San Francisco Bay NWR Complex

It's Getting Hot In Here! Remember to stay alert, wear sun protection, and drink plenty of water. Be Safe.

Happy #FarallonFriday and a huge thank you to Point Blue Conservation Science and volunteers who study Common Murres on the Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge.

The Bay Area Explorer 2.0 is finally here, and will run from July 1st to August 31st 2021. Join us for our live launch event to learn all about the unique aspects of each participating site! This Explorer Campaign is all about getting outside and having fun while exploring the Bay Area. Players can earn a Bay Area Explorer badge by completing 4 or more participating Missions, and will be entered in a draw to win the grand prize a Golden Poppy Annual Day Use Pass! Keep an eye on this webpage: https://agentsofdiscovery.com/bay-area-explorer/ for updates on prizes and participating Missions

Join us for the 2nd Agents of Discovery Bay Area Explorer campaign! Agents of Discovery is an educational mobile gaming platform that uses augmented reality to get youth active, and it's FREE! Explore your Bay Area.

Happy #FarallonFriday! Have you ever wondered what it's like to take daily sea water temperatures from a rocky island 30 miles off the coast of San Francisco? Can you imagine what you'll see swimming in the ocean down below? Check out the Point Blue Conservation Science, Los Farallones blog, to see the encounters! https://www.pointblue.org//exciting-encounters-at-sst-poi/

That's one Big Fish! Thanks to the biologist over at Point Blue Conservation Science for the amazing photo! Happy #FarallonFriday!

This is the last week we will feature an artist for the Earth Day 2021 Virtual Teen Art Show. Check out this amazing piece by Jonathan Mitiku, grade 8, "Restoring the Earth". Featured artists are from 6th to 12th grade, and incorporated the theme, "Restore Our Earth" into their artwork. A new art entry will be featured every Thursday, so stay tuned for more amazing artwork by local youth! This program is brought to you by a partnership between US Fish and Wildlife Service, San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society and the Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program

How cute is this baby Black-necked Stilt dipping it's feet in the water and snacking on flies!? Did you know, downy young leave the nest shortly after hatching and are tended by both parents, but feed themselves? That's right, they run around until about 4-5 weeks before they take flight. Video description: Small Black-necked Stilt walks along the shore and into shallow water feeding on insects while it's parents watch close by. By USFWS/M.Marquez

Who else loves fishing and playing music by a river? Ok, maybe you play music from your phone, but however you enjoy fishing, be safe and have fun!

It's #FarallonFriday! We send a huge thank you to our partners Point Blue Conservation Science who work on the Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge along with graduate students from San Jose State University!

"Group Project", by Louise Rault, grade 8, is the featured artist this week for the Earth Day 2021 Virtual Teen Art Show. Featured artists are from 6th to 12th grade, and incorporated the theme, "Restore Our Earth" into their artwork. A new art entry will be featured every Thursday, so stay tuned for more amazing artwork by local youth! This program is brought to you by a partnership between US Fish and Wildlife Service, San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society and the Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program

It's #NationalFishingandBoatingWeek so let's Go Fishing! Wondering what to bring? Join Ranger Miguel as he shares how he get's ready to go fishing in and around the Bay!

Happy #NationalTrailsDay! Did you know, there is a National Recreation Trail at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge? That's right! The Tidelands trail was designated as a National Recreation Trail in 1981 and we are excited to announce that we put up new NRT trail markers! The National Trails System Act of 1968 calls for establishing trails in both urban and rural settings for people of all ages, interests, skills, and physical abilities. The National Trai...ls System promotes the enjoyment and appreciation of trails while encouraging greater public access. The system includes national scenic trails, national historic trails, and national recreation trails. We are proud to be a part of the National Trails System. Come check out your Tidelands Trail as it traverses uplands, tidal slough, salt pond, and tidal salt marsh habitat. To learn more about the Tidelands trail follow the link below. https://www.nrtdatabase.org/trailDetail.php?recordID=2157 #HappyTrails

"Earth's Cleanup Site", by Jayce True, grade 8 is the featured artist this week for the Earth Day 2021 Virtual Teen Art Show. Featured artists are from 6th to 12th grade, and incorporated the theme, "Restore Our Earth" into their artwork. A new art entry will be featured every Thursday, so stay tuned for more amazing artwork by local youth! This program is brought to you by a partnership between US Fish and Wildlife Service, San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society and the Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program

Winter Is Coming! 5 Words: Arctic Refuge Virtual Bird Fest. Stay tuned. More: https://www.arcticbirdfest.com/ #ArcticBirdFest ... Video features retrowave music and an eagle call as the bird flies through the text. Audio described: https://youtu.be/Fbl7fY6rn20

"The Darkness is calling, and I must go" #batweek Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge provides a great habitat for the Mexican Free-tailed Bat as they love being close to the water. The tiny bats are experts at using echolocation to find their favorite insects, but they aren’t just winging it! They have mastered using their calls to confuse other bat species that might be competing for that food source.... Unlike the other bat species featured this week, the Mexican Free-tailed Bat prefers to roost inside caves, usually in massive groups. Most also migrate to Mexico and Central America during the winter months. If you see these bats flying for their nightly feeding, do your best to stay quiet and just greet them with a sound wave! Photo 1 Text: A colony of bats exiting their cave at dusk by the thousands. Photo by Ann Froschauer/USFWS. Photo 2 Text: A small brown bat clinging to a white rock. Photo by Ann Froschauer/USFWS.

TRAIL CLOSURE UPDATE: Additional segments of the Alviso Loop Trail will be closed as construction continues on the Levee Repair project. Thank you for your patience as we continue to restore habitat while enhancing public safety and recreation. For more information, please visit our alerts at: https://www.fws.gov//Don_Edwards_San_Francisco_/alert.html... Image: Map showing the Alviso pond A9, A10, A11, A13, and A15 Levee Repairs as well as the A9 water control structure replacement.

"The Darkness is calling, and I must go" #batweek Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge provides a great habitat for the Mexican Free-tailed Bat as they love being close to the water. The tiny bats are experts at using echolocation to find their favorite insects, but they aren’t just winging it! They have mastered using their calls to confuse other bat species that might be competing for that food source.... Unlike the other bat species featured this week, the Mexican Free-tailed Bat prefers to roost inside caves, usually in massive groups. Most also migrate to Mexico and Central America during the winter months. If you see these bats flying for their nightly feeding, do your best to stay quiet and just greet them with a sound wave! Photo 1 Text: A colony of bats exiting their cave at dusk by the thousands. Photo by Ann Froschauer/USFWS. Photo 2 Text: A small brown bat clinging to a white rock. Photo by Ann Froschauer/USFWS.

Next up to #bat in the lineup is the Hoary Bat. With their salt-and-pepper fur and big round ears, they are pretty adorable. These nocturnal mammals are one of the most widespread bat species in the United States and come out at dusk in Fremont at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. During the day, they wrap themselves up as if they were in a sleeping bag, using their big flexible wings and furry tails to tuck themselves in tight. They are also pretty ad...ept at concealing themselves in trees, but you might find out you’ve gotten too close to one if you can hear the distinct shrill, hissing sound they make if they feel threatened. Some Hoary Bats travel as far as Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge throughout the seasons, now that’s batty! Image: A hoary bat being held and cataloged by biologists. Photo by Dana Shellhorn/USWFWS.

Just In! Earn your Agent Egret lapel pin when you complete a Mission on the Agents of Discovery mobile app. Make sure to check out the NEW, "Gone Fishing" Mission and test your skills. https://www.fws.gov//don_edwards_/agents-of-discovery.html

Happy #BatWeek2020! In preparation for Halloween, we will be featuring some incredible bat species from the Refuge. Did you know that bats are a crucial species to a healthy ecosystem? Some bats pollinate plants and even help spread seeds to grow new plants. Many bats are also insectivores, which means they eat mainly insects and help keep those pesky bug populations in check. This also reduces the number of pests that can cause damage to crops in California. So make sure to... hang around this week for some fangtastic content about these nifty little creatures. To show your appreciation for bats on social media, use the #BatWeek! Image: Ranger Tia showing her appreciation for Bat week wearing a bat wing hat.

Right off the bat for #BatWeek2020 here we have the Western Red Bat, a very prominent species in California. While it might look scary, these furry little bats prefer to munch on moths and beetles when they hunt just after sunset. However, they are often solitary and roost by themselves or in small clusters. They can even hang off of only one foot for long periods of time, quite the acro-bat! Image: A small red bad bearing its fangs while being carefully handled by a biologist. Gary Peeples/USFWS

Happy #BatWeek2020! In preparation for Halloween, we will be featuring some incredible bat species from the Refuge. Did you know that bats are a crucial species to a healthy ecosystem? Some bats pollinate plants and even help spread seeds to grow new plants. Many bats are also insectivores, which means they eat mainly insects and help keep those pesky bug populations in check. This also reduces the number of pests that can cause damage to crops in California. So make sure to... hang around this week for some fangtastic content about these nifty little creatures. To show your appreciation for bats on social media, use the #BatWeek! Image: Ranger Tia showing her appreciation for Bat week wearing a bat wing hat.

As we move into the next phase in levee repair and construction, please be aware of trail closures. https://www.fws.gov//Don_Edwards_San_Francisco_/alert.html

We are proud to be a part of this diverse and culturally rich video highlighting Hispanic and Latinx employees who are passionate about Public Lands! I think you all would agree that the brown and tan uniform is a little nicer than the Green and grey, shhh, don't tell the National Park Service :). #HispanicHeritageMonth #LiveYourWild #WildlifeRefuge

Happy #NationalWildlifeRefugeWeek October 11-17. https://www.fws.gov//ev/National-Wildlife-Refuge-Week.html

As we wrap up #HispanicHeritageMonth, we highlight the Latinx community surrounding the Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge and their tremendous contributions to our country. Over the last few months, Armando Porras, Hispanic Access Foundation, interviewed community members who share their experiences working in agricultural fields and what the Salinas River NWR means to them. Below is the link to the article: A tribute to the Latino legacy of Salinas Valley by Hispanic ...Access Foundation fellow Armando Porras. https://www.fws.gov//Highlig/2020/Hispanic-Heritage-Month/ #LiveYourWild #WildlifeRefuge

It's Urban National Wildlife Refuge Day and we are flapping our fins and shaking our tail feathers as the Nation's First Urban National Wildlife Refuge! We all have a unique connection with the outdoors that nurture us. Share yours. #CommunityInTheWild

Happy #NationalWildlifeRefugeWeek October 11-17. https://www.fws.gov//ev/National-Wildlife-Refuge-Week.html

Tune in today and explore Your National Wildlife Refuges from Coast to Coast! #ComunityInTheWild

Happy Urban National Wildlife Refuge Day! Explore Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge with us! #communityinthewild