This is one of eight embroidered patches created for the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex via the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society. These patches are awarded to volunteers as they complete a set number of work hours at each Refuge, and are sold at the Visitor’s Center to help raise money to support volunteer efforts.

Each patch represents key species found in one of the seven Refuges, with an additional patch representing the complex as a whole. I worked closely with Refuge biologists to ensure each species was rendered faithfully within the 10-color limit imposed by the embroidery process.

In the patch representing Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, a common murre (Uria aalge) suns itself in the foreground. Behind, the silhouette of a northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) is set upon the rocks. In the distance, a rock arch typical of the island coastline juts out of the water.

The Farallon Islands National Wildlife refuge is surrounded by one of the most spectacular & biodiverse marine ecosystems on the planet. While created to protect seabirds and marine mammals, the refuge also supports rare bird species and feeding grounds for whales and white sharks.