Join us for a stroll around Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park to observe the resident avians and have a chance to see Great Blue Heron chicks!

This year's walk is extra special because it coincides with Global Big Day / World Migratory Bird Day! We'll tally the species we encounter and submit our observations list to support conservation efforts and celebrate our local birds.

We will meet at the Stow Lake Boathouse at 9 AM and embark on a leisurely walk around Stow Lake and Strawberry Hill. We’ll have a spotting scope and a few pairs of binoculars on hand to observe the herons. Feel free to stay and observe for as long as you’d like. Birders and nature enthusiasts of all levels are welcome!

We also welcome you to visit the official heron observation site set up by San Francisco Nature Education, which hosts a popular annual heron watch program. The organization will have volunteers and interns helping to direct attention to the herons and chicks, explain their behavior, and answer questions.

Great Blue Herons have been nesting at Stow Lake since 1993. Over the years, over 250 chicks have learned to fly here! The herons typically lay eggs around March, and by April the chicks will hatch. In May, the babies will still be in their nests; parents will continue to feed them until the chicks are approximately four feet tall. They’ll take their first hops and flights starting in June and leave the nest at around 12 weeks old, sometime in early July.