Point Blue Conservation Science
Our mission is to conserve birds, other wildlife, and ecosystems through science, partnership, and outreach. We find nature-based, community-driven solutions to climate change and biodiversity loss. Learn more at www.pointblue.org.
- Superstar mom Radish has weaned our first #elephantseal pup of the season! Affectionately nicknamed “Pozole” by our research crew, she was weaned after a month of nursing with her mother. From now on she'll spend her time molting on the colony’s edge & preparing for her first ocean adventure! 🌎🧪🦭💖🦑🍼
- 🦉🌎🧪 TY @sfgate.com for highlighting the latest #MigratoryShorebirdProject research! Though the results are troubling, the story behind them is full of hope and an example of the power of partnership. Learn more about MSP: www.migratoryshorebirdproject.org/ + read the article: shorturl.at/BFDAY
- 🦉🌎🧪 New #MigratoryShorebirdProject study confirms #shorebirds are in trouble across the entire Western Hemisphere. These findings fill a critical data gap, strengthen support for current programs, and help guide future conservation action. Learn more: shorturl.at/6slxg
- 🌊🌎📊💻🧪 Our Coast, Our Future flood hazard maps are now available statewide! This predictive monitoring tool (created by Point Blue in collaboration with #USGS) models future flooding levels due to storm surges and sea level rise across coastal #California. Check it out: shorturl.at/RbXLi
- The first #elephantseal pup of the season has arrived! This pup was born to a e-seal mom named “Radish.” Radish first appeared on the #FarallonIslands in 2014, had her first pup in 2016, and has been returning each year. For the past four years, she’s been the first to pup on the island! 🌊🌎🧪🦑
- 🌊🦐🧪🌎 🦑 Join the Point Blue Marine Lab and @exploratorium.bsky.social on Friday, 1/23/26 to explore the world of #krill! They may be small, but these tiny #zooplankton are important prey, vital to the marine ecosystem, and help us understand #oceanhealth. shorturl.at/c4Dsm
- 🦉🌎🧪 @sfchronicle.com covers the new #SFStateOfTheBirds report. While the article highlights concerning data (Bay Area #shorebirds, have seen steep declines in recent decades), the story is more complex, and hopeful, than the headlines suggest. Learn more: shorturl.at/AFppy
- 🦉🌎🧪New coverage on www.sfbaystateofthebirds.org/ from @abc7news.bsky.social. Some Bay Area #shorebirds are in decline, but it’s not all doom and gloom! Data show that where #habitatrestoration has been prioritized, #bird populations are holding steady or increasing. Read more: shorturl.at/06t68
- 🦉🌎🧪 ICYMI! #BirdReturns made an appearance on @cbssundaymorning.bsky.social as part of a segment highlighting good news from 2025! Watch the full story and learn why this program is a win-win for both farmers and migratory #birds! 👉 shorturl.at/iYvDs
- 🐧🧪💻 ❄️🦉🌎 Join us for the last #LiveFromAntarctica events of the season! We'll be streaming LIVE from Cape Royds, #Antarctica to talk #penguin science, ecology, and conservation. Tune on 1/6 + 1/9 from 10–10:30 AM PST! 🔗 shorturl.at/gmCG0
- 🌊🦉🧪🌎 #KingTides are back January 2nd + 3rd! help Head to your local tidal marsh and help @kingtides.bsky.social document the California King Tides for #conservation! Learn more: www.coastal.ca.gov/kingtides/
- 🌊🦉🧪🌎 Head to your local tidal marsh & help @kingtides.bsky.social document the #KingTides 1/2 + 1/3! #KingTides offer rare birding opportunities (birds are much father upland than usual) & a peek into what future everyday water levels may look like as sea levels rise. shorturl.at/TAjxX
- ❄️🧪🌎 Happy #solstice from Antarctica! Because #Antarctica is in the Southern Hemisphere, today marks their #summersolstice. While we head into the longest night of the year up north, our Penguin Science Team is gearing up for their longest day of research at Cape Royds. Happy #wintersolstice!
- 👀🦉🌎🧪🐦 Join the #PointBlue team! We're hiring 3-4 Conservation Science #BirdBanding Apprentices at the Palomarin Field Station in Point Reyes/Bolinas! Learn more: shorturl.at/Z6PtY and apply by DECEMBER 23RD, 2025! #Birds #ConservationJobs
- 🦈🧪🦑🌎 Part III: Mystery solved! #GreatWhiteSharks are still hunting, but they’re targeting different prey and leaving less visible evidence, resulting in fewer detected attacks. #SharkAttack #FarallonIslands
- 🦉🌎🧪 TY @sfgate.com for covering the Farallones murrenados! During breeding season, hundreds of thousands of #CommonMurres swirl over the island before landing en masse. Once reduced to 6K, the Farallon population has rebounded to 500K thanks decades of monitoring and #conservation. shorturl.at/ZZJZQ
- 🦈🧪🦑🌎 #SharkAttack Part II is here! Something’s changed at the Farallon Islands. Can you guess what the #GreatWhiteSharks are hunting now?
- 🦈🧪🦑🌎 Farallones #sharkattack sightings are on the decline but California White Shark Project re-sighting data show that #GreatWhiteShark presence has increased. So why are we seeing fewer attacks? Drop your guesses in the comments and we’ll be back tomorrow with Part II!
- 🦋🧪🌎 Scientists from Point Blue & @xercessociety.bsky.social are using Bluetooth-enabled ultra-light radio tags to track butterflies! This new tech provides unprecedented data and helps scientists guide #conservation actions to support the iconic #MonarchButterfly migration. Watch: shorturl.at/UbwPI
- 🐧🧪❄️🌎 Calling all penguin-interested classrooms and the Antarctic-curious! Join #PointBlue and partner #penguin biologists LIVE from #Antarctica to learn about #penguinscience, ecology, and #conservation. Join us virtually on 12/15/25, 12/18/25, 1/6/26, or 1/9/26! Learn more: shorturl.at/8Udde
- Last week’s #KingTides put on a show along the Petaluma River! 🌊📸 Here are a few snaps from Friday's record-high tide. Missed it? You’ll get another chance on January 2 + 3! Save the date!
- Every winter, #CommonMurres flood back to the #FarallonIslands to breed. Strong NW winds are their cue, some mornings we see 350–400k murres (nearly the entire Farallon population) gather offshore, then take to the sky in giant looping formations called Murrenados before landing en masse. 🦉🌎🧪
- 🌊 Head to your local tidal marsh & help @kingtides.bsky.social document the highest tides of the year 12/4 + 12/5! #KingTides offer a peek into what future everyday water levels may look like as sea levels rise. As always, please remember to stay safe + respect wildlife! 🦉🌎🧪 shorturl.at/TAjxX
- The new SF Bay State of the Birds website brings San Francisco Bay’s habitats to life with interactive maps and insights on bird population trends.Visit sfbaystateofthebirds.org to explore now. #SFBayStateoftheBirds 🦉🌎🧪
- 🦉🌎🧪 The Palomarin Banding Summary for June/July 2025 is here! The summer season was filled to the brim with #fledglings and unusual captures, including a #RosebreastedGrosbeak, two #NorthernSawwhetOwls, and two #BeltedKingFishers! Check out the full summary to learn more: shorturl.at/ecqIo
- Early-career bird banders are part of a rigorous training program at Point Blue, where they learn to capture birds safely using mist nets and record data on each bird caught. This info allows us to better understand birds populations and gives us insight into the health of the systems we research.
- 🦉🌎🧪 The Palomarin Banding Summary for April/May 25' is live! Highlights: the foreign recapture of a #SwainsonsThrush banded in Mexico, a #WesternFlycatcher set a new longevity record, and a rare #PileatedWoodpecker! In total, our team captured 273 new birds and recaptured 304. 🔗 shorturl.at/9TISl
- Early-career bird banders are part of a rigorous training program at Point Blue, where they learn to capture birds safely using mist nets and record data on each bird caught. This info allows us to better understand birds populations and gives us insight into the health of the systems we research.
- 🧬🐧🧪🌎❄️🦉 New research from our #PenguinScience team and collaborators! An international team of scientists identified 35 viral genomes found in Antarctic penguins–offering a rare window into how wildlife and viruses evolve together in one of the planet’s most extreme environments. shorturl.at/rTGy9
- Study collaborators: Arizona State University, Point Blue Conservation Science, Oregon State University, H.T. Harvey & Associates Ecological Consultants, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, and University of Alcalá.
- 🦉🌎🧪 New #SFBayStateOfTheBirds article from @baynature.org! Learn about the importance of long-term monitoring, get insights from our very own Julian Wood, Point Blue’s San Francisco Bay program leader, and discover which Birds in the Bay Are Doing OK (and which need our help). 🔗 shorturl.at/kn0VL
- 🦉🌎🧪 The San Francisco Bay State of the Birds website identifies specific actions to improve ecosystem health, reduce threats to bird populations, and guide restoration across the Bay. See the full list of recommendations at sfbaystateofthebirds.org/actions/ #SFBayStateOfTheBirds
- 🦉🌎🧪 The new San Francisco Bay State of the Birds website shows baywide trends, regional insights, and species data all in one place. See how bird populations are doing and what that means for the Bay’s future. Visit sfbaystateofthebirds.org
- 🌎💧🧪Effective water management is key to California’s ecological and economic health. We’re participating in powerful partnerships like #FloodplainForward & #BirdReturns to collaborate on multi-benefit solutions for wildlife & people. Read & discover more #CaliforniaWater wins: shorturl.at/6sD07
- What can #birds tell us about the health of the #SanFranciscoBay? A lot, it turns out! We’re proud to see Point Blue’s SF Bay Program Leader, Julian Wood, featured in @kqedscience.bsky.social for his insights on the newly launched #SFBayStateOfTheBirds website! 🌎🧪Learn more: shorturl.at/DVYXZ
- 🦉🌎🧪 Why #birds? They provide important information about the health of our habitats. Track population trends and see how restoration and conservation efforts are making a difference in San Francisco Bay. Visit sfbaystateofthebirds.org
- #SFBayStateOfTheBirds made it into Maven's Notebook! Read the daily digest: shorturl.at/CuEnR 🦉🌎🧪💧
- 🦉🌎🧪 The new San Francisco Bay State of the Birds website is live! See how #bird populations are changing across the Bay and what it means for habitat health. This data will inform important restoration and land management decisions. sfbaystateofthebirds.org
- 🌎 With support from the Point Blue Roots Program, White Buffalo Land Trust has launched an 80-acre #WatershedRestoration project at Jalama Canyon Ranch. We are so proud to support this project advancing #HabitatRestoration and watershed resilience on CA’s Central Coast! Shorturl.at/HGBU2
- 🔥🐦🌎🧪Can fire boost bird populations!? A new study found that population density of some #bird species grew rapidly in burned areas. While high-intensity megafires threaten birds, low to moderate intensity #prescribedburns may have benefits. Learn more: shorturl.at/coEC6 #GoodFire #FireEcology
- 🧪💻 🌎 Want to use #techforgood? We’ve teamed up w/ #HackForSocialImpact to present a pressing conservation issue: massive biodiversity datasets are underused despite potential to direct policy + funding. Can #AI & impact tracking unlock the power of this data? Register: www.hackforsocialimpact.com
