Monitoring Nesting Waterbirds for the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project—2024 Breeding Season
Open-File Report 2026–1064
Ecosystems Mission Area—Land Management Research Program and Species Management Research Program
Mark P. Herzog
Habitat Use by Breeding Waterbirds in Relation to Tidal Marsh Restoration in the San Francisco Bay Estuary
Abstract
The South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project aims to restore many former salt production ponds, now managed for wildlife and water quality, to tidal marsh.
Monitoring Nesting Waterbirds for the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project: 2022 Breeding Season
San Francisco Bay supports thousands of breeding waterbirds annually and historically has hosted large populations of American avocets (Recurvirostra americana), black-necked stilts (Himantopus mexicanus), and Forster’s terns (Sterna forsteri).
Breeding Waterbird Populations Have Declined in South San Francisco Bay: An Assessment Over Two Decades
In south San Francisco Bay, former salt ponds now managed as wildlife habitat support large populations of breeding waterbirds. In 2006, the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project began the process of converting 50% to 90% of these managed pond habitats into tidal marsh.
Social attraction used to establish Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia) nesting colonies on modified islands at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, California—Final report
Executive Summary
To address the 2008/2010 and Supplemental 2014 National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Fisheries Biological Opinion for operation of the Federal Columbia River Power
Forster’s Tern Chick Survival in Response to a Managed Relocation of Predatory California Gulls
Gull populations can severely limit the productivity of waterbirds. Relocating gull colonies may reduce their effects on nearby breeding waterbirds, but there are few examples of this management strategy.
Evaluation of Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) and Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) Nesting on Modified Islands at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, California—2015 Annual Report
In order to address the 2008/10 NOAA Fisheries Biological Opinion for operation of the Federal Columbia River Power System, the U.S.
The Critical Role of Islands for Waterbird Breeding and Foraging Habitat in Managed Ponds of the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, South San Francisco Bay, California
The South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project aims to restore 50–90 percent of former salt evaporation ponds into tidal marsh in South San Francisco Bay, California. However, large numbers of waterbirds use these ponds annually as nesting and foraging habitat.
Effects of Human Disturbance on Waterbird Nesting Effort and Reproductive Success at Restoration Pond SF2, South San Francisco Bay, California
To offset for the loss of managed pond habitat during restoration of wetlands to tidal marsh, the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project is enhancing some of the remaining ponds by constructing islands for roosting and nesting waterbirds.
Waterbird Egg Mercury Concentrations in Response to Wetland Restoration in South San Francisco Bay, California
The conversion of 50–90 percent of 15,100 acres of former salt evaporation ponds to tidal marsh habitat in the south San Francisco Bay, California, is planned as part of the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project.