Colonial Waterbird Research
Since 1982, our community scientists have monitored colonial waterbirds in the Bay Area. 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 nearly 40 years, allowing us to document population trends. We also monitor the timing of nesting and evidence of disturbance and predation. These colonies are found on preserves as well as urban landscapes, including the Google Complex campus!
Volunteers of the Colonial Waterbird Program must attend a training about field protocols. Learn more about becoming a volunteer by clicking here. Current volunteers can access trainings, protocols, and other information on our on our colonial waterbird volunteer website. If you like to kayak in Bay Area sloughs, please keep your eye out for colony nesting waterbirds and let SFBBO know if you find one so we can monitor it. Check out our flyer below to learn how!
Volunteers of the Colonial Waterbird Program must attend a training about field protocols. Learn more about becoming a volunteer by clicking here. Current volunteers can access trainings, protocols, and other information on our on our colonial waterbird volunteer website. If you like to kayak in Bay Area sloughs, please keep your eye out for colony nesting waterbirds and let SFBBO know if you find one so we can monitor it. Check out our flyer below to learn how!
How is Our Data Used?
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.
We share our long term data set with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bay Area land managers, and organizations such as the Audubon Society to help the public make resource management decisions that protect birds. We also share it with universities and other groups that are doing region-wide research projects to help them understand localized bird population trends. Highlights from our 2019 season can be viewed on our Colonial Waterbird Volunteer Website.
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.
We share our long term data set with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bay Area land managers, and organizations such as the Audubon Society to help the public make resource management decisions that protect birds. We also share it with universities and other groups that are doing region-wide research projects to help them understand localized bird population trends. Highlights from our 2019 season can be viewed on our Colonial Waterbird Volunteer Website.
View Our Data
Click on the links below to view our data and reports. Mini Reports of specific colonies are available upon request, please contact Waterbird Intern Andrea Villanueva at waterbird_intern_2@sfbbo.org.
Colonial Waterbird Program Annual Reports for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
View Our Data
Click on the links below to view our data and reports. Mini Reports of specific colonies are available upon request, please contact Waterbird Intern Andrea Villanueva at waterbird_intern_2@sfbbo.org.
- Colonial Water Bird Analysis
- Annotated Heron and Egret Atlas
- California Gull Population Growth and Response to Tidal Marsh Restoration in South San Francisco Bay
- California Gull Population Growth and Ecological Impacts in the San Francisco Bay estuary, 1980-2016
Colonial Waterbird Program Annual Reports for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Colonial Waterbird Nesting Summary 2020 (pdf)
- Colonial Waterbird Nesting Summary 2019 (pdf)
- Colonial Waterbird Nesting Summary 2018 (pdf)
- Colonial Waterbird Nesting Summary 2017 (pdf)
- Colonial Waterbird Nesting Summary 2016 (pdf)
- Colonial Waterbird Nesting Summary 2015 (pdf)
- Colonial Waterbird Nesting Summary 2014 (pdf)
- Colonial Waterbird Nesting Summary 2013 (pdf)
- Colonial Waterbird Nesting Summary 2012 (pdf)
- Colonial Waterbird Nesting Summary 2011 (pdf)
- Colonial Waterbird Nesting Summary 2010 (pdf)
- Colonial Waterbird Nesting Summary 2009 (pdf)
- Colonial Waterbird Nesting Summary 2008 (pdf)
- Colonial Waterbird Nesting Summary 2007 (pdf)
- Colonial Waterbird Nesting Summary 2006 (pdf)
- Colonial Waterbird Nesting Summary 2005 (pdf)
Our Partners
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Various Audubon chapters who all use our reports in their work
Agencies who manage the lands we have permits to access
Get Involved
- Volunteers of the Colonial Waterbird Program must attend a training about field protocols. Learn more about becoming a volunteer by clicking here. Current volunteers can access trainings, protocols, and other information on our on our colonial waterbird volunteer website.
- If you like to kayak in Bay Area sloughs, please keep your eye out for colony nesting waterbirds and let SFBBO know if you find one so we can monitor it. Check out our flyer to learn how!
- Make a positive impact for birds and habitats by giving generously to SFBBO. Every donation we receive is wisely invested in our mission.