October 2009: Wingbeat

California Fall Challenge

The 13th annual California Fall Challenge fundraising event continues through October 11th. Guided Trips will be offered this weekend and next - it isn't too late to join! Or, if you haven't already donated, consider contributing to the California Fall Challenge fundraiser - no amount is too small and it goes towards conserving birds and their habitats!

Team DeDUCKtions - Led by Matthew Dodder - Oct. 3
Bats at CCFS – Led by Dave Johnston - Oct 3
The Regal Eagles - Led by Ryan Phillips - Oct. 4
Avosets - Led by Bob Power - Oct. 4
Warbling Winos - Led by Troy Rahmig - Oct. 4
Big Sit - Pati Rouzer & Jill Demers - Oct. 10

The Bird Observatory in the Media

See San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory Biologist Caitlin Robinson in the KQED/KTEH Public Television series Saving the Bay, narrated by Robert Redford. Saving the Bay consists of four one-hour episodes, and premieres on KQED Channel 9 Thursday evenings October 8 and 15 from 8-10pm (repeating overnight and Sundays October 11 and 18 from noon-2pm). Caitlin is the Waterbird Program Supervisor at the Bird Observatory, and, as a local shorebird expert, Caitlin discusses the importance of the San Francisco Bay for long-distance migrants in the Pacific Flyway.

The Bird Observatory Joins the Oiled Wildlife Care Network

The San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory is proud to join the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN). As a participating organization, the Bird Observatory will provide trained staff and volunteers during an oil spill response. OWCN is a statewide collective of wildlife care providers, regulatory agencies, academic institutions and wildlife organizations that works to rescue and rehabilitate oiled wildlife in California. OWCN is recognized as a world leader in oil spill response, rescue, rehabilitation and research. Expect future announcements regarding training opportunities for Bird Observaty volunteers. Want to become a Bird Observatory volunteer? Click here to find out how.

Request for Volunteers

Snowy Plover Habitat Enhancement - Shell Spreading Party!
The Bird Observatory needs your help making the salt ponds a better place for plovers.

Western Snowy Plovers nest on the dry former salt evaporation ponds in the South Bay, and many nests are lost each year to predators. In 2008, Bird Observatory biologists designed an experimental study to determine if plover nest success could be increased by adding oyster shells to the pond bottom. This addition of white objects (the shells) to the salt ponds helps to camouflage the plover nests, and provide cover for chicks to hide. This study yielded impressive results in the 2009 breeding season, increasing plover nest density and nesting success. This fall we are spreading more oyster shells, and we need your help to spread them on dry ponds! 

On October 17th at 9:00am, we will have an oyster shell spreading party at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve. This volunteer opportunity involves carrying buckets of shells on the ponds in order to reach the area to spread the shells. Please keep in mind this “party” will involve lots of lifting and walking in muddy areas. If lifting heavy objects is hard for you, please volunteer with one of SFBBO’s other projects.  

If interested, e mail Caitlin at crobinson@sfbbo.org. Please wear rubber boots and bring gloves and a bucket or two if you have them!  

A New Way to Experience Wetland Habitats in the South Bay

The San Francisco Bay Joint Venture has recently posted new South Bay audio tours on their website – www.yourwetlands.org. Home to the largest tidal wetland restoration project on the West Coast of North America, and the largest urban refuge in the United States, the South Bay is in the midst of being restored back to a mixture of wetland habitats after a 100 year history of salt production.  Current stop, listen and learn locations include the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Newark, the Environmental Education Center in Alviso, and the staging area at Eden Landing. A Hayward tour will be posted later this year. Listen to these audio tours on location, with any web access cell phone (and a good set of headphones) or by downloading them off the website and onto a CD, iPod or MP3 player. 

Also check out the Joint Venture’s bimonthly podcast program, which includes wealth of information about wetland restoration and other related issues including stories by and about the people working to protect them. Subscribe and stay informed.