Conservation

Our principles

Golden Gate Bird Alliance focuses its conservation efforts on wild bird populations in the San Francisco Bay area.

We use education, advocacy, collaboration with land owners and agencies, and volunteer action to protect birds and their habitats. 

Scroll down to learn more about our projects, campaigns, and volunteer conservation committees.

The following four principles guide all our conservation and advocacy work. Click on a principle to learn more about what they mean to us…

California Least Tern photo by Bob Lewis

Habitat loss is the leading cause of bird population declines. Despite the Bay Area’s dense urban landscape, pockets of critical habitat remain, along with opportunities for enhancement. Golden Gate Bird Alliance works to protect and restore these vital spaces, focusing on their immediate value for birds and their potential to support populations for decades to come. Our efforts prioritize bird species of special concern, guided first by our own priority lists. We define quality habitat as complex, connected, and biodiverse—supporting birds with native vegetation, natural and abundant food sources, clean water, and varied structure. Quality habitat can include urban environments such as backyards and parks where native plants are the dominant vegetation. 

Environmental justice means ensuring all people have equal access to a healthy environment and a voice in decisions that affect their communities. Indigenous tribes, low-income communities, and communities of color have long faced a disproportionate share of environmental harm. At Golden Gate Bird Alliance, we believe conservation is not just about protecting birds; it’s a powerful way to build community and foster connections between people, place, and nature. To ensure long term sustainable stewardship, local community participation is essential. We prioritize efforts that create inclusive opportunities for education and meaningful engagement, empowering people to learn, participate, and lead.

Climate change is reshaping the landscapes birds depend on—through rising seas that threaten shorelines, more frequent and intense wildfires and storms, shifting weather patterns, heat waves, and the rapid pace of ecological change. Resiliency is the ability of ecosystems and species to withstand, adapt to, and recover from these disruptions. While some bird species may adjust by changing their range or behavior, many cannot adapt quickly enough without our help. Golden Gate Bird Alliance supports both mitigation, actions that reduce the drivers of climate change, and adaptation, strategies that help birds and habitats cope with its effects.

Urban environments are full of dangers to birds and wildlife. To effectively protect bird populations and steward healthy habitats, we focus on reducing threats that have measurable, population-level impacts. We rely on the best available evidence to guide our priorities and actions, ensuring that our efforts are strategic, impactful, and science-based. Direct threats to birds include outdoor cats, collisions with buildings, disorientation and misdirection from artificial lights, collisions with cars, second-hand poisoning from rodenticides, pollution such as fishing lines and plastic, disturbance by off-leash dogs, and others.

Our projects and focus areas




Habitat Restoration




Pier 94 Wetland




Cats indoors




Lights Out

Golden Eagle flying by a wind turbine in Altamont Pass




Advocacy




backyard bird habitat




Bird-safe buildings




science and monitoring




Ethical Consumption

Join a volunteer committee

Golden Gate Bird Alliance hosts three Conservation Committees that work regionally to track ongoing developments, advocate for bird friendly urban elements, and other projects. Read more about our:

  • San Francisco Conservation Committee
  • East Bay Conservation Committee
  • Friends of the Alameda Wildlife Reserve (City of Alameda)

Conservation committees

Click here to learn more

Bird Species of special Concern documents

San Francisco

Click here to download

Alameda county

coming soon!

Conservation Projects

Make the City Safe for Wildlife

The Pier 94 Restoration Project

Wetlands and Wildlands

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The Native Oyster and Eelgrass Project at Pier 94

Native Plants For Birds

Birds at Risk

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Backyard Bird and Wildlife Habitat

Conservation Committees

San Francisco Conservation Committee

click photo for info

East Bay Conservation Committee

click photo for info

Friends of the Alameda Wildlife Reserve

click photo for info

Brochures to Download

Share information about our local birds!  You can view and download the following brochures produced by Golden Gate Bird Alliance about Bay Area birds:

SFCC Bird Species of Concern


Ospreys of the San Francisco Bay


Healthy Trees, Healthy Birds


Árboles Sanos Aves Sanas

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Climate Protection Checklist


Invita la Naturaleza a tu JArdin

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Inviting Wildlife into your Garden (East Bay)

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Inviting Wildlife into your Garden (San Francisco)

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