• International Effort Studies Phalaropes

    International Effort Studies Phalaropes
    By SFBBO Lead Biologist Gabbie Burns
    Picture

    ​In 2020, SFBBO conducted our first year of a new comprehensive phalarope survey program. Phalaropes are medium-sized shorebirds that pass through San Francisco Bay during spring and fall migration. Unlike other shorebirds that find food in the ground at the water’s edge, phalaropes eat small items at the surface of open water and often swim. Due to their use of open water, it is difficult to find and count phalaropes to understand population trends. This means …

    that there’s a lack of information about their populations, which is concerning because phalaropes are considered to be highly vulnerable to climate change. 

    In 2020, SFBBO conducted our first year of a new comprehensive phalarope survey program. Our volunteers looked for phalaropes in 7,065 acres of suitable habitat every two weeks throughout the 2020 fall migration (July-September). Due to the pandemic, we were not able to visit all of the sites that we had originally planned, but SFBBO counted 6,671 phalaropes in the south San Francisco Bay (2,034 Wilson’s phalaropes, 4,520 Red-necked phalaropes, and 177 phalaropes that couldn’t be identified to species). The data from our phalarope program will help us answer questions about how the birds are using different habitats while they migrate through the Bay Area.
    In addition, SFBBO’s phalarope surveys are part of a larger coordinated effort to count birds throughout Western North America. As part of the International Phalaropes Working Group, we worked with partner organizations at Mono Lake, Great Salt Lake, and other stopover sites to coordinate count dates, which allowed for more accurate estimates of phalarope populations across the Pacific Flyway. We published the results of these coordinated phalarope counts in a comprehensive report, which was released this week.
     
    SFBBO’s continuing participation in this working group will allow us and 15 governmental and non-governmental groups from 18 organizations in the Americas to address the most urgent research and conservation needs for two species of phalaropes: Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) and Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus). Migratory birds like phalaropes can be particularly difficult to monitor and conserve because of the distances that they travel, which makes these collaborative projects so important. SFBBO aims to continue these efforts with surveys in summer and fall 2021, at which point we anticipate recording even more phalaropes with the relaxation of site access restrictions due to COVID-19.
     
    If you’re excited about phalaropes, here are some things you can do next:
    ​

    admin

  • Birder’s Bird ID Skills Bloom in SFBBO’s Bird Sound Workshop

    Birder’s Bird ID Skills Bloom in SFBBO’s Bird Sound Workshop
    By Guest Blogger Judith Santano
    Picture

    ​I often feel like a late bloomer when it comes to my love for birds. Throughout my undergraduate career, birds would pop up in my classes every so often and I always thought they were interesting.

    ​But it wasn’t until my last spring quarter at Stanford when I took the introductory Ornithology course that I realized how much I loved learning about birds. In every lesson, I felt engaged and enthusiastic to soak in as much knowledge …

    as I could. It was the best feeling in the world. 

    Because I discovered my interest in birds in largely academic and scientific spaces, I haven’t done much birding in the traditional sense. My bird ID, both by sight and sound, can definitely use some work. I am always trying to improve my skills by going on bird walks, reading through field guides, and using my handy Merlin app whenever I’m out in the world. But there’s truly nothing quite like learning the tips and tricks from an experienced birder. That’s why I was so thrilled to learn about Alvaro Jaramillo’s Bird Sound Workshop, and even more thrilled to be fortunate enough to receive a scholarship to be able to attend!
     
    I feel like I learned so much through this workshop! Alvaro does a wonderful job of acknowledging how daunting it may seem to try to learn bird ID skills, and making the space feel incredibly welcoming regardless of the level that you’re at. I really appreciated how thoughtful he was with the examples he chose, and how he answered everyone’s questions. He was very committed to ensuring that he taught us the things we wanted to learn about and would be the most useful for us. One of the most useful aspects of the workshop was learning how to use spectrograms to help visualize bird calls and songs. Having a visual to go along with the audio has really helped with distinguishing calls from one another. Additionally, as an aspiring avian community ecologist, I really enjoyed learning about the ecology of bird sound.
     
    Lastly, I am grateful to have learned tips for how to learn bird sounds. I know that I have a long way to go in my journey to become a good birder, and the skills I learned in this workshop will continue to be helpful down the road. I want to thank all of the funders for supporting scholarships to make these opportunities accessible for students like myself!
     
    Judith Santano recently graduated from Stanford University (‘19) with a BS in Earth Systems where she focused on ecology and environmental education. She plans to begin a PhD program in Ecology with a focus in Ornithology this upcoming fall. When she’s not mesmerized by the sight and sounds of hummingbirds, she loves working out, thinking about all of the concerts she’s looking forward to in a post pandemic world, and going on hikes with friends. 

    admin

  • “Hatchling” Birder Explores the World of Bird Sound in SFBBO Workshop

    “Hatchling” Birder Explores the World of Bird Sound in SFBBO Workshop
    By Guest Blogger Luis Molina
    Picture

    ​When I walk around local city and state parks, I take in a plethora of information: amazing sceneries, new terrain patterns, and rest spots up ahead. When I decide to stop and remain stationary, I realize that bird calls and songs are the most prominent signals I receive. Bird calls and songs truly do tower many of our environments. I can even hear some right now …

    ​as I write this blog post! It is a wonderful reminder of the beautiful outdoors, and when I read that SFBBO was hosting a Bird Sound Workshop with Alvaro Jaramillo, I knew it was an opportunity to learn more about bird calls and songs.

    Being very new to the world of bird watching, a hatchling if you will, I was slightly nervous when the workshop began. I knew it was going to be rich with new information that was deeply researched, and it definitely is. However, Alvaro led his workshop with an inviting presentation that was built upon by his expertise. Concise bullet points matched with pictures of the bird being discussed made it easy to establish what birds did what. The audio samples included in the slides also made the whole presentation very interactive and fresh.
     
    Alvaro also discussed some of the biological factors that influence bird songs and calls. It was amazing to learn how some birds have their calls and/or songs hardwired into their brains while other birds might have to absorb and learn the calls and/or songs by hearing them in their respective communities. It all amounts to a noise which helps express something for these birds, whether that be mating desires, territorial defence, or simply chatting to see who is out there. At a quick glance, it doesn’t seem that different when compared to human calls and songs, and this made me feel very compassionate and appreciative towards our flying bird friends.
     
    Alvaro and SFBBO did this workshop justice, both for the beginner and experienced participant. I can now step outside and explore my community parks in the Bay Area with more knowledge of bird calls and songs, which is also accompanied by a curiosity of what new bird noises I will hear next. One tool I will definitely use to identify new bird calls and songs is the spectrogram, as well as many other skills I have now gained because of this workshop. Thank you to Alvaro Jaramillo, SFBBO, and the donors who helped provide a scholarship that awarded me the opportunity to learn and broaden my developing interest in birds!

    Luis Molina is a first generation student currently beginning his studies at UC Davis majoring in Aerospace Engineering. He enjoys mountain and road biking, watching all kinds of fun and educational YouTube videos, and spending time with family. 

    admin

  • Dudley Carlson’s Kids Bird Book Recommendation – Books About Where and How to Find Birds

    Dudley Carlson’s Kids Bird Book Recommendation – Books About Where and How to Find Birds
    By Guest Blogger Dudley Carlson
    Picture
    Picture

    If you’re reading this, you’re probably already a birdwatcher.  But what got you started? Do you remember wondering what made a certain sound or where a feather came from, or noticing a bird behaving in a particular way?

    ​With the Great Backyard Bird Count coming up, there’s no better time for youngsters to begin thinking about where and how to find birds and make a list for Presidents’ Weekend. In How to Find a Bird, Jennifer Ward offers a great starting point with her suggestions for how to begin (“…you’ll want to blend in. ​​And move slowly. Quiet is good too.”) and where to look (“Don’t just look up to find a bird.  Look down, low to the ground…”).

    Diana Sudyka’s illustrations are stylized, energetic, and simple enough to spark recognition or give a child something to remember, with plenty of humor thrown in. Together, they draw young readers along, introducing differences in feeding, camouflage, and sounds. Each bird illustrated is … 

    discretely named, for those who want to jump right into identification. End papers show a quirky variety of nests, eggs, and birdhouses, while the back of the book provides several helpful websites and detailed suggestions for getting started.
     
    In the pandemic’s period of restricted activities, watching birds from a window, in the yard or on a neighborhood walk can be an exciting way for children to discover a new world. This is a book for the story circle or the child in your lap, or for an older sibling to read to a younger one. And once the doors are opened again, they’ll be ready for wider exploration and discovery.
     
    A good companion for somewhat older siblings is Pamela Hickman’s Nature All Around: Birds. Like Ward’s book, this one is in picture book format, with multiple impressionistic but identifiable illustrations by Carolyn Gavin on each page, blocks of text, and plenty of white space. Its thirty-two pages pack in a surprising amount of detailed information about the parts, life cycles, habitats, and survival tactics of a wide variety of birds.
     
    Together, these two books provide a perfect starting point for young birders – and, for parents or caregivers, helpful answers to some of the many questions that will arise once they’re outdoors.
     
    SFBBO member Dudley Carlson, a biologist’s daughter, grew up in a family of birders and was Manager of Youth Services at Princeton (NJ) Public Library for 25 years. She believes that if children enjoy learning about birds and understand how important they are to our environment, then birds, nature and people will have a better chance at a healthy future. You can see all of Dudley’s book recommendations here. ​

    admin

  • Dudley Carlson’s Kids Bird Book Recommendation – Condor Comeback

    Dudley Carlson’s Kids Bird Book Recommendation – Condor Comeback
    By Guest Blogger Dudley Carlson
    Picture

    ​In August, disastrous wildfires in the Ventana Wilderness destroyed thousands of acres, including the Big Sur Sanctuary for condors, and resulted in the disappearance and presumed death of eleven California Condors.  Iniko, a chick still in the nest, was feared dead but ultimately survived, as did some other adults. In late November and early December, some survivors were released back into the wild (click here to view video of Iniko’s fledging and the release of adult condors).

    In Condor Comeback, a new book in the “Scientists in the Field” series, author Sy Montgomery accompanies …

    southern California biologists who study condors, rescue injured ones, and explore the multiple threats to their existence. The survival of this largest of North American birds, whose population was once down to double digits, is due to the work of many scientists, from those who captured the last known birds in order to raise their offspring in zoos and return them to the wild, to those working today to track the progress of the increasing population and discover and remove the threats to its existence. These include lead shot, often ingested by condors eating carcasses killed by hunters or ranchers; micro-trash that can choke young birds; and wildfire, among others.    
     
    Numerous photos expand the text, showing condors being measured and tagged, carcasses being eaten, scientists holding and releasing the birds, and young birds in the nest. This is not easy work. Montgomery describes long hours in the field under blazing sun; hiking in desolate areas in search of missing birds; a chance pre-dawn encounter with a mountain lion; and the messy business of working with birds that eat carrion and often vomit it on anyone whom they perceive as a threat. But the rewards are enormous. From fewer than 25 remaining birds in 1982 and the capture of the last known wild bird in 1987 to the return of more than 450 today, California Condors have survived thanks to the intervention of scientists who have invested their careers in understanding this unusual bird in order to save it from extinction.
     
    Some of these scientists work in zoos, overseeing and caring for adult birds that are raising chicks from egg to hatchling to the age when they can be released into the wild, or teaching zoo visitors about threats to the birds and the challenges of preventing their extinction. Some spend many hours in the field, following condors that wear tracking devices or GPS locators, searching for those that go missing, rescuing those that become ill, and monitoring their health with yearly checkups and measurements. Still others work in the lab, studying condor DNA to learn more about them, examining their blood to help determine what makes them ill or kills them. It takes large teams of scientists and volunteers to make all this happen.
     
    Along with history of the condor’s decline and resurgence, Montgomery includes information about the reverence for vultures of all kinds in many world cultures, including those of Native American tribes. At the end of her text are multiple resource lists, from books, websites and webcams to curricula for teachers, organizations supporting condor rescue or research, and places to visit in order to see live condors. And with accompanying photos, she discusses the many ways condors are viewed, from the ugliest of birds to the most regally handsome. For middle-grade readers, here is a wealth of information about a singular bird and the wide variety of people who study, learn and teach about them and do research to promote their survival. For those stuck at home this winter, it’s a great way to learn, and a doorway to wonderful webcams for the next season of nesting.

    SFBBO member Dudley Carlson, a biologist’s daughter, grew up in a family of birders and was Manager of Youth Services at Princeton (NJ) Public Library for 25 years. She believes that if children enjoy learning about birds and understand how important they are to our environment, then birds, nature and people will have a better chance at a healthy future. You can see all of Dudley’s book recommendations here. ​

    admin

  • Practice Makes Perfect for Bird ID Scholarship Winner

    Practice Makes Perfect for Bird ID Scholarship Winner
    By Guest Blogger Brandon Pascua Redic
    Picture

    I found my love for the environment after taking an introduction course back when I was attending Ohlone College in Fremont. What I love about this field of study is that it brings together people of similar interests to help stand up for the earth. I also love being outdoors.

    Luckily, I was fortunate to stumble upon the opportunity to take SFBBO’s Diurnal Raptor ID Workshop with Alvaro Jaramillo, when it was shared with students in the Environmental Studies Department San Jose State University where I currently study. I was interested in this workshop because identifying raptors has never been my strength. In fact, whenever I saw a bird in the sky …

    I did not even bother trying to distinguish what species it was. However, by attending this workshop I built some confidence that I never imagined I would have had when identifying birds.

    ​I did not realize when observing a raptor there are multiple aspects one can look at. A few things I learned from the workshop are that someone can observe the pattern in which they fly, the color on the bellies, the size of the raptor, their call, and the location where they are found. When understanding these identification methods, my confidence for not only animal, but plant identification rose significantly. This workshop helped me realize that all it takes is practice, and I would be able to overcome any fear of misidentification.

    I would definitely recommend this workshop to anyone who loves observing what nature has to offer! Overall, I thought the whole workshop experience flowed very smoothly. To start, Alvaro Jaramillo was an amazing speaker. He was very nice, answered all questions thoroughly, and was able to relate to his audience regardless of their experience with raptors. I also enjoyed how he incorporated breaks into the workshop because it gave me time to stretch, get something to eat and drink without missing any valuable information. I would also like to mention that the speaker, as well as the workshop coordinator, were very tech savvy because no online issues came up. Lastly, I want to thank the donors who contributed to my scholarship.

    Brandon Pascua Redic is a student at San Jose State University with plans to graduate with an Environmental Studies degree in Spring 2021. He enjoys spending time outdoors, including CrossFit, hiking, surfing, and snowboarding, and his favorite indoor activity is gaming, specifically MMORPGs (Mass Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games).

    admin

  • Scholarship Winner Adds Raptors to Favorite Birds After SFBBO Workshop

    Scholarship Winner Adds Raptors to Favorite Birds After SFBBO Workshop
    By Guest Blogger Christine Ledo
    Picture

    ​I would like to thank SFBBO’s donors for giving me the scholarship to their Diurnal Raptor ID Workshop with Alvaro Jaramillo. I was extremely excited to receive the news I was selected for the scholarship and could not wait to attend the workshops.

    I have attended other informative talks, such as Nerd Nite, but those have always been live. I was curious what a Zoom version would feel like and found I was I was fully engrossed into the presentation. It was highly informative, and I walked away way more educated. 

    ​I learned the subtle and not so subtle differences between …

    different raptors. Although I call myself a bird lover, my love is for the corvids. After this workshop I might have to change my favorite birds now, and add a new tattoo next to my raven, Scrub Jay, and Anna’s Hummingbird. 
    ​
    I was not able to attend the Sunday session and loved that a YouTube version of that day’s workshop was shared online to watch afterward as well as the others for me to review.

    I highly recommend others check out any of the seminars offered in the future. Zoom versions might not be the same as if you were there in person, but a lot of information does get presented, and it is also more intimate in a way, since chat questions can be answered right away rather than after a presentation. ​

    admin

  • Scholarship Winner Becomes More Well-Rounded Naturalist

    Scholarship Winner Becomes More Well-Rounded Naturalist
    By Guest Blogger Luz Hernandez
    Picture

    ​First and foremost, I want to express my sincere gratitude to all of the SFBBO donors who sponsored the Diurnal Raptor ID workshop scholarship for students from underrepresented communities in ecology.

    The workshop allowed me to connect with and learn from experts, avid birders, and raptor enthusiasts from all walks of life. Our guide, Alvaro Jaramillo was engaging throughout the entire workshop. Mr. Jaramillo presented information that was accessible to all skill levels and even answered every single question that came up! I really …

    enjoyed the story shared at the very beginning regarding the Nahuatl legend of Tenochtitlan and appreciate that he connected it to the workshop theme. Another bonus was learning about the other participant’s birding adventures. ​

    ​It was illuminating to learn about the distinctions between juvenile and adult raptors. For example, when it comes to Red-tailed Hawks, the adults can be identified by a dark belly band and the famed rusty colored tails, while juvenile forms have brown banded tails and pale eyes in comparison. To add another layer of complexity, many of the raptors discussed in the workshop also come in rare pale and dark morphs, which was news to me!
    ​Similarly, the variations between the female and male American kestrels are easier to spot now. I can identify females by the streaked breast plumage, while the males have no streaks and instead display a cinnamon colored breast.

    ​As a science communicator, I am most looking forward to sharing what I learned from the workshop with classmates, colleagues, and friends. The workshop helped me become a more well-rounded naturalist. 

    Luz Hernandez is a senior environmental biology student at Cal Poly Pomona. She first developed an interest in ecology, conservation, and wildlife biology while working at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles as a museum ambassador. Her interests led her to volunteer at the California Science Center as a terrestrial husbandry keeper. Currently she is an Education Specialist at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. She is passionate about science communication and wants to use her training and education to help promote inclusive outdoor classrooms. 

    admin

  • Scholarship Winner Sharpens Raptor ID Skills at SFBBO Workshop

    Scholarship Winner Sharpens Raptor ID Skills at SFBBO Workshop
    By Guest Blogger Julien Ueda
    Picture

    ​“Red-tailed Hawks have red tails… I think most of the time? 
    Falcon! Well, it’s either a Merlin or a Prairie…

    Coopers are like crow size and Sharp-shins are closer to jays.”

    Before Alvero’s Diurnal Raptor Identification Workshop with SFBBO, I could name all of the common raptor species in the Bay Area and identify most of them for my eBird checklist– good enough. But Alvero’s workshop rightfully said otherwise.

    Alvaro Jaramillo wrote the Birds of Chile and the American Birding Association Field Guide to the Birds of California. As an expert in ornithology, he also runs his own tour company, Alvaro’s Adventures. So, I was incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to learn from him.

    From the start of the workshop, I knew I would learn a lot. I have stared at the two pages Sibley devoted to the many morphs of Red-tailed Hawks, but Alvaro simplified it by focusing on the dark patagials that appear in flight or the “dark, light, dark” pattern on the bird’s underside. Two rules … What a relief! But birding is more than identification. 

    Alvaro described the Harlan’s Hawk, a subspecies of the Red-tailed Hawk, with its own set of color morphs and slight genetic differences that demonstrated the blurry lines we use to define species. He showed the Buteo phylogenetic tree and how some lineages migrated from the Americas to Eurasia and back again to give us the Ferruginous Hawk. He discussed prey specialization across raptor species and described ten thousand Swainson’s Hawks eating millions of dragonflies in Argentina. Alvaro taught me the story of each species through their ecology and evolution and gave me a greater appreciation for raptors.

    Now spotting a flying raptor above the trail, I can say:

    “Has to be a Red-tail with those dark patagials!

    Prairie Falcons have dark wing pits!

    It’s a December Accipiter, the retricies are about the same length, and much of the head is behind the wing. Must be a Sharpie!”

    I would like to thank SFBBO for organizing these wonderful workshops and the donors who supported scholarships for students from underrepresented backgrounds. Your contribution works to make this hobby more accessible to all and lays the foundation for a more diverse world of birding.

    Julien Ueda is a senior at Stanford University pursuing a biology degree in ecology and evolution. He is a docent at Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve analyzing the preserve’s bird transect data and hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in ecology. Additionally, he practices wildlife photography

    admin

  • Why Do I Like Birds – Scholarship Deepens Appreciation for Raptors

    Why Do I Like Birds – Scholarship Deepens Appreciation for Raptors
    By Guest Blogger Niza Contreras
    Picture

    ​Why do I like birds? I ask myself this sometimes when I reflect on the arguably strange hobby of birdwatching. But then I see a bird—it doesn’t matter what kind—and I’m reminded why millions of people have fallen in love with birding. Birds are incredibly complex and simply beautiful all in one. They are such a diverse group of fascinating and often flat-out adorable creatures, that the answer to “why?” feels pretty much like a given. I like birds because they make me happy.

    ​I first got into birding when I was in high school. I volunteered in the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center …

    of the Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA, and through the work of caring for baby songbirds, injured raptors, and recovering seabirds, I began to recognize different species. It started with the first Black-Eyed Junco I identified outside my house in San Francisco. Seeing a bird and being able to give it a name was an incredible feeling. And I wanted to learn more.

    I have always had a soft spot for raptors, and I enjoy spotting them perched on telephone poles or soaring in the sky. Through SFBBO’s Diurnal Raptor ID Workshop, and with Alvaro incredible knowledge of birds, I have gained a deeper appreciation for the complexity of raptor species. Not only do I know the morphological differences between a Cooper’s and Sharp-Shinned Hawk (although I need more practice before I can successful identify either), but I also understand how juvenal hawks can be different from adults, and males from females, within the same species.
     
    As a scientist, and a detail-loving individual, I found this workshop a perfect balance between specific, intricate bird features and key takeaways for identifying a specific species. I am excited to get to the point in my birding journey where I can remember all of the details without checking my notes, but in the meantime, I have Alvaro’s tip and tricks to help me along.
     
    I am so grateful for everyone who donated to the scholarship fund that allowed me to participate in this raptor workshop. And of course, thank you to Alvaro and Sirena for leading and organizing the classes over Zoom. It is wonderful to learn from people who love what they’re teaching, and I look forward to sharing more meaningful experiences with the SFBBO community!

    Niza Contreras (she/her) is a recent graduate from Stanford University with a B.S. in Earth Systems, interested in pursing marine conservation and resource management.

    admin