Press Release - October 18, 2011
The first-ever State of the Birds Report for San Francisco Bay was released today by PRBO Conservation Science (PRBO) and the San Francisco Bay Joint Venture (SFBayJV). Based on decades of monitoring, 29 partners detail the actions needed to keep birds and their habitats thriving as sea levels rise and extreme storm events increase due to global climate change.
“The good news is that a majority of bird species are doing well after decades of investments in habitat restoration and other conservation measures around the Bay. The bad news is that increasing sea levels, extreme weathers events, non-native predators, contaminants, and invasive species pose serious threats to the gains we have made,” explained Melissa Pitkin, PRBO Outreach Director and editor of the report.
“Birds are excellent indicators of environmental pollution and climate change. They are providing early warning of the health of the ecosystems on which we all depend,” Ms. Pitkin said.
Key findings from the report include:
· Most bird populations are stable while others are still struggling. o Riparian [streamside] birds and two endangered species [CA Least Tern and Western Snowy Plover] have increased.o Grassland and coastal scrub [low shrub] birds are declining due to loss and alteration of habitat.
· The state-listed California Clapper Rail, the iconic SF Bay tidal marsh bird, still struggles because of habitat loss, predator pressure, and invasive species. Sea level rise and strong storms will make it even harder for rails to persist as they are pushed into marginal, exposed habitat.
· All habitat types harbor species that are declining. Species to watch in addition to the California Clapper rail are: Western Sandpiper, Forster’s Tern, Caspian Tern, Black-crowned Night Heron, Snowy Egret, Canvasback, Northern Pintail, scaup and scoters.
The SF Bay area has a wealth of scientists, conservation partnerships as well as long-term, detailed data sets focused on Bay birds and habitats, that made this first-of-its-kind report possible. The 2011 SF Bay report was inspired by the Nation’s first ever State of the Birds Report released in 2009, and is also the first comprehensive regional State of the Birds Report in the Nation.
“We are fortunate to have so many conservation scientists and partners working together to achieve common goals in the face of accelerating changes in the environment,” explained Beth Huning, SFBayJV Coordinator. “Our hope is that this detailed report with dozens of science-based recommendations will inspire action to benefit birds as well as fisheries, water quality, flood control and our communities.”
The report contains specific actions habitat managers, scientists, policymakers and citizens can take to reduce these threats and protect the Bay's diverse community of birds. Birds respond quickly to conservation action and thus are valuable indicators of the success of our efforts. Concerted human action is the birds' greatest hope, as illustrated by the success stories section of the report highlighting the progress the conservation community has made in restoring the SF Bay ecosystem.
PRBO Conservation Science and the San Francisco Bay Joint Venture coordinated creation of the report which involved contributors from PRBO, US Geological Survey, US Fish and Wildlife Service, San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, Audubon California, Audubon Canyon Ranch, California Coastal Conservancy, National Park Service, and Laney College.
The report is available at www.prbo.org/sfbaystateofthebirds
