Birding by Ear: Lake Murray

April 19, 2026

9-11a

Birding by Ear for Beginners (and the Rest of Us!) at Lake Murray

Leaders: Willow Eichler and Elena Adams

Learn to enjoy and identify birds by ear! This skill allows you to more easily identify the birds that are all around you, especially when they are hiding under cover in chaparral or high up in riparian woodland treetops. On our walk, we will stop frequently and really listen - putting together all the pieces. Familiar voices versus new ones. Songs, calls, and other sounds. Using imagery to connect pictures to sounds. Spectograms - reading spectrograms, and their strengths and limits. Other sounds in the outdoors that are not birds.

Bring binoculars, hats, sunscreen, and water. The trail is relatively flat: Some slight up and down, but mostly flat and wide trails all around the lake. Substrate is a mix of concrete, asphalt, and soil/sand (looser soils avoidable as necessary by ability). Restroom facilities with flush toilets and water fountains are available. There are several shaded benches that we can sit and observe from, if desired.

Capped at 30 participants. Registration required.

Location Details:

Lake Murray Trail Head / Boat Dock 5540 Kiowa Dr. La Mesa, CA 91942

Driving directions: From the 8 Freeway, exit at 70th/Lake Murray and follow directions to Lake Murray Blvd. Continue up Lake Murray Dr., then turn left on Kiowa Dr. Continue to the end of Kiowa Dr. into the driveway to the parking lot.

Transit Directions: Take the MTS 14 to the Lake Murray Dr. and Kiowa Dr. exit.