Pomarine Jaeger by Matthew Binns

6:30 p.m. Social—7:00 p.m. Program

Pelagic birding continues to grow in popularity as more and more people discover the rewards of exploring the birdlife found in the specialized habitat of our oceans waters. A parallel current in recent years has been the explosion of interest in bird photography. One of the challenges of pelagic birding is that the birds are rarely sitting still. Plumages of various species can seem indistinct, and glimpses can be fleeting. Oftentimes, scrutinizing a quickly-snapped photo can be the key to proper identification.

Our February program will explore how these two recent trends in birding have come together in a perfect partnership in the bird-rich waters off San Diego. Matthew Binns is a molecular geneticist who has had an interest in birds since childhood. Growing up close to the North Sea in England, and with a father who had a passion for boating, he found himself attracted to seabirds. His work has given him the opportunity to bird in many exotic locations, including pelagic birding trips off four different continents. Over the years he also developed an interest in bird photography, so much so that he now describes himself more as a bird photographer than a birder. He’ll share his passion for pelagic birding and some of his experiences, as well as some of the images he’s been able to capture while out at sea.

Please join us!