2021 Chirp's Virtual Bird Walks, Talks, & How-To Series Recap Videos

October 9, 2021

How To, Things To Do, Wild Bird Resources

Each year from spring through fall, Chirp Nature Center hosts Bird Walks, Talks, and How-To presentations. These events are hosted in-person in Big Bear Lake and online via Facebook and YouTube. So if you weren’t able to join us live, or just can’t get enough, explore below and enjoy our event videos.

Bird Talk: Ominous Owls

Recorded live on October 16, 2021

How do owls accurately pinpoint the sounds of their prey? Is the color of an owl’s eye and its eating pattern related? Why are owls such deadly predators? Are owls really…ominous? Learn the answers to these questions and MORE when you watch the video below on this 60 minute “Ominous Owl” talk. Lead by a featured guest speaker, Bob Cisneros, click to understand why these birds are worth giving a hoot about.

Bob Cisneros, is the Associate Director of Animal Care Utah’s Hogle Zoo. With 30 years of experience working with Zoo animals, Bob was the director of the Big Bear Alpine Zoo, the President pro tem of the American Association of Zookeepers, and has been involved in multiple international conservation projects for animals such as polar bears, tree kangaroos, rhinos, and cheetahs.

Virtual Bird Cruise: Big Bear Queen

Recorded live on October 13, 2021

Ahoy! Come experience amazing views of Big Bear Lake while spotting birds from across the blue waters. Watch this video to get an exclusive VIRTUAL birdwatching tour hosted on the Big Bear Queen with Chirp Nature Center.

Bird Talk: Clever Corvids

Recorded live on September 18, 2021

The world can’t stop raven about the cleverness of corvids. This is be-caws members of this family may be one of the most intelligent animals in the world. Corvids make tools, host funerals for family members, and mimic other birds. Want even more probable-claws to convince you of the corvid’s gigantic bird-brain? Watch this 60-minute talk with our Clever Corvid guest speaker, Dr. John McCormack.

Dr. McCormack is the Director of the Moore Laboratory of Zoology at Occidental College and Curator of the 62,776 bird specimens in its museum. As a published researcher and associate professor, Dr. McCormack is passionate about understanding the evolutionary history of birds and the current environmental changes that affect birds’ distributions, appearances, and DNA. Watch this video about Clever Corvis now.

Bird Walk: Knickerbocker

Recorded on September 8, 2021

Join Chirp’s Bird Walk virtually at Knickerbocker Canyon in Big Bear Lake, CA (San Bernardino National Forest). Lead by a bird guide, learn how to better identify Brown Creepers, Acorn Woodpeckers, and Violet-green Swallows, while enjoying stunning lake views. Your reward at the end of the hike is a spring-fed oasis full of seasonal wildflowers and busy wild birds. Watch this video to get up close and personal with nature.

Bird Talk: Rad Raptors

Recorded live on August 21, 2021

Watch our Rad Raptor guest speaker, Stan Tekiela, who is a naturalist, wildlife photographer, and writer, as he dives deep into Raptors. With 35 years of experience in the field, he has authored over 200 books and guides, received national awards for his work, and is a well-known columnist and radio personality.

Bird Walk: Happy Hills Trail

Recorded live on August 11, 2021

During Chirp’s Bird Walk at Happy Hills Trail in Big Bear Lake, CA (San Bernardino National Forest), birdwatchers of all levels enhance their identification skills while walking along the paved path and into the National Forest beyond. How well can you identify a mother Cooper’s Hawk, a hungry Anna’s Hummingbird, and nesting Cliff Swallows? Watch this video to test your bird brain, and nurture your nature.

This video followed our in-person Bird Walk on August 7. Check out the eBird checklist of the birds we saw that day: https://ebird.org/checklist/S92914828.

Bird Talk: Batty for Bats

Recorded live on July 17, 2021

The largest bat in the world has a six-foot wingspan, but the smallest bat is no bigger than a thumbnail! With over 1,000 species worldwide and 40 species of bats in the United States alone, there is no end to the amount of interesting information about these animals.

During this 60 minute event, our featured guest speaker Linda Stamer, Development Director for the Southern California Mountains Foundation, will share crazy comparisons, captivating photos, and little-known facts guaranteed to make you go Batty for Bats!

Bird Walk: Sandalwood (Von’s) Marsh

Recorded live on July 14, 2021

During Chirp’s Bird Walk at Sandalwood (Von’s) Marsh in Big Bear Lake, CA (San Bernardino National Forest), birdwatchers of all levels of experience, observe and identify local Big Bear Lake birds. Keep your eyes open for Song Sparrows, Blue Herons, and Marsh Wrens as you are lead beside the marsh, along the meadow, and to the lake’s shore. Better your birding and enjoy one of Big Bear’s birding hotspots by watching this video.

This video followed our in-person Bird Walk on July 3 (Independence Weekend). Check out the eBird checklist of the birds we saw that day: https://ebird.org/checklist/S91203223.

Bird Talk: Wacky Woodpeckers

Recorded live on June 19, 2021

This 60-minute presentation highlights Woodpeckers. There are over 236 species of woodpeckers in the world. The average Woodpecker makes 12,000 knocks on a tree trunk per day. Acorn Woodpeckers store up to 50,000 acorns in a single tree in autumn. Some may say these birds are crazy, others may call them wacky, but we call them Woodpeckers!

Watch this video as our birding specialist and guest speaker, Matthew Schreiner, shares more fascinating facts about these Wacky Woodpeckers.

Bird Walk: Bluff Lake

Recorded live on June 9, 2021

During Chirp’s Bird Walk at Bluff Lake in Big Bear Lake, CA (San Bernardino National Forest), get 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, learn how to better identify waterfowl, marsh birds, and woodpeckers often spotted in the area. Watch this video to see what birding is like at Bluff Lake.

This video followed our in-person Bird Walk on June 5. Check out the eBird checklist of the birds we saw that day: https://ebird.org/checklist/S89786440.

Bird Talk: Big Bear Bald Eagles

Recorded live on May 15, 2021

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 2021 nesting season. For all you eagle lovers out there, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

Big Bear Eagles Update

Bird Walk: Mill Creek Road & 2N10

Recorded live on May 12, 2021

During Chirp’s Bird Walk at Mill Creek Road & 2N10 in Big Bear Lake, CA (San Bernardino National Forest), travel 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. In this video, listen for the iconic Mountain Chickadee, spot Warblers in the willows, and find Fox Sparrows searching for seed. Enjoy this video to get up close and personal with nature.

This video followed our in-person Bird Walk on May 1. Check out the eBird checklist of the birds we saw that day: https://ebird.org/checklist/S86828692.

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.

2021 Chirp’s Virtual Bird Walks, Talks, & How-To Series Recap Videos