Understanding Predation Risks to Endangered Raso Skylark – 2024

drawing of Spizocorys razae

The Raso Skylark, one of the world’s rarest and most threatened species, was found only on the island of Raso in the Cape Verde Islands until being translocated to nearby Santa Luiza Island in 2018. On both islands, the species faces predation of adults and nests from the giant gecko Tarentola gigas (also a threatened species), as well as potential predation … Read More

Tracking Ashy Storm Petrels in the Channel Islands – 2024

Ashy storm petrel

As wind energy companies assess the waters of California for possible future sites for deep-water wind energy infrastructure, understanding the potential impacts on marine seabirds is important. Ashy storm petrels, which breed in the Farallones and northern Channel Islands, and Leach’s storm petrels, which breed from the Channel Islands south into Baja California, may be particularly vulnerable to collisions or … Read More

Survey for Southern River Terrapin in Sumatra – 2019

In 2019, the Farallon Islands Foundation provided a grant to the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) to support a search for the Southern River Terrapin (Batagur affinis) in Sumatra. Once a common river and estuarine turtle of Southeast Asia, the Southern River Terrapin is now one of the world’s top 25 most endangered turtles. In cooperation with the Satucita Foundation, a … Read More

Molecular Biology Lab and Research Support in Madagascar – 2019

In 2019, the Farallon Islands Foundation provided a grant to Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group and Mahaliana Lab and Training Center in support of their efforts to establish a molecular biology laboratory in Antananarivo, Madagascar and build scientific research capacity among Malagasy conservationists through a research study and training workshop. With support from FIF, these organizations purchased necessary lab equipment … Read More

Assessing hurricane impacts to Puerto Rican Birds – 2018

Puerto Rican Tody, a native bird of Puerto Rico. Photo credit: Jose Salguero.

During September 2017, the island of Puerto Rico was impacted by two major hurricanes — Irma (September 7) and Maria (September 20).  These two storms, especially Maria, devastated infrastructure and natural areas throughout the island. FIF’s 2018 grant to the Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña, Inc. (SOPI) and Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) helped to fund an island-wide bird census to assess the … Read More

Debris monitoring in the Prince William Sound – 2017

Gulf of Alaska Keeper

In the northern Gulf of Alaska, plastic debris accumulates along the coastline, killing marine mammals through entanglement and ingestion, and damaging marine environments through the numerous chemicals compounds that leach from the plastic. Since 2006, the Gulf of Alaska Keeper (GoAK) has worked to combat this problem through marine debris cleanups and public education efforts. In 2007, they began an … Read More

Supporting the study of Tufted Puffins, Cassin’s Auklets and Common Murres on the Farallon Islands – 2013

Tufted Puffin

FIF has supported research conducted on wildlife populations by Point Reyes Bird Observatory (PRBO) since the foundation’s inception in 1999. One of our earliest projects assisted PRBO research by funding, building, and transporting nesting boxes for auklets on North Farallon. Our 2013 grant to PRBO was designed to further the group’s research efforts for the Farallons’ Common Murre, Tufted Puffin and … Read More

Equipment For The Study of Least Terns on Alameda Island – 2013

Least tern with chick

The Golden Gate chapter of the National Audbon Society (GGAS) has been working since 1976 to study and protect California’s northernmost Least Tern colony, situated on Alameda Island in the San Francisco Bay. In conjunction with GGAS efforts, the tern colony grew from 10 nests to 440 28 years. In 2003, the colony produced the second highest number of Least … Read More