See what's abuzz at Richardson Bay this summer.
| Summer Newsletter June 2023 | | | | |
| Summer looks a bit different at Richardson Bay Audubon — the normally tranquil Center is bursting at the seams with life and activity during the middle months of the year. Summer camp is in full swing, leopard sharks are back in the Sanctuary for breeding, and our staff has quadrupled with seasonal team members and researchers. But it's not just the campers who get to enjoy the Center this season! Our calendar is filled to the brim with activities for the public. Stop by for a guided native plant tour, volunteer in one of our five rustic gardens, or take in the sunset with a glass of wine at our Pride event. There's no better time to experience the Center — read on to find out how to get involved. Learn more about our seasonal switches and summertime shindigs here. | | | | |
| Western Tanager. Rick Derevan / Audubon Photography Awards | | | | |
| Dead trees may not be the most beautiful aspect of a landscape, but they are immensely important for a wealth of animals. Hundreds of species utilize snags for nesting, finding food, or perching — from frogs to flycatchers, dead trees help support a healthy web of biodiversity in forest ecosystems. Although the tree itself may no longer be alive, the life it sustains is vast; even in decomposition, snags play a huge role in maintaining healthy habitats. If you have a snag on your property, consider letting it stay — what could be better than a built-in bird feeder? | | | | |
| A fallen snag. Dominicus Johannes Bergsma / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) | | | | |
| Have you ever seen one of these peculiar birds? If not, we wouldn't blame you — they aren't too common in Marin! However, thanks to our on-site radio telemetry tower, we detected a Red Knot at the Center and were able to follow its incredible and unexpected journey north from Richardson Bay. Its astounding migration is making waves in the conservation community and was even highlighted in The Ark. In this Creature Feature, get the scoop on the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, these endearing shorebirds, a multi-country effort to tag them, and the researcher behind it all. | | | | |
| Red Knot. Hans Hillewaert / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) | | | | |
| Join us at the Center on June 27th for our first-ever Pride Picnic celebrating LGBTQIA+ naturalists! The event will kick off at 6 pm with free food and drinks (as well as alcoholic beverages) and will include a guided evening bird walk around the property. This event is designed to be a safe space for queer people to enjoy the beauty of nature in good company. Free prizes and merch available as well! RSVP today — tickets are limited! | | | Anise swallowtail. Melissa McMasters / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) | | | | Group volunteer dates on Aramburu Island for the fall have been announced! Volunteers will embark on a half-day kayak adventure to pull invasive plants and clean up litter. This unique experience offers hands-on conservation training and a rich description of the natural history of this little-known island. Read more about Aramburu Island in this recent SFGATE article spotlighting the restoration project. Sign up to volunteer here! | | | Lincoln's Sparrow. Mike Timmons / Audubon Photography Awards | | | | | |
| If you're seeking a way to make an impact this summer, we have just the event for you! Join us every Friday from 10-12 this summer to help keep our Monarch Garden beautiful. This is an extraordinary opportunity to help preserve pollinator habitat and to gain knowledge about these magnificent creatures and their host plant, milkweed. We are eager to have you join us, and your contribution will be highly valued! Our first volunteer day will be June 30th. RSVP here! | | | Monarch butterflies. Charles J. Sharp / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) | | | | This summer, an influx of interns joined the flock at the Center and are each working on projects dedicated to their passions and interests. Between our Environmental Journalism program, a pollinator specialist from Environment for the Americas, and several independent projects, we have 12 interns this summer! Although each venture varies greatly, each one of our interns is shaping the Center's future in promising ways. Read more about their work here. | | | Lyford House. Haymar Lin / Audubon | | | | | |
| Over the past nine months, Carly Lam, our Community Conservation Fellow, has seen it all — from acclimating to the creaks and groans of her Lyford House room to becoming a drone pilot, she has experienced nothing short of the glamorous life of a conservationist. Arguably her most exceptional experience, however, was what she accomplished for her capstone project: she partnered with Urban Tilth, an East Bay nonprofit, on International Dark Skies Week to share the beauty of Richardson Bay with other young environmentalists. In a summation of what she learned during her fellowship, this is Carly's reflection on her adventure with Urban Tilth and time at Richardson Bay Center & Sanctuary. It certainly won't be the same without her — we will miss you, Clam! | | | | |
| Sunrise from Mount Tam. Haymar Lin / Audubon | | | | |
| Thank you for your continued support of Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary. Visit us on weekdays from 9-5 and for our monthly bird walks on the second Thursday of every month. | | | | |
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