[EBB Sightings] Heather Farm and fewer sparrows

Late last week, someone in the City of Walnut Creek decided to finally 
complete the destruction of the "sparrow corner" in Heather Farm Park near 
the footbridge over the Contra Costa Canal.  This little triangle has hosted 
winter sparrows for years, including Song, Lincoln's, Fox, White-crowned, 
Golden-crowned and White-throated.  Other species seen here are the Oak 
Titmouse, Scrub Jay, American and Lesser Goldfinch, House Finch and House 
Sparrow, and the two common Towhees.

The City has been working for almost two years to slowly eliminate all of 
the cover these birds enjoyed in a very small triangle not more than about 
50 feet long.  At least twice, the maintenance workers have used the claim 
of problems with the homeless people as their excuse for denuding this 
little area.

I must say this, in over 30 years of visiting this park next door to where I 
live, I have never once seen a homeless person using this tiny and very 
public spot.  I have attempted to voice my opinion to those I thought were 
in charge, only to have my comments ignored.

It is a shame that the City of Walnut Creek has shown such utter disregard 
for this little bit of wildness which so many have enjoyed for so many 
years.  Why they bothered to leave the few trees they did is beyond me. 
Another five minutes of work would have totally cleared the entire triangle 
and they would not have had to send a maintenance crew back for years.

Hugh B. Harvey
Walnut Creek