{"id":152,"date":"2020-09-23T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-09-23T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/weebly-import-post-152"},"modified":"2026-06-17T01:43:23","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T01:43:23","slug":"what-it-is-about-birding","status":"publish","type":"wingbeat","link":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wingbeat\/what-it-is-about-birding\/","title":{"rendered":"What It Is About Birding"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"paragraph\"><strong>By Friends of Marcia Ruotolo<\/strong><\/div> <div><div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Picture\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wp-content\/uploads\/weebly-migration\/modo-joshua-ryan-aloysius-white_orig.jpg?ssl=1\"\/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u200bIn September 2004, a new, enthusiastic instructor took over the Beginning Birding class at Palo Alto Adult School, teaching novice birders the art of finding\u00a0and identifying common birds of the San Francisco Bay Area. The real learning took place on our weekly field trips to local parks, beaches and yes, water treatment plants. Our class went to a bird banding demonstration offered by SFBBO. Some signed up for Alvaro Jaramillo\u2019s SFBBO classes on shorebirds, seabirds and gulls.\u00a0<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<!--more-->\n\n  <div class=\"paragraph\">Along the way, we became friends. Carpools on field trips gave us time to chat and develop connections. Shared snacks during our evening class break gave us more chances to know each other better.\u00a0<br\/>\u00a0<br\/>Over the years, a core group of about ten continued our friendship while reinforcing our birding skills. We have comforted and consoled each other through illnesses and the death of spouses. Most recently, we have mourned the death of one of our own, Marcia Ruotolo, and decided to honor her memory by making a donation to SFBBO.<br\/><br\/><span>Here is why we continue to bird:<\/span><br\/><\/div> <div> <figure class=\"wp-block-gallery wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wp-content\/uploads\/weebly-migration\/ruddy-duck-jerry-ting.jpg?ssl=1\"\/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wp-content\/uploads\/weebly-migration\/belted-kingfisher.jpg?ssl=1\"\/><\/figure><\/figure>\n<\/div> <div class=\"paragraph\">\u200b\u201cBirding puts a smile on my face. I don\u2019t need to tick off rarities on my life list. I am content to mark the passing seasons by the changing plumage and the comings and goings of migrants on the Bay.\u201d\u00a0<br\/>\u00a0<br\/>\u201cOur group can put aside the ups and downs of life to take a walk and just enjoy the beauty of local birding sites, blending bird observation with a little chatting and a lot of good laughs. I never returned home without having learned or re-learned something essential about our avian friends.\u201d<br\/><br\/>&#8220;Birding and birders have enabled me to get outside of myself and to enjoy a really great group of people.&#8221;<br\/>\u00a0<br\/>\u201cBirding is a peaceful and quiet way to connect deeply with wherever you are.\u201d<br\/><br\/>\u201cStumbling into Bob Power\u2019s Beginning Birding, I barely knew a duck from an eagle. Hundreds of hours later &#8211; after tromping through marshes, forests, riparian corridors &#8211; my life is enriched, blessed &#8211; by birds and enduring friendships. Quick! A Nuttall\u2019s in my bird bath. There\u2019s a White-breasted Nuthatch in the branch overhead!\u201d<br\/><\/div> <div> <figure class=\"wp-block-gallery wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wp-content\/uploads\/weebly-migration\/anhu-mike-bolte.jpg?ssl=1\"\/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wp-content\/uploads\/weebly-migration\/oak-titmouse-katja-zuske.jpg?ssl=1\"\/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wp-content\/uploads\/weebly-migration\/western-bluebird-by-carol-ann-krug-graves.jpg?ssl=1\"\/><\/figure><\/figure>\n<\/div> <div class=\"paragraph\">\u201cThe marvel of flight\u2026birds\u2019 myriad vocalizations (music! a different &amp; exciting language to learn)\u2026colors and patterns\u2026amazing variety\u2026the intellectual stimulation of looking, learning, problem-solving\u2026the camaraderie of other birders\u2026feelings of awe and joy\u2026the balm of contentment one moment\/ the rush of excitement the next.\u201d<br\/><br\/>\u201cBirding is an experience that can be enjoyed anywhere. It adds a new dimension to wherever one travels\u2026even in one\u2019s own backyard!\u201d<br\/><br\/>\u201cBirding is joy, the joy of learning,\u00a0 the joy of discovery,\u00a0 the joy of hunting, the joy of sharing, the joy of marveling,\u00a0 the joy of just sitting,\u00a0 looking,\u00a0 and listening,\u00a0 of discussing and laughing and a little arguing,\u00a0 and the joy of doing all that with new and old friends and people you love.\u201d\u00a0<br\/>\u00a0<br\/>\u201cBirders are just plain friendly people with the desire to help each other out. I have not been able to join this group on most excursions during the past couple years, but my heart has always been there, eager to hear or imagine what birds were seen by this group on a particular day.\u201d<br\/><\/div> <div> <figure class=\"wp-block-gallery wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wp-content\/uploads\/weebly-migration\/spotted-towhee-curt-bianchi.jpg?ssl=1\"\/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wp-content\/uploads\/weebly-migration\/blph-garrett-lau.jpg?ssl=1\"\/><\/figure><\/figure>\n<\/div> <div class=\"paragraph\"><span>Thank you, SFBBO, for continuing to support birding around the Bay!<\/span><br\/><br\/><em>Photographers (in order) Joshua Ryan Aloysius White, Jerry Ting, SFBBO, Mike Bolte, Katja Zuske, Carol Ann Krug Graves, Curt Bianchi, and Garrett Lau.<br\/><br\/><strong>Thank you to the Friends of Marcia Ruotolo for donating more than $1,000 to support scholarships\u00a0to send students from\u00a0underserved communities\u00a0to\u00a0<a href=\"\/staging\/1924\/alvarojaramilloworkshops\/\">future SFBBO bird ID workshops<\/a>\u00a0taught by Affiliated Senior Biologist\u00a0Alvaro Jaramillo.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>\u200b<br\/>\u200b<br\/><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Friends of Marcia Ruotolo<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1230,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"nf_dc_page":""},"class_list":["post-152","wingbeat","type-wingbeat","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What It Is About Birding - San Fransisco Bay Bird Observatory<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wingbeat\/what-it-is-about-birding\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What It Is About Birding - San Fransisco Bay Bird Observatory\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Friends of Marcia Ruotolo\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wingbeat\/what-it-is-about-birding\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"San Fransisco Bay Bird Observatory\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-17T01:43:23+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wp-content\/uploads\/weebly-migration\/866415237.jpg?fit=2000%2C1500&ssl=1\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\\\/staging\\\/1924\\\/wingbeat\\\/what-it-is-about-birding\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\\\/staging\\\/1924\\\/wingbeat\\\/what-it-is-about-birding\\\/\",\"name\":\"What It Is About Birding - San Fransisco Bay Bird Observatory\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\\\/staging\\\/1924\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\\\/staging\\\/1924\\\/wingbeat\\\/what-it-is-about-birding\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\\\/staging\\\/1924\\\/wingbeat\\\/what-it-is-about-birding\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\\\/staging\\\/1924\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/weebly-migration\\\/866415237.jpg?fit=2000%2C1500&ssl=1\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-09-23T00:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-17T01:43:23+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\\\/staging\\\/1924\\\/wingbeat\\\/what-it-is-about-birding\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\\\/staging\\\/1924\\\/wingbeat\\\/what-it-is-about-birding\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\\\/staging\\\/1924\\\/wingbeat\\\/what-it-is-about-birding\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\\\/staging\\\/1924\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/weebly-migration\\\/866415237.jpg?fit=2000%2C1500&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\\\/staging\\\/1924\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/weebly-migration\\\/866415237.jpg?fit=2000%2C1500&ssl=1\",\"width\":2000,\"height\":1500},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\\\/staging\\\/1924\\\/wingbeat\\\/what-it-is-about-birding\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\\\/staging\\\/1924\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Wingbeat\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\\\/staging\\\/1924\\\/wingbeat\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"What It Is About Birding\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\\\/staging\\\/1924\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\\\/staging\\\/1924\\\/\",\"name\":\"San Fransisco Bay Bird Observatory\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\\\/staging\\\/1924\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\\\/staging\\\/1924\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\\\/staging\\\/1924\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"San Fransisco Bay Bird Observatory\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\\\/staging\\\/1924\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\\\/staging\\\/1924\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\\\/staging\\\/1924\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/40th-sfbbo-logo-final-1%EF%B9%961676307269.jpg?fit=159%2C136&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\\\/staging\\\/1924\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/40th-sfbbo-logo-final-1%EF%B9%961676307269.jpg?fit=159%2C136&ssl=1\",\"width\":159,\"height\":136,\"caption\":\"San Fransisco Bay Bird Observatory\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\\\/staging\\\/1924\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What It Is About Birding - San Fransisco Bay Bird Observatory","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wingbeat\/what-it-is-about-birding\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"What It Is About Birding - San Fransisco Bay Bird Observatory","og_description":"By Friends of Marcia Ruotolo","og_url":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wingbeat\/what-it-is-about-birding\/","og_site_name":"San Fransisco Bay Bird Observatory","article_modified_time":"2026-06-17T01:43:23+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2000,"height":1500,"url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wp-content\/uploads\/weebly-migration\/866415237.jpg?fit=2000%2C1500&ssl=1","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wingbeat\/what-it-is-about-birding\/","url":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wingbeat\/what-it-is-about-birding\/","name":"What It Is About Birding - San Fransisco Bay Bird Observatory","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wingbeat\/what-it-is-about-birding\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wingbeat\/what-it-is-about-birding\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wp-content\/uploads\/weebly-migration\/866415237.jpg?fit=2000%2C1500&ssl=1","datePublished":"2020-09-23T00:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-17T01:43:23+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wingbeat\/what-it-is-about-birding\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wingbeat\/what-it-is-about-birding\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wingbeat\/what-it-is-about-birding\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wp-content\/uploads\/weebly-migration\/866415237.jpg?fit=2000%2C1500&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wp-content\/uploads\/weebly-migration\/866415237.jpg?fit=2000%2C1500&ssl=1","width":2000,"height":1500},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wingbeat\/what-it-is-about-birding\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Wingbeat","item":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wingbeat\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"What It Is About Birding"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/#website","url":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/","name":"San Fransisco Bay Bird Observatory","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/#organization","name":"San Fransisco Bay Bird Observatory","url":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/40th-sfbbo-logo-final-1%EF%B9%961676307269.jpg?fit=159%2C136&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/40th-sfbbo-logo-final-1%EF%B9%961676307269.jpg?fit=159%2C136&ssl=1","width":159,"height":136,"caption":"San Fransisco Bay Bird Observatory"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wingbeat\/152","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wingbeat"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/wingbeat"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1230"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=152"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}