Your Questions, Answered

Downloading Merlin Bird ID and ebird (both developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and both FREE) is a greta place to start. These apps work together, helping you ID individual birds by sound and sight, while also showing you which birds are likely to be seen in your area.

The Sibley guide (I would recommend getting the Birds of the West edition for birding in CA) is amazing, as is the John Muir Laws field guide.

The Lee Vining Library will rent binoculars for free! Check with your own local branch to see more options like this.

Sure. This club was created for the shes, gays, and theys, and especially beginner birders, so make sure you feel comfortable coming into this space as a man.

If you’re interested in joining a birding group which is less oriented around being a safe space for women and LGBTQIA+ folks, the Eastern Sierra Bird Alliance also hosts free monthly birding walks for all. Check out their site for more info: https://esaudubon.org/accessing-birds/field-trips/

Binoculars, water, snacks, and sunscreen! If you reach out in the week before a meetup, we can also get you rental binoculars from the Lee Vining Library.