SAN FRANCISCO BAY BIRD OBSERVATORY

What SAN FRANCISCO BAY BIRD OBSERVATORY does

San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1981 and headquartered in San Jose, California, that conducts avian science, habitat restoration, and environmental education across the San Francisco Bay Area. Its mission is to promote regional sustainability by generating and sharing long-term bird population data with resource managers, policymakers, and the scientific community, while engaging volunteers and students in field-based conservation work.

SFBBO's core operational portfolio is built around a set of interconnected research programs rather than commercial products. These include a long-term bird banding station at Coyote Creek Field Station in Milpitas; the Colonial Waterbird Nest Monitoring program (operating since 1982 across 76 active colonies and 82 sites in 2025); the Plover and Tern Recovery Program (Western Snowy Plovers and Forster's Terns, including Motus tag tracking); the Western Burrowing Owl Research program (covering over 700 acres of enhanced habitat); the Avian Disease Prevention Program (since 1982, including South Bay avian botulism surveillance); and tidal marsh restoration as part of the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project (e.g., 35,000 plants grown for a 2-mile levee planting at Don Edwards NWR). Technical methods include mist-netting, standardized colony monitoring protocols developed in 2020, statistical fledgling production algorithms, and a first-of-its-kind rangewide phalarope migratory dynamics model. Educational offerings include free middle and high school curricula, the annual Kids Bird Art Contest, Birdy Hours, bird walks, and partnerships with Title I schools through Marshmallow Minds.

SFBBO is funded through individual donations (including a "donate what you can" membership model with free student memberships), foundation and government grants (State Coastal Conservancy, Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, USFWS Section 6, California Department of Fish and Wildlife), municipal contracts (Cities of San Jose and Sunnyvale for avian disease prevention), and corporate sponsorship. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors with Co-Chairs Lynne Trulio and Bruce Paton, and is led by Executive Director Chris Overington with five Science Directors overseeing discrete programs. Operating reach is regional (Bay Area and select extensions into Suisun Marsh and Mono Lake), and the organization engages more than 1,000 volunteers and 2,000 students/adults at 75+ events annually.

Name

SAN FRANCISCO BAY BIRD OBSERVATORY

Legal name

San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory

Website

https://sfbbo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SFBBO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1981 in San Jose, California, that conducts long-term avian population research, tidal marsh restoration, and environmental education across the San Francisco Bay Area, sharing datasets with federal, state, and academic partners and engaging over 1,000 volunteers annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Jose

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Individual Contributions: SFBBO receives donations from individuals through direct appeals, Spring Appeals, Fall Challenges, and general giving campaigns. The organization promotes leaving a legacy for Bay Area birds through planned giving.
2. Membership Program: SFBBO offers memberships with a 'donate what you can' approach to lower barriers to participation. Free memberships are offered to students.
3. Foundation and Grant Funding: SFBBO receives funding from foundations including the State Coastal Conservancy, Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency, and Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District for specific projects.
4. Government Contracts: SFBBO receives funding from City of San Jose and City of Sunnyvale for avian disease prevention programs, and Section 6 grants from US Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
5. Corporate Support: SFBBO partners with Bay Area companies for corporate support and sponsorship of programs and events.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO) is a nonprofit research and conservation organization that conducts long-term avian population monitoring, endangered species recovery (Western Snowy Plovers, Forster's Terns, Western Burrowing Owls), tidal marsh habitat restoration, and avian disease prevention across the San Francisco Bay Area. It operates field research stations including the Coyote Creek Field Station, manages a network of community science volunteers, and delivers environmental education programs to schools and the general public.

Product overview

SFBBO is a nonprofit research organization offering a portfolio of interconnected avian science and conservation programs rather than a unified commercial product. The core offerings include: long-term bird banding research at Coyote Creek Field Station; endangered species recovery for Snowy Plovers and Forster's Terns; tidal marsh restoration as part of the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project; colonial waterbird nest monitoring; avian disease prevention; and Western Burrowing Owl research. These programs are supported by volunteer community science initiatives and environmental education activities including curriculum for schools and youth programs like the Kids Bird Art Contest. The organization shares its research data with resource managers, scientists, and policymakers to inform conservation decisions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bird Banding Research (Coyote Creek Field Station) A long-term bird banding station in Milpitas, California that collects data on resident and migrating birds through mist-netting and banding operations. Outputs inform regional avian conservation and population trend analyses.
• Plover and Tern Recovery Program (Endangered Species Recovery)

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.25 million birds counted and data shared annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Audubon Canyon RanchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024In 2024, Audubon Canyon Ranch ended their North Bay monitoring program and SFBBO took over 44 colonies in Marin, Sonoma, Napa, and northern Contra Costa counties. Collaborates on the Annotated Atlas of Heron and Egret Nesting Colonies.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFBBO shares long-term colonial waterbird data with USFWS through partnership with Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Received Section 6 grant funding for endangered species recovery work including Snowy Plover Motus tag tracking research.
• Wildlife Center of Silicon ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFBBO brings rescued sick and injured birds to the Wildlife Center for treatment. Birds rescued in early stages of avian botulism have a 70% recovery rate.
• South Bay Salt Pond Restoration ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFBBO's tidal marsh restoration program is part of this larger project - one of the largest wetlands restoration efforts in the country. The project focuses on restoring about three-fifths the size of Disney World back to tidal marsh habitat.
• Latino Outdoors (SF Bay Area Chapter)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSFBBO partnered with Latino Outdoors for public programs and staff participated in panels focusing on BIPOC experiences to increase inclusivity in conservation.
• Marshmallow MindssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational nonprofit partnership to create bird-focused curriculum and hands-on science activities, primarily serving Title I schools with low-income BIPOC students.
• Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife RefugecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFBBO conducts Burrowing Owl research and habitat enhancement at the Warm Springs Unit. Hosts native plant nursery for restoration projects.
• Valley WatersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Project providing support for levee construction and restoration efforts.
• Point Blue Conservation SciencesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFBBO volunteer bird banders get certified through Point Blue Conservation Science. Collaboration on avian research and data sharing.
• H.T. Harvey & AssociatessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcological consulting firm partner in restoration projects including South Bay Salt Pond Restoration and levee planting efforts.
• Scott Stevens Lab (San Jose State University)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to band and GPS-track California Gulls to study foraging patterns as part of gull abatement monitoring expanded to Suisun Marsh.
• Midpeninsula Regional Open Space DistrictsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with Midpen and Pathways for Wildlife to conduct Burrowing Owl surveys in Santa Cruz Mountains investigating owl use of badger burrows.
• San Jose State UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFBBO Science Director Lynne Trulio is a professor at SJSU. Students participate in field experiences and graduate students use bird banding data for theses.
• UC Santa CruzsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple faculty serve as Science Advisors. SOAR program brings hundreds of college students to Coyote Creek Field Station.
• Talon Ecological Research GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Burrowing Owl management and conservation efforts in the Bay Area.
• Santa Clara Valley Audubon SocietysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Burrowing Owl protection efforts in Santa Clara County.
• Peninsula Open Space TrustsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiscussed partnership to increase participation in outdoor stewardship activities.
• Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFBBO partners with OWCN to train and provide volunteers for potential oil spill response.
• Mono Lake CommitteesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization working on saline lake conservation; collaborated on comments to State Water Board regarding Mono Lake water diversions.
• International Bird RescuesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced as resource for wildlife rehabilitation information related to avian diseases.
• Hispanic FoundationsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerReceived job posting announcements to increase reach to underrepresented communities in conservation.
• African American Community ServicessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerReceived job posting announcements to increase reach to underrepresented communities.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• National Audubon Society: The largest U.S. bird conservation organization with regional chapters (e.g., Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society is an SFBBO partner); operates many of the same avian conservation, policy, and habitat restoration programs at a national scale.
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology: The leading global ornithology research institution operating eBird and Birds of the World; SFBBO participates in similar citizen-science bird monitoring at a regional scale, and Cornell's publications and tooling shape the ecosystem SFBBO operates in.
• American Bird Conservancy: National nonprofit focused on habitat conservation and endangered species recovery across the Americas; overlaps with SFBBO's Snowy Plover recovery work and broader avian conservation mission at a much larger geographic and budget scale.

Direct peers

• Bird Conservancy of the Rockies: Regional bird conservation nonprofit running long-term monitoring, banding, and habitat programs across the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains — direct functional peer in program structure, citizen-science deployment, and government-funded avian monitoring.
• Great Basin Bird Observatory: Nevada-based nonprofit conducting avian point-count surveys, banding, and conservation research across the Great Basin — directly comparable mission, citizen-science approach, and program structure to SFBBO.
• Point Blue Conservation Science: Formerly PRBO, Point Blue is a Bay Area-based conservation science nonprofit that runs long-term bird monitoring, banding stations, and shorebird surveys on the Pacific coast — directly overlapping SFBBO's avian research and citizen-science methodology.
• Audubon Canyon Ranch: Northern California conservation nonprofit focused on heron, egret, and colonial waterbird monitoring across the Bay Area; SFBBO directly absorbed ACR's North Bay program in 2024, demonstrating direct overlap in mission, geography, and methodology.
• Klamath Bird Observatory: Oregon-based nonprofit running long-term bird banding, monitoring, and avian conservation research — a near-perfect functional peer to SFBBO's Coyote Creek Field Station and waterbird monitoring operations.
• Institute for Bird Populations: California-based nonprofit running the Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) program — the standardized bird-banding and demographic monitoring network that SFBBO's banding protocols integrate with.

Emerging players

• Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey: Multi-organization shorebird monitoring initiative covering the Pacific Flyway; SFBBO's Annual Bay Area Shorebird Survey contributes data to this broader effort and represents a peer program in shorebird population monitoring.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SFBayBirdObservatory/playlists
• Facebookfacebook.com/birdsSF
• Instagraminstagram.com/sfbbo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/san-francisco-bay-bird-observatory-inc-

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about SAN FRANCISCO BAY BIRD OBSERVATORY