Together Green
Golden Gate Audubon has received funding from a program called TogetherGreen for the past three years. Below, you will read more about the programs and how we are involved.
TogetherGreen funds and promotes conservation leadership training and volunteer programs designed to equip and engage diverse groups and individuals to take action today to shape a healthier tomorrow. For more information, click here.
Campers searching for crabs.
Volunteer Days provide opportunities for hands-on, local conservation efforts throughout the year at locations around the country.
Pier 94: A hidden, reclaimed wetland consisting of nearly five acres of isolated industrial land. Pier 94 is on San Francisco’s southern waterfront. Located in the shadow of container ships and heavy equipment, the restored salt marsh and adjacent upland provide valuable habitat for birds, butterflies, and small mammals. Residents of the neighboring Bayview-Hunters Point community can access a unique urban wildlife experience. We hold monthly workdays on the first Saturday of the month from 9:00 am to 12 noon to continue our restoration efforts.
Groups and individuals joining us at Pier 94 : Yahoo!, Recology, UCSF Mission Bay, a Jewish teen camp through 4 Winds Travel, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, a church group and Golden Gate Audubon volunteers.
Earlier Programs: Innovation Grants support creative projects that contribute to significant gains in habitat, water and energy conservation. Every year, 40 organizations in Audubon’s network – and their outside partners – receive funding for innovative approaches to inspire, equip and engage people to tackle local environmental problems.
Along the Bay Trail, at Meeker Slough in Richmond
With its’ TogetherGreen Innovation Grant, the Golden Gate Audubon Society was able to continue the Wetlands and Wildlands Project in 2009, expanding restoration activities along the shorelines of North Richmond. This shoreline is among the most endangered—and most important—wildlife habitats in the densely developed Central San Francisco Bay.
This site provides much-needed habitat for the shorebird and wildlife community of the Bay Area—making its preservation an important priority. They also provide critical nesting and resting habitat for many of the thousands of migrating birds along the Pacific Flyway each year. These important sites are also being threatened by development.
The Wetlands and Wildlands project aimed to change that by turning local residents into the primary advocates for the shoreline’s protection. Residents will be trained to educate their neighbors about the importance of protecting local bird species. They encouraged participation in bird census events, as well as creek clean-ups and bird and plant monitoring.
Through volunteerism, this project hoped to create a sense of ownership and belonging in communities that translates into long-term stewardship and protection of local wildlife and habitat. The preservation of these local natural treasures will not only be important for wildlife and environmental health, but for the health of the community members who live there.
Birding the Bay Trail Docent Program
Ten new Golden Gate Audubon docents were trained on the natural history of the Bay Trail in Richmond. They set up birding stations in key areas to show trail and park users the birds and explain the areas significance. While the docents may be on the move, you could catch them on the section of trail from the Albany Mudflats to the Richmond Marina. To see when our knowledgeable docents will be on the trail, check our online calendar.
The Great Backyard Bird Count
Over the weekend of February 12-15,2009 Bay Area nature lovers came out for the Great Backyard Bird Count. We had a total of 5 walks with 46 participants. About 170 species of birds were seen by these participants throughout parks and backyards near the shores of Richmond. Our highlight was the one time count of 1900 cormorants flocking to the rock pile jetty from the Brickyard Cove Marina.
Richmond Spring Census
Golden Gate Audubon volunteers and students from Middle College High School in San Pablo were trained in bird point counts along the North Richmond Shoreline throughout May, June, and July. Students are also worked with us on shoreline cleanups and data input from the counts.