UCSF Students and Faculty Come Together to Bird
On February 8, 2026, students and faculty from across UCSF gathered for a morning of birdwatching along the Bay Trail at McLaughlin Eastshore State Park. Organized by the Birdwatching Club at UCSF, the outing brought together UCSF’s medical, dental, and biomedical science divisions for an interprofessional experience centered on wellness, curiosity, and a shared appreciation for wildlife.
The club has been growing rapidly, with strong turnout across UCSF’s many programs. As word spreads about the whimsy of birding, more students and trainees are joining outings to step outside the clinic, classroom, and laboratory. For many, birdwatching offers something rare in busy academic lives: a chance to slow down, be in the present, and form a connection with the outdoors.
Faculty and Community Leaders
The outing was led by Dr. Robert Ho, Dr. Oliver Vu, and Peter Shen. Dr. Ho — an avid birder, nature photographer, professor at the UCSF School of Dentistry, and faculty advisor for BWC —has been instrumental in supporting the club and played a key role in coordinating the event. Dr. Vu, an attending dentist in the School of Dentistry’s predoctoral clinic, is widely appreciated by students for his extensive surgical expertise and dedication to teaching. Students were excited to bird with Dr. Vu and spend time with him outside the clinic. Peter Shen, a National Audubon Society Photography Award winner, has also been an invaluable mentor to BWC and contributed greatly to the outing. Together, their guidance helped participants better understand the ecology and birdlife of the Bay shoreline.
A Walk Filled with Discovery
The walk along the Bay Trail revealed an impressive diversity of birdlife. One of the highlights was spotting a female Greater Scaup resting out of the water — an uncommon sight. Greater scaups are diving ducks with their legs positioned far back on their bodies, making them powerful swimmers but limiting their ability to move comfortably on land.
Participants were also fortunate to observe a Pelagic Cormorant, which was beautifully photographed by Dr. Ho. Another memorable moment came when Peter Shen captured an Anna’s Hummingbird flashing its iridescent feathers — an especially striking sight on an otherwise cloudy day.
Throughout the morning, the group encountered a wide range of shorebirds and waterfowl, including Black Oystercatchers, American Wigeons, Green-winged Teals, Black-bellied Plovers, Least Sandpipers, and Spotted Sandpipers.
Learning, Wonder, and Shared Excitement
Beyond the excitement of individual sightings, the outing served as a collaborative learning experience. Participants worked together to distinguish several similar-looking shorebirds. The
Hudsonian Whimbrel’s moderately downcurved bill and compact build contrasted with the Long-billed Curlew’s dramatically long, slender bill. The Marbled Godwit, with its slightly upturned bill and warmer-toned body, was compared with the Willet, recognizable by its straighter gray bill and bold black-and-white wing pattern in flight.
By the end of the trip, the group had documented 43 bird species. Yet the most memorable moments were often the small ones: the thrill of spotting a “lifer,” the satisfaction of finally identifying a tricky shorebird, or the excitement when someone captured the perfect shot.
Birdwatching has a unique way of bringing out a childlike sense of awe in both beginners and seasoned birders alike. Each new sighting feels like a discovery, and each transient bird observation reminds participants how much beauty exists in the natural world when we take the time to notice it.
