November 30 is the 30th anniversary of Friends of the Alameda Wildlife Reserve
In 1992, the Naval Air Station (NAS) in Alameda was selected as one of several military bases to be closed. People familiar with the endangered California least terns and other wildlife habitats at the base wondered what might happen to them under different management. The least tern colony, then the furthest north in California, was critical to the survival of the species.
The Rock Wall breakwater was a crowded roost for the then-endangered California brown pelicans and protected harbor seals. Golden Gate Audubon Society (GGAS), now the Golden Gate Bird Alliance, was concerned about many resources protected by the U.S. Naval Air Station and started conversations among interested parties. State and federal wildlife agencies became involved. People wanted to understand what resources were at risk and what might be done to protect them. With the support of the College of Alameda and GGAS, a Scientific Symposium was proposed. They asked researchers with the most knowledge about several native and migratory bird species as well as state and federal agencies to prepare and present papers about the needs of species found at Alameda NAS. Enthusiasm and wide interest created the event.
The first surprise was that the topic drew an audience much larger than expected. City and state officials and biologists from federal and state agencies attended. Developers wondered what resources would need attention and the public was intrigued, resulting in a very large crowd.
Even those familiar with Alameda’s wildlife were stunned by the reports about how many more species than least terns and pelicans used the NAS. The second surprise was a report from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Their repeated census data for south, central, and north SF Bay fisheries showed that the central waters contained the most fish of species important to terns, likely a result of proximity to the Golden Gate.
Everyone learned from this successful symposium held at the College of Alameda on March 12, 1994. Before the symposium, neither CDFW nor U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) showed interest in asking the Navy to transfer part of NAS to them. After the symposium, USFWS requested a transfer of property for the least terns and other species, such as nesting Caspian terns. Sadly, at least two issues derailed an agreement: (1.) USFWS would be responsible for cleaning up any later-found contaminants if they took the property. USFWS had been stung with past military land transfers and they could not take the risk with their small budget, and (2.) Wildlife managers worried about managing a new refuge within the SF Bay (there already were six refuges, including the Farallon Islands) without more funding.
The East Bay Regional Park District, supportive of the least tern colony, hosted the first tour of an active colony after the symposium. This year’s “Return of the Terns” was held in July.
Recognizing the need for a committee to fight to protect some of the navy’s space, people from Alameda and other Bay Area cities started to meet monthly, calling themselves Friends of the Alameda Wildlife Reserve (FAWR). In November 1994, FAWR became the official Alameda Conservation Committee of the Golden Gate Bird Alliance (GGBA).
For 30 years, FAWR has worked to help the least tern colony: clearing weeds before the terns arrive in the spring; setting out “tern furniture” for the chicks to find shade or shelter from predators; helping monitor the nesting colony with a Tern Watch program designed by USFWS to record when and which predators appear; repairing the colony fence edging to keep youngsters within the nesting location before fledging. FAWR also paid for signs that USFWS installed on the Rock Wall alerting boaters to keep the legal distance to protect wildlife.
Since 2004, two professional biologists who helped create the symposium have conducted twice-monthly surveys to record all the birds seen at the reserve. For example, their counts of roosting brown pelicans confirmed that the Rock Wall breakwater is indeed important to pelicans; observers now count pelicans on the breakwater simultaneously with counts up and down the California coast. Other species such as Bryant’s savannah sparrow, listed as a species of special concern by CDFW, nests at AWR. Nesting horned larks (in decline) take advantage of the manicured least tern site, which makes us smile and makes nesting easier to confirm. So far AWR Bird Surveys have detected 213 bird species, 23 species of which are breeding there. While many species leave after nesting, some species, like burrowing owls, winter at AWR every year. We are starting to analyze local population trends with the 20 years of data.
In nearby waters, people have recorded seven species of marine mammals (not including Homo sapiens). Watch carefully on windless days when the water is flat to see flukes and blows. A female humpback whale that apparently needed rest during her migration chose Seaplane Lagoon, to the delight of people who named her Allie, for Alameda.
FAWR has advocated to City government for many policies to protect birds. Adoption of the bird-friendly building and lighting requirements is one recent example. FAWR continues to support the restoration of a tidal marsh at De-Pave Park, the space between Seaplane Lagoon and the restricted portion of the Veterans Administration property at Alameda Point.
FAWR has monitored many nesting birds, including great blue herons, osprey, double-crested cormorants, and most recently, bald eagles. The effort to protect the bald eagles that nested on Corica Park golf course led to regular bird walks at the course.
Citizen and youth education has been an important part of FAWR’s work. We developed a California least tern natural history program and three others that were offered to Alameda’s third grade classes for many years. We help with open air classes at Crab Cove and Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary for middle school children, offering them opportunities to observe, take field notes, and identify birds.
Years ago, 51 weekly articles were written with photos for the town paper, the Alameda Times-Star, to help readers get acquainted with local common birds. Both the Alameda Sun and now the Alameda Post have generously helped to keep residents informed about birds and wildlife issues with monthly articles written by FAWR writers and photographers.
FAWR’s concern about the terns is a thread linking many years of work to protect the natural community, made possible with volunteers dedicated to Alameda’s precious wildlife. FAWR members hope that City Council will consider a proclamation to make November Friends of the Alameda Wildlife Reserve Month on FAWR’s 30th anniversary.
Leora Feeney is a biologist who helped organize the 1994 symposium, helped create and now co-chairs Friends of the Alameda Wildlife Reserve (FAWR) and the Alameda Conservation Committee of Golden Gate Bird Alliance, and is one of two people who conduct the twice-monthly surveys of the AWR.
This article is part of a series from the Friends of the Alameda Wildlife Reserve (FAWR), a Conservation Committee of the Golden Gate Bird Alliance (GGBA). Learn more about FAWR at www.goldengatebirds.org.
