Colonial Waterbird Research

​Since 1982, our biologists and citizen science volunteers have monitored local populations of herons, egrets, terns, and other colony nesting waterbirds throughout the Bay Area. The project records data on the timing of nesting, which can help answer questions about the impact of climate change on birds, evidence of predation, and information on colony sizes to understand localized population trends.

Photo by Don Dvorak

Photo by Jackie Deely

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​The long-term data set is shared with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and with local organizations such as the Audubon Society to help resource managers and local communities make informed decisions that impact birds. It also contributes to region-side 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. 

Citizen Science Volunteer Application