Richardson Bay Explore

Birds of Richardson Bay Sanctuary

We love them. Now protect them and their habitats.
Western Grebe and Clark's Grebe. Photo: Krisztina Scheeff/91°µÍø Photography Awards

Birds of Particular Focus at Richardson Bay 91°µÍø Center and Sanctuary

A decade ago, Richardson Bay 91°µÍø Center and Sanctuary volunteers conducting a shorebird survey observed a Black Oystercatcher that appeared to be sitting on a nest on Aramburu Island (property of Marin County Parks) in Richardson Bay.  The location of this nest was on the newly constructed shoreline habitat of Aramburu Island, a location specifically designed as part of the Aramburu Island Enhancement Project to attract shorebirds such as the oystercatchers. 

The news represented a major success for the Aramburu Island Enhancement Project, not only because it confirmed the value of the new shoreline design for erosion control and shorebird habitat, but also because Aramburu Island became one of only four known nesting sites for Black Oystercatchers within the San Francisco Bay. This also highlights the importance of undisturbed shoreline habitat within the Bay in general. Richardson Bay 91°µÍø Center and Sanctuary staff and volunteers are now helping Caspian Terns establish a breeding colony on the island as well.

1
Black Oystercatcher
Haematopus bachmani
LCIUCN Status
Guide
In 2014, Richardson Bay volunteers conducting a shorebird survey observed a Black Oystercatcher that appeared to be sitting on a nest on Aramburu Island. The location of this nest was on the newly constructed shoreline habitat of Aramburu Island, a location specifically designed as part of the Aramburu Island Enhancement Project to attract shorebirds such as the oystercatchers. Since then, Black Oystercatchers have successfully fledged chicks on Aramburu Island each summer due to the diligent efforts of our staff and volunteers.
2
Caspian Tern
Hydroprogne caspia
LCIUCN Status
Guide
At the Richardson Bay 91°µÍø Center, Caspian terns are one of the most common birds spotted on the nearby Aramburu Island, but there has never been an active breeding colony observed. Restoring this dredge spoil island has been an ongoing project for years, with staff and volunteers planting native plants and removing invasive plants regularly. The western shoreline has been reconstructed with sand, rock, and shells to prevent erosion, which also serves as nesting substrate for the terns. Additionally, there are few mammalian predators on the island which makes it a safer breeding habitat. The hope is to start a new colony on this suitable habitat in spring by attracting terns with decoys.

Meet Some of Our Local Birds

Richardson Bay 91°µÍø Center and Sanctuary hosts a variety of habitats that support a large diversity of birds throughout the year. No matter the season, a careful eye can spot both residents that call our center home and visiting migrants here only for a short while. This list describes some of the migrants you might expect to find throughout the year at the sanctuary and around Marin County.

Birds at Our Sanctuary
Clark's Grebe
Aechmophorus clarkii
Grebes
Great Egret
Ardea alba
Herons, Egrets, Bitterns
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
Hawks and Eagles
Bufflehead
Bucephala albeola
Ducks and Geese
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensis
Ducks and Geese
Greater Scaup
Aythya marila
Ducks and Geese
Western Grebe
Aechmophorus occidentalis
Grebes
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
Herons, Egrets, Bitterns
Black Oystercatcher
Haematopus bachmani
Oystercatchers
Allen's Hummingbird
Selasphorus sasin
Hummingbirds
Black Turnstone
Arenaria melanocephala
Sandpipers
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia atricapilla
New World Sparrows
Long-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromus scolopaceus
Sandpipers
Heermann's Gull
Larus heermanni
Gulls and Terns
Wilson's Warbler
Cardellina pusilla
Wood Warblers

Seasonal Visitors to Richardson Bay

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Allen's Hummingbird X X X X X X X X        
Barn Swallow     X X X X X X X X    
Black Turnstone X X X X X   X X X      
Black-headed Grosebeak     X X X X X X X      
Black-throated Gray Warbler     X X X X X X X X X  
Bonaparte's Gull     X X X X       X X X
Bufflehead X X X X           X X X
Bullock's Oriole     X X X X X X X      
Canvasback X X X X X         X X X
Caspian Tern     X X X X X X X X    
Cedar Waxwing X X X X X     X X X X X
  Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Cliff Swallow     X X X X X X X      
Common Goldeneye X X X X X           X X
Dunlin X X X X X       X X X X
Eared Grebe X X X X X X   X X X X X
Elegant Tern           X X X X X X  
Fox Sparrow X X X X X       X X X X
Golden-crowned Sparrow X X X X X       X X X X
Green-winged Teal X X X X       X X X X X
Heermann's Gull X       X X X X X X X X
Horned Grebe X X X X X     X X X X X
Least Sandpiper X X X X     X X X X X X
  Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Lincoln's Sparrow X X X X         X X X X
Long-billed Dowitcher X X X X X   X X X X X X
Mew Gull X X X X           X X X
Norther Fulmar X X X         X X X X X
Northern Rough-winged Swallow   X X X X X X X X X    
Pacific-slope Flycatcher     X X X X X X X X    
Parasitic Jaeger               X X X X  
Red-necked phalarope       X X   X X X X    
Ruby Crowned Kinglet X X X X X       X X X X
Sanderling X X X X X   X X X X X X
Say's Phoebe X X X X         X X X X
  Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Semipalmated Plover X X X X X   X X X X X X
Short-billed Dowitcher X X X X X   X X X X X X
Spotted Sandpiper X X X X X   X X X X X X
Swainson's Thrush       X X X X X X X    
Townsend's Warbler X X X X X     X X X X X
Wandering Tattler               X X X    
Warbling Vireo     X X X X X X X X    
Western Sandpiper X X X X X   X X X X X X
Western Tanager       X X X X X X X    
Western Wood-pewee       X X X X X X X    
Wilson's Snipe X X X X         X X X X
Wilson's Warbler     X X X X X X X X    
Yellow Warbler       X X X X X X X    
  Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec