Golden Gate Audubon Society

Golden Gate Audubon has received funding from a program called TogetherGreen for the past two years. Below, you will read more about the programs itself and also how we are involved in it.

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 near Pier 94 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. It also provides residents of the neighboring Bayview-Hunters Point community access to a unique urban wildlife experience. We have monthly workdays to continue our restoration efforts.

Groups and individuals joining us at Pier 94 so far: Jewish teen camp through 4 Winds Travel.

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 – will receive funding for innovative approaches to inspire, equip and engage people to tackle local environmental problems.

With its TogetherGreen Innovation Grant, the Golden Gate Audubon Society will be able to continue the Wetlands and Wildlands Project for another year, 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 aims 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 will also be encouraged to participate in bird census events, as well as creek clean-ups and bird and plant monitoring.

Through volunteerism, this project hopes 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.

2009 Programs:

Birding the Bay Trail Docent Program

Ten new Golden Gate Audubon docents have been trained on the natural history of the Bay Trail in Richmond. They will 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 can 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, 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 have been trained in bird point counts along the North Richmond Shoreline throughout May, June, and July. Students are also working with us on shoreline cleanups and data input from the counts.