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Conservation Education Program

We encourage an environmental ethic among students and community members by introducing them to birds of prey and nature.

School assemblies and guest lectures

A field biologist will travel to your location with a tame peregrine falcon to interpret our many projects with a focus on our role with the peregrine falcon population recovery. Assemblies and guest lectures are suitable for third grade through adult audiences.

We visit schools and community groups primarily in north-central California from the wine country, to Sacramento, to Fresno, to San Luis Obispo.

SCPBRG school assemblies focus on careers in conservation biology, peregrine falcon natural history, and our role in accelerating the recovery of the peregrine falcon from near extinction. A current focus of the presentation is a peregrine falcon nest on a downtown San Francisco building where a “nestcam” makes their activities visible to anyone with an internet connection. Slides are narrated to tell a story of science and action to help species near the brink of extinction. A tame peregrine falcon is displayed and always tethered to a perch during presentations. This is most appropriate for young people as they begin to form opinions about their world and futures, and informative for adults. The program lasts 45 minutes including time for Q & A. Please provide a projection screen in a room that may be DARKened for slides.

THANKS TO FUNDING FROM PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY, ORACLE CORPORATION, AND SEVERAL FOUNDATIONS

Nest camera and discussion forum We try to provide a nest camera each springtime that broadcasts the activities of peregrine falcons as they lay and incubate eggs, and then raise their young in a live, streaming format. An on-line discussion forum is available where members of the public may converse about the activities they see on camera and ask questions of SCPBRG biologists.

Redwood City Oracle Falcons

We were introduced to on-line peregrine falcon nest site viewing at the Oracle corporate headquarters in Redwood City, California. The nest was active in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Oracle engineers worked with SCPBRG to focus a camera on the nest and then linked to our web site for display of the images to the world. With Oracle’s help, we developed the school and community outreach program that reaches so many people today.

Nest Surveys - public participation

Each year we survey peregrine falcon nest sites in California for occupancy and productivity. A protocol for observers is posted elsewhere on this web site. Generally, we ask participants who agree to monitor a nest site to watch it for an uninterrupted period of 4 hours, or less if nest status is learned, so that we can add the information to our database. We have been monitoring nest sites in the state since 1975 and have the most comprehensive information available on California peregrine falcons.

Interns

We accept a limited number of interns during spring and summer to assist with field work. These positions vary from year to year and in most cases require a full-time commitment. We mentor interns as an investment in the future of conservation biology. Positions sometimes include a stipend but are most valuable as field experience for those considering a career in conservation biology.

Peregrine Falcon Release at UC Santa Cruz

We provide opportunities to see conservation in action at peregrine falcon release sites.