1579 

Sir Francis Drake's ships land on Farallon Islands, perhaps first humans there to take eggs and sea lion meat

1603 

Explorer Sebastian Vizcaino's map first to show location of the Farallon Islands

1709 

John Lawson publishes A NEW VOYAGE TO CAROLINA, includes list of animals seen

1712-19 

Mark Catesby's first visit to North America and Caribbean

1722-26 

Catesby's second stay in North America

1731-43 

Catesby publishes his NATURAL HISTORY OF CAROLINA, FLORIDA AND THE BAHAMA ISLANDS with numerous color drawings of birds new to European science

1735

Linnaeus publishes his first version of SYSTEMA NATURAE, establishing the Latin binomial system for scientifically labelling species.  From Catesby and others he draws descriptions of New World species

July 31, 1741 

Georg Wilhelm Steller, German scientist employed on Russian exploration led by Capt. Vitus Bering, lands on Kayak Island.  He is first European scientist to set foot on Alaskan soil.

1743

American Philosophical Society founded by Benjamin Franklin and others in Philadelphia

which remains center of American natural history study for a century

1749-88 

Publication of Buffon's comprehensive HISTOIRE NATURELLE, GENERALE ET PARTICULIERE

1751

John Bartram of Philadelphia publishes JOURNEY FROM PENNSYLVANIA TO ONONDAGA.

1759

English translation of A NATURAL AND CIVIL HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA published. By Miguel Venegas.  Using vernacular names he lists over thirty species of bird found in California.

1766

John Bartram publishes A DESCRIPTION OF EAST FLORIDA

1768-72 

Captain Cook's first voyage for Britain.  He explores Pacific, Joseph Banks is naturalist.

1769

Portola expedition from Mexico discovers San Francisco Bay.

German scientist Peter Pallas begins work at Aacademy of Science in St. Petersburg, using Steller's bird skins he gives first scientific descriptions of Tufted Puffin, Spectacled Eider, Parakeet and Crested Auklet, Short-tailed Albatross.

1772-5

Captain Cook's second Pacific voyage. Naturalists are J. G. Forster and his son, George.

1773

John Abbott emigrates to Georgia, becomes foremost natural history collector and artist.

1773-7

William Bartram, son of John, spends these years in Florida and Gulf coast area.

1775

Spanish sailor, Capt. Ayal, is first European to sail into San Francisco Bay.

Captain James Cook leaves on his third expedition to the Pacific.

1776

DeAnza expedition camps at Mountain Lake, San Francisco.  The Presidio and Mission Dolores both founded: cattle, horses, burros, sheep and pigs released into the wild.

American Declaration of Independence.

1779

Captain Cook killed by Hawaiians during his third Pacific voyage.  On this voyage his expedition visited the northwest coast of America--over 120 bird species represented in the specimens from this voyage, many were new species from North America and Hawaii.

1781-5 

John Latham publishes GENERAL SYNOPSIS OF BIRDS, describing new species collected by Cook expedition.  Among these birds new to science: Rufous Hummingbird, Varied Thrush, Surfbird, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Marbled Murrelet and many Hawaiian species like Iiwi, the native rail and Elepaio.

1784-7 

Thomas Pennant publishes ARCTIC ZOOLOGY.  He gave Blackburnian Warbler its English name.  Much of his material was used by Latham who beat him into print and later by Gmelin in giving Latin names to many North American bird species for the first time.

1785-8 

John Francis Galaup de la Perouse voyage to the Pacific from France.  His expedition visits Monterey, Alaska and Hawaii.  Expediton lost at in 1788 but some collections and records had been sent back to France previously.

1785-93 

Capt. Billings' voyages around the North Pacific for Russian Empire.

1788-93 

J. F. Gmelin publishes 13th edition of SYSTEMA NATURAE, giving scientific names to birds described by Latham, Pennant and earlier Russian scientists, including the Steller's Jay collected in 1741.

1791

William Bartram publishes TRAVELS THROUGH NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA, EAST AND WEST FLORIDA.

1791-5

Capt. George Vancouver explores Pacific Coast of North America for Britain; naturalist on board is Archibald Menzies. They stop in Monterey and San Francisco. Menzies collects first Douglas fir.

1794

Alexander Wilson arrives in America after emigrating from Scotland.

Thomas Bewick, using woodcuts, begins publishing HISTORY OF BRITISH BIRDS.

1800

San Francisco's population: 867

1802

Alexander Wilson meets William Bartram.  Lt. Meriwether Lewis studies natural history with Bartram.

1803

Louisiana Purchase.  President Jefferson send Lewis & Clark Expedition across the continent.  They reach Astoria, returning to east in 1805.  Many of the birds and plants they collected are lost, but they bring back specimens of new species, including Western Tanager, Clark's Nutcracker and Lewis's Woodpecker.

1805-6

Langsdorff in California with Russian expedition led by Count Rezanov. 

1807 

First known egg collecting, fur seal and sea otter slaughter by a Yankee ship on Farallon Islands

1808

Thomas Nuttall arrives in Philadelphia from England. He meets William Bartram and begins studying American natural history, especially botany and birds.

1808-14 

Alexander Wilson publishes his AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY, final sections completed by George Ord after Wilson's death in 1813.

1810-11 

Thomas Nuttall explores the Great Lakes & Midwest

1810 

Fur-hunters on Farallones collect 30,000 fur seal pelts in five months

1811 

Fur-hunters on Farallones collect 53,000 fur seal pelts in five months

1815-6

Nuttall on his first expedition to the southeastern U.S.

1816 

Russian expedition of Otto von Kotzebue arrives in San Francisco

1817 

Russians establish permanent fur-hunting post on the Farallon Islands

1818

First American conservation law; state of Massachussetts protects Robins

British expedition under Captain John Ross sails into Arctic.  Naturalist is Joseph Sabine.

1818-20

Nuttall explores the Arkansas River Valley

1819-20

Thomas Say is naturalist on Lt. Stephen Long's expedition to explore Colorado and the Rockies. New bird species he discovered: Lazuli Bunting, Long-billed Dowitcher, Orange-crowned Warbler, Rock Wren, Band-tailed Pigeon, Blue Grouse, Lesser Goldfinch, Western Kingbird, Yellow-headed  Blackbird and his namesake, Say's Phoebe.

1819-22 

British Capt. John Franklin's first Arctic expedition, as British continue to seek northwest passage.

1820-23 

British ornithologist, William Swainson, published his ZOOLOGICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.  First book to use lithography.

1823

William Bartram dies in Philadelphia.

Spencer Fullerton Baird is born.

1823-7

David Douglas in the western part of North America, collecting botanical specimens.

1826 

J. J. Audubon begins to publish his BIRDS OF AMERICA in folio size.  Visits Europe, meets Bewick, Macgillivray, Swainson, et al.

1826-7

British Captain Frederick Beechey on Pacific expedition visits San Francisco and Monterey. His naturalist collects many new species, including Beechey Ground-squirrel, Pygmy Nuthatch, California Towhee.

1827-8 

Dr. Paolo Botta on French ship commanded by Captain Duhart-Cilly in San Francisco and along California Coast. Collects first specimen of Anna's Hummingbird in San Francisco.

1827-8 

Friedrich Kittlitz on Russian expedition to California and eastern Pacific.

1828 

50,000 seabird carcasses shipped from Farallones to Fort Ross for eating

1830 

Nuttall makes his second southeastern U.S. trip.

1831-9 

Audubon publishes his ORNITHOLOGICAL BIOGRAPHY, much of it written by William Macgillivray based on Audubon's notes and dictation.  MacGillivray had never been to America but was trained naturalist.

1832-6

Charles Darwin on board the "Beagle."

1834-6

Nuttall and John Kirk Townsend on Pacific Coast.  They discover several new species including Townsend's namesake warbler, Green-tailed Towhee, Black-footed Albatross, Lark Bunting, Sage Thrasher, Bushtit, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Hermit Warbler, Tricolored Blackbird, Mountain Plover, Western Gull, Townsend's Solitaire, Vaux's Swift, Harris's Sparrow, MacGillivray's Warbler and Chestnut-collared Longspur.

1835

Audubon meets John Ross in London and studies his specimens from the Arctic.

1836

Nuttall meets up with Dana, his former student, in San Diego.  Dana on whaling trip that leads to his famous TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MAST.

1840-44

Audubon's BIRDS OF AMERICA appears in smaller format, popular edition.

1841

William Gambel walks to California via Santa Fe, discovers several new bird species including Nuttall's Woodpecker and his namesake quail.

Nuttall leaves America to return to family farm in England, effectively ending his career as naturalist.

Russians leave Farallon Islands, the fur seal extirpated, other mammal and bird populations greatly reduced.

1843

Audubon goes on final expedition, up the MIssouri River.  Recognizes the Western Meadowlark is new species based on its song. Also collects first recognized specimens of Brewer's Blackbird, Bell's Vireo, Sprague's Pipit.

1844

Great Auk goes extinct.

1845

Gambel returns to Philadelphia with many California specimens, including first known Wrentit.

1849

William Gambel on his second trip to California.  Sickens and dies.

Dr. Adolphus Heermann arrives in California to collect birds.

California Gold Rush, leads to insatiable appetite for eggs, many from the farallones.

1850

Spencer Fullerton Baird appointed to the staff of the newly created Smithsonian.

John G. Bell collects birds in California, including first known Lawrence's Goldfinch.

1851

Audubon dies at age 66.

Townsend dies at age 42, from probable arsenic poisoning.

John H. Clark collects specimens for Baird while working on Mexican Boundary Survey.  Discovers his namesake grebe.

1852

Heermann returns to Philadelphia with 1200 birds skins including first of his namesake gull.

Construction begins on first Farallones lighthouse.  Soon feral rabbits were released and cats run wild.

1853

Heermann returns to California with expedition led by Lt. Williamson for whom sapsucker is named.

Academy of Sciences founded in San Francisco.

1853-6

John Cassin begins to publish ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA, TEXAS, OREGON, BRITISH AND RUSSIAN AMERICA.  Work never completed but first volume includes new species found by Gambel and Heermann: Hutton's Vireo, Heermann's Gull, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Wrentit.

1854

Over half million seabird eggs gathered on Farallones in two months, sold to stores and restaurants.

1855

First known Williamson's Sapsucker collected by Army's railroad survey near Klamath, Oregon.

1860

Baird, John Cassin and George Lawrence publish their CATALOGUE OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.

Teenager Elliot Coues, discovers his first new species.  A Baird Sandpiper mixed in with other specimens at the Smithsonian.  Thus begins career of America's top 19th Century ornithologist.

1869

Cassin dies of arsenic poisoning for constant handling of preserved bird skins, bathed in arsenic powder.

1870

Dr. J. G. Cooper publishes ORNITHOLOGY OF CALIFORNIA, first book to focus on state's birds.

1871

English Sparrow first present in San Francisco.  Within a decade it was generally found throughout the Bay Area.

1872

Coues on survey of US/Canada border; publishes his KEY TO NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.

1873

Nuttall Ornithology Club formed in Boston: Henshaw and Brewster among its members.

1875

Last known specimen of Labrador Duck killed.

Dr. Thomas Brewer, Baird and Robert Ridgway publish HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.

1877

Charles Allen, working on Mailliard's Nicasio Ranch, finds first recognized specimen of Allen's Hummingbird.  That year he also finds first ever Hermit Warbler nest high in a Sierra tree.

1883

First meeting of the American Ornithological Union in New York City.

1886

Wilson Ornithological Club founded.

1895

Chapman publishes his HANDBOOK OF THE BIRDS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES.

1896

Massachussetts Audubon Society founded.

Commercial egging banned on Farallones.  This final year less than 100,000 eggs collected.

1897

Mabel Wright and Elliott Coues publish CITIZEN BIRD, with over 100 drawings by teenage bird artist Louis Fuertes.

1899

John Muir, Louis Fuertes and other naturalists on Edward Harriman expedition to Alaska.

1900

Frank Chapman organizes the first-ever Christmas Bird Count.

United States passes Lacey Act to prohibit interstate trade in skins of protected birds.

Florence Merriam Bailey publishes BIRDS THROUGH AN OPERA GLASS, first sign that binoculars would replace the shotgun as a way of studying birds in the field.

1901

National confederation of Audubon Societies formed

1904

Ralph Hoffman publishes his GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF NEW ENGLAND.

1905

Egging by Farallones lighthouse crew stopped.

1906

Chester Reed publishes his GUIDE TO LAND BIRDS & GUIDE TO WATER BIRDS, for area east of Rockies.

1909

North and Middle Farallon Islands made national wildlife reservation by Theodore Roosevelt.

1913

Chester Reed publishes his WESTERN BIRD GUIDE.

Migratory Bird Act passed in U.S.

First Christmas Bird Count team tops 100 species.  It is Ornithologist William Dawson and bird artist Allen

Brooks in San Diego County.

UC Berkeley scientist, Joseph Dixon, collects first known Thayer's Gull in Alaska.

1914

Passenger Pigeon goes extinct

1915

First Bay Area Christmas Bird Count: Berkeley

1916

San Francisco's first Christmas Bird Count

1917

Golden Gate Audubon Society founded, begins work to stop waste oil dumping from ships at sea.

1918

Carolina Parakeet goes extinct.

1923

William Dawson publishes his then-definitive, multi-volume BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA.

Steinhart Aquarium opened.

1925

Seventeen year old Roger Tory Peterson meets Ludlow H. Griscom and Louis Fuertes at A.O.U. meeting.

1926

McLaren Park created.

1927

Joseph Dixon discovers first known Surfbird nest in mountains of Alaska.

1928

Margaret Nice meets Song Sparrow 4M.

1929

First U.S. law creating national wildlife refuges.

Florence Merriam Bailey becomes first woman elected to the American Ornithologists' Union.

1930

Joseph Mailliard, who learned much about birds from Charles Allen, publishes BIRDS OF GOLDEN GATE PARK. Birds then common in the park included: Spotted Towhee, Yellow Warbler (breeding), American Pipit, California Quail, Robin (though it was recent arrival), Bewick's Wren, American Kestrel, Yellowthroat, Pintail, Eared Grebe.

Uncommon birds then: California Towhee, Red-shouldered Hawk, all corvids, Mourning Dove, Pygmy Nuthatch.

(not even mentioned), all herons and egrets, Ring-necked Duck, Starlings (not in area yet).

1932

First Northern Mockingbird seen in San Francisco by Joseph Mailliard.

First record of Hooded Oriole nesting in Santa Cruz.

Heath Hen goes extinct.

1934

Roger Tory Peterson publishes his first FIELD GUIDE.

1935

First Oakland Christmas Bird Count.

1938

Rosalie Edge creates Hawk Mountain Sanctuary to protect migrating hawks.

1939

First recorded sighting of Hooded Oriole in San Francisco.

Guy Enmerson sees 497 species in a single year, a current at the time.

1941

Peterson publishes his FIELD GUIDE TO WESTERN BIRDS.

First record of Hooded Oriole nesting in Oakland.

1942

First European Starlings seen in California: Tulelake in northeastern corner of the state.

1944

UC Berkeley ornithologist, Joseph Grinnell, publishes definitive work on distribution of California birds.

1953

Roger Tory Peterson records 527 species in North America in single year as he makes trips recorded in WILD AMERICA, pub. 1955.

1959

The once abundant Common Murre population reaches a breeding season low of less than 6000 birds.

1961

First vagrant found at Point Reyes.

1962

First Cattle Egret seen in California.

First Black Skimmer seen in California, now breeding in South Bay.

Last confirmed sighting of Bachman's Warbler in the U.S.

1965

Point Reyes Bird Observatory founded.

1966

Sutro Baths burned down.

First record of Eurasian Starling in San Francisco.

1967

Point Reyes Bird Observatory founded.

1968 

American Birding Association founded.

1969

Great-tailed Grackle: first confirmed nesting in California, Imperial County.

Southeast Farallones protected as part of expanded Farallones National Wildlife Refuge.

1970 

Point Reyes Bird Observatory becomes caretaker of Farallones under contract to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

1972

Rhinoceros Auklets resume breeding on Farallones.

DDT banned in United States.  Peregrine and Brown Pelican populations begin to recover.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area created.

1973

First elephant seal pup born on Farallones in more than a century.

1974

First Marbled Murrelet nests discovered in old-growth forests along coast south of San Francisco.

1973

U.S. passes ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT.

1975

Last feral rabbit on Farallones killed

1976

Harlequin Duck, last recorded nesting in Sierra foothills where bird was once regular.

1979

Farallones: 60,000 Common Murre, 105,000 Cassin's Auklets, 100 Tufted Puffin, 100 Rhino Auklet, 4000 Ashy Storm-Petrel, 1400 Leach's Storm-Petrel, 3000 Pigeon Guillemot.  Only 15 Western Gulls breeding on Alcatraz.

1981

Pigeon Guillemot first known breeding at Alcatraz.

1982

224 breeding pair of Western Gulls on Alcatraz.

Last sighting of an Eskimo Curlew, in Canada.

1984

World Series of birding founded  by Peter Dunne in New Jersey.

1987

Last confirmed Ivory-billed Woodpecker sighting, Cuba.

1994

Presidio's 1480 acres added to the GGNRA.

1996

First baby northern fur seal born on Farallones in over a century.

1998

Steller's Jays confirmed present in San Francisco, and breeding.

San Francisco birders hold their first Big Year Contest, over 270 species seen within the city limits.

2000

David Allen Sibley publishes his GUIDE TO BIRDS.

2002

Birders confirm that Yellow-billed Magpies are resident in San Francisco at Hunter's Point.

Seabird breeding populations (Farallones, Alcatraz): Brandt's Cormorant  9500(F), 13000(A). Western Gull  25000(F), 15000(A).  Pigeon Guillemot  500(F), 1500(A).  Pelagic Cormorant 450(F), 400(A).