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Farallon Blog - Los Farallones! - Learn about life, birds, and marine mammals on the Farallon Islands. Note: Internet connectivity is intermittent on the Farallones, so it is not updated daily.
It's Elephant Seal season on the Farallones!
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For over 30 years PRBO scientists have provided year-round stewardship to wildlife on these islands through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. PRBO's intensive research has produced the longest data set on seabirds and marine mammals in North America and hundreds of scientific publications, reports and popular articles. This information lays the foundation for understanding, protecting, and conserving this vital component of the California Current marine ecosystem.
Southeast Farallon Island-"Galapagos" of the U.S. West Coast:
The Farallon Islands are home to the largest seabird and marine mammal colonies in the continental United States south of Alaska. Established as a National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in 1909, the Farallones and surrounding ocean environment have been recognized by the United Nations and governmental agencies as a site of hemispheric biological importance and have been designated as an International Biosphere Reserve, a National Marine Sanctuary, and a State Ecological Reserve. For more information, maps, and images of the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge, download a copy of US Fish & Wildlife Service's Farallon NWR brochure. To read more about the Farallon NWR and PRBO's science, visit our In the News page.
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PRBO's research on the Farallones and surrounding ecosystem has resulted in the establishment of:
- Three national marine sanctuaries and an International Biosphere Reserve, and a state ecological reserve.
- The 1993 California law protecting white sharks, a vital top predator in marine ecosystem dynamics; and,
- The 1985 campaign that ended gill net fishing and the catastrophic mortality of seabirds and marine mammals off California's central coast.
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| Los Farallones, A Slice of Life on Southeast Farallon Island: Click here to read about daily life on the Island from the resident biologists' point of view! |
Refuge of the Year Award, 2008
Dale Hall, Chief of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service presented the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge with the Refuge of the Year Award for Environmental Leadership. The award recognizes the accomplishments the Refuge has achieved in recycling, reducing consumption, and environmental stewardship of the islands. It also highlighted the partnership with PRBO and other groups to implement creative recycling efforts including: recycling concrete foundations into bird habitat; re-vamping historic water catchment systems with a small business to become self-sufficient in water; building boardwalk bird habitat from recycled materials; and recycling gray water to flush toilets.
The award also emphasized the huge efforts made to reduce reliance on petroleum, specifically mentioning the solar photovoltaic system, and long-time contributions of PRBO's volunteer Farallon Patrol skippers, who "sail with a purpose" to get personnel and supplies to the island.
PRBO's work on the Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge is conducted through a partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Together, and with the help of volunteers, individuals, private foundations, and businesses, we strive to understand and protect the birds, marine mammals, and other wildlife that inhabit this amazing natural resource.
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