A dream and many moons ago, a vision was born to return the subsided land on the edge of San Pablo Bay back to tidal marshland. When the tides filled the marsh for the first time in over 100 years last October, thousands of birds flocked to it within a few hours — and Sears Point revealed itself to be a destination for some great bird watching, especially when birds come to stay for the winter.
 
Starting in December and continuing through February, on the first and third Saturdays of each month, our volunteer docents will be leading bird walks along the Dickson Trail at Sears Point, which passes between new and old tidal marshlands.
 
These docents have been out at Sears Point for months now, setting up spotting scopes and observing the birds and other wildlife and watching the change of the seasons. We are excited to have them share their observations with you — and for you to share yours as well. Whether you are a seasoned birder looking to connect with others with a shared interest, or just someone who has always wondered about all those birds that come spend the winter, we invite you to come along and explore with us.
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Pre-registration for these free walks is encouraged.

Ingrid Spetz is Sonoma Land Trust's outings manager.

Sonoma County is a great place to live and explore. With its rugged coastline and rolling hills, world-class wineries and restaurants, and a pleasant climate, there’s something for everyone. However, for some of Sonoma County’s more wild residents, traversing the Sonoma landscape can be tricky — and, at times, perilous.
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Human activity, fencing, roads and other developments can act as barriers to the safe movement of wild animals. Animals are forced to negotiate their movements carefully in order to travel undetected, while still maintaining access to vital resources. As such, many animals rely on wildlife corridors to allow them to travel safely across the landscape. Wildlife corridors are areas of wildlife habitat that provide linkage between larger areas of habitat, allowing animals to travel across their natural range in relative security and to access essentials like as food, shelter and mates.