Marin Audubon Society https://marinaudubon.org/ Fri, 25 Sep 2026 20:11:31 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 https://marinaudubon.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cropped-MAS-logo-512-32x32.png Marin Audubon Society https://marinaudubon.org/ 32 32 San Rafael marsh restoration project gets nearly $7M in grants https://marinaudubon.org/2026/09/25/san-rafael-marsh-restoration-project-gets-nearly-7m-in-grants/ Fri, 25 Sep 2026 20:01:33 +0000 https://marinaudubon.org/?p=6500 The Tiscornia Marsh rehabilitation effort is getting $5 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and $1.9 million from the California Ocean Protection Council. Nearly $7 million in grant funding is boosting a project to restore marshlands and add sea-level protections in San Rafael’s Canal neighborhood. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded a $5 million grant to the Marin Audubon Society this week to support the rehabilitation of Tiscornia Marsh, a project years in the making. The marsh occupies 20 acres north of Pickleweed Park and the Albert J. Boro Community Center. “It’s very significant and exciting,” Marin Audubon Society president Barbara Salzman said of the award. “This is the biggest piece that will get us to the end of actually completing the project.” Read this article in Marin IJ

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The Tiscornia Marsh rehabilitation effort is getting $5 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and $1.9 million from the California Ocean Protection Council.

Nearly $7 million in grant funding is boosting a project to restore marshlands and add sea-level protections in San Rafael’s Canal neighborhood.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded a $5 million grant to the Marin Audubon Society this week to support the rehabilitation of Tiscornia Marsh, a project years in the making. The marsh occupies 20 acres north of Pickleweed Park and the Albert J. Boro Community Center.

“It’s very significant and exciting,” Marin Audubon Society president Barbara Salzman said of the award. “This is the biggest piece that will get us to the end of actually completing the project.”

Read this article in Marin IJ

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]]> Marin Audubon Society Closes Deal for Novato Baylands https://marinaudubon.org/2026/06/15/marin-audubon-society-closes-deal-for-novato-baylands/ Mon, 15 Jun 2026 17:40:49 +0000 https://marinaudubon.org/?p=6347 The Marin Audubon Society has completed its purchase of two parcels spanning 323 acres in unincorporated Novato. The nonprofit bought the diked bayland properties on Thursday, following through on a purchase agreement it signed last year. The group worked in partnership with Marin Baylands Advocates on the acquisition. “We’re thrilled to be able to do this,” said Barbara Salzman, president of the Marin Audubon Society. “It’s just a wonderful opportunity, and it really is on the Marin side, the last piece to make a continuous boundary of wetlands all along the Petaluma River and the land between the river and marshes.” Read this article in Marin IJ

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]]> The Marin Audubon Society has completed its purchase of two parcels spanning 323 acres in unincorporated Novato.

The nonprofit bought the diked bayland properties on Thursday, following through on a purchase agreement it signed last year. The group worked in partnership with Marin Baylands Advocates on the acquisition.

“We’re thrilled to be able to do this,” said Barbara Salzman, president of the Marin Audubon Society. “It’s just a wonderful opportunity, and it really is on the Marin side, the last piece to make a continuous boundary of wetlands all along the Petaluma River and the land between the river and marshes.”

Read this article in Marin IJ

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]]> State awards Marin Audubon Society $2M for Novato baylands project https://marinaudubon.org/2026/02/26/state-awards-marin-audubon-society-2m-for-novato-baylands-project/ Thu, 26 Feb 2026 18:48:31 +0000 https://marinaudubon.org/?p=6332 A plan to restore two former tidal marshlands spanning more than 300 acres in Novato has received a $2 million boost from the state. The funding from the 2024 Climate Bond will help the Marin Audubon Society purchase the parcels so it can pursue a major restoration effort to expand the Bahia wetlands to about double the size. The project would create a contiguous corridor of tidal habitat from Novato through the Petaluma Marsh along the Petaluma River. The California State Coastal Conservancy voted unanimously to award the funding at its meeting on Feb. 19. Read this article in Marin IJ

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]]> A plan to restore two former tidal marshlands spanning more than 300 acres in Novato has received a $2 million boost from the state.

The funding from the 2024 Climate Bond will help the Marin Audubon Society purchase the parcels so it can pursue a major restoration effort to expand the Bahia wetlands to about double the size. The project would create a contiguous corridor of tidal habitat from Novato through the Petaluma Marsh along the Petaluma River.

The California State Coastal Conservancy voted unanimously to award the funding at its meeting on Feb. 19.

Read this article in Marin IJ

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]]> One bird at a time: Marin Audubon’s monthly nature walks mix birding, banter, education https://marinaudubon.org/2026/02/22/one-bird-at-a-time-marin-audubons-monthly-nature-walks-mix-birding-banter-education/ Sun, 22 Feb 2026 20:49:30 +0000 https://marinaudubon.org/?p=6016 World-famous Fairfax writer Anne Lamott turned “bird by bird” into a stylish phrase 32 years ago. Metaphorically, it suggested that folks should tackle major issues one step at a time.  Nowadays, that’s precisely how bird watchers handle the Marin Audubon Society’s monthly field trips at The Ponds at the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District in San Rafael. One step at a time; one bird at a time. Read this article in Local News Matters

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]]> World-famous Fairfax writer Anne Lamott turned “bird by bird” into a stylish phrase 32 years ago. Metaphorically, it suggested that folks should tackle major issues one step at a time.  Nowadays, that’s precisely how bird watchers handle the Marin Audubon Society’s monthly field trips at The Ponds at the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District in San Rafael. One step at a time; one bird at a time.

Read this article in Local News Matters

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]]> ALERT: Report Barred Owl Sightings https://marinaudubon.org/2022/05/01/alert-report-barred-owl-spottings/ Sun, 01 May 2022 21:02:12 +0000 https://masdev.aviandesign.net/?p=1533 Barred Owls have extended their range to the west coast, from the east coast, and have been seen in Marin. There is increasing concern about their impact on Marin’s Northern Spotted Owl population. Barred Owls are larger, more agencies have begun to monitor Barred Owl activity in Marin and they need your help! Notify the appropriate agency asap should you see what might be a Barred Owl: For sightings on federal land, notify Bill Merkle – National Parks Service Wildlife Biologist; bill_merkle@nps.gov For sightings on Marin County Parks land notify Serena Hubert Shubert@marincounty.org For sightings on CA Department of Fish and Game lands notify Mandy Culpepper Amanda.Culpepper@Wildlfe.ca.gov On MMWD lands notify Carl Sanders Csanders@marinwater.org For sightings on other lands notify Renee Cormier rcormier@pointblue.org Your report should include the owl’s size, eye color, ear tufts, markings, behavior and location. If possible, take a picture or make a recording. The two species look similar. The easiest way to differentiate the two is the feather pattern on their chest: Spotted Owl will have a spotted brown and white pattern, while the Barred has a barred brown and white pattern. See the photos on page one of the January 2020 issue of Marin Audubon’s newsletter The Rail. Thank you for your help.

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]]> Barred Owls have extended their range to the west coast, from the east coast, and have been seen in Marin. There is increasing concern about their impact on Marin’s Northern Spotted Owl population. Barred Owls are larger, more agencies have begun to monitor Barred Owl activity in Marin and they need your help!

Barred owl vs Northern Spotted owl

Notify the appropriate agency asap should you see what might be a Barred Owl:

  • For sightings on federal land, notify Bill Merkle – National Parks Service Wildlife Biologist; bill_merkle@nps.gov
  • For sightings on Marin County Parks land notify Serena Hubert Shubert@marincounty.org
  • For sightings on CA Department of Fish and Game lands notify Mandy Culpepper Amanda.Culpepper@Wildlfe.ca.gov
  • On MMWD lands notify Carl Sanders Csanders@marinwater.org
  • For sightings on other lands notify Renee Cormier rcormier@pointblue.org

Your report should include the owl’s size, eye color, ear tufts, markings, behavior and location. If possible, take a picture or make a recording. The two species look similar. The easiest way to differentiate the two is the feather pattern on their chest: Spotted Owl will have a spotted brown and white pattern, while the Barred has a barred brown and white pattern. See the photos on page one of the January 2020 issue of Marin Audubon’s newsletter The Rail.

Thank you for your help.

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]]> San Francisco Bay Joint Venture honors Barbara Salzman https://marinaudubon.org/2020/03/03/san-francisco-bay-joint-venture-honors-barbara-salzman/ Tue, 03 Mar 2020 16:15:12 +0000 https://masdev.aviandesign.net/?p=1715 If you have ever participated in any stage of wetland restoration work in Marin County, you have surely met the one and only Barbara Salzman!  Barbara has been working in the field of conservation and advocating on behalf of wetlands and habitats threatened by development and other stressors since the late 1970’s. Barbara is a legend who belongs in a class of great women with the likes of Sylvia McLaughlin, Kay Kerr and Ester Gulick, the three pioneers known for helping to save San Francisco Bay.  She has also been instrumental to the SFBJV, serving on our Management Board since it first came together in 1996.  Barbara is rivaled by only one other amazing and seasoned bird advocate – Arthur Feinstein, in her tenure and reliability.  She has likely participated in more working committee and wetland related stakeholder meetings than anyone in the Bay Area.  And who but Barbara will review every page of an EIR and then speak up about what she does or doesn’t like to the right person?  Whether she is taking decision makers out on tours, in the field pulling weeds, or being a voice for birds and their habitat, we all know we can count on Barbara.  On behalf of the entire SFBJV community we want to extend a standing ovation in her honor!  Thank you Barbara for all you do and for being you!    We have more tidbits on Barbara, including some of the many awards she has won and all the projects she has worked on (without ever charging a cent for her time) here on the partner page of our website.

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]]> If you have ever participated in any stage of wetland restoration work in Marin County, you have surely met the one and only Barbara Salzman!  Barbara has been working in the field of conservation and advocating on behalf of wetlands and habitats threatened by development and other stressors since the late 1970’s.

Barbara is a legend who belongs in a class of great women with the likes of Sylvia McLaughlin, Kay Kerr and Ester Gulick, the three pioneers known for helping to save San Francisco Bay.  She has also been instrumental to the SFBJV, serving on our Management Board since it first came together in 1996.  Barbara is rivaled by only one other amazing and seasoned bird advocate – Arthur Feinstein, in her tenure and reliability.  She has likely participated in more working committee and wetland related stakeholder meetings than anyone in the Bay Area.  And who but Barbara will review every page of an EIR and then speak up about what she does or doesn’t like to the right person?  Whether she is taking decision makers out on tours, in the field pulling weeds, or being a voice for birds and their habitat, we all know we can count on Barbara.  On behalf of the entire SFBJV community we want to extend a standing ovation in her honor!  Thank you Barbara for all you do and for being you! 
 
We have more tidbits on Barbara, including some of the many awards she has won and all the projects she has worked on (without ever charging a cent for her time) here on the partner page of our website.

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]]> Walnut Creek shopping mall using a Harris’s Hawk to evict the pigeons https://marinaudubon.org/2018/07/22/walnut-creek-shopping-mall-using-a-harriss-hawk-to-evict-the-pigeons/ Sun, 22 Jul 2018 18:32:35 +0000 http://masdev.aviandesign.net/?p=427 A shopping mall in Walnut Creek is using a Harris’s Hawk to evict the pigeons. Read this fascinating story about this beautiful raptor. Source: Washington Post Author: Linda Childers Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2018/06/22/a-shopping-mall-wanted-to-evict-its-pigeons-so-it-hired-a-hawk/?utm_term=.d0acddc048f4

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]]> A shopping mall in Walnut Creek is using a Harris’s Hawk to evict the pigeons. Read this fascinating story about this beautiful raptor.
Source: Washington Post
Author: Linda Childers
Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2018/06/22/a-shopping-mall-wanted-to-evict-its-pigeons-so-it-hired-a-hawk/?utm_term=.d0acddc048f4

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]]> Baby barn owl found at Deer Island in Novato died from rat poison https://marinaudubon.org/2018/07/02/baby-barn-owl-found-at-deer-island-in-novato-died-from-rat-poison/ Mon, 02 Jul 2018 18:31:13 +0000 http://masdev.aviandesign.net/?p=425 A baby Barn Owl found under a nest box at Deer Island in Novato died from rat poison. Source: California News Wire Services Link: http://patch.com/california/novato/owlet-dies-rat-poison-prompts-anti-rodenticide-campaign Document: Owlet Dies from Rat Poison.pdf

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]]> A baby Barn Owl found under a nest box at Deer Island in Novato died from rat poison.
Source: California News Wire Services
Link: http://patch.com/california/novato/owlet-dies-rat-poison-prompts-anti-rodenticide-campaign
Document: Owlet Dies from Rat Poison.pdf

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]]> The National Park Service is currently protecting Western Snowy Plovers with beach closures at North Beach, Abbotts Lagoon, and Limantour https://marinaudubon.org/2018/06/15/nps-beach-closures-western-snowy-plovers/ Fri, 15 Jun 2018 18:34:43 +0000 http://masdev.aviandesign.net/?p=429 The National Park Service is currently protecting Western Snowy Plovers with beach closures at North Beach, Abbotts Lagoon, and Limantour. There are only 1500 Snowy Plovers left on the west coast and they are listed under the Endangered Species Act. Source: Point Reyes National Seashore Date: Jun 15, 2018 Author: Susan Kelly Link: http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/closures.htm Document: Western Snowy Plovers.pdf

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]]> The National Park Service is currently protecting Western Snowy Plovers with beach closures at North Beach, Abbotts Lagoon, and Limantour. There are only 1500 Snowy Plovers left on the west coast and they are listed under the Endangered Species Act.
Source: Point Reyes National Seashore
Date: Jun 15, 2018
Author: Susan Kelly
Link: http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/closures.htm
Document: Western Snowy Plovers.pdf

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]]> Marin beaches are some of the cleanest in the state https://marinaudubon.org/2018/06/08/marin-beaches-are-some-of-the-cleanest-in-the-state/ Fri, 08 Jun 2018 18:53:41 +0000 http://masdev.aviandesign.net/?p=433 Good news: Marin beaches are some of the cleanest in the state, according to a report by the environmental group Heal the Bay. Those rated an A or A+ include: Dillon Beach, Shell Beach, Miller Park, Rodeo Beach, Stinson Beach, Heart’s Desire, Lawson’s Landing, Chicken Ranch, Bolinas Beach, Baker Beach, Muir Beach and Schoonmaker Beach. Source: Heal the Bay Date: Jun 08, 2018 Author: Susan Kelly Link: http://healthebay.org/beach-report-card-2018/

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]]> Good news: Marin beaches are some of the cleanest in the state, according to a report by the environmental group Heal the Bay. Those rated an A or A+ include: Dillon Beach, Shell Beach, Miller Park, Rodeo Beach, Stinson Beach, Heart’s Desire, Lawson’s Landing, Chicken Ranch, Bolinas Beach, Baker Beach, Muir Beach and Schoonmaker Beach.
Source: Heal the Bay
Date: Jun 08, 2018
Author: Susan Kelly
Link: http://healthebay.org/beach-report-card-2018/

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