Re: Upper San Leandro Reservoir - EBMUD
permit required
Thu, 31 Jan 2002 07:45:22 -0800
From: Lory Poulson
For those unfamiliar with Upper San Leandro Reservoir, note that an East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) trail permit is required. You can request a permit by calling or e-mailing EBMUD; an application will be mailed to you, and you can hike with the temporary copy provided. (You might be able to drive over to an office and get it on the spot ... not sure. The web site lists several locations.)
We were helped by:
Rosie Mick, Executive Secretary
Natural Resources Dept., M.S. 902
Ph: 510/287-0548; Fax: 510/287-0541
EBMUD web site: http://www.ebmud.com/info/trailfaqs.html
Lory Poulson
Richmond CA 94805
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Bird deaths on freeway
Thu, 31 Jan 2002 16:12:19 PST
From: Sylvia Sykora
Has anyone noticed large numbers of smashed bodies along freeways where the median is planted with pyracantha? This morning I counted 15 remains of waxwings and robins in a very short stretch of northbound Hwy 13 in Oakland, between Park Boulevard and the LaSalle overpass. The median in that stretch is thickly planted with pyracantha, now heavily laden with berries, and as we drove, the birds were flying back and forth above the creeping traffic. Clearly, when traffic is whizzing by, some birds don't make it.
I've driven this stretch of Hwy 13 for more than 20 years and never remember seeing a slaughter like this one.
Sylvia Sykora
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Re: Bird deaths on freeway
Thu, 31 Jan 2002 16:38:08 -0800
From: Ore Carmi
Or is it that the birds are being poisoned by overripe berries, or is it that there is a local contaminated water source? Last year, or two years ago, there was an article on dozens of Cedar Waxwings and robins that were thought to have ingested overripe berries, and were later found to have drunk contaminated water. I can't remember the contaminant and I can't remember the newspaper where this was reported.
Does anyone remember?
Ore
Berkeley
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Re: Bird deaths on freeway
Thu, 31 Jan 2002 16:42:46 -0800
From: Jerrie Arko
If there are a lot of berries, there is going to be a lot of robins and waxwings to gorge on them . Unfortunatley, the birds eat way too much, become "top heavy" and don't fly quickly enough to get out of the way of speeding cars, cats and other hazards.
I think we are seeing more dead robins because we are seeing thousands of robins everywhere.
Sad.....
Jerrie, El Cerrito, CA
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Re: EBMUD trail permits
Thu, 31 Jan 2002 17:09:37 -0800
From: Lory Poulson
Someone sent me this additional information re. EBMUD trail permits, which I forward here for general use:
Yes, you can apply for a permit at a variety of locations and receive a temporary permit on the spot. One place is Moraga's Park and Rec Department, which is quite close to Valle Vista Staging Area.
Lory Poulson
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Kennedy Grove Regional Recreation Area
Thu, 31 Jan 2002 20:38:11 -0800
From: Larry Tunstall
Today I thought I'd try for the Bald Eagle around San Pablo Reservoir (between El Sobrante and Orinda). First I picked up an EBMUD trail permit at the Visitor Center (EEC) at Tilden Nature Center. The permit is $10 for a year, or $20 for three years. Your receipt becomes the temporary permit until you receive a card in the mail.
I drove to Kennedy Grove Regional Recreation Area just below the San Pablo Reservoir dam, but found that the entrance to the San Pablo Reservoir watershed was posted "No Trespassing," due to be reopened on February 15. I talked to an East Bay Regional Parks employee who said this was the first year that they had closed that trail. However, he suggested birding around Kennedy Grove, and proudly suggested good spots.
He also mentioned that recently, just after he opened the grove at 8 AM and went into the office, there was a loud thump on the roof. He thought that a branch had fallen and went out to survey the damage. It turned out to be a 4-pound trout, apparently dropped by an eagle.
Right by the office I saw a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks, and there were a lot of small birds flitting around in the trees, so I decided to check the place out. The area down by the creek was very birdy. Along with more usual birds, I saw Hermit Thrush and Varied Thrush, a couple of Nuttall's Woodpeckers, and a pair of Purple Finch. I also heard Cooper's Hawk and saw a Red-tailed Hawk soaring far above.
Then I tried a short walk on the nearest of the many trails in the hills above the grove. I heard Golden-crowned Kinglet, saw another Varied Thrush, and finally just before leaving saw an eagle soaring above. Despite my best efforts, it persisted in looking like a Golden Eagle, though.
On the way home I checked the trail entrance on the Orinda Connector Trail at the intersection of Wildcat Canyon Rd / Bear Creek Rd with Camino Pablo / San Pablo Dam Rd (both roads change names at this intersection). It's the traffic light at the bottom of the hill when you come down from Inspiration Point. The trail entrance is on the north side of Bear Creek Rd, with a small parking area right next to the traffic light.
This trail entrance was not closed, and people had signed in to walk Old San Pablo Trail along the lake. I also took a quick look and found that the entrance at Briones Overlook was open. There I met an EBMUD employee who checked on the radio and was told that all the public trails are open to hikers with permits.
No Bald Eagle, but a pleasant couple of hours.
Good birding, Larry
Larry Tunstall
El Cerrito CA