By Ilana DeBare

Cynical folks like to joke about the “turkeys” who serve in elected office.

But we encountered only one turkey last Wednesday during a full day of citizen advocacy at the California State Capitol – a live Wild Turkey strolling across the building’s north-facing steps!

Meanwhile, inside the building, we received a warm welcome as we met with our state representatives and their legislative staff.

A dozen Golden Gate Bird Alliance members traveled to Sacramento last Wednesday to take part in Audubon California’s annual Advocacy Day. Some of us – including Janet McGarry, Chris Winn, and Marjorie Powell – were old hands who had done this in prior years. Others were new to Audubon lobbying.

GGBA members outside the governor’s office. GGBA members meet with San Francisco Assembly member David Chiu,.

Veteran or novice, everyone had a great time. These were friendly conversations. We’re fortunate that our Bay Area representatives are, by and large, supportive of environmental protection and wildlife conservation.

But even liberal, pro-environment lawmakers aren’t necessarily familiar with issues affecting birds – which is why it’s so important that Audubon members make their voices heard.

As part of that, we started the day with dozens of other Audubon members from around the state at a breakfast orientation led by a familiar face — Mike Lynes, the former Executive Director of GGBA who is now Policy Director for Audubon California.

Then we split into teams to meet with the assembly members and state senators who represent our geographic areas.

This year our top priority was getting their support for AB 2627, a bill that would partly counteract President Trump’s “reinterpretation” (polite phrase for gutting) of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

GGBA members meet with Mary Nicely (in red dress), chief of staff for East Bay Assembly member Tony Thurmond. Mary told us how she loves watching a Peregrine Falcon hunt outside the window of the district office in downtown Oakland!

The MBTA — one of the country’s very first conservation laws — was passed in 1918. Bird advocates were all set to celebrate its 100th anniversary this year. Then the Trump Administration changed the way the federal government interprets a key provision about “incidental take.”

Through both Democratic and Republican Administrations, the MBTA has always been interpreted to bar both purposeful and accidental killing of migratory, non-game birds. It’s been just as illegal to kill birds through an oil spill or through badly-designed wind turbines as to purposely shoot them.…

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?…