[EBB Sightings] Birding in Strawberry Canyon and an Invitation

Dear Birders:

Seeing a posting today from Judi Sierra about her FOS Pacific-coast Flycatcher in Strawberry Canyon, reminds me that for the last several weeks I've been hearing a very loud song of a Winter Wren coming the stream near the fence in the Botanical Garden.  Strawberry Canyon is probably the finest riparian habitat within a short walk of the crowded campus and the dense neighborhoods of Berkeley.  Trees include bays, live oaks, big-leafed maple and alders which attract Black-headed Grosbeaks and Warbling Vireo among other breeders who should start singing any day now.

But the Canyon habitat may soon be changed forever with the construction of two proposed industrial-scale buildings totaling well over 200,000 square feet -- one building overlooking the Botanical Garden at the head of the Canyon and the other larger building (the Helios) on the slope opposite the lower end of the Garden which will include an new access road off narrow Centennial Drive, parking lots etc -- all requiring the removal of at least 100 live oaks.

Alarm over this potential loss has brought together a group of us who call ourselves Save Strawberry Canyon (savestrawberrycanyon.org).  We're having several events this month and next to raise a little money and to give people a chance to learn more about this glorious canyon.

AN INVITATION: Of special interest to local birders is a bird walk next Sunday (April 19) which begins at the Canyon home built early in the 19th century by Amelia Sanford Allen and her husband.  Amelia was an avid birder who published her observations of the Canyon birds in an issue of 1915 "The Condor."  What a difference a century makes!  For $20, you will hear more about the changes, receive gift copies of her publications, and a tea at another Canyon home which was built as an early farmhouse in the 1880s.
This promises to be a unique occasion.

-Phila Rogers (email me or check out our website for more information)