Audubon Ranch, Bolinas

There's something I love about going somewhere I've never been before; especially if it's right here in our own backyard. With that in mind, Sibyl and I have decided to make a concerted effort to get out and hike or bike a new place at least once per month. We keep a list of ideas, and figure with all the beautiful parks here in the North Bay, we'll never ever run out of places to try. Today we went to the Audubon Ranch at Bolinas Lagoon to see the baby egrets. They hatched in April, and have been nesting - all 100 or so of them - in some tall trees on the property all this time. They are now as large as the adult birds, but have not yet learned to fly. They are practicing, though! They fly up and come right back down into the tops of the trees. The moms & dads fly in with gullets full of fish, frogs, etc. that the babies fish out of their throats. There is a trail that climbs the side of the canyon, with a large wooden viewing platform up above the level of the nests. Docents are stationed there, with extra binoculars and spyglasses mounted to the ledge aimed at all the action. It was quite an amazing and beautiful experience.