| Nestled along the eastern shoreline of the San Francisco Bay is a sanctuary for three special-status birds, built by thousands of citizen scientists. After twelve years of success, the Hayward Regional Shoreline supports the second largest California least tern (Sternula antillarum browni) colony north of Ventura County, and it also provides nesting habitat for the western snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus nivosus), black skimmer (Rynchops niger), and six other waterbird species. Averaging 279.6 California least tern nests per hectare, "Tern Town" supports one of the highest breeding densities of California least terns on the West Coast. Likewise, this area supports high densities of nesting western snowy plovers, ranging from 4.1 to 32 nests per hectare. Topics to be shared during this case study will include: island construction, substrate enhancement, social attractants, invasive noxious weed control partnerships, implementing and managing a predator control program, reproductive trends of nesting species, diet studies, and kleptoparasitism. Lastly, this presentation will highlight the trials, triumphs, and teaching approaches that have communicated science to the public, policy makers, and peers, while generating more than 25,000 hours of volunteer help to assist in the recovery of these endangered and threatened birds. |