Lake Merced: San Francisco’s Birding Jewel

Lake Merced: San Francisco’s Birding Jewel

By Angie Geiger

 

Located in the southwest corner of San Francisco, Lake Merced is one of only three remaining freshwater lakes in the city. There are multiple excellent birding areas within this 614 acre park. At 267 species, Lake Merced is the number two hotspot in San Francisco, (not including the Farallon Islands) according to eBird. It is home to quite a few breeding birds, the wintering grounds for numerous others and an important resting stop for many migrants.

Ruddy Duck by Angie Geiger

While it is possible to see birds anywhere around Lake Merced, the three most commonly birded areas are “the concrete bridge”, Sunset Circle, and Harding Park. All are directly on the lake and offer excellent views of the waterfowl on the lake, as well as lots of songbird activity in the reeds, trees and shrubs surrounding the lake. All three have parking lots and are also accessible by bike and public transportation.

Bird tour at Lake Merced by Angie Geiger

The concrete bridge area can be accessed on the east side via a small parking area on Lake Merced Blvd. or on the west side via John Muir Drive. If Gull identification is one of your avocations, this is the place to practice in the winter. Gulls of all ages are often on land and/or perched on the railings of the bridge for close-up views. Most common are Western, California, Mew and Glaucous-winged, with the odd Herring and Iceland Gull sometimes in the mix. Some years, Bonaparte’s Gulls have been spotted foraging on the lake in winter. In addition to the gulls, there are many species of Ducks and Grebes in among the Coots on the water. Breeding plumaged Ruddy Ducks can be seen with their neon-blue bills and the concrete bridge is a good place to watch the courtship behavior of Grebes. Both Western and Clark’s Grebes breed here, sometimes with each other producing consternating hybrids. You will spot begging offspring throughout the Spring and Summer. Once in a while the Concrete Bridge area attracts a Common Galinule. In addition to the Waterfowl, this area is also fairly reliable for Sora and Virginia Rail, more often heard than seen. Summer is a great time to practice your Swallow identification skills – six Swallow species can reliably be seen over the lake and perched on trees at the water’s edge. On the east side of the concrete bridge is a slight tree-covered hill featuring a Penguin sculpture.…

Least Tern by Jerry Ting

GGBA Launches New Strategic Plan

GGBA Launches New Strategic Plan

By Carol Baird

 

How often have you come across a bird and stood motionless to determine what it was doing— whether it was near its nest, what does it eat, or how many eggs are in that nest? You’re certainly not alone: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates there are some 48 million Americans who watch birds. And, if you enjoy watching birds, you doubtless are also reminded that you are a member of a species that poses a colossal threat to global avifauna.

Black-crowned Night-Heron (the official bird of Oakland) by Jerry Ting

In an effort to further protect bird life, face the challenges and opportunities for birds in this new millennium, expand our horizons, and deepen our outreach, the Golden Gate Bird Alliance Board of Directors devoted a full year to reinvigorating our 100 plus year-old organization through strategic planning.

In January, 2019, we created a planning committee to lead this effort. That committee subsequently hired a consultant, who met frequently with the committee throughout the year. From March onward, the consultant also conferred with over 200 GGBA members who represented various parts of the organization.

Black Phoebe by Carree Michel

For many of us on the Board, it was an eye-opening venture. At first, we prepared the traditional papers and entertained the usual ideas about the status of GGBA in the community. But we soon had to confront a truer reality: we are not at all reflective of the Bay Area and its diverse human populations, all of whom do interface with birds in one way or another. 

We realized that it is vital that we “step out of our silos and start working with the community as a whole.”

One of many examples of GGBA’s community outreach. Here, Salesforce volunteers collaborate with GGBA to help restore Pier 94. Photo by Janet Carpinelli

What are some of our key takeaways from the planning process? First is proclaiming anew the importance of birds in our living landscape, and how birds play a pivotal role in ecosystem functioning. 

Christmas Bird Count 2019. Volunteers admiring both the landscape and birds. Photo by Chris Okon

And, of course, a second key point is the need to share the astounding diversity of our local avifauna with others and the need to learn the myriad ways local people already do celebrate our birds.  Bay Area residents connect with birds in many ways that go beyond taking part in organized field trips or birding classes.…

Thanks and Farewell to Noreen Weeden

Thanks and Farewell to Noreen Weeden

An interview conducted by Melissa Ramos

 

On Friday, January 17th, Noreen Weeden, Golden Gate Bird Alliance’s extraordinary Director of Volunteers, retired from her position. A former GGBA board member and chair of the San Francisco Conservation Committee, Noreen joined the GGBA staff in 2005. In addition to her work with GGBA, she’s volunteered with the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, and the Yerba Buena chapter of the California Native Plant Society. Noreen’s passion for habitat restoration has led to phenomenal breakthroughs at San Francisco’s Pier 94, among other habitat restoration projects throughout the Bay Area. Before signing on full-time to GGBA, Noreen worked in tech for large corporations and small businesses. We are in eternal awe and gratitude for Noreen’s dedication and contributions to GGBA. 

Before she retired, Noreen sat down for an interview with Melissa Ramos, GGBA’s new Communications Manager.

Noreen at a volunteer party in 2013. Photo by Ilana DeBare

Melissa: Can you describe the first time you realized you were passionate about birds? How did you get into birding?

Noreen: Well, I was always interested in getting outside and going hiking. Going outside was a way to escape from my indoor telecommunications job. Bigger escapes included vacations to places such as Central America and Mexico where, at the time, they couldn’t reach me by phone.  Birds quickly became a way to further enjoy nature. Going on bird walks in those places helped me notice that some of the birds in the south traveled to and from San Francisco! From that point on, I wanted to learn more about bird migration.

My love of birding started with those Mexico and Central American trips, but over time I really wanted to learn a lot more about birds in general. There are so many different species and so many different aspects about birds. There’s listening to their songs and their calls. Watching their behavior. Learning about evolution. The different foods they eat and different dangers that they face. Some that migrate long distances and others short. All of this is pretty fascinating and a gateway to virtually all of the other nature sciences.

The beautifully restored Pier 94, one of Noreen’s most successful long term conservation projects. Photo by Lee Karney

Melissa: What are your favorite birds and why?

Noreen: This has got to be one of the cryptic birds, like the Wilson’s Snipe, a bird that’s sometimes difficult to see even though you’re looking directly at it.…