Pacific Flyway Project, 1988-93: complete survey of shorebirds in the western United States. What we learned: This provided the first ever baseline data on shorebird use of the Pacific Flyway.
	Coastal CA Shorebird Survey 2006 and 2007: repeat survey at other major coastal California estuaries: Crescent City, Humboldt Bay, Bodega Harbor, Tomales Bay, Pt. Reyes Estero, Bolinas Lagoon, Elkhorn Slough, Morro Bay, Pt. Mugu Lagoon, lower Ballona Creek, Upper Newport Bay, and Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge.
	What we learned: San Francisco Bay's critical significance to wintering shorebirds confirmed! 74% of all 482,784 birds counted amongst the California estuaries were found in San Francisco Bay! Some species have declined and some have decreased Decreasing species: Marbled Godwit, Dunlin, and Western Sandpiper. Increasing species: Long-billed Curlew, Willet, and Least Sandpiper We also noted a change in where birds are found- more shorebirds are using the North SF Bay.

Why Continue Counting?

For habitat managers and the public: Documenting what parts of the bay shorebirds are using and the change in the number of each species using the bay, can help guide wetland restoration and conservation projects. It is also important for documenting the importance of enhancing habitat in the SF Bay and other California wetlands, for shorebirds.

For scientists: Establishing a shorebird monitoring program for San Francisco Bay and other parts of the West is critical to the understanding of how shorebird populations are doing along the Pacific Flyway. Additionally, resource managers require scientific guidance and ongoing feedback to successfully restore and manage for habitats that sustain diverse and abundant shorebird populations.

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Resources for Volunteers

Shorebird ID Flyer

Volunteer Information Sheet

Shorebird ID and census training opportunities

Class size is limited to 15 for each of these.  Please RSVP to MPerlmutter@audubon.org if you are interested in any of these workshops.

1.    Shorebird Field ID – Hayward
Saturday, November 1, 9 am-12am Rain likely!  Sunday, November 9, 2pm-5pm
Meet at the Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center (4901 Breakwater Ave.)
By car, take Hwy. 92 to the Clawiter Rd./Eden Landing Rd. exit, which is just east of the San Mateo Bridge toll plaza.  If traveling from the west, turn left at the stop sign, and then left again at the stop sign at Breakwater Ave.  If traveling from the east, go straight at the stop sign onto Breakwater Ave.  Follow this road past the commercial/industrial area to the visitor center at Hayward Regional Shoreline.

This will be an in-the-field exercise designed to improve your ability to identify shorebird species and count large multi-species flocks.  Please be prepared for variable weather conditions.

Instructor: Len Liu, PRBO Conservation Science

2.    Shorebird Field ID – San Francisco
Saturday, November 1st, 3:30 PM-5:00 PM
Heron’s Head Park, San Francisco
We will meet at Heron's Head Park which is located at the extreme east end of Cargo Way off of Third Street.

Public Transit by: San Francisco Municipal Railway (MUNI) (415) 673-6864
Muni Link to 511
http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mroutes/indxrout.htm
Driving Directions: Take Third Street to Cargo Way, east on Cargo Way to end at parking lot

Google Satellite image: Heron's Head Park
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Cargo+Way,+San+Francisco&sll=37.781663,-122.387126&sspn=0.007267,0.012789&ie=UTF8&ll=37.743,-122.38177&spn=0.014542,0.025578&t=h&z=16

Instructor: Eddie Bartley - eddie@naturetrip.com; 415-355-0450

3.   Shorebird Field ID – Bodega Bay

Monday, November 3rd, 9:30 AM until 1:30 PM
Bodega Bay, Doran Beach
Doran Beach is at the South end of Bodega Harbor and just south of the town of Bodega Bay (The town of Bodega is farther away)
From the south, take Hwy 1 North
Left on Doran Park Rd. (sign for Doran Beach)
Pay $6 per vehicle entrance fee at kiosk
¼ mile past the kiosk there is a parking lot on the left bordered by cypress trees
We will meet at the parking lot
There are also restroom facilities at the parking lot

This will be an in-the-field exercise designed to improve your ability to identify shorebird species and count large multi-species flocks.  Dress for walking in cold windy weather and bring a lunch.

Instructor: Rich Stallcup

4.   Shorebird Field ID – Bothin Marsh, Marin
Monday, November 6th, 12:00PM-1:30 PM
Richardson Bay – Bothin Marsh, Mill Valley, Marin
Meet at the footbridge behind the Holiday Inn Parking lot in Mill Valley.
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=37.881387,-122.519445&spn=0.001027,0.001717&t=h&z=19

Instructor: Kerry Wilcox – kwilcox@audubon.org

5.   Workshop on counting/estimating size of large shorebird flocks and SF Bay shorebird survey protocol review - SFBBO
Tuesday November 11, 7-8pm
San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory
524 Valley Way
Milpitas, CA 95035
t 408.946.6548

Instructor: Caitlin Robinson