Colonial Waterbird Nest Monitoring Research
Our biologists and community science volunteers monitor local populations of herons, egrets, terns, and other colony nesting waterbirds
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Since 1982, our biologists and volunteer 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 are added to a database that extends for nearly 40 years, allowing us to document colony location 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! |
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Jump to the following sections below: Impact of Our Work, View Our Data, Colonial Waterbirds in the Media, Get Involved, and Thanks to Our Supporters.
Impact of Our Work
View Our Protocols, Data, and Findings
Videos
- Our Nature Stories: Vasona Lake Herons by Community Scientist Christine Zack - 2021
- Almaden Lake: Evolution of the Environment and How Birds Adapt Science Talk by Community Scientist Larry Manning - 2021
- Virtual Waterbird Colony Tour at Lake Cunningham with Community Scientist Christine Zack - 2020
- Waterbird Program Annual Report by Waterbird Program Director Max Tarjan - 2017
- Egrets Breeding at the Google Campus in Mountain View - 2016
- The State of the Birds San Francisco Bay - 2011
Data and reports
- Habitat Use by Breeding Waterbirds in Relation to Tidal Marsh Restoration in the San Francisco Bay Estuary - 2023
- Teen Volunteer Program Report: Effects of Flora on Bay Area Bird Populations - 2023
- SFBBO Colonial Waterbird Program Website (for protocols, colony maps, and information about how to request specific data) - 2022
- Breeding Waterbird Populations Have Declined in South San Francisco Bay: An Assessment Over Two Decades - 2021
- Establishing Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) Nesting Sites at Pond A16 Using Social Attraction for the South bay Salt Pond restoration Project - 2020
- Colonial Waterbird Nesting Summary Annual for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Reports - 2005-2020
- Bay Area Colony Maps and 2020 Season Highlights - 2020
- Ask a Scientist Social Media Campaign - 2020
- Colonial Waterbird Analysis -1980-2016
- Annotated Heron and Egret Atlas - 2006
Get Involved
Volunteer - Receive training about our field protocols and help our biologists monitor nests around the Bay Area or teach the community about colonial waterbirds by becoming a volunteer. Current volunteers can access trainings, protocols, and other information on our on our colonial waterbird volunteer website.
Donate - Make a positive impact for birds and habitats by giving generously to SFBBO. Every donation we receive is wisely invested in our mission.
Report - 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!
Learn - Visit a colony near you by joining a "Birds in Your Neighborhood" event. Contact [email protected] to learn more.
Share - Share our story by covering our work in your publication. Please contact Outreach and Communications Director Kristin Butler at [email protected] to learn more.
Donate - Make a positive impact for birds and habitats by giving generously to SFBBO. Every donation we receive is wisely invested in our mission.
Report - 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!
Learn - Visit a colony near you by joining a "Birds in Your Neighborhood" event. Contact [email protected] to learn more.
Share - Share our story by covering our work in your publication. Please contact Outreach and Communications Director Kristin Butler at [email protected] to learn more.
Thanks to Our Supporters and Volunteers
We could not do this work without the dedication of around 50 community science volunteers each year and the support of our donors who contribute to our annual appeals and membership program to fund staff time to manage the program, analyze our data, and share it with our partners and the public. Check out former Science Director Max Tarjan's thank you message to donors.