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Field Trip: Meet the Snowy Plover and Least Tern (Members Only)

  • 37.622173, -122.122530 (map)

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Meet the Snowy Plover and Least Tern (Members Only)

Snowy Plover by Bill Walker

A joint trip with SFBBO and SCVAS

The Western Snowy Plover is a federally threatened species, while the California Least Tern is a federally endangered species. Join us on this unique outing to learn more about both species and the efforts to protect them here in the Bay Area. Maddy Schwarz, Plover and Tern Program Director at the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, will give us a behind-the-scenes tour of Snowy Plover and Least Tern breeding sites at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve. We’ll observe parents and their chicks, learn about the birds’ life history, and hear about the successes and challenges of SFBBO’s Snowy Plover banding project and Least Tern social attraction project. Along our walk, we’ll stop to view other waterbirds and shorebirds.

Trip Difficulty: 1/2 mile walking, levy trails, little or no elevation gain, no shade, may be breezy, carpooling while on site required

Other Trip Notes: Attendees must be willing to carpool from the parking lot out onto the levees. The levees are graveled, but are overgrown with grass and mustard in areas, so folks who will be driving on the levees must be okay with their cars getting dusty and going over bumps. Scopes helpful.

Leaders: Matthew Dodder (650) 868-4922, Maddy Schwarz (408) 440-6817, Melissa Johnson and Howard Friedman (408) 806-6772

Beginner Friendly, Loaner Binoculars Available, Family Friendly Ages 16 and up

Meet: We’ll meet at the parking lot at 26348 Eden Landing Rd, Hayward (south end of Eden Landing Rd).

Directions: From I-880 N take exit 27 to CA-92 W.  In about 2 miles, exit at Clawiter Rd toward Eden Landing Rd. Continue on Eden Landing Rd for 0.5 miles and park in the lot at the end of the road. Latitude/Longitude: 37.622173, -122.122530

Facilities: pit toilet, no water

Parking Type and Fees: no fees

Banner Photo: Snowy Plover by Bill Walker

Questions? Email general questions to fieldtrips@scvas.org or contact the trip leader for questions regarding the event.