Intro to California Birdlife: Evolution and Ecology with Albert Garnica

Los Angeles is home to over 500 species of resident and migratory birds – from backyard gardens to the Mojave Desert, from the Transverse Ranges to the Pacific Ocean – these species make up a vital part of California ecosystems and represent a storied evolutionary lineage that began with the dinosaurs.

Join us online for an overview of the birds of California with a special focus on observing and identifying the most common species found in Los Angeles. Tune in to learn about the evolutionary history of our avian friends and how our state’s diverse landscapes and plant communities shape their habits, appearance, and distribution.

We'll cover the earliest origins of birds in the Mesozoic era, the geological and ecological processes that shaped their current distribution and evolution in California, and the easiest methods for learning to identify the birds around us today. Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your kinship with birds!

This class will be held online. Registered ticket holders will have access to the recording of the class for two weeks after the live event.

Albert Garnica is the Education Manager at Theodore Payne Foundation. He is passionate about connecting people with nature through learning and engagement. He has 20 years experience creating curricula and programming pertaining to the arts and sciences. Prior to TPF, his ecological interpretive training includes a 9 year tenure with the Los Angeles Zoo.

Photo Credit: Diego Blanco