Pt. Molate Shoreline Osprey Pre-nesting Season Cleanup

Leader: Janet Carpinelli, jcarpinelli@goldengatebirds.org

Date: Saturday, February 17

Description: Join us for this special event to clean-up Pt Molate shoreline habitat before the Osprey begin foraging for this year's nesting materials. This February date is selected for its seasonal super low tide which will expose more possible materials dangerous to the Osprey. Many established Osprey pairs will be returning to the area to begin to refurbish their nests, which deteriorate every fall and winter after the nesting season ends. 

Ospreys have a propensity to incorporate a wide variety of materials into their nests, some of which can be treacherous for adults and nestlings. Particularly problematic are synthetic rope and cord as well as monofilament. The legs of the Osprey nestlings can become entangled causing them to be tethered to nest material as they begin to practice flying. This can lead to constriction wounds that can be fatal if not treated quickly. In fact, in 2018 one Osprey nestling on the tub nest at Pt. Molate had this happen which led to the foot amputating and to its death. Two other such Osprey nestlings at the ports of Richmond and Oakland were captured quickly enough that the cord could be removed and the wounds treated, allowing return to their nests and successful fledging. 

Bring your water bottle, wear closed-toe shoes and weather appropriate clothing including dress in layers with long pants and long sleeved shirt. To save resources, please bring your own gloves, buckets/sturdy bags and pickers if you have them but we will also provide these items. Restroom located in Pt Molate Beach parking lot which you will pass on way to site. Please use it before continuing on to the site as there is no Porta Potty there. We will have a break at 11:30am for anyone wanting to go back to use the Porta Potty.

Registration Cap: 30 participants max

Directions:

Ignore the address on Google maps, please use these directions instead. A map will also be emailed a few days before the event.
From 580 West: take exit 7A for Stenmark Dr. It’s the very last exit before the toll booths, they are in sight by the time Exit 7A arrives. The park (and the porta potty) is on the left after about a mile. Ignore the address on Google maps. Directions continue at the first bullet below.
From 580 East (Richmond Bridge): Point Molate can only be reached from 580 West. Take the very first exit after crossing the Richmond Bridge (Exit 7 toward 80), follow the frontage road almost a mile until it turns left under 580, then get onto 580 west-bound. Follow 580 about a mile, then take exit 7A for Stenmark Dr as above. Directions continue at the first bullet below.

• Stop at the porta potty in Point Molate Beach Park first if needed.
• Continue north along Stenmark Dr.(away from the Richmond Bridge) for 1 kilometer.
• Turn left off Stenmark Dr. onto gravel road at the GGBA sign/white fire hydrant (GPS coordinates 37.947678, -122.416108) and stop at Gate 6. (If you see the small houses on the right, you’ve gone too far on Stenmark Dr.)
• You will be met at the gate and given a map and further instructions.
• Please be on time. The gate will be locked at 10:12 am. Anyone needing to leave the cleanup area will need to find a team leader to let them out. We will have a carpool to the Porta Potty at Pt. Molate Beach Park at 11:30am

Google Map

Registration will open Monday, January 1 at 1pm and closes on Tuesday, February 13 at 11pm.