The San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory has monitored colonial waterbirds since 1982. Beginning in early February and continuing through early August, we track numbers of breeding herons, egrets, terns, gulls and other birds that nest in colonies around the Bay Area. These numbers add to a database that extends for over 30 years, allowing us to document population trends. We also monitor the timing of nesting and evidence of disturbance and predation.
Information on colony sizes allows us to document population trends, inform resource management decisions, and contribute to other projects including the "Annotated Atlas and Implications for the Conservation of Heron and Egret Nesting Colonies in the San Francisco Bay Area", a collaboration between SFBBO and Audubon Canyon Ranch.
Information on colony sizes allows us to document population trends, inform resource management decisions, and contribute to other projects including the "Annotated Atlas and Implications for the Conservation of Heron and Egret Nesting Colonies in the San Francisco Bay Area", a collaboration between SFBBO and Audubon Canyon Ranch.
Project Partners:
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge California Department of Fish and Wildlife Audubon Canyon Ranch Project Funding: San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory Membership |
Photo credits: Tom Grey
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Volunteers of the Colonial Waterbird Program must be volunteers of SFBBO and attend a training about field protocols.
Before the training, you should fill out a Volunteer Application and discuss the program with SFBBO's Outreach Coordinator. After the being assigned as a volunteer, you should attend a virtual or in-person training session. Contact SFBBO's Outreach Coordinator for details.
For questions about volunteering for this program, please visit the SFBBO website or contact SFBBO's Outreach Coordinator, Kristin Butler (kbutler@sfbbo.org).
Website last updated January 27, 2020
