David Thomson, founder of San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory's Habitats Program, will discuss upland transition zone strategies and other activities of the Habitats Program during more than a decade of work at SFBBO's latest Birdy Hour.
The San Francisco Bay provides important habitat for migrating birds and resident species that live in these ecosystems year-round. Unfortunately, ~90% of tidal marshes along the edge of the San Francisco Bay have been severely fragmented or destroyed by human activities since the 1800s. Along the margins of these tidal marshes existed upland transition zones—habitat situated between the marsh plains and the higher elevation uplands—which provided refuge for sensitive and endangered species during high tides. SFBBO has developed and tested strategies to restore transition zone habitat to help the marshes (and birds!) cope with sea level rise. This work includes finding seeds, propagating plants in our nursery, re-vegetating marsh transitions zones, and creating map models to predict the impacts of sea level rise. In celebration of SFBBO's 40th anniversary, former SFBBO Habitats Program Director David Thomson will review the Habitats Program's history up to 2019 when he migrated north. This talk is suitable for all ages; David tries to make the science accessible to all.
David Thomson, founder of SFBBO's Habitats Program, has been actively researching habitat management for over a decade. Now a Restoration Specialist with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in Oregon, he is still watching the grass grow. He still looks back fondly at his time with SFBBO and the great team he was able to work with in Habitats and the other SFBBO programs.
Please register - the Zoom meeting link will be sent in the confirmation. Questions? Contact Sirena Lao, Environmental Education and Outreach Specialist, at [email protected].