From our blogs

04 Apr 2022

Watershed Watch Earth Day 2022 Poster Challenge

Make a splash and show us your skills!

Enter the Watershed Watch Earth Day Poster Challenge and share your vision for clean waterways in Santa Clara Valley! Make your entry by Earth Day, April 22nd, and do your part to be a watershed watcher and help prevent urban runoff pollution.

The contest is open for K-12 students in Santa Clara County and will be judged by age groups. Visit www.mywatershedwatch.org/EarthDay for more details.

08 Mar 2022

Big Changes: The South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Project

By now, many of our recent Refuge visitors will have noticed the significant changes happening at the Environmental Education Center in Alviso. In addition to the large trucks running by, the Mallard Slough Trail around the A16 Pond will be closed for Phase I of the South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Project. This project will help reduce coastal flood risk, continue restoration efforts on tidal marsh habitats, and provide additional pedestrian trail access.

We know the project will impact our local communities' ability to recreate in the area, and we appreciate your patience as our partners work to create a safer and more resilient habitat for us all to enjoy. For now, the Mallard Slough Trail will be open intermittently on weekend days. However, the New Chicago Marsh and Marsh View Trails are still open and provide some stunning views of our local wildlife and a good look at construction progress.

For more information about the Shoreline Project directly from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, please check out their website here: https://www.spn.usace.army.mil/Missions/Projects-and-Programs/Projects-b....

18 Jan 2022

The Winter 2021 Issue of Tide Rising, our quarterly newsletter, is here

by Ceal Craig

Tide Rising: Volume 3, Issue 2, Winter 2021

Tide Rising: Volume 3, Issue 2, Winter 2021.

The San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society is happy to publish the latest issue of its digital newsletter, Tide Rising: Volume 3, Issue 2, Winter 2021. This issue’s theme is Restoration & Reflection.

In this issue:

  • What happens after a levee breach? Sometimes nature works a little slower than planned. Learn about new features added to the Island Ponds in the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, Phase 2. Find out what they found when starting construction.
  • Restoring Contra Costa wallflower at Antioch Dunes NWR: learn more about the process, the science, and the challenges to help this endangered species thrive.
  • Tides especially rose during king tides in the south bay. Learn about why this happens and what it means for the Bay area.
  • Environmental education & interpretation activities!
  • Staff changes at SFBWS and USWFS

Readers' feedback:
Can you spare 5 minutes to complete a survey (five questions plus a few optional ones)? Share your ideas about our quarterly Tide Rising newsletter: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TideRising2021Survey
Let us know how we are doing and what we can do to improve our efforts and serve you better.

Editors: Ceal Craig, PhD
Contributors: SFBWS: Chris Kitting, PhD; Hope Presley, MS. USFWS: Joy Albertson, Rachel Tertes, Winnie Chan
Photographers: Ambarish Goswami, Aric Crabb, Ceal Craig, Chris Kitting, Julie Kitzenberger, Rachel Tertes, Winnie Chan

Thanks for reading!

01 Dec 2021

Support us with our membership drive this 2021 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.

20 Oct 2021

The Fall 2021 Issue of Tide Rising, our quarterly newsletter, is here

by Ceal Craig

Tide Rising: Volume 3, Issue 1, Fall 2021

Tide Rising: Volume 3, Issue 1, Fall 2021.

The San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society is happy to publish the latest issue of its digital newsletter, Tide Rising: Volume 3, Issue 1, Fall 2021. This issue’s theme is Partnerships & Supporters.

In this issue:

  • Virtual Marsh-In Summer Camp: Adaptability in the face of change from our Summer Programs Associate.
  • Learn more about critical partnerships, long-standing and vital, with the SF Bay NWR Complex.
  • People of Note: Read about a local indigenous environmental activist. Why we need and appreciate donors and supporters.
  • International Volunteer Day: December 5!
  • Learn more about partnerships that help South Bay environment.

Readers' feedback:
Can you spare 5 minutes to complete a survey (five questions plus a few optional ones)? Share your ideas about our quarterly Tide Rising newsletter: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TideRising2021Survey
Let us know how we are doing and what we can do to improve our efforts and serve you better.

Editors: Ceal Craig, PhD
Contributors: Carin High (CCCR), Ceal Craig, Mary Deschene, Megan Tobias, and Renee Fitzsimons (SFBWS).
Photographers: Ambarish Goswami, Ceal Craig, Derell Licht, Jackie Rodewald, Katherine Greene, Lea Bavaro, Rachel Caoili, Rachel Tertes, Sajida Shabeer

Thanks for reading!

08 Oct 2021

Be a Scientist: think like a biologist, engineer, or environmentalist

The San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society is excited to share our newest environmental education offering: our "Be a Scientist" activity packet.

After the massive successes of this year’s summer programs, we combined our most popular summer activities into a comprehensive booklet that challenges students to use their observational skills and creativity to think like a biologist, engineer, and environmental scientist.

Those who embark on the journey to "Be a Scientist" will learn about mindfulness, nature journaling, habitats, the importance of watersheds, and how to take action to protect the environment.

21 Jul 2021

The Summer 2021 Issue of Tide Rising, our quarterly newsletter, is here

by Ceal Craig

Tide Rising: Volume 2, Issue 4, Summer 2021

Tide Rising: Volume 2, Issue 4, Summer 2021.

The San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society is happy to publish the latest issue of its digital newsletter, Tide Rising: Volume 2, Issue 4, Summer 2021. This issue’s theme is Exploration & Discovery.

In this issue:

  • Learn about Family Story Walks -- an exploration and discovery activity
  • Discover the history of the Marin Islands National Wildlife Refuge and enrich your understanding of the Bay area and our Refuge Complex
  • Wonder how to connect children (and maybe even adults) on cell phones with nature?
  • This month, we spotlight Asian Pacific environmentalists of note.
  • Carin High, Co-Chair of the Citizens Committee to Complete the Refuge, describes the CCCR campaign to Save the Newark Wetlands.

Readers' feedback:
Can you spare 5 minutes to complete a survey (five questions plus a few optional ones)? Share your ideas about our quarterly Tide Rising newsletter: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TideRising2021Survey
Let us know how we are doing and what we can do to improve our efforts and serve you better.

Editors: Ceal Craig, PhD; Renee Fitzsimons
Contributors: Rachel Caoili, Ceal Craig, Mary Deschene, Renee Fitzsimons (SFBWS), Meg Marriott (USFWS), Miguel Marquez (USFWS), Carin High (CCCR).
Photographers: Ambarish Goswami, Ceal Craig, Derell Licht, Rachel Caoili, Grant Johnson, Meg Marriott, SFBWS Staff.

Thanks for reading!

15 Jul 2021

Celebrate Plastic Free July

Plastic Free July is a global movement advocates for solutions to single-use plastic consumption and helps to promote small changes we can make in our daily lives to reduce our plastic footprint. While switching to single-use plastic alternatives might seem like an inconsequential change, everyone working together to reduce their plastic usage can make a huge difference.

We know that avoiding plastic entirely is not always feasible. However, we can take care to avoid or reuse certain plastics that cannot be recycled easily. Taking a little extra time and effort to sort and clean plastic recyclables can make a huge difference in avoiding plastic contamination. Ensuring that our everyday plastics are clean, actually helps divert them from our local landfills and increases their chances of having a second life!

Plastic recycling can be very confusing, but with this quick guide, you can recycle with more confidence and help keep our watersheds, oceans, and communities healthy. You are part of the solution to plastic pollution!

For more information, visit www.calrecycle.ca.gov or email us at watershedwatchers@sfbayws.org.

01 Jul 2021

Family Story Walk: Betty the Bee

The Story of Betty the Bee

From July 15, 2021 through July 29, 2021, join us in a self-guided Story Walk, featuring the book The Story of Betty the Bee.

Written by San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society staff, the book features a bee named Betty and her life at Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

For a more interactive experience, walk along a special Story Walk trail at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Alviso. You will come across a series of numbered stops at some of which, you will have the opportunity to read the story with your family and complete additional activities.

Download the activity packet below. Activities are indicated at specific stops along the Story Walk. Use this activity packet to complete the 5 activities along your journey.

Folded activity booklet

⮇ Click here to download and print the folded activity booklet (PDF 9 MB) ⮇

Print the booklet double-sided. When the printer prompts you to flip the pages, choose the option to flip on the short-edge. Keep the pages in order as they appears on your screen and fold along the black line. Staple the pages together or tie a string around the center fold.

16 Jun 2021

Family Story Walk: A Home for Salty

A Home for Salty, written by Stephanie Stuve-Boden and illustrated by Diane Adams.

A Home for Salty

From June 17, 2021 through July 1, 2021, join us in a self-guided Story Walk, featuring the book A Home for Salty.

Written by Stephanie Stuve-Boden and illustrated by Diane Adams, the book features the adventures of a salt marsh harvest mouse, an endangered species that lives on the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

For a more interactive experience, walk along a special Story Walk trail at the Refuge in Fremont. You will come across a series of numbered stops at some of which, you will have the opportunity to read the story with your family and complete additional activities.

Download the activity packet below. Activities are indicated at specific stops along the Story Walk. Use this activity packet to complete the 5 activities along your journey.

Folded activity booklet

⮇ Click here to download and print the activity booklet (PDF 2.3 MB) ⮇

Print the booklet double-sided. When the printer prompts you to flip the pages, choose the option to flip on the short-edge. Keep the pages in order as they appears on your screen and fold along the black line. Staple the pages together or tie a string around the center fold.

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