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Our Work

A fireman walks away from a controlled burn.
Burning Question: How Can Fire Actually Benefit an Ecosystem?

In October, the terrible wildfires in the North Bay reminded us of the destructive power of fire. But can that power actually be harnessed for the benefit of nature and landscapes? Learn more from Greg Jones, the Fire Engine Chief at Golden Gate.

bat monitoring
Interview with the Tam-pire: Bat Biologist Discusses Ongoing Study in Marin

Bats are much more than a spooky and superhero symbol: They’re a seldom-studied species that are important to the overall health of an ecosystem. In Marin County, researchers have recently started studying populations and colonies of the these nocturnal, winged animal.

Waves crash before the Golden Gate Bridge
9 Basic pHactoids About Ocean Acidification

After the successful workshop in late September focusing on ocean acidification, Maria Eller, a Climate Education Fellow at the Institute at the Golden Gate, shares the top factoids (pHactoids?) and what you can do, as an individual and a community member, to curb its rise. You almost might learn a thing or two about BayCLIC, a climate education consortium.

Coyote Brush
Discover the (Hidden) Changes of the Fall Season in the Golden Gate National Parks

Our trees may not change even a hue and our weather may not get much chillier, but you can find hints of more “traditional” autumn phenomena in the Golden Gate National Parks. Save yourself the plane ticket to the Northeast, and find the fall in the national parks in your backyard.

GGRO intern Kris Vanesky examines blood cells
GGRO Publications

To date, the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (GGRO) has published 26 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals, contributed to Master's and PhD candidates' research, and given more than 100 presentations at national and international conferences.

Tracking raptors
GGRO Research Overview

The Golden Gate Raptor Observatory coordinates volunteer scientists to monitor and track the autumn raptor migration over the Marin Headlands.

Color bands are secondary markers on banded birds
Band Recoveries

When banded hawks subsequently encountered by humans are—hopefully—reported to the US Bird Banding Laboratory, the GGRO receives a report of where the bird was found and what the circumstances were.

Intern Laura Echavez learning to hold a Red-tailed Hawk
GGRO Internships

 GGRO Raptor Migration Interns split their time evenly between the banding and hawkwatch programs, and work with a large and dedicated group of volunteer community scientists on a daily basis.

person with binoculars
Daily Hawk Count

Visit this page during the fall migration season (mid-August to early-December) for daily count totals.

GGRO bander Ari La Porte examines a Sharp-shinned Hawk
Raptor Banding

Specially trained volunteers sit in small blinds in the hills of the Headlands, trapping and banding raptors and taking measurements and health data.