ABOUT THE PROJECT

Every spring through summer, volunteers play a vital role in protecting the California Least Tern, the smallest tern species in North America and one of California's endangered coastal birds.

Breeding along the Pacific coast from San Pablo Bay, California, to San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, California Least Terns nest directly on open beaches and shorelines. This leaves their eggs and chicks especially vulnerable to predators, human disturbance, and habitat loss, making volunteer monitoring an essential part of the species' recovery.

We began volunteering with the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory's (SFBBO) South Bay Tern Watch Program in 2024 at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve and have returned each nesting season since. After spending more than 40 hours monitoring the colony during our first season, we were inspired to explore how thoughtful design could support conservation. We created a series of posters and stickers to encourage more people to volunteer with SFBBO's South Bay Tern Watch Program.

Disclaimer: No AI tools were used in the creation of this poster.

TOOLS USED

Every tool played a role in translating our field experience into the final poster.

  • Sketchbook: Every element began on paper. Vinish explored different compositions and visual ideas using pencil and pen before moving into a digital workflow.

  • Camera(Sony Alpha 7 II + phone): Photographs taken during our volunteer surveys were used to study the California Least Tern's anatomy, behavior, and habitat, providing reference material for the illustrations.

  • Adobe Photoshop: The primary application used to illustrate and design the poster.

  • Wacom Tablet: Used for digital illustration and inking.

  • Custom Photoshop Brushes: Texture brushes and halftone dot effects helped recreate the look of vintage comic books.

  • Textured Paper Overlay: A digital mildew textured paper look added subtle wear and character, completing the classic comic book aesthetic.

COLOR PALETTE

The color palette was inspired by both the California Least Tern and the look of vintage printed comic books.

We worked primarily in CMYK, embracing the slight overlaps and halftone dots that give old printed posters their distinctive character. The core palette of black, white, and gray reflects the plumage of the California Least Tern, while yellow draws attention to the bird's most recognizable feature, its bright bill, making it the focal color of the composition.

A blue gradient provides contrast and depth while echoing the open skies over Eden Landing Ecological Reserve, where we spent our time monitoring the colony. Finally, brown was reserved for the map and informational elements, giving them a neutral, archival feel without competing with the illustration

TYPOGRAPHY

The typography balances impact with clarity, helping guide the viewer through the poster.

  • Title. Hisyam: A bold, heavy display font chosen to immediately capture attention while conveying the importance of the conservation message.

  • Body Text. Neue Haas Grotesk Display: A clean, modern sans serif selected for its clarity and readability, ensuring the supporting information remains accessible.

  • Scientific Details. Source Code Pro: A monospaced typeface used for the scientific name and map coordinates, adding a subtle field-note aesthetic that reflects the scientific and data-driven nature of the monitoring program.

FINAL PRINT

The poster was designed with distribution in mind, making it easy for SFBBO to display and share with the community.

  • Paper: Matte finish to reduce glare and improve readability.

  • Size: 8 × 11 inches, making it easy to pin on community notice boards, library bulletin boards, visitor centers, and other public spaces.

  • Print Run: 100 copies donated to the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO) to support volunteer recruitment for future South Bay Tern Watch seasons.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Protecting the California Least Tern is a collaborative effort that spans the state's coastline, bringing stakeholders together to safeguard nesting colonies and monitor breeding success. In the San Francisco Bay, the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO) coordinates volunteer monitoring at the California Least Tern colony in Eden Landing Ecological Reserve through its South Bay Tern Watch program. Volunteers observe the colony, record nesting activity, and report predators to SFBBO biologists. These efforts provide critical data on breeding success while helping conservation teams respond to threats, making volunteers an essential part of the California Least Tern's recovery.

Least Tern Monitoring Program
Become a Volunteer

Poster at ARCH Art Supplies,
San Francisco

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you to Sirena Lao for introducing us to the California Least Tern through the 2023 SFBBO field trip, Arun and Rajani for sharing their experiences as Least Tern monitors, and Maddy, Cole, and Laura from SFBBO for helping us get started through online and field trainings. And to everyone we have carpooled with at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve.

REFERENCES

California Least Tern (Sterna antillarum browni) | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. (n.d.). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved July 16, 2026, from https://www.fws.gov/species/california-least-tern-sterna-antillarum-browni

Lao, S. (n.d.). Least Tern Monitoring Program. San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory. Retrieved July 16, 2026, from https://www.sfbbo.org/letemonitoring.html