Spring 2014 Gull is available
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Spring 2014 Gull is available

ByGGBA

 

Gullcover_Spring2014

The new edition of The Gull newsletter for Spring 2014 is now available online. Read it to learn about how GGBA’ bird monitoring programs are making a difference for at-risk species such as Burrowing Owls, Snowy Plovers, and Least Terns.

You can also get the latest scoop on Birdathon 2014; birding in McLaren Park; and Beguiling Bushtits. And of course it includes the calendar for our Speaker Series in April, May and June!

Click here to read it:  Gull_Spring2014

Note: Because this is a large file, it may take a minute or two to download. Be patient!   🙂

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Dog Management in the GGNRA
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Dog Management in the GGNRA

ByGGBA

Golden Gate Bird Alliance has long advocated for reasonable management of on- and off-leash dogs in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). Current dog-related recreation is managed under the 1979 Pet Policy, which is not a legal regulation and which fails to protect wildlife, habitat, and park visitors.

In 2013, the National Park Service released its revised proposed Dog Management Rule and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to manage dog-related recreation in the GGNRA. The proposed rule is the biggest accommodation for on- and off-leash dogs in the National Park System.

The proposed Rule allows for four off-leash dog areas and 21 miles of on-leash dog recreation in the San Francisco portion of the GGNRA. No other National Park allow off-leash dogs, and most limit on-leash dogs to a few paved trails.

GGNRA needs to accommodate many users -- families, cyclists, dog owners and nature lovers, as well as wildlife. / Photo by Allen HirschGGNRA needs to accommodate many users — families, cyclists, dog owners and nature lovers, as well as wildlife. / Photo by Allen Hirsch

Golden Gate Bird Alliance supports better regulation of dogs in the GGNRA. While we believe that the proposed regulation is a good first step, the proposed rule does not adequately protect park resources.

We encourage you to share your opinions and experiences with the National Park Service. Click here to file an online comment. The NPS is accepting comments through February 18, 2014.

In our comments, we will emphasize the following points: 

  • The GGNRA should provide more opportunities for visitors to recreate in the GGNRA in San Francisco without interacting with dogs.  Currently, the Preferred Alternatives only provide a few areas where visitors, including those with small children, may go without having to interact with dogs. Many parents and grandparents have told us they will not take children to areas where there are many off-leash dogs. This is not fair to community members that have a right to enjoy the park without fear or discomfort due to the presence of dogs. 
  • Off-leash areas should be well defined by a physical barrier. Park visitors should have the choice of interacting with dogs during their park experience, rather than having the choice made for them. Clearly defined on- and off-leash areas will allow dog owners and other visitors to know where dog-related recreation is appropriate. It will also better protect sensitive wildlife and habitat resources, reduce conflicts with other users, and allow for less controversial enforcement of the new rules. 
  • The SEIS fails to establish that “voice control” is a valid method of controlling off-leash dogs.
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Wild! In Alameda

ByGGBA

The City of Alameda has a rich heritage of wildlife! Learn about and enjoy the birds, mammals, and marine life of this island community this spring through Wild! in Alameda, a series of programs celebrating local wildlife. All ages are welcome!

Register below for the free Alameda Wildlife symposium on Saturday April 9th.

Wildlife Photography Exhibit

Enjoy vivid photographs of birds and other wildlife, all taken in the City of Alameda by 11 talented wildlife photographers. The  exhibit runs from February 28 to May 28, 2016 in the Stafford Meeting Rooms of the Alameda Main Library at 1550 Oak Street in Alameda. Free and available for viewing whenever the library is open – just ask the front desk to open the room. Learning worksheet available at front desk.

Brown Pelican by Rick LewisBrown Pelican by Rick Lewis

Featuring photos by: Richard Bangert, Tom Bennett, Eleanor Briccetti, Don Dvorak, Leora Feeney, Allen Hirsch, Bob Lewis, Rick Lewis, Cindy Margulis, Verne Nelson, and Jerry Ting.

Wildlife Symposium

Learn about key Alameda species such as the Harbor Seal, Least Tern, Snowy Plover, and Brown Pelican from local experts, including East Bay Regional Parks and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Symposium takes place on April 9, 2016, 10 a.m. to noon at the Alameda Main Library, Stafford Meeting Rooms. Free and open to the public. Advance registration required. Click below to register online, or call the Golden Gate Bird Alliance office at (510) 843-2222.

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Western Bluebird in Alameda, by Rick LewisWestern Bluebird in Alameda, by Rick Lewis

Wildlife symposium presenters:

  • Richard Bangert – Osprey
  • Tom and Diane Bennett – Western Snowy Plover
  • Michael Charnofsky, East Bay Regional Parks – Western Bluebird
  • Shirley Doell – Peregrine Falcon
  • Susan Euing, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Least Tern
  • Leora Feeney – Brown Pelican
  • Mark Klein – Harbor Seals
  • Cindy Margulis, Golden Gate Bird Alliance, Bay Farm Egret Rookery

Wildlife Viewing

Visit key Alameda wildlife viewing areas on the afternoon of Saturday, April 9th. Friendly docents will help you spot wildlife and tell you about what you see! Check back here closer to April 9th for a list of viewing sites and directions.

Harbor Seals in Alameda, by Richard BangertHarbor Seals in Alameda, by Richard Bangert

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Wild! in Alameda is sponsored by Golden Gate Bird Alliance and our Friends of the Alameda Wildlife Refuge committee. Many thanks to our Signature Level sponsor, Alameda Point Partners; our co-sponsor, the Alameda Free Library; and all the contributing photographers.

Questions? Call the Golden Gate Bird Alliance office at (510) 843-2222 or email Linda at lindacarloni@comcast.net…

PB&J Birders Event for Kids – Jan. 12

PB&J Birders Event for Kids – Jan. 12

ByGGBA

Join us on Sunday morning January 12th from 10 a..m. until noon for a PB&J Birders family bird walk at Heron’s Head Park in San Francisco!

This easy walk at Heron’s Head Park will bring little birders and their parents/guardians to the SF Bay shore look for egrets, gulls, ducks, Great Blue Herons, and more! The walk is on mostly level ground along a developed and paved pathway. Most of the walk is wheelchair accessible.

Share the fun of exploring nature — download a flyer and share it with your child’s class or preschool!

PB&J flyer – January 2014

Meet: At 10 a.m. at the Heron’s Head Park parking lot – Jennings Street and Cargo Way, San Francisco.

Bring:  Snacks, water, layers of clothes,a lunch for afterward and binoculars if you have them. We will also have quality binoculars and field guides available, along with crayons and coloring projects and snacks. (Let us know if you or your kids have food allergies.) 
This event is free and open to families with kids of all ages.

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Come to our Holiday Open House!

Come to our Holiday Open House!

ByGGBA

Share the holiday spirit with birding friends at our Holiday Open House on Friday December 13, from 5 to 8 pm! Enjoy snacks and beverages, view prints and notecards by some of the talented photographers who contributed to our 2014 Birds of the SF Bay Area calendar, and maybe win a prize in the fee raffle.

We’re celebrating together with the other nonprofits in our building, including the Sierra Club and Ecology Center. Stop by their offices too for more snacks, music and activities.

The Ecology Center is collected winter coats for the homeless. If you have a gently-worn coat or jacket, bring it and drop it off with them!

We’re at 2530 San Pablo Avenue in Berkeley, at the corner of Dwight. There’s free parking on side streets like Blake and Parker.

Hope you can join us!…

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