Wingbeat Blog

The most recent stories about our science and outreach work

On the Board-Walk: Meet Lynne Trulio

By Guest Blogger & SFBBO Board Co-Chair Lynne Trulio, PhD

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I’m a South San Francisco Bay gal and a researcher who studies birds. For many years, there was very little research occurring in our region, which was very distressing to me. But, there was one research group working hard to understand the South Bay and educate people about its beauty—and that group was SFBBO! I naturally gravitated to SFBBO and learned about SFBBO’s many great programs including the colonial waterbird and avian disease programs, both of which continue today. 

Another aspect of SFBBO that I have always thought was amazing is the Coyote Creek Field Station, a long-term bird banding station in Milpitas that is providing critical information on how resident and migrating birds are doing. As a professor at San José State University, I have brought my students to the field station, had them do research on the restoration of the habitat, and have graduate students who wrote master’ theses using bird banding data from the field station. 

Today, the bird banding station—while providing valuable data on how birds are doing in our changing world—is also part of a large-scale education project called SOAR that will bring hundreds of college students out to the field station and into the world of birds.

While for many years my connections with SFBBO were research and education-based, a few years ago I realized I needed to do more for SFBBO–and so I became a board member. This is a volunteer position in which board members work to support our programs and the fiscal health of the organization. I love being on the Board (I’m in my third term!) because this position allows me to help with all aspects of SFBBO’s mission – research, education and outreach. You can read more about our Board on SFBBO’s website. If you’ve ever thought of being on our board, I’d be happy to talk with you about this incredibly rewarding work. 

But, if being on the Board is not for you, don’t worry, there are so many other ways to help SFBBO continue its amazing mission, including getting out into nature and making a difference for birds at outreach events and by volunteering. And, because SFBBO is a non-profit, donations are essential to our financial health. I hope to see you at an SFBBO activity soon!