Birders, grab your binoculars and your bikes because this Sunday is the ever-popular Birding by Bike citywide tour. Now in its twelfth year, this ride is a favorite among ornithologists, ornithologist wannabes and birding neophytes, like myself.

Join veteran birding tour guide David Armstrong for a group pedal through Golden Gate Park, Lake Merced, and some of the city’s other lush areas. You may not know what a Red-throated Loon or a Pied-billed Grebe is, but a few hours into the trip, you may have already spotted a few. Or you’ll at least be able to impress someone at a party by using words like Shearwaters and Petrels and talking about the migratory patterns of the American Coot. Yup, I’m pretty sure that’s the language of love.

So, if your knowledge of birds in San Francisco is limited to the crusty-toed pigeons who walk our streets and the giant macaw you see on that dude’s shoulder at the café, now’s your chance to bone up on your birding knowledge. I’m most excited to look for hawks, which I’ve been obsessed with ever since one destroyed a pigeon on my fire escape last month! And yes, there are hawks in the city. I’m sure Armstrong can tell you all about them—and the hundreds of other birds that call our city home.

Ride details: Sunday, April 8. Meet at 8:45 am at Velo Rouge Café at Arguello and McAllister streets. Bring a bike, binoculars, water and a snack. Ride is free for San Francisco Bicycle Coalition members and $5 donation for non-members. Happy pedaling!