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

Nesting Boxes & Boardwalks on Año Nuevo Island – 2008, 2009

Rhinoceros Auklet, Ano Nuevo Island.

Many seabirds nest on islands in burrows which can collapse for several reasons including human foot traffic and pinniped activity. Año Nuevo is home to over 9,000 seabirds (and 18,000 marine mammals) and is thus one of the most important islands in California. Rhinoceros Auklets Cerorhinca monocerata were extirpated from California in the 1800s but have been re-colonizing their historical nesting sites … Read More

Tres Marias Islands and Revillagigedos Islands – 2002

seedlings

Using FIF Chariman Dick Spight’s boat and crew, Island Conservation and Ecology Group scientists visited the Marias islands off the west coast of Mexico to survey the native species and assess the need for eradication of nonnative species. Three of the four islands were confirmed to have introduced mammals, including rats, cats, goats and dogs. One island, San Juanito, was … Read More