We're all aware of habitat loss, and some of the hardest hit areas are wetlands. Every now and then, though, pavement loses a round. One of those cases is Heron's Head Park in San Francisco, a gem which has been reclaimed in the heart of an industrial area.
Heron’s Head Park is a bit of reclaimed waterfront in the southeast corner of San Francisco. When I first visited it seven (maybe more?) years ago, the restoration was just barely getting underway. I was there on a Golden Gate Audubon Bird Blitz led by Alan Hopkins, one of the early champions of this site. It was a surprising site, with a small bit of bayside marsh habitat that attracted birds who are hard to see elsewhere in the city, among them American Avocets.
American Avocets foraging, Heron's Head
The park is in an unlikely area. Although it’s along the waterfront, it’s not what you’d normally picture when you think of "San Francisco Waterfront Living" – no multi-million dollar view homes, no highrise condos, no real views of bridges (although there is a stadium in sight if you’re standing in the right location).
Female American Kestrel, with Hunter's Point PG&E plant in background
It’s in the shadow of an enormous electrical plant (which PG&E is in the process of shutting down and dismantling) and a former naval shipyard; the neighborhood around it is rougher than most in San Francisco, but the local community is strong and they’ve been very much involved with the restoration project. Local kids and teens come down to help with cleanup and planting native plants. They take part in monitoring programs, getting to know the wildlife in their own backyard. They don't have much opportunity to get to out-of-town wild places and parklands, so many grow up without really experiencing nature first-hand. Heron's Head gives them that chance.
Black-bellied Plover at Heron's Head
I got to know Heron’s Head much better in 2005, when a group of birders decided to try a City Big Year. My main motivation was to try to learn more about new and different locations to go birding in the city, and to build my city list in the process. The others taking part were (are) awesome birders, so my goal was just to avoid embarrassing myself. Finished 9th of 12 participants (the others either dropped out or were traveling extensively during key migration periods), but saw over 200 species in San Francisco that year, so I avoided embarrassment. (The #1 participant saw over 250 species, and there were several people who managed 240+.)
Harlequin Duck
Heron’s Head and the surrounding neighborhood produced several species that didn’t turn up elsewhere in the city. Some of the real prizes included Harlequin Duck, Eurasian wigeon and a quirky local specialty, the yellow-billed magpies in a nearby boatyard.
Yellow-billed Magpie
For a city surrounded by water, there are surprisingly few mudflats, so shorebird watching in most areas offers a limited range of species. Not so at Heron’s Head. Between the rocky shores in some areas, mudflats in other parts, and a pickleweed marsh, there’s something for everyone.
As the restoration continues, the area is becoming better known to birders - and birds. A few weeks ago, the city’s first ever Black Skimmers were spotted here – a great affirmation of "If you build it, they will come."
For more info about the origins of the park - http://www.baynature.com/...
For more info about the youth programs - http://www.lejyouth.org/...
Here's an article from the SF Chronicle about what's happening there now (including a new guide to the birds of the area) - http://sfgate.com/...
And last, a local photographer's gallery of the park - http://www.jwallphoto.net/...
Speaking of urban birding... sheddhead will be posting something about birding in Chicago, for you lucky souls headed to YKos. Watch for ideas if you’re from out of town, and it would be great to hear suggestions from local Chicago birders!