{"id":764,"date":"2018-12-03T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-12-03T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/weebly-import-post-6"},"modified":"2026-06-17T01:43:24","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T01:43:24","slug":"a-fond-farewell-from-waterbird-biologist-victoria-heyse","status":"publish","type":"wingbeat","link":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wingbeat\/a-fond-farewell-from-waterbird-biologist-victoria-heyse\/","title":{"rendered":"A Fond Farewell from Waterbird Biologist Victoria Heyse"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"paragraph\"><strong>By Waterbird Lead Biologist Victoria Heyse<\/strong><\/div> <div><div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Picture\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wp-content\/uploads\/weebly-migration\/victoriaheyse_orig.jpeg?ssl=1\"\/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color:rgb(34, 34, 34)\">I first came to SFBBO in the Fall of 2014 to work as a Salt Pond Intern. I was familiar with waterbirds, but as a recent New England transplant, my only experience had been with east coast species. To say that I had a lot to learn those first couple months would have been an understatement, and not only that but I needed to learn fast as the winter migration of shorebirds &amp; waterfowl would soon be in full swing. But after my first salt pond survey not only was I hooked &#8230;\u00a0<\/span>\u200b\u200b<span style=\"color:rgb(34, 34, 34)\">I was obsessed!\u00a0I loved familiarizing myself with the diversity of the pond habitats and their corresponding waterbird niches. As my internship was ending, an opportunity arose for me to join the &#8230;<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<!--more-->\n\n  <div class=\"paragraph\"><span style=\"color:rgb(34, 34, 34)\">SFBBO staff as a full time Waterbird Biologist and I didn\u2019t hesitate to stick around and learn as much as I could. As I organized salt pond surveys for the next three years, I experienced the migration of birds to and from the bay. It\u2019s a special feeling to have a pulse on those seasonal changes. It creates a feeling of connection to the natural world that is indescribable.\u00a0<\/span>\u200b<br\/><br\/>\u200bIt wasn\u2019t just working on salt ponds where I felt that connection. Avian Disease Prevention boat surveys probably top my list of favorite job duties. Out of the seven million people that live in the bay area, I bet less than 0.05% have had the opportunity to experience a meandering south bay slough by boat. It is as breathtaking as it is special. Counting 50,000-plus gulls in a week is also special (and another favorite memory of mine), although I must admit, it takes your breath away in a different way (it doesn\u2019t smell the best).\u00a0\u00a0<\/div> <div> <figure class=\"wp-block-gallery wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wp-content\/uploads\/weebly-migration\/cagu-fly.jpg?ssl=1\"\/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wp-content\/uploads\/weebly-migration\/clouds.jpg?ssl=1\"\/><\/figure><\/figure>\n<\/div> <div class=\"paragraph\">\u200b<span>After four years (and some change) of incredible work at SFBBO, I am moving on to a job as a Park Interpreter with Santa Clara County Parks. Now more than ever, I feel pulled toward educating the next generation of scientists and helping to facilitate meaningful connections in nature. I&#8217;m honored to have been a part of such an awesome and passionate group of biologists, volunteers, and fellow bird nerds. It has been so inspirational to see all of the heart that everyone who is a part of SFBBO pours into the conservation of birds and habitats. I look forward to staying involved and up to date with everything SFBBO as a volunteer and member.<br\/><br\/><em><strong>Victoria Heyse was SFBBO&#8217;s Lead Waterbird Biologist. She is now a Park Interpreter with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sccgov.org\/sites\/parks\/Pages\/Welcome-to-Santa-Clara-County-Parks.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Santa Clara County Parks<\/a>, where she will continue to impact birds as an SFBBO partner.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Waterbird Lead Biologist Victoria Heyse<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1230,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"nf_dc_page":""},"class_list":["post-764","wingbeat","type-wingbeat","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>A Fond Farewell from Waterbird Biologist Victoria Heyse - San Fransisco Bay Bird Observatory<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/wingbeat\/a-fond-farewell-from-waterbird-biologist-victoria-heyse\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Fond Farewell from Waterbird Biologist Victoria Heyse - 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