Past Events

Go to this event page to join the waitlist for this popular event.Become a Junior Ranger as you explore your local National Wildlife Refuge!Love learning about new habitats? Curious about wildlife? The Refuge's Junior Rangers at the Refuge program is perfect for your family! Join them each month to explore the Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge through fun, educational activities.This… Read More

You can celebrate our Earth with the Don Edwards Refuge at this special event offering tours, arts & crafts, and nature activities!The event hosted by the Refuge friends group, the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society, is an open house - feel free to come and stay as you'd like!Scheduled programs that day:10:15am: Birding with Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance (first session)11:30am: Birding… Read More

Happy Earth Month! You can join Save The Bay at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve to help restore former industrial salt ponds into healthy salt marsh habitat! This vision includes turning vulnerable fields of invasive mustard and thistle into resilient shoreline full of natives like California Poppy, Sticky Monkeyflower and Marsh Gumplant. They will be pulling the invasive species crowding their… Read More

You can learn from a Don Edwards Refuge program about birds, what to look for, why they are important to humans and the environment. Interested in learning about the birds you see on your walks? Looking to identifying a few of those favorites? Join us at the Environmental Education Center at the Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge, where Ceal Craig, who still considers herself an… Read More

Come out to the Refuge's Ravenswood Ponds to experience and record the high King Tides! The King Tides event is being held concurrently in two different locations on the Refuge: Ravenswood and Alviso. The same content will be covered. Visit the Refuge's Eventbrite page if you want to attend the Alviso event instead. Join the Don Edwards Refuge’s nonprofit Friends Group, the San… Read More

You can come out to the Don Edwards Refuge in Alviso to observe and record high King Tides!The King Tides event is being held concurrently in two different locations on the Refuge: Alviso and Ravenswood (Menlo Park). The same content will be covered. Visit the Refuge Eventbrite page if you want to attend the Ravenswood event instead.Join the Don Edwards Refuge’s nonprofit Friends Group, the San… Read More

Amy Hutzel, Executive Officer of the State Coastal Conservancy and Restoration Project Executive Project Manager Dave Halsing are among the speakers at this Save The Bay free virtual panel discussion. Nature-based solutions are essential to protecting our communities in a changing climate—but what do they actually look like? And how can we make more of these projects happen across the Bay… Read More

We will be tabling at this free event - you can find out more at https://parks.santaclaracounty.gov/day-bay-2025The County of Santa Clara presents this festival along the South Bay shores of Alviso. The 2025 event will include a resource fair centered on environmental health, The day also features several family-friendly and recreation activities. Activities include:Kayak rides*Bike to the Bay… Read More

Did you know that wetlands naturally protect us against climate change?Join the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society for a presentation to learn about how wetlands act like natural shields against climate change, and why the wetlands protected by the Don Edwards Refuge are so important to all of us! After the presentation, attendees will go on a short walk through Alviso tidal marsh and learn about… Read More

The Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a haven for shorebirds. In honor of World Shorebirds Day, join the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society for a beginner- and family-friendly bird outing. We will discuss the wildlife refuge and provide an introduction to shorebirds and a few identification tips!Other Considerations:Please plan to arrive at least 10 minutes early to check in.ADA-… Read More

California Biodiversity Day is all about appreciating the many species that call California home. The San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society will be leading a BioBlitz to celebrate! BioBlitzing involves exploring an area in search of plants, birds, insects, mammals, fungi, reptiles and any other organisms around. We’ll be snapping photos and posting them to iNaturalist so we have records of our… Read More

You can join the Don Edwards Refuge for Coastal Cleanup Day! This year marks the 36th anniversary of Coastal Cleanup Day and is one of California’s largest volunteer events with sites all over the state participating. Volunteers will help Refuge staff and partners pick up litter from the roads and trails around the Environmental Education Center (EEC) to help keep waterways and wetlands… Read More

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex is made up of seven national wildlife refuges, protecting tens of thousands of acres of habitat for birds, endangered species, and other wildlife. Learn about these incredible places, with a focus on our largest, the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in the South Bay, at this free San… Read More

You can join Save The Bay at the Ravenswood Unit of Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge, adjacent to Menlo Park's Bedwell Bayfront Park, to help pull up invasive plants and maintain their beautiful new native plant community planted last winter! Native plants are the backbone holding the habitat together at the upland transition zone slope (also called a horizontal levee) recently constructed by… Read More

It is planting season! All the work Save The Bay has done throughout the year collecting seed and growing and caring for our precious native plants has led to this moment of opportunity provided by the seasonal rains. You can join them in putting these plants in the ground at their newest site, the Ravenswood All American Canal Levee, adjacent to Menlo Park's Bedwell Bayfront Park.Register here.… Read More

It is planting season! All the work Save The Bay has done throughout the year collecting seed and growing and caring for our precious native plants has led to this moment of opportunity provided by the seasonal rains. You can join them in putting these plants in the ground at their newest site, at the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project's recently breached Pond R4, adjacent to Menlo Park's… Read More

Learn how wetland managers across the Bay Area are collaborating to conduct monitoring at a regional scale to save on costs and gain greater understanding of the factors affecting wetland restoration success. Christina Toms of the Regional Water Quality Control Board on June 10, 2025, joined Restoration Project Lead Scientist Donna Ball for a joint presentation on this Bay-wide collaboration,… Read More

In order to speed the growth of restoring Eden Landing tidal marshes in the face of sea level rise, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in late 2023 tried something new: piling sediments off the Eden Landing shore for waves and tides to bring to the nearby marshes and mudflats. This novel approach avoids the harm that could occur by directly placing sediments on marsh. It could be a new tool in the… Read More

Learn about San Francisco Bay breeding waterbirds from Dr. Josh Ackerman of USGS, who has looked at South Bay avocets, stilts and terns to understand how their abundance has changed since the inception more than 20 years ago of the Restoration Project. He has also examined the effect on birds of predators and the utility of various management actions to maintain and expand waterbird numbers as… Read More

Learn how creek flows and sediments can benefit restoring tidal marshes from Michael MacWilliams of FlowWest, who has modeled hydrodynamics where the Calabazas and San Tomas Aquino creeks adjoin the salt ponds in northern San Jose. His work informs Valley Water’s project to connect those creeks with an Alviso pond in the Restoration Project. That project, the Calabazas/San Tomas Aquino Creek… Read More

You can come join Save The Bay at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Eden Landing Ecological Reserve to help restore former industrial salt ponds into healthy salt marsh habitat! This vision includes turning vulnerable fields of invasive mustard and thistle into resilient shoreline full of natives like California poppy, sticky monkeyflower and marsh gumplant. Restoration leaders… Read More

You are invited to join Santa Clara County Parks Natural Resource Management team, in partnership with San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, in their efforts to restore the coastal habitat of Alviso Marina County Park.Volunteers will assist in the removal of invasive plants and the spreading of mulch in preparation for the planting of native plants.Youth and families are encouraged to participate.… Read More

We share the Earth with millions of other species.  But, our planet is experiencing a biodiversity crisis in which a significant portion of these species are in danger of extinction in coming decades.  While the Earth has undergone mass extinctions in the past—such as when a meteor strike doomed the dinosaurs—the current mass extinction event is caused by humans.  This loss of… Read More

You are invited to join Santa Clara County Parks Natural Resource Management team, in partnership with San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, in their efforts to restore the coastal habitat of Alviso Marina County Park.Volunteers will help with removing invasive plants, planting native plants, spreading mulch, and more! SFBBO and County Parks staff will teach volunteers about tidal marsh ecology and… Read More

Learn about Save The Bay’s cost-saving methods to revegetate and restore wildlife habitat at the Restoration Project's recently completed Ravenswood Ponds restoration site in Menlo Park. Jessie Olson, Habitat Restoration Director at Save The Bay, discusses the techniques the non-profit has developed that can be scaled up while reducing costs and labor. Save The Bay planted on our newly… Read More

You can join the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO) to help set up the first national tagging study for threatened western snowy plovers! Volunteers will help do precision work in wet and muddy areas, carrying rebar and other equipment to set up electronic grids across two ponds at the Eden Landing Ecological Reserve in Hayward.Register here.SFBBO is excited to be conducting the first… Read More

You can join Save The Bay at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Eden Landing Ecological Reserve to help restore former industrial salt ponds into healthy salt marsh habitat! This vision includes turning vulnerable fields of invasive mustard and thistle into resilient shoreline full of natives like California poppy, sticky monkeyflower and marsh gumplant. Save The Bay and the… Read More

You can join Save The Bay to help pull up invasive plants and maintain beautiful new native plants just planted over the winter! The organization planted a recently completed habitat slope as part of restoration and habitat enhancement at the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge Ravenswood Ponds near Menlo Park's Bedwell Bayfront Park. Native plants are the backbone helping to protect the… Read More

You can come out to the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge for a few hours to restore wildlife habitat. While you are removing invasive vegetation, planting new plants, or laying down mulch, you'll get to enjoy fresh Bay air, see lots of birds, and learn from restoration experts about why this work is so important.

Hosted by Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful, San Francisco Bay Bird… Read More

Save the date for the Earth Month Kickoff at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge's Environmental Education Center! We’ll have crafts, games, guided tours, and more in celebration of our wildlife and the environment they depend on.Those interested in volunteering to help with activities, crafts, set up, clean up, and more can contact the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society at… Read More

Help improve the nesting success of threatened western snowy plovers at a Ravenswood habitat restoration event where you get to stomp around in the mud and throw around shells!Volunteers can join San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO) staff at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Don Edwards Refuge in Menlo Park to carry and spread oyster shells for the benefit of plovers. These birds nest in… Read More

At this free virtual talk, Dr. Nathan Van Schmidt, Science Director at the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, will discuss the challenges of bird conservation, after birds displaced by development and human presence on beaches and former Central Valley wetlands have come to depend on man-made ponds in the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project lands. Find out more and register here.Water… Read More

Scientist Nathan Van Schmidt of the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO) talks about his research on the challenges facing waterbirds of the Pacific Flyway within the Restoration Project. He digs into over two decades of monitoring data on ten foraging guilds including shorebirds, ducks, gulls, terns, fisheaters, and more for areas within Restoration Project boundaries and at nearby… Read More

We have canceled the April Lunch and Learn. Please join us for the May presentation by Save The Bay on its work vegetating and restoring upland transition zones (also called horizontal levees)!Lunch and Learn Science Speaker SeriesThis presentation is one in a series put forth by the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project. The series addresses science and adaptive management done in support of… Read More

Learn the latest about one of the Restoration Project’s most charismatic megafauna, the threatened Western Snowy Plover, from Maddy Schwarz of the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO). Snowy plovers nest and raise their chicks on stretches of dry ponds, where their eggs and young are vulnerable to predators from the ground and above.In her talk, Maddy introduces these plovers, their ecology… Read More

Learn about water quality issues, such as low dissolved oxygen, that can arise in the complex environment of Lower South Bay sloughs and the Restoration Project’s gated and culverted pond habitats, as Ariella Chelsky of the San Francisco Estuary Institute discusses her research.Watch videoSee and download Presentation SlidesSee additional questions and comments shared via chatSpeaker Bio: … Read More

It is planting season! All the work Save The Bay has done throughout the year collecting seed, growing and caring for precious native plants has been leading to this moment right as the seasonal rains approach. They hope you will join them in putting these plants in the ground at the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife's Eden Landing Ecological Reserve, where they will restore former industrial… Read More

Dr. Levi S. Lewis, Director of the UC Davis Otolith Geochemistry and Fish Ecology Laboratory, discusses studies of South Bay fish and fish habitats, highlighting key findings regarding their status and trends, and how these results have informed the development of bay-wide fish monitoring under the Wetlands Regional Monitoring Program.See video of presentationSee and download Presentation… Read More

You can join us to help improve the nesting success of threatened western snowy plovers at the Ravenswood Ponds! Partner San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO) will host a volunteer and scientist event to stomp nesting holes in the mud and scatter oyster shells for camouflage at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Menlo Park.… Read More

​You can come out to the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge for a few hours to restore wildlife habitat. While you are removing invasive vegetation, planting new plants, or laying down mulch, you'll get to enjoy fresh Bay air, see lots of birds, and learn from restoration experts about why this work is so important. Find out more and register here.Community service hours… Read More

Help create habitat for threatened birds! You can join the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory at the Ravenswood Ponds in Menlo Park to stomp in the mud and thereby improve nesting habitat for threatened western snowy plovers.To help improve the nesting success of these threatened species, SFBBO and volunteers will increase ground and pond texture and habitat complexity to help camouflage nests… Read More

Drew Kerr of the Invasive Spartina Project discussed how managing invasive plants as tidal marshes develop and mature provides a critical foundation for successfully establishing diverse Restoration Project marsh plant communities. With nearly 20 years working with Bay marsh invasives and a passion for wetland and aquatic ecologies, Drew shared his knowledge and experiences with three invasive… Read More

You can discover wildlife from a 360 degree view at the shore-side new Flyway Trail in Menlo Park! Join Park Rangers for a walk of less than 2 miles along the new trail, which travels along bird ponds and newly restoring tidal marsh, connecting Bayfront Highway and the Meta Bridge with Menlo Park's Bedwell Bayfront Park. The trail, newly built by the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project,… Read More

You can join a day of fun, wildlife viewing, and outdoor adventures at the opening celebration of the new Flyway Trail and Viewing Area at the Ravenswood Ponds! The free event will feature guided bird-viewing, games, hands-on demonstrations, educational booths, and food. The event will kick off with a brief presentation and dedication ceremony on the new viewing areas, interpretive… Read More

Learn how restoration ecologists have helped Don Edwards Refuge maximize the amount of soil it obtains to build habitat and levees while ensuring that soil has low contaminant levels so wildlife and wetlands are protected. Gavin Archbald of H. T. Harvey & Associates discusses his work implementing and refining the regulator-required Refuge plan for sampling soil pollutants and managing which… Read More

It is planting season! All the work Save The Bay has done throughout the year collecting seed, growing and caring for their precious native plants has been leading to this moment of opportunity provided by the seasonal rains. They hope you will join them in putting these plants in the ground at the Ravenswood Unit of Don Edwards NWR, adjacent to Bedwell Bayfront Park, part of the South Bay Salt… Read More

It is planting season! All the work Save The Bay has done throughout the year collecting seed, growing and caring for their precious native plants has been leading to this moment of opportunity provided by the seasonal rains. They hope you will join them in putting these plants in the ground at the Ravenswood Unit of Don Edwards NWR, adjacent to Bedwell Bayfront Park, part of the South Bay Salt… Read More

You can join an interpretative guided tour at the Don Edwards Refuge for a leisurely stroll to view the many migrating shorebirds that frequent Ravenswood Pond Pond SF2 and its nesting islands. The tour will inform on resident bird species, migratory birds and the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project. Many migratory waterfowl travel through the Bay Area along what is known as the Pacific… Read More

It is planting season! All the work Save The Bay has done throughout the year collecting seed, growing and caring for precious native plants has been leading to this moment right as the seasonal rains approach. They hope you will join them in putting these plants in the ground at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Eden Landing Ecological Reserve, where they will help reclaim former… Read More

It is planting season! All the work Save The Bay has done throughout the year collecting seed, growing and caring for their precious native plants has been leading to this moment of opportunity provided by the seasonal rains. They hope you will join them in putting these plants in the ground at the Ravenswood Unit of Don Edwards NWR, adjacent to Bedwell Bayfront Park, part of the South Bay Salt… Read More

Reserve your spot to Explore Biodiversity at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve on Saturday, September 7th! Tune into engaging talks on local conservation efforts, take a guided walking tour showcasing the biodiversity and management of Eden Landing's dynamic wetlands, and get a chance to bird watch with the pros! Make memories and take pictures, because participants are also encouraged to join a… Read More

The Restoration Project launches its 2024-25 Brown Bag Science Speaker Series with a presentation on the latest research by Kevin Buffington of USGS on the potential sea level rise threat to South Bay tidal marshes and restoration sites.Sea-level rise threatens tidal wetland ecosystems if sediment accretion in these areas is unable to keep pace with rising water. The future vulnerability of South… Read More

The Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a haven for shorebirds. In honor of World Shorebirds Day, join us for a beginner- and family-friendly bird outing and tour of the Alviso Unit of the Refuge. We'll take a short, leisurely stroll on the New Chicago Marsh boardwalk to look for shorebirds, and we'll share some fun facts and identification tips, too!Learn more about the free event and… Read More

You can help the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge with some trail maintenance around the Environmental Education Center in Alviso. Activities may include sign cleaning, pruning overgrown vegetation, weeding, and litter pickup. All gloves and tools will be provided.Please arrive promptly to allow time for check-in.Registration and more information here.Please note, volunteers… Read More

Learn about Mountain View wetlands and get some pleasant exercise at a summer solstice evening bike tour.Part guided tour by bike, part summer solstice celebration, and full-on fun festivities! Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition and Friends of Stevens Creek Trail are partnering for an unforgettable community event. Come together to ride, celebrate nature, hear bikes playing your favorite music from… Read More

Dr. Nathan Van Schmidt, Director of Waterbird Science at the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, will give a virtual presentation on the Restoration Project's dilemma of needing to offer habitat for species that have accidentally ended up in San Francisco Bay after their habitat elsewhere was degraded. The event is hosted by the Golden Gate Bird Alliance.More info and access here.The presentation… Read More

Join the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Refuge for a leisurely, morning stroll to view shorebirds that frequent the Pond SF2! This will be an interpretive guided tour to learn about resident bird species, migratory birds and the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project. Many migratory waterfowl travel through the Bay Area along what is known as the Pacific Flyway migratory path.This free… Read More

Join San Jose State University Professor Dr. Costanza Rampini for a discussion on whose values and voices are prioritized in climate change solutions. Dr. Rampini, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Studies, will inquire into who will benefit, who will lose, and who will be left out as different countries, regions, cities, and communities try to reduce their greenhouse gas… Read More

You can join the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO) and the Restoration Project to help improve nesting habitat for threatened western snowy plovers and endangered California least terns! Staff and volunteers will spread oyster shells donated from area restaurants on a dry pond bottom. This event is open to all ages, but please note that there are no restroom facilities at the site.… Read More

Join a Refuge biologist for a leisurely morning stroll to view shorebirds that frequent the Pond SF2! This will be an interpretive guided tour to learn about resident bird species, migratory birds and the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project. Many migratory waterfowl are traveling through the Bay Area from October through January along what is known as the Pacific Flyway migratory path. This… Read More

Interested in a volunteer opportunity you can do for school, work, or just for fun, that you can do on your own or with your household? Calling middle and high school students and scout groups! Come to the Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge and take photos to record the high tides called King Tides. The Refuge has a few spots around Alviso to view the year's highest tides. Participants… Read More

Come join Save The Bay at Ravenswood and help protect marshes from invasive plants! Invasive species degrade habitat by crowding out the California native species that our landscapes and wildlife have adapted to live with. Save The Bay will be pulling invasive plant species to make way for the native plants that staff and volunteers put in the ground. This will transform the degraded habitat… Read More

You can join Save The Bay at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Eden Landing Ecological Reserve to help restore former industrial salt ponds into healthy salt marsh habitat!This vision includes turning vulnerable fields of invasive mustard and thistle into resilient shoreline full of natives like California poppy, sticky monkeyflower and marsh gumplant. Save The Bay and the… Read More

It is planting season! All the work Save The Bay has done throughout the year collecting seed, growing and caring for our precious native plants has been leading to this moment of opportunity provided by the seasonal rains. Save The Bay invites you to join them in putting these plants in the ground at the Ravenswood Unit of Don Edwards NWR, adjacent to Bedwell Bayfront Park. The native plants you… Read More

You can join ecologists to help restore habitat for birds and other wildlife at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve in Union City! Volunteers at the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO) event will get to tour an active restoration site that is not normally accessible to the public, learn about restoration goals and techniques, view wildlife, and improve the health of San Francisco Bay.… Read More

Come join Save The Bay at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve to help restore former industrial salt ponds into healthy salt marsh habitat! Native plants are the backbone holding the earth at the front lines of sea level rise. The invasive species they will be pulling threaten to crowd the native vegetation out, depriving all species (including humans!) of the benefits that come from healthy… Read More

Learn the latest about the life and times of our local burrowing owls from our own first Lead Scientist, Dr. Lynne Trulio of San Jose State University, at this free online lecture hosted by the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO).Register here.Dr. Trulio has studied burrowing owls for over 30 years.  There's more to know about their migratory behavior and about the attachment they… Read More

Join San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory ecologists to help restore habitat for birds and other wildlife at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve in Union City! Volunteers will get to tour a restoration site that was just seeded and planted by SFBBO in fall-winter 2022-2023. The restoration site is not normally accessible to the public, so volunteers will get special access to a restricted area… Read More

Winter is coming! For our partners at Save The Bay who are growing plants for our Ravenswood marsh restoration, that means it is time to prepare for planting season in high hopes of catching the seasonal rain. Save The Bay restoration managers hope you will join them at the Ravenswood Nursery to get the native plants they’ve been growing all season ready to restore the marsh in front of… Read More

It is planting season! All the work Save The Bay has done throughout the year collecting seed, growing and caring for precious native plants has been leading to this moment right as the seasonal rains approach. Save The Bay restoration managers hope you will join them in putting these plants in the ground at Eden Landing, where they will help transform former industrial salt ponds into… Read More

Join Grassroots Ecology, Climate Resilient Communities, and San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory for a bird walk along the East Palo Alto marsh - no prior birding experience is required! Attendees will learn how to use binoculars, and we will discuss the importance of birds in our ecosystems. Participants can expect a flat, paved 2 mile walk from Cooley Landing to Bay Trail, out and back.… Read More

It is planting season! All the work Save The Bay has done throughout the year collecting seed, growing and caring for precious native plants has been leading to this moment right as the seasonal rains approach. Restoration manager hope you will join in putting these plants in the ground at the Ravenswood Unit of Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge, next to Menlo Park's Bedwell Bayfront Park.… Read More

Come join Save The Bay at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Eden Landing Ecological Reserve to help restore former industrial salt ponds into healthy salt marsh habitat! As part of a partnership project with the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, volunteers will be pulling invasive plants using hand picks and gloves to give the native marsh plants planted last winter a chance… Read More

It is planting season! All the work we’ve done throughout the year collecting seed, growing and caring for our precious native plants has been leading to this moment right as the seasonal rains approach. We hope you will join us in putting these plants in the ground at Eden landing, where they will help reclaim former industrial salt ponds and restore them into healthier salt marsh habitat for… Read More

As we celebrate the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration's 20th anniversary, Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge's 51st, and World Conservation Day, you can come explore a Menlo Park hidden gem for migratory shorebirds and nesting waterbirds!You'll take a leisurely stroll with Wildlife Biologist Rachel Tertes along a Ravenswood pond with bird nesting islands just south of Dumbarton… Read More

Join Save The Bay at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve to help restore former industrial salt ponds into healthy salt marsh habitat! Save The Bay staff and volunteers will pull invasive plants using hand picks and gloves to give the native marsh plants put in over the winter a chance to establish themselves. Register or add the event to your calendar here.Please dress according to weather… Read More

Join biologists at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve to view one of the few breeding colonies of the endangered California Least Tern in the San Francisco Bay! The group at the free San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO) event will look for adults incubating nests, young downy chicks being fed by their parents, older feathered chicks running around the colony, and fledglings learning to… Read More

You can come join Save The Bay at the Restoration Project’s Ravenswood Ponds to help clear invasive plants and make room for native seedlings! Native plants are the backbone holding the earth at the newly constructed All American Canal upland transition zone together. The invasive species we will be pulling threaten to crowd them out and deprive all of the species (including humans!) that… Read More

Come join Save The Bay at their Ravenswood site to participate in California Invasive Species Action Week! Invasive species degrade habitat by crowding out the California native species that our landscapes and wildlife have adapted to live with. The crew will be pulling invasive plant species to make way for the native plants that Save The Bay staff and volunteers put in the ground earlier this… Read More

Join us for a walking tour to learn about South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project Phase 2 recreation, restoration and flood risk management plans for southern Eden Landing.The 2- to 3-mile guided field tour will be held, along with a van tour that required RSVPs and now has full registration, at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s reserve. The walking tour does not require… Read More

Come to Eden Landing to stomp mud, all to help a threatened little bird!Join the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory at a new restoration site at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Eden Landing Ecological Reserve in Union City. To help improve the breeding success of this threatened species, SFBBO staff and volunteers will stomp in the mud to provide nest “scrapes” for snowy… Read More

Join the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for Earth Day at the Refuge to celebrate our Earth and its endangered species & learn how we can do our part to protect them!This year, the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge and partners are celebrating Earth Day and 50 years of Endangered Species Act in a big way – and it will be fun for the whole family! Please visit any time from… Read More

Join Save the Bay March 18th at Eden Landing to help weed, mulch, and maintain our beautiful new native plants, just planted in January! Please dress for any weather (we will run programs in light rain), wear closed toed shoes, and bring water. Save The Bay strives to include volunteers of all abilities in our programs. If you have specific access needs please reach out to jmckeen-scott@… Read More

On Saturday, March 25th, join ecologists from the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory for Volunteer Habitat Clean Up Day at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve!

Come join Save The Bay at Eden Landing to help with maintenance of one of their newest restoration sites by weeding and mulching. Please dress according to weather and bring water. Save The Bay strives to include volunteers of all abilities in its programs. If you have specific access needs please reach out to [email protected] to coordinate.Register here.

Come join Save The Bay at their Ravenswood site to help remove invasive species and make way for the native plants that are springing up all over the slope. They will be weeding invasive species and watering native plants that were put in the ground just a few weeks ago. Please dress according to weather and bring water. Please note the ground may be muddy after the winter rains. Save The Bay… Read More

Join ecologists with the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO) to help restore habitat for birds and other wildlife at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve in Union City! Volunteers will get to tour a brand new South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project restoration site that was just seeded and planted by SFBBO in fall-winter 2022-2023. The restoration site is not normally accessible to the public,… Read More

Join Save The Bay on the shoreline at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve to help take care of their brand new site along the road to the kayak launch. They’ll be weeding, mulching, and watering the native plants that are going out this winter. Save The Bay strives to include volunteers of all abilities in their programs.

Register here.

If you have specific access needs, please reach out to… Read More

Join us on a 2-mile bike ride along the San Francisco Bay Shoreline to Alviso to see the highest tides of the year. Meet at Baylands Park, Sunnyvale, and join Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition to see how the South Bay is responding with massive construction projects to combat the effects of climate change and sea level rise. Click here to register!

Save The Bay needs your help at its nursery in Bedwell Bayfront Park, Menlo Park. Habitat restorers and volunteers will be weeding and preparing plants for their journey to the outside world!

Registration Link
Website link

Upon registering, folks will receive confirmation and directions.

Save The Bay strives to include volunteers of all abilities in its programs. If you have specific access… Read More

Wilson's and Red-necked Phalaropes are tiny but charismatic shorebirds that rely on saline lakes like Mono Lake and Owens Lake as their most critical gas stations on their epic migration to South America. Saline lakes are threatened worldwide by water diversion and climate change, and presumably phalaropes are threatened along with them. However, basic questions about phalaropes remain unanswered… Read More

As part of its Adaptive Management Plan, the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project tracks habitat evolution and change in South San Francisco Bay, with particular focus on changes to marsh vegetation and mudflat acreages. This work to map baylands habitats south of the San Mateo Bridge via classification of high-resolution satellite imagery and groundtruthing has been undertaken as the Habitat… Read More

Want to learn more about the large-scale restoration projects taking place around the San Francisco Bay? Interested in how the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge and its partners undertake daily restoration activities? Looking to improve your outdoor spaces and make them more watershed-friendly and drought-resistant?

I n this new program developed by San Francisco Bay… Read More

Help restore our Bay and get some much needed fresh air at the Refuge!Come out to the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge for a few hours to restore wildlife habitat at this Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful/San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory volunteer work party. While you are removing invasive vegetation, planting new plants, or laying down mulch, you'll get to enjoy the fresh Bay air, see lots of… Read More

Join the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory to help enhance habitat for snowy plovers and least terns!

Volunteers will gather at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Eden Landing Ecological Reserve in Hayward to remove predator perches, trim overgrown vegetation, and spread oyster shells to help camouflage the protected birds from predators. These activities will help improve the… Read More

You are invited to a celebratory Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge 50th anniversary open house, including guided walks, ranger talks, crafts and activities, refreshments, and fun for all!

Here is the day's activities:

Schedule
 
10:00 - 11:00 Opening Ceremony & Land Acknowledgment
11:00 - 3:00 Ongoing activities: Casting Game, Face Painting, Partner Booths, and… Read More

Weeding Party: You are invited to join Santa Clara County Parks Natural Resource Management team, in partnership with San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, in their efforts to restore the coastal habitat of Alviso Marina County Park.Volunteers will assist in the removal of invasive plants and the spreading of mulch in preparation for the planting of native plants.Please bring sturdy gloves, closed… Read More

Dr. Kristen Ruegg will discuss her work to map migratory bird population challenges at this free virtual event. Most populations of migratory birds are now threatened. It is estimated that the populations of 1 out of every 2 songbirds are declining in the Western Hemisphere with impacts predicted to worsen with climate change. However, because migratory birds have breeding, migratory, and… Read More

Join San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory biologists at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve to view one of only six San Francisco Bay breeding colonies of endangered California least terns.

The group at the free event will look for adults incubating nests, young downy chicks being fed by their parents, older feathered chicks running around the colony, and fledglings learning to fly.

California least… Read More

Shorebirds are an exciting yet vexing group for birders to identify. At this free virtual event, Jon Dunn and Lara Tseng will discuss sandpipers: not only their identification, but also plumages, structure, molts, behavior, status and distribution. They will also talk about how to look at and study shorebirds – doing so requires some memorization but more importantly patience, love, and… Read More

Amie MacDonald at the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory's Birdy Hour Speaker Series discusses the latest technological approach to tracking bird migration.

The Motus Wildlife Tracking System is an international collaborative research network that uses automated radio telemetry to track birds, bats, and insects. Join us for an overview of how Motus works, highlights from various research… Read More

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… Read More

Join San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory at Eden Landing to help enhance habitat for endangered California least terns!

Volunteers will join SFBBO staff at Pond E14 in Eden Landing Ecological Reserve, which supports one of only six Least Tern breeding colonies in the San Francisco Bay estuary!

To help improve the breeding success of this endangered species, we will remove predator perches and… Read More

Help restore our Bay and get some much needed fresh air at the Refuge.



Come out to the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge for a few hours to restore part of the Bay at this Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful/San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory volunteer work party. While you are removing invasive vegetation, planting new plants, or laying down mulch, you'll get to enjoy the fresh air of the Bay, see… Read More

You can join us for an in-person presentation on the Bay Area's very own ghost town!Join Ceal Craig, Ph.D., a 20+ year volunteer for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, for a unique opportunity to dive into the history of Drawbridge, a 'ghost town' that once housed a thriving community on an island along the South San Francisco Bay. How did this community survive in the marshlands? Why is it now… Read More

Join us for the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory's annual event to help enhance habitat for western snowy plovers!

Volunteers will join SFBBO staff at Eden Landing Pond E14, which supports a large proportion of San Francisco Bay estuary plover breeding each year. To help improve the breeding success of this threatened species, we will remove predator perches and thin overgrown vegetation that… Read More

Dave Halsing, Restoration Project Executive Project Manager, will share information about wetlands restoration at a group bike ride along the Bay Trail in Mountain View. Mountain View Council Member Pat Showalter and environmental advocate Lenny Siegel will also participate in the event, which will include information about environmental issues at Moffett Field. The bike ride is sponsored by… Read More

Join the plucky group of volunteers who will meet at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve in Hayward to improve the lot of least terns and western snowy plovers by spreading oyster shells, removing predator perches, and improving foraging habitat for the listed species.

The 2nd annual event at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife reserve is sponsored by the San Francisco Bay Bird… Read More

Join Don Edwards Refuge Wildlife Biologist Rachel Tertes for a virtual program on South San Francisco Bay salt marsh biodiversity.  The event is  part of a celebration o California Biodiversity Week, September 4-13. More information:

Celebrate California Biodiversity Week and learn about the Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge!

California is a global biodiversity hot spot; the… Read More

Refuge Ranger Miguel Marquez and Olivia Poulosthe, an Associate with the Watershed Watchers anti-pollution program, will lead this virtual tour of marsh habitat near the Don Edwards Refuge's Environmental Education Center in Alviso.

The event is  part of a celebration o California Biodiversity Week, September 4-13. More information:

Celebrate California Biodiversity Week and learn about… Read More

Join Ben Pearl, an SFBBO science director, for an update on recent Western Snowy Plover conservation efforts in Eden Landing and other parts of Alameda County.

Register here.

Further information:

The Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus nivosus) is a federally threatened, ground-nesting shorebird species that breeds, roosts, and forages along the Pacific Coast from Southern Washington down… Read More

The San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory's latest Birdy Hour presentation features Dr. Phred Benham, a UC Berkeley post-doctoral researcher, discussing how salt marsh sparrows survive in the harsh edge ecologies of coastal salt marsh, exposed to high salinity, daily coastal flooding, and increasing human pressures on coastal habitats.

The free talk is recommended for ages high school and up.

For… Read More

Project consulting scientist Brian Fulfrost of Brian Fulfrost & Associates shared information on his latest effort to use satellite imagery to map South Bay habitats. His background information on the project:

The Habitat Evolution Mapping Project (HEMP) is an effort to assist the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project by mapping and monitoring the extent and distribution of tidal marshes… Read More

Watch the recording of this event.

Celebrate World Wetlands Day with us by learning about the largest wetland restoration project on the West Coast!

Interested in learning about the wetland restoration project happening here in the South Bay? Join the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project and San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society for an engaging and educational program featuring our Executive… Read More

The Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge was created in 1972, but this story starts 200 years earlier when Europeans discovered San Francisco Bay. Learn about the Bay’s history and the answers to mysteries such as: Why are mercury and gold a lethal duo? How did silver mining in Nevada affect the Bay? Why was Oscar the Grouch happier 60 years ago than today? Join docent Larry… Read More

Behind the peaceful Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge and beautiful San Francisco Bay are many fascinating tales: the little rail vs. the big rail, the mouse with the mighty tail, the amazing mistake that led to the discovery of the Bay, the marsh named after Chicago, how the Bay was nearly destroyed (twice!), how three women saved the Bay, why the Refuge was created, and… Read More

The San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory launches its Birdy Hour Speaker Series! This virtual Science Talk is free and family-friendly (recommended age: 5th grade & up). The talk by Dr. Alex Hartman of the U.S. Geological Society will focus on two recent successful social attraction projects at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge: the… Read More

Sad to say, but the Mud Stomp has rightly been cancelled because of concerns about COVID-19 and the need for social distancing.

Please stay well and plan on joining us in 2021 or for other habitat enhancement events in the future.

Come join the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project team, and others in the 1st annual California Least Tern Habitat Enhancement event!

To help these beautiful and interesting birds, we will be removing old wood structures and weedy vegetation, installing decoys and sound systems, and building shelters for least tern chicks. These efforts… Read More

Ravenswood (Menlo Park)

Our Nursery at the Ravenswood site needs some TLC. Come help us weed and do light maintenance work this Saturday. 

https://savesfbay.org/event/our-newest-nursery-needs-your-help-ravenswood-menlo-park/

Come help Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge prepare for the upcoming waterfowl hunting season by volunteering to clean up the hunting site and repair hunt blinds in the Alviso Pond area. We will meet on the levee between AB1 and A2E. Go to https://bit.ly/2vqmEas for more information and registration. Afterward, join us for an information meeting at the Environmental… Read More

Interested in volunteering at the refuge? Come out for a Restoration Work Day celebrating Coastal Cleanup Day! We will be cleaning up trash along the entrance road into the refuge while learning about our habitats and wildlife. This is a great opportunity for middle school, high school, and college students to gain volunteer hours. Great for scout groups and families as well! All ages and skill… Read More

Eden Landing (Hayward/Union City)

The view of Coyote Hills from our restoration site is reason enough to come out this Saturday. Join us in giving some love and care to the native species we planted this winter. See you there! To register: https://savesfbay.org/event/join-us-eden-landing-restoration-site-hayward-union-city/.

Docent Laurel Stell will talk and walk you through all things tides. What are they? How do they affect wildlife? How have humans reshaped the Bay’s tidal lands?The presentation will be followed by an easy 0.5-mile walk. All are welcome. Register here. Questions? Email [email protected] Considerations:Wear comfortable clothing, sun protection, and comfortable walking… Read More

Did you know you could ride your bike on the Refuge trails in Alviso? Join us for a bicycle tour around the levee. We will stop along the way to learn about the Refuge, the wildlife and habitats they use, the importance of Coyote Creek watershed, and the history of the area. The ride is 4.5 miles on a level trail, and there is no shade along the way. Must provide your own bikes, gear, and water… Read More

Eden Landing has a beautiful view of Coyote Hills. Enjoy the view with Save The Bay while we give some tender love and care to our native transition zone plants. We will be weeding, mulching and watering our native plants. To sign up, go to https://savesfbay.org/event/join-us-eden-landing-restoration-site-hayward-union-city-2.

The two best ways to celebrate summer: eat watermelon and give back to the planet! Save The Bay will be at our Ravenswood Nursery doing some weeding in our native plant beds. Join us then reward yourself with some delicious watermelon. To sign up, go to https://savesfbay.org/event/national-watermelon-day-ravenswood-nursery-menlo-park.

An abandoned town in the San Francisco Bay? That’s right! Nestled on an island in the salt marshes of South San Francisco Bay, the town of Drawbridge once boomed. Was it a quiet, peaceful town full of nature lovers, or people scrabbling out a living? How long did it exist? Find out at this program, led by Ceal Craig. We will start with a slideshow, and then take a short van excursion to view… Read More

Join us for a bike tour on the Mallard Slough Trail! We will stop along the way to learn about the refuge, the wildlife and habitats, the importance of Coyote Creek watershed, and the history of the area. The ride is 4.5 miles on a level trail, and there is no shade. Must provide your own bikes, gear, and water bottles. Helmets are required for children. Water and snacks will be provided at a… Read More

Ravenswood SF2 Trail, Menlo Park
Our wetlands are an important stop on the Pacific Flyway, a major bird migration route. Stroll with docent Laurel Stell to learn why birds migrate, why they stop along the San Francisco Bay, and to spot the birds in action. Trail is easy and level. All ages and abilities welcome. Meet at the SF2 trail parking area on the west side of the Dumbarton Bridge.… Read More

Interested in volunteering at the refuge? Come out for a Restoration Work Day! We will be working in the butterfly garden and surrounding trails. Work will include weeding, mulching, and planting native plants. This is a great opportunity for middle school, high school, and college students to gain volunteer hours. Great for scout groups and families as well. All ages and skill levels are welcome… Read More

Join one of our Student Conservation Association interns, Haleigh, for a fun walk amongst the refuge habitats to discuss the geology of the area. We’ll learn about the geologic history of San Francisco Bay during a short presentation and then head outside for an interactive walk on our trails. The history of salt harvesting in the South Bay will be highlighted as we walk through the historic and… Read More

Eden Landing (Hayward/Union City)
Join Save The Bay in transforming a former salt pond into a thriving restored marsh. This revived wetland will provide habitat for thousands of birds and endangered species such as the Ridgway’s rail and the salt marsh harvest mouse. We planted thousands of native plants here during the winter and now their survival relies on volunteers like you! Come out and… Read More

There’s plankton in our Bay! Learn about the different characteristics of plankton and how they have adapted to survive. We will become planktologists for a day, collect water samples and identify these incredible organisms under a microscope! Best suited for ages 7 and up. Register at Register http://eectinydrift.eventbrite.com or call 408-262-5513 ext. 102 for reservations.

If you have an interest in wildlife and their conservation, enjoy working with people, and are enthusiastic and dependable, the Refuge's volunteer program is for you! As a volunteer, you'll receive on-the-job training from staff and other volunteers in the project area you choose. Project areas are restoration projects, information desk on weekends, interpretive programs, school field trips, and… Read More

Look for birds, mammals, and animal tracks as we explore along the water’s edge on this 3.7-mile nature walk. Bring binoculars and your favorite field guide to help enjoy the views. Have at least one liter of water, snacks, and appropriate clothing. Rain cancels hike. Led by Steve Stolper, certified California Naturalist. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Go to https://hikeeectrail.eventbrite.com.… Read More