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The State of the Birds San Francisco Bay 2011

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The State of the Birds San Francisco Bay 2011 THE STATE OF THE BIRDS SAN FRANCISCO BAY 2011 PRBO Conservation Science and the San Francisco Bay Joint Venture Purpose Produced by PRBO Conservation Science and the San Francisco Bay Joint Venture. This report summarizes the current state PRBO Conservation The San Francisco Bay of knowledge on the bird populations of San Science (PRBO) is Joint Venture is one of Francisco Bay, while also recommending dedicated to conserving eighteen Joint Ventures science-based actions needed to conserve them birds, other wildlife, established under The and the habitats they depend upon. and ecosystems through Migratory Bird Treaty Act Within this report are population trends, innovative scientific and funded under the annual threats, and recommended actions for land and research and outreach. Our Interior Appropriations Act. water managers, policy-makers, non-profit 120 staff and seasonal biologists use the studies It brings together public and private agencies, conservation groups, and researchers. of birds and their habitats to guide biodiversity conservation groups, development interests, and conservation from Alaska to Antarctica. PRBO is others to restore wetlands and wildlife habitat The messages delivered through the report especially active in San Francisco Bay wetlands, in San Francisco Bay watersheds and along the aim to enhance bird conservation in San where we currently play a lead role guiding the Pacific coasts of San Mateo, Marin and Sonoma Francisco Bay by (1) guiding habitat restoration, restoration and management of thousands of counties. The goal of the San Francisco Bay management, and acquisition; (2) increasing acres of tidal habitats. PRBO also studies the Joint Venture is to protect, restore, increase, and knowledge of the population status of San ecosystem effects of climate change and uses enhance all types of wetlands, riparian habitat, Francisco Bay’s birds and the threats to their scientific analyses to inform land managers and associated uplands throughout the San habitats; and (3) influencing public policy and decision-makers about priority actions for Francisco Bay region to benefit birds, fish, and and public awareness of bird and ecosystem conserving ecosystems and wildlife. other wildlife. conservation needs. Please cite as: Pitkin, M. and Wood, J. (Editors). 2011. The State of the Birds, San Francisco Bay. PRBO Conservation Science and the San Francisco Bay Joint Venture. Contents Foreword ......................................2 Human-created Habitats ................18 Overview .....................................4 Upland Habitats ...........................20 Tidal Flats .....................................6 Endangered Species .....................22 Managed Ponds ............................8 Policy .........................................30 Tidal Marsh .................................12 Success Stories ............................34 Tidal Marsh Herons and Egrets .......14 Contributors .................................38 Subtidal Habitat ...........................16 Photographers .............................40 Funders ......................................41 South San Francisco Bay salt pond restoration area 1 Foreword about bird populations and their recent trends in the Bay Area. San Francisco Bay and its surroundings have San Francisco Bay is an area of always been in a state of change, but the rate hemispheric importance to migratory and magnitude of changes have accelerated waterbirds. It harbors populations of dramatically ever since gold mining in the species that have undergone evolution- mid-1800s deluged the Bay with sediments and ary diversification in different parts of contaminants. More recently, burgeoning urban the Bay. Several of these populations development and the alteration of freshwater are officially recognized as Threatened flows into the Bay – resulting from massive or Endangered, and others are of re-engineering of water distribution in the special conservation concern. In a Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta – have increased broader sense, birds are indicators of pressures on natural ecosystems. And while the overall condition of habitats and Shorebirds in San Francisco Bay the future is always uncertain, there is little ecosystems in the Bay – the proverbial question that sea level rise and storm surges will “canaries in the coal mine.” Tidal- The State of the Birds report details the many fundamentally alter both urban and natural areas marsh species can tell us not only about the con- factors that threaten bird populations in the Bay around the periphery of the Bay. dition of the marshes, but about the capacity of Area. Some of these – predators ranging from In order to manage and conserve ecological those marshes to provide huge benefits to people house cats to Peregrine Falcons; competition systems in the context of past changes, and – ecosystem services – through flood protection with invasive species such as Barred Owls; adaptively respond to ongoing and future and enhancement of water quality. And, at the or continuing loss of habitat in the face of changes, it is essential to understand where we end of the day, birds are an essential part of what development – are clear and present dangers. are now. The State of the Birds: San Francisco makes San Francisco Bay a truly special place. Others, such as the drowning of marsh habitats Bay 2011 summarizes what we currently know due to sea level rise, are lurking in the future. 2 John A. Wiens (PRBO Conservation Science) Yet others may be consequences of our own Dealing with the conservation conservation work. A major effort is now challenges is not simple. But underway to restore a network of artificial neither is it impossible. At a ponds once used for salt production to tidal time when news reports seem marshes. This restoration will create new habitat to contain only discouraging for marsh-dwelling species such as Common messages about the state of Yellowthroats and Clapper Rails. At the same nature, The State of the Birds time, it will reduce the amount of shallow open- indicates that populations of water ponds that some nesting birds, ducks, and many species in the Bay Area wintering shorebirds currently use. are stable or increasing, and it How these ripple effects play out may depend highlights several examples of on whether other processes (such as sea level conservation success. These, rise) create suitable habitat elsewhere and together with the many specific if habitat created specifically for ducks and recommendations for actions shorebirds within the restoration project proves by managers, scientists, or the successful. This largest restoration project on public that may help to counter the West Coast is something to be proud of, downward trends for other Arrowhead Marsh, Oakland shoreline especially as it moves forward with ongoing species, give hope. monitoring helping to quantify the impact to Above all, the report emphasizes the for more than a decade. Continued monitoring birds, making course corrections as needed importance of monitoring. We know what will enable us to spot troubling trends and take to ensure the most benefit for birds in the San we know now because populations of several actions to address the root causes before they Francisco Bay Estuary. species in the Bay Area have been monitored become emergency-room cases. 3 Overview low levels, and the Least Tern may be starting to stabilize after years of population growth. In this first ever State of the Birds report for San Francisco Bay, we learn that most bird Grassland and coastal scrub-chaparral populations are stable. Some species are clearly birds are losing habitat. benefiting from conservation action while others Species in these habitat types continue to be are struggling. In the following pages, the report impacted by loss and degradation of habitat highlights these trends, challenges, and the from development, invasive species, and lack of actions people can take to make a difference. natural disturbances such as fire. These trends are consistent with the declining trend found in Most bird populations are stable. the National State of the Birds Report, 2009. When we evaluated groups of birds for each California Clapper Rail still struggles. Over one million shorebirds use the tidal flats and habitat, we found that most are now stabilizing. shallow ponds of the San Francisco Bay each year. This includes birds dependent upon subtidal Perhaps one of the Bay’s most iconic birds, (submerged) habitats, tidal flats, marshes, and this rail still struggles because of habitat loss, All habitat types harbor species at risk. oak woodlands and the endangered Spotted Owl. predator pressure, and invasive species. Sea Declines can be early warnings of a decline level rise will make it even harder for rails to in ecosystem function. Causes of declines need Riparian birds and two endangered persist as they are pushed into marginal habitat to be investigated and actions should be taken species have increased. with rising seas and strong storms. Tidal marsh to stabilize bird populations. Species to watch Riparian birds – species that require stream- restoration efforts and scientific monitoring must include: California Clapper Rail, Western side habitat – and two of our threatened and continue to ensure that this endangered bird can Sandpiper, Forster’s Tern, Caspian Tern, endangered species, the Snowy Plover and Least persist into the future, especially as the location Black-crowned Night Heron, Snowy Egret, Tern, have shown some increases. Recently,
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