Event

Refuge Rails and Tales

Rail line through Drawbridge ghost town. Credit Cris Benton.
Rail line through Drawbridge ghost town. Credit Cris Benton.

Behind the peaceful Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge and beautiful San Francisco Bay are many fascinating tales: the little rail vs. the big rail, the mouse with the mighty tail, the amazing mistake that led to the discovery of the Bay, the marsh named after Chicago, how the Bay was nearly destroyed (twice!), how three women saved the Bay, why the Refuge was created, and many more! Join docent Larry Rosenblum as he recounts little-known tales that will give you an appreciation of the Refuge and the Bay.

History and Mystery of the Refuge and the Bay

Boardwalk by the Refuge Environmental Education Center
Boardwalk by the Refuge Environmental Education Center

The Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge was created in 1972, but this story starts 200 years earlier when Europeans discovered San Francisco Bay. Learn about the Bay’s history and the answers to mysteries such as: Why are mercury and gold a lethal duo? How did silver mining in Nevada affect the Bay? Why was Oscar the Grouch happier 60 years ago than today? Join docent Larry Rosenblum to discover the answer to these mysteries and others, then take a virtual tour through one of the marshes of the Refuge.

Virtual Science Talk: Return of the Terns! Using Social Attraction to Establish Tern Nesting Colonies in South San Francisco Bay

Caspian tern chicks nestle by decoy at the Refuge
Caspian tern chicks nestle by decoy at the Refuge

The San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory launches its Birdy Hour Speaker Series! This virtual Science Talk is free and family-friendly (recommended age: 5th grade & up). The talk by Dr. Alex Hartman of the U.S. Geological Society will focus on two recent successful social attraction projects at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge: the establishment of Caspian tern nesting colonies in Alviso Pond A16 and Ravenswood Pond SF2, and the re-establishment of Forster’s tern nesting colonies in Pond A16.

Least Tern Habitat Enhancement Event

California least terns and their eggs and nests
California least terns and their eggs and nests

Come join the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project team, and others in the 1st annual California Least Tern Habitat Enhancement event!

To help these beautiful and interesting birds, we will be removing old wood structures and weedy vegetation, installing decoys and sound systems, and building shelters for least tern chicks. These efforts will improve the habitat quality for these endangered species and help boost their populations in the Bay Area.