Crossbills have piqued the interests of naturalists for centuries, as it also happened to me. My fascination with crossbills turned into a 40-plus year obsession because of the striking and quantifiable link between crossbills and conifers. In this presentation, I will discuss some features of this interaction, including how crossbills use their crossed mandibles to feed, as well as why there is such a great size variation among crossbills. 

Craig Benkman is an evolutionary ecologist and ornithologist, and an Emeritus Professor at the University of Wyoming. Before moving to Wyoming in 2004, Craig was on the faculty in the Department of Biology at New Mexico State University. He received a B.A. from U.C. Berkeley, a M.S. from Northern Arizona University, a Ph.D. from State University of New York at Albany; he conducted post doctoral research at Princeton University and the University of British Columbia. 

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This park is set along the Tuolumne River, with a riparian habitat of oak, cottonwood and sycamore trees.  There is a small pond there, and trails that were created during a recent renovation. We will be looking for resident passerines and wading birds, as well as waterfowl coming in to overwinter.  Great-tailed Grackles and Yellow-Billed Magpies may be abundant there.  We will meet at the main parking lot by the restrooms and walk down to the trails from a gravel road that ends at the boat dock.  Bring water and snacks.

Join John Fulton and John Harris as we explore the birds of Monterey Bay from the Elkhorn Slough Jetty at Moss Landing State Beach. A variety of shorebirds, waders, gulls and terns, sea ducks, cormorants, and grebes are likely. We’ll look for any rare birds reported in the area. Meet at the west end of the parking lot of Sprouts Farmers Market, 1700 McHenry Avenue at 7:30 a.m.  or at Casa de Fruta on Highway 152 at 9:00 a.m. If you want to meet at Moss Landing, meet where Jetty Road intersects Highway 1 around 10 a.m. Carpooling is encouraged. RSVP suggested to John Harris at jhh.birder@gmail.com. Bring a lunch, water, and be prepared for variable conditions including wind and fog. We’ll return to the Modesto area by early evening.