Wild Birds of the Malibu Lagoon with Chuck Almdale

Above left:  Ruddy Turnstone: breeding & non-breeding plumage

Above right: Marbled Godwit & Whimbrel

Sponsored by the UCLA Emeriti Association and the UCLA Retirees Association.

Malibu Lagoon has long been a favorite spot for local birders. Santa Monica Bay Audubon Society has hosted a monthly field trip there for over 30 years, but many may have forgotten - or never knew - its history over the past few decades. In this introduction to the lagoon, we'll see many of its denizens as photographed by SMBAS photographers, discuss a little bit of lagoon history, the Snowy Plover colony, and why keeping records of your "local birding patch" is a useful and fun form of citizen science.

Chuck Almdale, a retired accountant in the film industry  began watching birds 45 years ago and began censusing Malibu Lagoon birds in 1979. Since joining Santa Monica Bay Audubon Society in 1989, he has served it in various capacities including President, Vice-president, Program chair and for about 20 years, Field Trip chairman. He has led their birdwalk at Malibu Lagoon for the past 20 years. He has also edited their blog and written most of their postings since its 2009 inception. When not at the lagoon, he birds around the county, state, country and the world, and has seen slightly over half of the species of birds in the world. He finds that the vocation of accountancy is adequate preparation for the avocation of censusing birds.

The UCLA Emeriti Association and the UCLA Retirees Association (UCLARA) are both all-volunteer organizations that represent the interests of UCLA's retired faculty/staff and plan programs for their members. Support their advocacy efforts by joining or renewing your membership. Membership forms are available on-line.