From our blogs

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!

Use your creativity to fill a coloring page that showcases the habitats and wildlife of Don Edwards SF Bay National WIldlife Refuge!

There are many different species found at the Refuge, including lots of migratory birds!

Print out the coloring page below, fill it with color, and also learn about the importance of the habitats and the wildlife that depend on them.

You can share your creativity by sending photos of your completed coloring page to us at watershedwatchers@sfbws.com.

Make naturally dyed eggs just in time for the Spring Season and Easter!

Find a list of materials and instructions in the guide below to create your own natural dyes from a variety vegetables and spices.

Once you know the basic process to make natural dyes you can experiment with other fruit, vegetables, and spices – if it stains your hands it will dye egg shells!

Creating your own natural dyes, instead of buying kits from the store, ensures that artificial or synthetic dyes don’t get into our watersheds.

Once you are done dyeing and decorating your eggs, you can share your beautiful creations by sending pictures to us at watershedwatchers@sfbws.com.