From our blogs

The San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex and the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society (SFBWS) have a long-term partnership relationship dating back to 1987.

Beginning with a bookstore and financial support for projects like remodeling the Fremont pump house into a classroom, SFBWS over the decades continued to fund activities like summer camps and outfit environmental education programs with microscopes, binoculars, and publications at both the Environmental Education Center (EEC) and Fremont Headquarters. We spearheaded a fund raising campaign to build the EEC Boardwalk and worked with Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) on many more projects, notably funding the Refuge Complex’s quarterly newsletter Tideline since its inception. Since 1992, SFBWS has managed employees that support the Watershed Watchers Program funded by the Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program and the Living Wetlands Program funded by the City of San Jose.

Bufflehead coated with pale goo at the International Bird Rescue center in Fairfield, CA. Photo by Cheryl Reynolds. Photo courtesy International Bird Rescue.

Dozens of seabirds were found covered in a pale goo late Friday January 16 on the eastern shore of the San Francisco Bay by East Bay Regional Park District staff. The birds were transported to the Fairfield office of International Bird Rescue, a non-profit that specializes in the rehabilitation of seabirds. At least 25 birds died of dehydration and hypothermia. The substance contaminating the birds and the circumstances in which it spilled into the bay waters is under investigation by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

By late Monday night, over 240 birds had been picked up from the San Leandro Marina, Hayward Regional Shoreline, Crab Cove in Alameda and Bay Farm Island Shoreline Trail in Alameda. The affected species are common goldeneye, eared grebe, surf scoter and bufflehead. They are all migratory waterbirds that winter in the coastal waters of the San Francisco Bay. They are excellent swimmers and dive under the water to eat crustaceans and molluscs.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Environmental Education volunteer internship is located at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Environmental Education Center in Alviso, CA. The Environmental Education Center provides free programs to schools and the public, while teaching about the local wildlife, conservation, and how to help the environment. The Living Wetlands program is designed to teach about wetlands and the properties of wetlands including watersheds and water conservation. We need a highly motivated individual who has an interest in education and visitor services and will assist in educating, planning, and developing the Living Wetlands program.

Sloughkeepers cleaning up Alviso Slough in their kayaks. Photo courtesy sloughkeepers.com. Copyright Sloughkeepers.

Join your love of kayaking in the San Francisco Bay and a clean environment by participating with our partners the Sloughkeepers in cleaning Alviso Slough. Bring a kayak out to the upper lot’s launch ramp at the Alviso Marina on Sunday November 23 at 11:00 AM. Be prepared to paddle through the slough and some reeds to clean up our neighborhoods waters.

Due to the reeds, this is recommended for those who have some kayaking experience. Slough Keepers will provide garbage bags and even some garbage barges. To sign up, contact Eric Norris at sloughkeepers@gmail.com and visit www.sloughkeepers.org for more information. Space is limited to 25 kayakers.