From our blogs

Note: This the fourth in our series of online interactive field trip activities to explore and discover the 5 habitats of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Teachers can send this online, interactive field trip activity to students or parents can give it to their kids.

Today we will be exploring the Mudflats habitat of the refuge, the wildlife in this habitat, and some fun facts.

Excited? Let's get started!

Step #1: ⮇ Download the PowerPoint presentation (PPT 5 MB) ⮇ or click here for Google Slides if viewing online.
The presentation has bird calls, links to videos and websites with more information.
The PowerPoint will start in presentation mode, so it is ready for you to begin the activity right away! Click with your mouse or press the space bar key to move forward through the presentation. Clicking on button links will either play a bird call, or open up a webpage.

Step #2: ⮇ Download the worksheet (PDF 184 kB) ⮇
This will be used by the students to answer questions as they come up throughout the presentation. You can fill it in on your computer or print it out.
Read the Habitat information on the worksheet once you get to the habitat slide.

Step #3: ⮇ Download the answer key (PDF 190 kB) ⮇
Check your worksheet against this answer key.

Step #4 (optional): Once you finish learning about the habitat, send us your completed worksheet via an email to watershedwatchers@sfbws.com and we will send you a free sticker in the mail!

Note: This the second in our series of online interactive field trip activities to explore and discover the 5 habitats of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Teachers can send this online, interactive field trip activity to students or parents can give it to their kids.

Today we will be exploring the Salt Pond habitat of the refuge, the wildlife in this habitat, and some fun facts.

Excited? Let's get started!

Step #1: ⮇ Download the PowerPoint presentation (PPT 4.2 MB) ⮇ or click here for Google Slides if viewing online.
The presentation has bird calls, links to videos and websites with more information.
The PowerPoint will start in presentation mode, so it is ready for you to begin the activity right away! Click with your mouse or press the space bar key to move forward through the presentation. Clicking on button links will either play a bird call, or open up a webpage.

Step #2: ⮇ Download the worksheet (PDF 170 kB) ⮇
This will be used by the students to answer questions as they come up throughout the presentation. You can fill it in on your computer or print it out.
Read the Habitat information on the worksheet once you get to the habitat slide.

Step #3: ⮇ Download the answer key (PDF 177 kB) ⮇
Check your worksheet against this answer key.

Step #4 (optional): Once you finish learning about the habitat, send us your completed worksheet via an email to watershedwatchers@sfbws.com and we will send you a free sticker in the mail!

Explore and discover the 5 habitats of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge!

Starting next week, May 4 through May 8, we will be sharing online, interactive field trip activities for teachers to send to students or parents to give their kids. Or for those just interested in learning more!

The activities will highlight each habitat of the refuge, the wildlife in each habitat, and some fun facts.

Each activity will have a PowerPoint presentation that has bird calls, links to videos and websites with more information! A worksheet will be provided that students can use to answer questions throughout the PowerPoint activity. Don't forget to check your worksheet with the answer key once you finish!

Here is the schedule for the activities:

• Monday, May 4, 2020: Salt Marsh
• Tuesday, May 5, 2020: Salt Pond
• Wednesday, May 6, 2020: Slough
• Thursday, May 7, 2020: Mudflats
• Friday, May 8, 2020: Upland

by Ceal Craig

Tide Rising: Volume 1, Issue 3, Spring 2020.

The San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society is happy to publish the third issue of its digital-only newsletter, Tide Rising: Volume 1, Issue 3, Spring 2020. This issue’s theme is Endangered & Threatened Species.

In this issue:

• Learn about critical work on the Ellicott Slough Dunes NWR from Diane Kodama, Refuge Manager for an endangered salamander.
• Aidona Kakouros, USFWS Wildlife Botanist, takes you to the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay NWR, Warm Springs Unit, a site with vernal pools supporting many endangered and threatened species.
• Return of the Terns (sounds like a novel!) by Alex Hartman and Josh Ackerman from USGS talk about decoys and nesting progress.
• People of Note celebrates two women of note that made a difference for our Refuges and the environment, and the endangered species they support.
• Hope Presley, SFBWS, provides ideas to Explore from Home with an Outdoor Scavenger Hunt activity to try.
• Paul Mueller, USFWS Volunteer Coordinator, shares last year’s volunteer report recognizing the efforts of volunteers on the Refuge.
• Both Friends group share their thoughts and plans for coming quarters.

Editors: Ceal Craig, PhD; Renee Fitzsimons
Contributors: Josh Ackerman, PhD; Ceal Craig, PhD; Alex Hartman, PhD; Aidona Kakouros; Diane Kodama; Paul Mueller; Hope Presley; Sharon Xiao

Thanks for reading!