From our blogs

The Majestic Monarch

The Monarch Butterfly, with its large orange wings, striking black veins, and white-dotted edges, is one of the most recognizable butterflies in North America. Monarchs are not only known for their beauty, but are also known for their amazing migration and overwintering behavior.

Monarch butterfly. Photo Credit: USFWS

Monarch butterfly. Photo Credit: USFWS

Make Salty’s Board Game and celebrate Endangered Species Day - May 15, 2020

Celebrate the anniversary of the Endangered Species Act which protects threatened and endangered species like the California tiger salamander, vernal pool tadpole shrimp, and the Contra Costa goldfield.

Learn more about one of the endangered species at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay Wildlife Refuge -- the Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse, lovingly known as Salty.

Get crafty and make your own board game featuring the habitats, plants, and animals at the Refuge. Once you put your board game together, play with your family and loved ones. Send us your photos via an email to watershedwatchers@sfbws.com and we will send you a free sticker in the mail!

⮇ Click here to download the Salty Board Game (PDF 3.4 MB) ⮇

Salty Board Game

Explore the Upland - online interactive field trip activity

Note: This the fifth in our series of online interactive field trip activities to explore and discover the 5 habitats of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Teachers can send this online, interactive field trip activity to students or parents can give it to their kids.

Today we will be exploring the Upland habitat of the refuge, the wildlife in this habitat, and some fun facts.

Explore and discover the Upland habitat of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Excited? Let's get started!

Step #1: ⮇ Download the PowerPoint presentation (PPT 10 MB) ⮇ or click here for Google Slides if viewing online.
The presentation has bird calls, links to videos and websites with more information.
The PowerPoint will start in presentation mode, so it is ready for you to begin the activity right away! Click with your mouse or press the space bar key to move forward through the presentation. Clicking on button links will either play a bird call, or open up a webpage.

Step #2: ⮇ Download the worksheet (PDF 180 kB) ⮇
This will be used by the students to answer questions as they come up throughout the presentation. You can fill it in on your computer or print it out.
Read the Habitat information on the worksheet once you get to the habitat slide.

Step #3: ⮇ Download the answer key (PDF 190 kB) ⮇
Check your worksheet against this answer key.

Step #4 (optional): Once you finish learning about the habitat, send us your completed worksheet via an email to watershedwatchers@sfbws.com and we will send you a free sticker in the mail!

Explore the Mudflats - online interactive field trip activity

Note: This the fourth in our series of online interactive field trip activities to explore and discover the 5 habitats of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Teachers can send this online, interactive field trip activity to students or parents can give it to their kids.

Today we will be exploring the Mudflats habitat of the refuge, the wildlife in this habitat, and some fun facts.

Explore and discover the Mudflats habitat of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Excited? Let's get started!

Step #1: ⮇ Download the PowerPoint presentation (PPT 5 MB) ⮇ or click here for Google Slides if viewing online.
The presentation has bird calls, links to videos and websites with more information.
The PowerPoint will start in presentation mode, so it is ready for you to begin the activity right away! Click with your mouse or press the space bar key to move forward through the presentation. Clicking on button links will either play a bird call, or open up a webpage.

Step #2: ⮇ Download the worksheet (PDF 184 kB) ⮇
This will be used by the students to answer questions as they come up throughout the presentation. You can fill it in on your computer or print it out.
Read the Habitat information on the worksheet once you get to the habitat slide.

Step #3: ⮇ Download the answer key (PDF 190 kB) ⮇
Check your worksheet against this answer key.

Step #4 (optional): Once you finish learning about the habitat, send us your completed worksheet via an email to watershedwatchers@sfbws.com and we will send you a free sticker in the mail!

Explore the Slough - online interactive field trip activity

Note: This the third in our series of online interactive field trip activities to explore and discover the 5 habitats of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Teachers can send this online, interactive field trip activity to students or parents can give it to their kids.

Today we will be exploring the Slough habitat of the refuge, the wildlife in this habitat, and some fun facts.

Explore and discover the Slough habitat of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Excited? Let's get started!

Step #1: ⮇ Download the PowerPoint presentation (PPT 12 MB) ⮇ or click here for Google Slides if viewing online.
The presentation has bird calls, links to videos and websites with more information.
The PowerPoint will start in presentation mode, so it is ready for you to begin the activity right away! Click with your mouse or press the space bar key to move forward through the presentation. Clicking on button links will either play a bird call, or open up a webpage.

Step #2: ⮇ Download the worksheet (PDF 170 kB) ⮇
This will be used by the students to answer questions as they come up throughout the presentation. You can fill it in on your computer or print it out.
Read the Habitat information on the worksheet once you get to the habitat slide.

Step #3: ⮇ Download the answer key (PDF 180 kB) ⮇
Check your worksheet against this answer key.

Step #4 (optional): Once you finish learning about the habitat, send us your completed worksheet via an email to watershedwatchers@sfbws.com and we will send you a free sticker in the mail!

Explore the Salt Pond - online interactive field trip activity

Note: This the second in our series of online interactive field trip activities to explore and discover the 5 habitats of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Teachers can send this online, interactive field trip activity to students or parents can give it to their kids.

Today we will be exploring the Salt Pond habitat of the refuge, the wildlife in this habitat, and some fun facts.

Explore and discover the Salt Pond habitat of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Excited? Let's get started!

Step #1: ⮇ Download the PowerPoint presentation (PPT 4.2 MB) ⮇ or click here for Google Slides if viewing online.
The presentation has bird calls, links to videos and websites with more information.
The PowerPoint will start in presentation mode, so it is ready for you to begin the activity right away! Click with your mouse or press the space bar key to move forward through the presentation. Clicking on button links will either play a bird call, or open up a webpage.

Step #2: ⮇ Download the worksheet (PDF 170 kB) ⮇
This will be used by the students to answer questions as they come up throughout the presentation. You can fill it in on your computer or print it out.
Read the Habitat information on the worksheet once you get to the habitat slide.

Step #3: ⮇ Download the answer key (PDF 177 kB) ⮇
Check your worksheet against this answer key.

Step #4 (optional): Once you finish learning about the habitat, send us your completed worksheet via an email to watershedwatchers@sfbws.com and we will send you a free sticker in the mail!

Explore the Salt Marsh - online interactive field trip activity

Note: This the first in our series of online interactive field trip activities to explore and discover the 5 habitats of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Teachers can send this online, interactive field trip activity to students or parents can give it to their kids.

Today we will be exploring the Salt Marsh habitat of the refuge, the wildlife in this habitat, and some fun facts.

Explore and discover the Salt Marsh habitat of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Excited? Let's get started!

Step #1: ⮇ Download the PowerPoint presentation (PPT 9.3 MB) ⮇ or click here for Google Slides if viewing online.
The presentation has bird calls, links to videos and websites with more information.
The PowerPoint will start in presentation mode, so it is ready for you to begin the activity right away! Click with your mouse or press the space bar key to move forward through the presentation. Clicking on button links will either play a bird call, or open up a webpage.

Step #2: ⮇ Download the worksheet (PDF 245 kB) ⮇
This will be used by the students to answer questions as they come up throughout the presentation. You can fill it in on your computer or print it out.
Read the Habitat information on the worksheet once you get to the habitat slide.

Step #3: ⮇ Download the answer key (PDF 254 kB) ⮇
Check your worksheet against this answer key.

Step #4 (optional): Once you finish learning about the habitat, send us your completed worksheet via an email to watershedwatchers@sfbws.com and we will send you a free sticker in the mail!

Explore the refuge with online interactive field trip activities • May 4 - 8, 2020

Explore and discover the 5 habitats of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge!

Starting next week, May 4 through May 8, we will be sharing online, interactive field trip activities for teachers to send to students or parents to give their kids. Or for those just interested in learning more!

The activities will highlight each habitat of the refuge, the wildlife in each habitat, and some fun facts.

⮇ Click here to download the flyer (PDF 333 kB) ⮇

Each activity will have a PowerPoint presentation that has bird calls, links to videos and websites with more information! A worksheet will be provided that students can use to answer questions throughout the PowerPoint activity. Don't forget to check your worksheet with the answer key once you finish!

Here is the schedule for the activities:

  • Monday, May 4, 2020: Salt Marsh
  • Tuesday, May 5, 2020: Salt Pond
  • Wednesday, May 6, 2020: Slough
  • Thursday, May 7, 2020: Mudflats
  • Friday, May 8, 2020: Upland
Explore and discover the 5 habitats of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Earth Day • April 22, 2020

On April 22 people all over the world will celebrate Earth Day – a day to raise environmental awareness and inspire people to take action in making the planet healthy for this and future generations. Learn more about this special day and how you can join in the celebration.

Happy Earth Day!

⮇ Click here to download the handout (PDF 2.2 MB) ⮇

Volume 1 Issue 3 of Tide Rising, our quarterly newsletter, is ready

by Ceal Craig

Tide Rising: Volume 1, Issue 3, Spring 2020

Tide Rising: Volume 1, Issue 3, Spring 2020.

The San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society is happy to publish the third issue of its digital-only newsletter, Tide Rising: Volume 1, Issue 3, Spring 2020. This issue’s theme is Endangered & Threatened Species.

In this issue:

  • Learn about critical work on the Ellicott Slough Dunes NWR from Diane Kodama, Refuge Manager for an endangered salamander.
  • Aidona Kakouros, USFWS Wildlife Botanist, takes you to the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay NWR, Warm Springs Unit, a site with vernal pools supporting many endangered and threatened species.
  • Return of the Terns (sounds like a novel!) by Alex Hartman and Josh Ackerman from USGS talk about decoys and nesting progress.
  • People of Note celebrates two women of note that made a difference for our Refuges and the environment, and the endangered species they support.
  • Hope Presley, SFBWS, provides ideas to Explore from Home with an Outdoor Scavenger Hunt activity to try.
  • Paul Mueller, USFWS Volunteer Coordinator, shares last year’s volunteer report recognizing the efforts of volunteers on the Refuge.
  • Both Friends group share their thoughts and plans for coming quarters.

Editors: Ceal Craig, PhD; Renee Fitzsimons
Contributors: Josh Ackerman, PhD; Ceal Craig, PhD; Alex Hartman, PhD; Aidona Kakouros; Diane Kodama; Paul Mueller; Hope Presley; Sharon Xiao

Thanks for reading!

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