Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary
Richardson Bay

About Richardson Bay Audubon Center and Sanctuary

We protect San Francisco Bay by engaging people in conservation leadership and volunteer opportunities

Our Mission

Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary staff and volunteers work to preserve and improve sustainable access to habitat in our Sanctuary and throughout San Francisco Bay for birds and people. We use our site as an outdoor classroom to inspire stewardship and engage future conservation leaders of all backgrounds and identities in our community.

Since 1957, Richardson Bay Audubon Center and Sanctuary has stewarded this vital section of shoreline in Marin County, California.  

The sanctuary is located on Richardson Bay, part of the larger San Francisco Bay Area, and covers 10.5 acres of uplands and 900 acres of subtidal bay. We are part of a nation-wide network of National Audubon Society nature centers, chapters, and programs focused on bird conservation and public engagement. The public is welcome to explore our site Monday through Friday between 9am and 5pm, and occasional Saturdays (9am-5pm).

Please understand our site is a wildlife sanctuary. Pets are not allowed.
Meet the Staff

Casey Skinner

San Francisco Bay Program Director

Paige Fernandez

San Francisco Bay Program Manager

Emily Ohman

Senior Coordinator - Community Building

Mia Rosati

Community Conservation Fellow

A female Wood Duck leads two medium-sized ducklings across a pond covered in duckweed.

The History of Richardson Bay Audubon Center and Sanctuary

Richardson Bay was once slated to become a business area and residential marina with as many as 2,000 homes until the local community and Audubon stepped in to save it for nature.
Read about it
Black bird with a red-orange bill and yellow eye runs across a mudflat

Annual Sanctuary Closure

Please note that the sanctuary is closed to boat traffic and in-water activities, including kayaking and paddle boarding, from October 1st to March 31st each year to provide shelter for migrating waterbirds.
Watch a Video About the Annual Sanctuary Closures