Conscious Conservation Methods: Tracking Blue Carbon and Environmental Justice at COP26
November 26, 2021
Imagine this – you started graduate school in the midst of a pandemic, and you only recently started going to class in person (socially distanced and masked, of course), but the bulk of your time has been spent on Zoom in your tiny studio. This was me. So, one could easily imagine the elation that I felt following the announcement that COP26 had the “Green Light” for our school.
Looking Back at How Good We Looked
November 26, 2021
We had a great group of Lookers looking their best in West Marin. A couple members of the team (Diana Humple and Renee Cormier) couldn’t join us in person because they were responding to the oil spill in Southern California, but they were with us in spirit and broaches (thanks Renee!). The team consisted of Maia Nguyen, Kevin Garcia, Wren Leader, Mike Mahoney, Mark Dettling, Megan Elrod, Kristy Dybala, Hilary Allen (and Brynn), Dennis Jongsomjit, and Lishka Arata, all of which are current or former Palo interns. We started birding at 4:08pm on October 10 at the bluffs above Agate Beach in Bolinas scanning the ocean for the birds of the near shore (cormorants, pelicans, gulls, murres). Within 20 minutes we had seen most of the expected species, so headed out on a walk around the nearby neighborhood.
Congratulations and Highlights from the 2021 Bird-A-Thon
November 22, 2021
Congratulations and thank you to all who participated in the 43rd annual Rich Stallcup Bird-A-Thon from September 15–October 15, 2021. Your efforts helped raise over $65,000 to benefit Point Blue Conservation Science! Over 24 teams and 99 counters spent time connecting with nature in unique and creative ways, whether remotely from varied geographic locations, individually,
Faculty Flock Photos & Bird List
November 12, 2021
Here are some pictures from the Faculty Flock’s Bird-A-Thon outing on October 14th at the Loch Lomond Marina. Also our list of sightings. A beautiful day shared with great friends! Best wishes, Patti Vance Our Bird List: Mallard Greater Scaup Surf Scoter Bufflehead Common Goldeneye California Quail Rock Pigeon Anna’s Hummingbird American Coot Black
123 Species: A Birding Breakers to the Bay by Bicycle
November 12, 2021
There was a solid gray overcast sky on the morning of October 15. I had hardly moved from my car in the parking lot above Tomales Bay State Park. It was very quiet, not a coyote howl, nor a wood rat scurrying, certainly not a Great Horned Owl hooting. It was not a good start to my Point Blue Conservation Science Birdathon.
And, they’re off! Point Blue team departs for Glasgow.
October 29, 2021
As our COP26 team gets ready to fly to Glasgow, Scotland for the United Nations’ annual climate change conference, we’re filled with excitement and a sense of urgency. Excitement because this is the premier gathering of the governments, scientists, non-governmental organizations, and activists who care most about addressing one of the most serious environmental problems threatening our planet.
Ecological restoration works for urban birds in San Francisco’s Presidio
October 27, 2021
While cities and towns have not historically been considered priorities for ecological restoration projects, the UN Decade effort explicitly calls for urban restoration. The Presidio Trust, the National Park Service, and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy were visionary in their pursuit of restoration in San Francisco’s Presidio, and since 2001 they have restored 78 acres.
Mola Mola Madness! Bird-A-Thon 2021
October 15, 2021
Written by Meredith Elliott, Senior Scientist Just as the Mola mola is not like other fish, this Bird-A-Thon was not like other Bird-A-Thons. In some ways, it was much like previous years. As I headed to the Marin Headlands Visitor Center, a text came in from Laura to let us know she was going to
East Bay Oystercatchers 2021
October 15, 2021
Team participants: Maya Hayden, Meredith Elliot, Julian Wood, Mani Oliva, Allison Ford and Abby Ogden. We decided to keep the team small due to continuing health concerns from the pandemic. Our team focused on the birds of the East Bay. We were hoping to exceed our count of 90 in our inaugural year last year,
Boarderline Birders 2021
October 15, 2021
by Josh Dieterich, Chief Development Officer After some hemming and hawing about the rain in the forecast, the Boarderline Birders went ahead with their count on Sunday September 19. Our perseverance was rewarded with a magically crisp late summer day in west Marin, just perfect for exploring a variety of bird habitat and wrapping up