GGAS Blog
Egret nests in Alameda, 2020
Editor’s Note: It’s nesting season! Photographer Gerry Traucht has been following a nesting colony of Great and Snowy Egrets in Alameda for eight years, through the removal of their dying nest tree in 2018 and their shift to new trees in 2019. About a dozen Great Egrets have arrived so far this spring. As we
Sharing birds with tomorrow’s outdoor educators
By Analicia Hawkins and Aryn Maitland Throughout the past year, opportunities to connect with the birding community in person and enjoy nature together have been few and far between. Even though birding alone can be a fulfilling experience, there’s something special about being able to share that experience with others—especially with people who may be
Butterflies on Mount Sutro in 2020
Editor’s Note: Liam O’Brien started conducting twice-monthly butterfly surveys on Mount Sutro in 2020 as part of our wildlife monitoring for U.C.S.F.’s new Vegetation Management Plan, which was the subject of our previous blog post. By Liam O’Brien Saturday, February 13, 2021 was a glorious day. The sun was perfect, the Castro was full of
Birds and Mount Sutro’s changing forest
By Whitney Grover “Trees, trees, beautiful trees,” the high-pitched song of the Brown Creeper rings out from a nearby tree trunk. These well-camouflaged little birds creep up the trees, hunting insects in the bark. Brown Creepers don’t breed on San Francisco’s Mount Sutro but they often come around to forage in the spring and fall.
Top Guns of Bay Area Birding, 2020
By Michael Stevens Quite a story unfolded on the eBird Top 100 lists for 2020. After many years with the same excellent birders at the top of the heap, newcomers emerged as Champion Birder of the Year in both San Francisco and Alameda Counties. It seemed remarkable because of the combination it takes to get
Osprey Cam launches fifth nesting season
By Craig Griffeath A little over seventy-five years ago, a visitor to the naval shipyards at Richmond’s Point Potrero would have encountered an impressive bustle of activity, with thousands of tough, dedicated “Rosie the Riveters” putting in long days on the heavy equipment at the yard in order to provide for their families. Today, at
Sage-Grouse Courtship Season
Editor’s note: On Wednesday, March 24, Bruce Mast will be leading a Virtual Field Trip via Zoom to see Greater Sage-Grouse courtship dances, as well as Sage Thrasher and Sagebrush Sparrow—a Sage Trifecta. As a preview, we’re reprinting Bruce’s 2019 blog post about his annual Sage-Grouse trip to Lassen County. You’re invited to join us for
Wintering Shorebirds on San Francisco Bay
By Maureen Lahiff Spring is almost here, but there’s still time to enjoy the shorebirds that are here for winter R&R. Many of the species that winter in large numbers on San Francisco Bay have come a long way on their fall migration. They spend the summer nesting in a wide diversity of habitats,
Reflecting On An Unusual SF Christmas Bird Count
By David Assmann The 2020 San Francisco Christmas Bird Count nearly didn’t happen due to the pandemic. Fortunately, San Francisco birders adapted to the challenge. Although we had to follow strict new guidelines, this winter’s count turned out to be one of the best in decades. 103 socially distanced counters ended up tallying more
Plants for Birds: It’s Not Too Late to Dig In!
By Noreen Weeden Planting season in the San Francisco Bay Area is late fall through winter. With a forecast of rain ahead, it is not too late to get some beautiful native plants in the ground to benefit our birds. You may have heard that Plants for Birds is an exciting partnership of GGAS
Bird like a Mother, With or Without Children
By Bryony Angell Despite appearances, this post is not about how to get children into birding! And you need not even be a mother to get something from it, either. I’m considering instead one aspect of prejudice in birding that if addressed, could have broader benefits for all birders who experience being marginalized. In
November at the Lagoon
By Gerry Traucht Around mid-November, I saw some interesting events at the Berkeley Lagoon. Normally, the lagoon is rather calm during this time of year. Occasionally, one could see up to four or six Brown Pelicans at a time. But on a mid-November morning, I saw something remarkable: about 35 (and counting!) enormous Pelican