From our blogs

Volunteer positions available

Join a fun group of Refuge Volunteers who share a passion!

Come join us! We need your help.

Nature Store Volunteer, Fremont

* Manage Nature Store sales
* Trained to engage with Refuge visitors and respond to questions.
* Weekend shifts
* Network and learn about the refuge

Please contact mary.deschene@sfbayws.org for more information.

Support us with our membership drive this 2023 holiday season

Happy Holidays!

Nature-themed Gifts

This holiday season, share your love of nature and the National Wildlife Refuges by gifting your loved ones nature-themed gifts.

You can buy the nature-themed gifts online or you can mail us a check along with an order form.

⮇ Click here to order nature-themed gifts for your loved ones this holiday season. ⮇

All proceeds from the book sale benefit the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society.

Gift a membership

Help a loved one become a Supporter of the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society. If you are an existing member of the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society, you can gift a membership to a friend or family member.

⮇ Click here for the membership form. ⮇

If you have placed an order with the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society for a Nature Gift, you may even do so at no cost to yourself or the gift recipient.

⮇ Click here for the Gift Membership form. ⮇

Your gift recipient will enjoy all the benefits that come with membership: a subscription to the digital, quarterly newsletter Tide Rising and a 15% discount at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Nature Stores at the Visitor Center in Fremont, and Environmental Education in Alviso.

On #GivingTuesday 2023 help us conserve and preserve the essential wildlife habitat of the San Francisco Bay

San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society wants to wish you all happy holidays. No matter what holiday you may celebrate, as we all gather this season, we share the common values of gratitude, compassion, and giving.

#GivingTuesday, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, falling on November 28, 2023 this year, has become a day to support not-for-profit organizations.

We hope you will consider the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex with a donation to the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society through PayPal (or you can send a check).

#GivingTuesday 2023

The Fall 2023 Issue of Tide Rising, our quarterly newsletter, is here

by Ceal Craig

Tide Rising: Volume 5, Issue 1, Fall 2023

Tide Rising: Volume 5, Issue 1, Fall 2023.

The San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society is happy to publish the latest issue of its digital newsletter, Tide Rising: Volume 5, Issue 1, Fall 2023. This issue’s theme is Partnerships & Supporters.

In this issue:

  • SFBWS Corner: How do the articles and ideas connect this issue? “On the Trail”. Bioblitzes, citizen science, South Bay partner orgs, and more.
  • Partnerships and Supporters Reports: How Are Refuges Doing Series shares sand dune vegetation cover and composition update. Learn about San Francisco Bay Joint Venture, its team, and why it is
    important to Complex, SFBWS members and readers.
  • Reports from the Field: 2023 Hybrid Marsh-In Summer Camp: from former camper perspective & Habitat Hero. Learn about the many volunteers and staff who made the coastal cleanup efforts productive throughout the complex, San Pablo Bay NWR, and at Alviso Environmental Education area.
  • Youth Perspectives: Hear from two young women making a difference as volunteers supporting the Refuges.

Editors: Clayton Ou, Ceal Craig, PhD
Contributors: SFBWS: Ceal Craig, Madison Cline, Makenna Ma, Mary Deschene, Olivia Poulos. USFWS: Melisa Amato, Chris Barr, Paul Mueller, Winnie Chan. Volunteers: & Supporters: Larry Rosenblum, Riya and Isha. Photographers: Ceal Craig, Larry Rosenblum, Madison Cline, Melisa Amato, Paul Mueller, Riya and Isha.

Thanks for reading!

The Summer 2023 Issue of Tide Rising, our quarterly newsletter, is here

by Ceal Craig

Tide Rising: Volume 4, Issue 5, Summer 2023

Tide Rising: Volume 4, Issue 5, Summer 2023.

The San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society is happy to publish the latest issue of its digital newsletter, Tide Rising: Volume 4, Issue 5, Summer 2023. This issue’s theme is Exploration & Discovery.

In this issue:

  • Warm Springs Unit: Bloom Energy employees explore the Warm Spring Unit. Long-time USFWS staff member recognized.
  • Environmental Science - Green Everywhere in the South Bay: Boom year for freshwater loving fish, so much green in the marsh.
  • Reports from the Field: Partners in conservation & wildlife at VA Alameda Point. Latino Conservation Week: 10th Year Celebrations. CA tadpoles at Ellicott Slough.
  • News! EA Volunteer Day. Staff Updates. Activities coming up!

Readers' feedback:
Enjoy and share your ideas for future edition articles! What interests you? Write us.

Editors: Ceal Craig, PhD
Contributors: SFBWS: Ceal Craig, Olivia Poulos, Aja Yee. USFWS: Susan Euing, Diane, Kodama, Ivette Loredo, Lucia Marquez, Paul Mueller. Volunteers & Supporters: Jim Ervin
Photographers: Gene Bobik, Susan Euing, Ambarish Goswami, Diane Kodama, Lucia Marquez, Olivia Poulos, USFWS, Aja Yee.

Thanks for reading!

Apply to join the Hybrid Marsh-In Summer Camp • July 24-28, 2023

We are so excited to welcome campers back for another year of Marsh-In Summer Camp at the Don Edwards SF Bay NWR! This is the 44th year of free Summer Camp being offered to Bay Area youth entering Grades 1-6 and will take place at Refuge Headquarters in Fremont at 1 Marshlands Rd, Fremont, CA 94555.

We welcome parents & guardians from all over the Bay Area to apply via this Google Form: https://forms.gle/cq6vCc9uYtM37ddR6. Applications are due on June 9th, and Summer Camp acceptances will be sent out by June 16th. The application form will give you a sneak peek at the camp schedule and some of the incredible opportunities for campers to engage with nature at their local, national wildlife refuge!

Please reach out to summercamp@sfbayws.org if you have any questions.

Mother's Day at the Refuge • May 14 2023, 10am – 2pm

Mother's Day | May 14, 2023

We hope you will join us in celebrating all of the mothers of the world by attending our Mother's Day Celebration at the Refuge!

You may arrive any time from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on Sunday, May 14th, at the Environmental Education Center at the Don Edwards SF Bay NWR.

The event will be an open house, with time to explore, learn more about Mama Birds, join a guided walk or ranger program, participate in some fun Mother's Day arts & crafts, and much more!

The Spring 2023 Issue of Tide Rising, our quarterly newsletter, is here

by Ceal Craig

Tide Rising: Volume 4, Issue 4, Spring 2023

Tide Rising: Volume 4, Issue 4, Spring 2023.

The San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society is happy to publish the latest issue of its digital newsletter, Tide Rising: Volume 4, Issue 4, Spring 2023. This issue’s theme is Endangered & Threatened Species.

In this issue:

  • Endangered Species Act: Refuge Complex Status - What are those 32 special species in the San Francisco Bay NWR Complex? Where are they? Why are they important? Learn about endangered species at Salinas River & Ellicott Slough NWRs.
  • Environmental Science Reports - Boom year for vernal pool aquatic species: report from the field from the Complex Botanist. Exciting news about endangered species on the Channel Islands!
  • Earth Day 2023 Event: see flyer for 4/22 activities.
  • Mother’s Day Event: see flyer for 5/14 activities.
  • Photographs and Other News!

Readers' feedback:
Enjoy and share your ideas for future edition articles! What interests you? Write us.

Editors: Ceal Craig, PhD
Contributors: SFBWS: Ceal Craig, Madison Cline, Olivia Poulos. USFWS: Ann Spainhower, Aidona Kakouros, Diane Kodama, Giessell Aguilar.
Photographers: Aidona Kakouros, Ambarish Goswami, Heather Butler, Kelly Matsubara, Matthew Slater, Merav Vonshak, Robin Agarwal.

Thanks for reading!

Earth Day • April 22, 2023

Earth Day | April 22, 2023

On April 22nd, people all over the world will celebrate Earth Day – a day set aside to raise environmental awareness and inspire people to take action for our planet!

The theme for Earth Day 2023 is Invest in Our Planet.

Become an Earth Hero

We hope you will join in this mission with us, and one way you can participate is by becoming an Earth Hero. Download and complete the packet below to learn more about our beautiful Earth and how we can help protect it. Once you complete the packet, please email us at watershedwatchers@sfbayws.org for a chance to earn a sustainable prize!

⮇ Click here to download the Earth Hero packet (PDF 21 MB) ⮇

Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour and Green Home Features Showcase (In-Person) • May 6 and May 7, 2023, 10am - 5pm

Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour

Registration for the free, Nineteenth Annual Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour and Green Home Features Showcase is now open. This year there will be four days of inspiration: two days online, and two days in-person, and, for the second time the Tour will also showcase green home features.

Date: Saturday and Sunday, May 6 and 7, 10:00-5:00
Free with Registration: https://www.bringingbackthenatives.net

In-Person Tour

The award-winning in-person Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour and Green Home Features Showcase will allow registrants to visit more than fifty beautiful, water-conserving native plant gardens on Saturday, May 6, and Sunday, May 7—from 10:00-5:00. All of the homes have native plant gardens; more than a dozen will be sharing their green home features, such as solar panels and batteries, induction ranges, heat pumps, and more.

Registrants will learn how to design a native plant garden for color and interest throughout the year, garden for wildlife, lower their water bills, protect their family's health and the environment by gardening without using pesticides, and answering questions about electrification.

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