By Philip Gerrie

In May, Golden Gate Bird Alliance representatives met with the new Superintendent of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Laura Joss. GGBA has a long history of meeting, and working collegially with, GGNRA superintendents and professional staff. Also attending the meeting from the GGNRA were Michael Savidge, GGNRA Director of Strategic Planning and Partnerships, and William Merkle, GGNRA Supervisory Wildlife Ecologist. The GGBA delegation included Executive Director Cindy Margulis, GGBA Board Member and Co-Chair of GGBA SF Conservation Committee, Sharon Beals, GGBA’s Director of Volunteer Programs, Noreen Weeden, and two active volunteers: Matthew Zlatunich, and Philip Gerrie.

GGNRA Superintendent, Laura Joss, heads the team managing the National Park Service’s most visited site, a collection of more than 80,000 acres of federally managed historic and ecologically significant properties around the San Francisco Bay, including the Marin Headlands, Alcatraz, Ocean Beach, Fort Funston and the Presidio. She is a 27- year veteran of the National Park Service with a background in resource management. Her current focus is on the safety of staff and visitors, sustaining an environment of respect and transparency, and working to preserve cultural and natural resources.

Over the past 10 years, GGBA has met with and maintained a solid working rapport with GGNRA’s most recent series of Superintendents, Brian O’Neill, Frank Dean, and Chris Lehnertz. So, we welcomed the chance for a discussion with the newest superintendent in this prestigious seat.

Brandt’s Cormorants photo by Bob Gunderson

It struck me at this meeting how similar the mission, intent, and sensibilities of these two organizations really are. Cindy Margulis said that GGBA’s commitment runs deep in working positively to assist GGNRA. Golden Gate Bird Alliance’s mission is to engage people to experience the wonder of birds and to act in support of birds and their habitats. GGBA fulfills its purpose by engaging in local environmental education, undertaking habitat maintenance and restoration projects, and being a consistent voice for protecting public spaces for both people and birds. The same passionate conservation mindset created the GGNRA and Golden Gate Bird Alliance: both of which were founded 100 years ago. Both share commitments to the values of stewardship, education, sustainability, and have deep reservoirs of knowledge and expertise which they share for the public’s benefit.

There are several ways that GGBA connects its own membership to the GGNRA. GGBA enables people to experience nature and wildlife; educationally through field trips and programs.…

By Melani King

Osprey boat tour? That was the email subject line from my friend Ann inquiring whether I’d be interested in this boat trip. Of course I would! What better way to check out many of the Osprey pairs from a bay vantage?

Disclaimer: I am one of the many Richmond and Rosie, sfbayospreys.org-obsessed viewers. And so is my retired husband. Before I leave for work, the webcam site is left up onscreen, full sized, so he can check on them throughout the day.

So as soon as I signed up, my husband piped in that he wanted to go too.

Monday morning we swung by to pick up Ann and another friend and drove the short distance from Pt. Richmond to the Marina Bay Yacht Harbor where we boarded Tideline’s boat for the 10:00 am Wild Osprey Cruise. The weather cooperated—calm waters, moderate air temperature, clear skies, and no wind.

Tony Brake provided background about the increase of nesting pairs within the past twenty years and showed us maps with successful and unsuccessful nest site locations. Ospreys will use quite a variety of structures, including relic cranes, utility poles, industrial light standards, as well as purpose-built platforms, along urban shorelines.

Photo of Osprey nest in lights by Melani King

Appropriately, as it was Memorial Day, the first stop was to view the nest atop the Whirley Crane next to the Red Oak Victory ship. Rosie was in the nest with Richmond nearby on the cables.

As the boat passes by the shore of Brooks Island, a variety of birds can be seen on the sandy spit: Brown Pelicans, the largest known Caspian Tern colony, and Western Gulls.

Photo of Brook’s Island Caspian Terns by Melani King

Two ospreys were easily observed sitting in a nest built on a low platform just beyond Sandpiper Spit in Brickyard Cove. This was by far the closest we were able to see these magnificent birds without the aid of a webcam!

Moving north, along the way, other nests are visible with binoculars including one next to the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge that I see while driving to and from Marin. Passing under the bridge the boat takes us to more nests built atop lighting structures at the ends of piers coming from Pt. Molate. One nest, seemingly empty, reveals some movement—we see chicks. An osprey takes flight from an observation perch and flies to the nest.…

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by Jim Chiropolos

I have often wondered which of these species is more assertive and my yard is proving to be a great location to watch the two species interact. Next to the house is a gully frequented by Steller’s Jays. The other side is more open with houses and favored by Scrub Jays, so the yard is a border used by both species. 

When I hung a suet feeder, I was fascinated by the interaction. Both species used the suet feeder, but the Scrub Jays quickly asserted dominance and early on one caught a raiding Steller’s Jay and pinned its head against a tree branch with its talons. I was worried that was the end of the Steller’s Jay (it escaped). Since that time the Stellar’s Jays still raid the feeder but very quietly, fly in low, and use all the available cover. It’s interesting, the favorite Scrub Jay perches are all carefully situated with sight lines to the suet feeder and if a Steller’s Jay is seen, they quickly drive them away, squawking loudly. Based on this, I thought Scrub Jays were dominant over Steller’s Jays. 

Photo of Steller’s Jay by Doug Mosher

Three weeks ago, I noticed the Steller’s Jays start building a next in the wisteria, only 20 feet away from the suet feeder above the gully. Basically, the scene of their defeat by the Scrub Jays. Now completed, the nest is amazing, 5 feet up, and almost completely concealed. At one angle, I can barely see the Steller’s Jay’s crest poking out when incubating. The Scrub Jays know the nest is there too. Sunday opened to a noisy confrontation between the pairs of Scrub and Steller’s Jays, a loud squawking face-off on the driveway just below the nest. The Steller’s Jays were not yielding, and kept hopping towards the Scrub Jay pair 2 feet away. The Scrub Jays slowly retreated, followed by the Steller’s Jays. In the shrub next to the nest, I watched a Steller’s Jay do a Woodpecker imitation, demolish a small branch, with a Scrub Jay four feet away. That was the end of this round, a win for the nesting Steller’s Jays! 

But why would a Steller Jay build a nest near hostile Scrub Jays? If they are not diligent, the Scrub Jays will raid their nest. Is a concealed nest more important compared to the near presence of an egg predator?…

By Blake Edgar

Dozens of big colorful birds alighted on the concrete in front of Richmond’s City Hall Wednesday morning. More than 30 local artists, both young and old, turned out to “Chalk it Up for Richmond’s Birds and the Year of the Bird,” an event organized by the City of Richmond and Golden Gate Bird Alliance. The society’s fourth annual art celebration, this was the first one held in Richmond, which Golden Gate Bird Alliance Executive Director Cindy Margulis called “a city that totally celebrates the arts as well as birds.”

Recorded calls and songs reverberated across Civic Center Plaza while the artists rapidly rendered birds in sidewalk chalk, from Acorn Woodpecker to Brown Pelican. The artists included both professionals and amateurs, Nature Joural Club members, Urban Sketchers, and a wonderful group from Richmond’s NIAD Art Center. A few feet from the front doors of City Hall, GGBA’s Eco-Education Manager Clayton Anderson completed his huge rendering of local celebrity Osprey “Richmond,” with wings outstretched and talons clutching a purple banner that proclaimed “Celebrate Richmond Birds.” Rebeca Garcia-González also picked one of Richmond’s Ospreys, showing the bird landing on its nest atop the historic Whirley Crane.

Hillary Powers works on her Clark’s Grebes / Photo by Cindy Margulis

In the first of several public remarks, Richmond City Manager, Bill Lindsay identified himself as a fan of the nest camera that documents the daily life of “Richmond” and his mate “Rosie.” Lindsay recently discovered that Richmond, Virginia has its own Osprey nest cam. “I’m not saying it’s a competition or anything,” he added, “but their birds already have three eggs.”

Moments later, Richmond Mayor Tom Butt informed the crowd that “Rosie” had lain her second egg of the season on Tuesday night. Then the mayor received cheers and applause by announcing, “I’m moving forward to declare the Osprey as the official bird of the City of Richmond.” He’ll present a resolution to this effect at the City Council meeting on April 17. POSTSCRIPT: Yes, indeed, Richmond made the Osprey its official city bird on April 17, 2018.

“We’re ecstatic that the city is going to make the Osprey the official bird,” said Margulis. “In a fabulous community like Richmond that’s so diverse, birds are one of the ways to bring everybody together. Everybody can get excited about the beauty of birds.”

Richmond Chalk it Up Artists / Photo by Eleanor Briccetti Parade of Brown Pelicans by Laurie Wigham / Photo by Cindy Margulis Susan Ford’s Cedar Waxwings / Photo by Cindy Margulis

Beyond appreciating avian aesthetics, the event strove to bring attention to the centennial of congressional passage of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, one of the nation’s most important and impactful conservation laws.…