Category Archives: Bird Walks

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend — Let’s Go Look for Birds!

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We’re thankful for birds so let’s go look for some at the Wilson Botanical Garden, Las Cruces Biological Station, Sunday, November 30.

We’ll meet at 7:00 am at the Reception Building, as usual, and have binoculars to lend so please invite your neghbors, friends and family.

The Walk, free as always, will take about an hour and be followed by a social hour in the dining room.

As grateful as we are for your attendance, we need your Membership Dues — $30 (C15,000) for individuals and $50 (C25,000) per family. Please help us with our 2026 budget as several exciting and compelling local projects stand to benefit from our support.

Are we a little crazy? Yes! Are we having fun? Yes! Yes!

Photo by Helen LeVasseur

Our Friends at Finca Cántaros Have an Offer for You: Check Out These Upcoming Webinars on Zoom — Using Birds to Inspire Environmental Education in Costa Rica!

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It is easy to sign up and then Watch! Listen! and Learn! all about the important work going on in San Vito thanks to the energetic and knowledgeable group at Finca Cántaros.

Monday, November 24th @ 7 pm:

At Finca Cántaros Environmental Association (fincacantaros.org) in Coto Brus, Costa Rica, environmental education and community engagement are at the heart of everything we do. Join us to learn how we use birds to engage youth to women from across our community in meaningful environmental education experiences. Our programs foster awareness and appreciation for birds, involve participants in hands-on habitat restoration that benefits both resident and migratory species, and builds local capacity for the co-production of scientific knowledge through bird banding and Motus Wildlife Tracking. We’ll share success stories from our partnerships with local schools using the BirdSleuth curriculum of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and you’ll discover how we are creating the spaces for women—a historically underrepresented group in ornithology—to empower themselves and become bird banders and educators, sharing their knowledge with participants in our Women Committed to the Earth program.  And of course, we’ll showcase plenty of stunning photos of the beautiful birds that call our backyard home—sure to inspire you to visit! Register to get Zoom link.  

Tuesday, November 25th @ 8 am:It’s one thing to talk about how FCEA empowers young women from rural communities to become bird banders, but it’s quite another to show you in action! Get ready to be inspired. Virtually visit the Finca Cántaros banding station and meet the team. Observe bird banding with both resident and migrant species, including the Golden-winged Warbler. Hear from NABC-certified bird banding trainer Holly Garrod and FCEA Director Lilly Briggs discuss the program’s impact on conservation, science, and education. Experience the event virtually and consider an in-person visit in 2026. Register to get Zoom link. 

The Bird Banding Team at Finca Cántaros

Bird Walk This Sunday, Nov. 16

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Please join us for a free Bird Walk at Las Cruces Biological Station/Wilson Botanical Garden. We will meet at 7 am at the Reception Building.

As is our wont, we have binoculars to lend and moderate expertise to share.

A Social Hour will follow the walk in the dining room. If you are feeling generous, bring some colones to put in the Tip Box for staff who clean up our cups and saucers.

Might see this one!!!!!

Gartered Trogon, photo by Helen LeVasseur

Bird Walk This Sunday, November 2

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Since it’s Halloween you might be forgiven for thinking these people are in costumes, pretending to be birders — hah! But you would be WRONG — they are enjoying a fruiting tree full of hungry colorful migrants including Summer Tanagers; Chestnut-sided, Tennessee and Black-and-White-Warblers; Swainson’s Thrushes and more that have arrived here for the winter.

Terry Farling and Kate Desvenain (left to right above), longtime members and supporters, joined us two weeks ago for a super birdy stroll through the Wilson Botantical Garden. Also with us: Tim Christopher, SVBC Bigwig Peter Wendell and two new members: Gabriel Ortiz and Dra. Lilliana Rivas Morales.

We are due for another one this Sunday so please mark your calendars and join us! Bring friends and neighbors — it’s free, open to the public and we always have binoculars to share.

Meet at the Reception Building at Las Cruces Biological Station at 7 am; I’m looking at YOU!

Top photo by Gabriel Ortiz, bottom photo by Alison Olivieri

Bird Walk Sunday, October 19 — Hope to See You There!

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Please join us for a free guided Bird Walk at the Wilson Botanical Garden, aka OTS Las Cruces next Sunday, October 19.

We will meet at the Reception Building at 7:00 am and have binoculars to share.

After the walk, we will have a coffee/tea Social Hour in the dining room and make a bird list.

This beautiful photograph — of an even more beautiful bird — was taken by Eugenio Garcia, a longtime friend of the SVBC, natural history guide and nature photographer. If you can identify this bird, tell us at the Bird Walk and you might win a prize!

Bird Walk Sunday: Oct. 5th at OTS Las Cruces

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Please join the San Vito Bird Club for our bi-monthly Bird Walk.

Where: OTS Las Cruces, a delightful place most of know as the Wilson Botanical Garden.

When: Sunday, Oct. 5th. Meet at the OTS Recepcion area at 7am.

Why: Why not? Migratory birds from the north and a few from south are now flowing into our area; not unlike a wide-open fire hose.

Who: You…and I.

What: A relaxing walk, watching for surprises, pleasant conversation (at low volume, please) and a hot beverage at the end.

Binoculars and local guides provided; all free of charge.

But watch out for bugs.

Bird Walk Sunday: Wilson Garden–Sunday, Sept.21

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As the great Emily Dickinson once wrote:

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all.

…whatever the hell that means.

My point is, please join the San Vito Bird Club for our regular every-other-Sunday bird walk, this Sunday, September 21st at 7:00am. Meet up, as usual, as the Recepcion office of the Wilson Botanical Garden. There is no charge.

No binoculars…not a problem; we’ll supply you with a pair.

Limited ability to identify birds…no problem; we’ve got local birders to help you.

No shoes…that’s a problem. Get some and join us this Sunday.

Bran-colored Flycatcher: photo courtesy of Troy Smith.

Birding and Walking About…Then Sitting Down and Talking About It: Sunday Sept. 7th at Wilson Garden

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Please join the San Vito Bird Club for our regular Bird Walk. Meet at the Wilson Botanical Garden recepcion office at 7am.

Following the walk, we’ll retire to the Comedor for coffee/tea/water and social time.

No charge; binoculars and local guides are provided.

September is a great birding month.

Collared Trogon

Sunday Birdwalk: At the Wilson Garden of Botanical Wonders

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Please join the San Vito Bird Club for an escorted and free-of-charge morning birdwalk on Sunday, Aug. 24th. Meet at the Recepcion Office at 7am (I will be there at 6am if you are up and energetic).

Binoculars and expertise available as needed.

We’re at the close of August. Seasonal migrant birds from the northern latitudes are sure to be arriving in the coming months. But each year we see some early arrivals*. We’ll keep our eyes open for them. Black and White Warblers, American Redstarts, Prothonotary Warblers, Red-eyed Vireos are possible.

*It’s just like when you throw a dinner party and you tell the guests to arrive at your house at 6pm; inevitably a couple will show up at 5pm…and then stay until after midnight.

Hope you can join us.

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Aug. 10 Bird Walk at the Gardens of Wilson (OTS Las Cruces)

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Please join the San Vito Bird Club for a guided Bird Walk at the Wilson Botanical Garden on Sunday, August 10th; meet at 7am at the Recepcion Office.

There is no charge for this walk; binoculars and local birding guides are provided (if needed).

Hope you can join us; all are welcome.

Yellow-throated Toucans