Parks conservancy staff describe bilingual birding program to reach Spanish-speaking communities at the Presidio

A parks conservancy staff member described a bilingual birding program aimed at Spanish-speaking community groups at the Presidio, saying, "Bilingual birding is a Spanish language program introducing community groups whose primary language is Spanish so that they can come and learn about birds in their own language."

The staff member said the effort is part of a broader inclusivity push to remove barriers to park access and to design programs with community partners. "We design and co create our programs with community partners, like with Latino Outdoors," the staff member said, adding that the conservancy leverages multilingual staff to make events welcoming.

Staff explained the program format: organizers begin with a welcome circle, introduce staff, review safety and then lead a guided walk along routes selected for bird diversity. The presenter noted that colleagues — including a staff member named Maggie — provide Spanish names for species during the walk, and that instructors stop to "look and listen" and teach participants what different bird sounds mean.

The staff member described strong participant reactions, saying some San Francisco residents are "stunned by the beauty" of the Presidio and that the program can spark lasting interest in nature. The presenter framed that outcome as a key goal: recruiting "future park stewards" who feel a sense of belonging and return to protect the park.

The talk focused on outreach and program design; no formal actions, votes or policy decisions were recorded in the presentation.