From our blogs

by Ceal Craig

Our National Wildlife Refuges face many challenges. The Board of Directors at the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society (SFBWS) strongly believes that standing with them and their mission is an important task. Thus the SFBWS, along with more than a hundred other refuge Friends groups nationwide, has signed a letter stating opposition to two bills, H.R. 218 and H.R. 1157. Respectively, the bills would authorize a road through the Izembek NWR in Alaska and a boundary change at the Monomoy NWR in Massachusetts effectively cutting that refuge in half. This letter was sent to the House Committee on Natural Resources to enter into the record of a legislative hearing by the Subcommittee on Federal Lands on Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at 2:00 PM EST.

by Mary Deschene

Hundreds of low-income school children now have the opportunity to “Explore the Coast” of the Don Edwards Refuge by attending field trips enabled by the California State Coastal Conservancy’s Explore the Coast program.

By funding interns to assist with refuge programs, we are providing environmental education for diverse audiences that open up a world of environmental appreciation and stewardship for future generations and their families.

The Conservancy’s Explore the Coast Grant program encourages all Californian’s to explore and experience our spectacular coast.

There is no minimum grant size but the maximum grant award is $50,000. If funding is available, the Conservancy will offer these grants every year. Since 2013, the Conservancy has awarded over $2.9 million to 109 projects.

Explore the Coast grants fund a wide range of programs that bring people to the coast, increase stewardship of coastal resources, and provide educational opportunities. The grant program prioritizes projects that achieve one or more of these objectives:
* Provide coastal experiences to lower-income or other underserved populations;
* Increase the number of people visiting the coast;
* Improve barrier-free access for persons with disabilities; and/or
* Provide a valuable recreational, environmental, cultural or historic learning experience;
* Increase stewardship of coastal resources; or
* Enhance the public’s coastal experience in a way that does not currently exist.

Rainbow Fields by Colin McRae. Credit Colin McRae.

For the last eight years, Colin McRae has been flying over the San Francisco Bay Area, photographing the vivid and sometimes surreal colors of the salt ponds in the South Bay. His photograph "Rainbow Fields" was recently featured as "Photo of the Day" on a website for photography professionals, giving Bay Area residents an aerial perspective of the salt ponds hugging the southern shores of the San Francisco Bay.

Introduce your child to bird watching and learn how the Christmas Bird Count contributes to conservation at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Coyote Hills Regional Park on January 21, 2017 from 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Go with an experienced birdwatcher and count all the birds you see. We will reconvene at the Don Edwards Refuge to tabulate our data and report our findings.

Recommended for ages 8-16. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Driving to specific birding sites may be necessary. Bring binoculars if you have them, water, and a bag lunch.

Register at http://xmasbirdcount4kids.eventbrite.com.

Meet at the Visitor Center in Fremont at 2 Marshlands Rd, Fremont, CA