26 Species observed were observed during the first Wild Bird Walk in Big Bear Lake on May 7, 2022. Thank you to everyone that was able to join us in person. Click to view the E-bird Checklist of birds we saw that day.
These events are part of Chirp’s free Wild Bird Walks, Talks & How-To Series. For a full event schedule, visit our events page. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters. We appreciate your continued support of local businesses and birds.
