From our blogs

24 May 2014

Farallon National Wildlife Refuge celebrates 50 years of the Wilderness Act

Farallon Islands

Farallon Islands. Photo courtesy Wikipedia. Copyright CC-BY-NA 3.0

Take a boat tour this summer with refuge staff and view California's Galapagos. Farallon National Wildlife Refuge, Oceanic Society and San Francisco Whale Tours have teamed up to offer discounted boat tours of the Farallon Islands to view their rugged beauty, breeding seabirds, seals, and sea lions, and perhaps some whales. Each tour will feature narration by Farallon National Wildlife Refuge staff from the islands, the wilderness, and the abundant wildlife. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, and help us commemorate the 40th anniversary of Farallon Islands' designation as wilderness. Cost $65 per person.* Hurry, discounted tickets are limited!

17 May 2014

Musings on Drawbridge by Brenna Silbory

Drawbridge is more than a ghost town. It is a story of California in miniature. Its very name depicts its status as an interruption — a bridge in motion, a transient connection. ~ Brenna Silbory
Drawbridge, California

Drawbridge, California. Photo courtesy Wikipedia. Copyright CC-BY 2.0

Brenna Silbory, a lifelong California resident and outdoor enthusiast, took a tour of the ghost town of Drawbridge, CA on Saturday May 3, 2014 with Ceal Craig, long time volunteer at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, and also member of the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society. Brenna's musings on the trip to a forgotten part of the Bay Area found a place on her blog At the Flourishing Edge: Limning and Living in the Human Settlement of Silicon Valley.

08 May 2014

South Bay Bird Fest - May 17 2014, 12pm -3pm

Join us for the South Bay Bird Fest on Saturday, May 17, 2014 12pm - 3pm at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay Wildlife Refuge, Environmental Education Center in Alviso.
  • Free activities for children
  • Live Birds Show
  • Crafts
  • Face Painting
  • Puppet Show
  • Guided Bird Walks
  • Hand-On Activities
  • Games

South Bay Bird Fest is sponsored by the City of San Jose, San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society, Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program and US Fish & Wildlife Service.

01 May 2014

Volunteer Opportunities: Summer 2014

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Opportunities: Summer 2014 at the Environmental Education Center (Alviso, California).

If you have an interest in wildlife and their conservation, enjoy working with people, and are enthusiastic and dependable, the Environmental Education Center’s Volunteer Program is for you! As a volunteer, you’ll receive on-the- job training from staff and other volunteers in the project area you choose.

Prior to volunteering at the Environmental Education Center, you must attend a Volunteer Orientation. You can also attend the orientation just to see what opportunities there are, and if it is the right fit for you.

19 Apr 2014

12th Annual Going Native Garden Tour • April 26 - 27, 2014, 10am - 4pm

The California Native Plant Society (Santa Clara Valley Chapter) in association with UCCE Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County present the 12th Annual Going Native Garden Tour.

  • Saturday April 26, 2014, 10am - 4pm: Northern Gardens (Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Los Altos, and San Mateo County)
  • Sunday April 27, 2014, 10am - 4pm: Southern Gardens (Cupertino, Santa Clara, Campbell, San Jose and south)
  • Free admission
  • Plant sales and talks at select gardens
  • Register at www.gngt.org

Bay Area homeowners are making their gardens aesthetically pleasing, attractive to birds and butterflies, water-wise, and low maintenance by incorporating California native plants. Visit gardens landscaped with native plants on this free annual tour, now in its twelfth year.

Garden information, maps and directions will becoe available to registrants the week of April 7. Registrations will be accepted until noon of April 27. For information, visit www.gngt.org or email info@gngt.org

16 Apr 2014

Seeking a part-time Grant Writer

Update: May 30, 2014

This position is now filled. Thank you for your interest.

The San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society is a not-for-profit partner working to support the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge and its mission to ensure that wildlife and people co-exist effectively, that native diverse ecosystems and the migratory and endangered species living there thrive in a changing world and be preserved for future generations. The Wildlife Society is currently seeking a part-time Grant Writer to help administer current grants and to develop and write new grant proposals to foundations and other grant making organizations, and to persuasively communicate the refuge’s mission and programs to potential funders.

12 Apr 2014

National Environmental Education Week - April 13 - 19, 2014

National Environmental Education Week 2014

National Environmental Education Week 2014

National Environmental Education Week (EE Week) is the nation's largest environmental education event held each year the week before Earth Day. EE Week inspires environmental learning and stewardship among students by connecting educators with environmental resources to promote K-12 students' understanding of the environment. EE Week is a program of the National Environmental Education Foundation.

EE Week is held each year the week before Earth Day. EE Week is April 13-19, 2014.

The goal of EE Week is to assist educators in incorporating more high-quality environmental education across the curriculum.

22 Mar 2014

Earth Day • April 19 2014, 9am – 12pm

Come and join us! Celebrate Earth Day at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge on April 19, 2014 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Join us at Ravenswood Point in East Palo Alto for our annual Earth Day Cleanup. Help protect the wildlife and environment while enjoying the beautiful Bay view. Gloves and trash bags provided. Children welcome and must be accompanied by an adult.

RSVP at www.savesfbay.org. Contact joseph_garcia@fws.gov or call (510) 792-0222 ext. 141 for more information.

15 Mar 2014

San Francisco Flower & Garden Show • March 22, 2014

Find out how to make a difference for wildlife in your own backyard at an educational event in San Francisco with National Wildlife Federation naturalist and author David Mizejewski on Saturday, March 22nd at 11am and 2:45pm.

Join us at the magnificent San Francisco Flower & Garden Show on Saturday, March 22nd at San Mateo Event Center, San Mateo. This year’s show theme is “Inspired,” and it runs from March 19th through March 23rd. This amazing event brings together leading gardening experts and presents a range of inspirational, educational, and fun activities for gardeners and families.

On March 22nd, National Wildlife Federation media personality, author and naturalist David Mizejewski will be speaking at two Garden Show events, inspiring us to invite wildlife into our gardens.

At 11am and again at 2:45pm, David will give seminars on “Attracting Birds, Butterflies and Backyard Wildlife.” David will sign copies of his book “Attracting Birds, Butterflies and Other Backyard Wildlife” after his 2:45pm talk.

Please note that you must purchase tickets to the Garden Show to attend speaker seminars. And don’t forget to allow extra time for parking. Hope to see you at the garden show!

02 Mar 2014

Videos of hummingbirds in their nest

Dan Tuchler recently had the rare opportunity to shoot a video of a hummingbird and her two nestlings just outside his house. Dan made the video by holding up an iPhone to an astronomy telescope.

Hummingbird nestlings

Hummingbird nestlings. Courtesy Dan Tuchler.

The nestlings appear hungry

The nestlings appear hungry. Courtesy Dan Tuchler.

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