Napa Solano Audubon Society

Our mission is to share the fun of birding, promote conservation and scientific understanding of wild birds and their habitats, and offer engaging, science-based education emphasizing the communities of Napa and Solano counties.
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Coming Up

Get Involved

Napa-Solano Birds is predominantly a volunteer organization. To make our programs successful we need membership involvement in all of our activities. Donating even a few hours of time can help a lot. There are all sorts of fun ways to get involved – from helping out with a classroom visit, bird walk or special event, to monitoring your own area for breeding birds.

Bird Family Galleries

Welcome to Napa Solano Audubon Society!

Bird of the Week – Northern Waterthrush
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Job Announcement – Napa Solano Audubon is Looking for Classroom Instructors

Do you like watching birds? Would you like to inspire the next generation of birders and conservationists? Are you interested in part-time work with a flexible schedule? If so, apply to be a Classroom Instructor for Napa Solano Audubon Society. Our classroom instructors conduct classes in elementary schools in Napa and/or Solano Counties. They may also assist with Beginning Bird Walks, the Christmas Bird Count for Kids, and may provide support for other NSAS Events, and Citizen Science activities, to fit their schedules and interests. Training will be provided, as needed. The position runs from September to June 2025-26, with potential to become an ongoing position. For more information about this job and its qualifications, and to send a letter of interest, please click here.

NSAS Presents: The Status and Conservation of Purple Martins in California with Dan Airola
October 9th at 7:00 p.m. at the Benicia Public Library

About the Program: The well-documented and drastic decline in the Purple Martin nesting population in Sacramento has contributed to concerns about the species’ status throughout California. The species has been recognized as a state Species of Special Concern for nearly 50 years. Dan Airola is co-leading a comprehensive statewide Purple Martin status assessment 2025. Dan will discuss the unique life history of this largest North American swallow, differences between the eastern and western subspecies, current threats they face. He’ll present an overview of the status and conservation issues facing the species in California. He will also provide preliminary results of the 2025 statewide Purple Martin breeding population survey. For regular eBlasts with more information sign up for General Announcements in Activity Signups by clicking the green button at the top of our home page.

Weekly Field Trips to Napa & Solano County Hotspots with Andrew Ford are in Full Swing!
They are Open to All Members, Family & Friends of NSAS and Everyone Else is Welcome to Join In!
Sign Up to Receive Field Trip Announcements including Andrew’s Weekly eBlasts with Details about the Next Trip by selecting the Activity Sign-up Button at the top of our Home Page.

Beginner Field Trips to American Canyon Wetlands with Carol Boykin and Tom Slyker
Beginning in October

So, if you are dipping a toe into birding, or dusting off a pair of binoculars for the first time in a while and you want some company as you learn about birding, we’d be delighted to have you join us for our Beginners Bird Walks. We hold Beginner’s Walks at the American Canyon Wetlands Edge Park on two Sundays each month beginning at 9:00 a.m. No reservations are necessary, just plan to show up and enjoy being outdoors for a little while. Sign up for Field Trip Notices by clicking on the Activity Sign-up Button at the top of our Home Page or Check our Calendar for the next Beginner’s Bird Walk. These walks are open to birders of all levels and ages. It’s free, it’s fun, and loaner binoculars are on hand if you need them. Napa Solano Audubon membership is not required. Karina Garcia, Carol Boykin, and Tom Slyker lead these walks. They are citizen science volunteers and participate in the Napa Solano Audubon’s CA Birdseasons project at this wetlands park location. NSAS has been monitoring birds at this site every Monday morning since 2016. This monitoring has provided the participants with a wealth of knowledge about the birds you might see at this location. They have been observing numerous species of waterfowl, a variety of shorebirds including American Avocets and Black Necked Stilts, as well as a variety of raptors, while looking and occasionally spotting the secretive Sora and Virginia Rails.

October Field Trip to Monterey and Big Sur
with Mark Stephenson & Bruce Thomsen
Friday, October 3rd – Sunday, October 5th

Trip Details: This trip has been scheduled to align with the peak of Fall Migration in the Monterey area. Friday we will venture to Big Sur and specifically to Andrew Molera State Park. Andrew Molera is a haven for migratory birds along the Big Sur River and shorebirds along the beach. Time permitting, we will may also visit Grimes Point for condors, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park along the Big Sur River and Garrapata State Park.

Saturday we will visit several areas around the Monterey Peninsula: Laguna Grande Regional Park, Jacks Peak Park (woodland), Carmel River Beach (riparian along the Carmel River, sandy beach), Asilomar (sandy beach, sand dunes, rocky shoreline), Pt. Pinos (rocky shoreline, oceanic). Sunday on the way home we will stop at Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge, Moonglow Dairy, and North Jetty Rd, Moss Landing.

This trip has a limit of 15 Members, so be one of the first to register to assure a place on the trip. More trip details will be coming in our eBlasts.

Registration Link: Click here to Register

Field Trip Announcements: Beware our Field Trip eBlasts may end up in your Spam Folder!

NSAS Spring 2025 College Scholarship Awards Program:

This Spring, NSAS will continue providing a one year, $2,000 Scholarship for two High School Seniors from Napa & Solano Counties who will be enrolled in the Fall of 2025 at a Community or 4-year College pursuing a course of study in ornithology, wildlife, conservation, environmental studies or related fields. If you know of any seniors living in either Napa or Solano counties who are continuing their education in one of these fields of study please let them know they can apply for one of our scholarships. To be considered, applications must be submitted by April 30, 2024. Click here for more information and eligibility requirements.

Searching for Volunteers

We are looking for volunteers to help support our beginning bird walks that take place in our local parks. Please consider helping out with this rewarding activity. We are also looking for supporters to assist us with Education Programs in our Schools, Tabling for Community Events such as Earth Day and in a number of Citizen Science activities from Monitoring Bluebird Boxes to Christmas Bird Counts. If you are interested in serving in any of these areas in any capacity, please click on the volunteer opportunities link below or contact Mark Stephenson at for more details.