Golden Gate Audubon meeting on March 21
in Berkeley
Fri, 15 Mar 2002 11:15:56 -0800
From: Anne McTavish
Golden Gate Audubon Society's East Bay program for March will be Alan Kaplan of the East Bay Regional Park District. Alan will talk about "Birds and Bugs." If you've ever been fortunate enough to talk to Alan at Tilden Nature Area, you know you're in for a great evening. If you can, please join us at the Northbrea Community Church, 941 The Alameda, Berkeley, CA 94707, on Thursday, March 21. We meet socially at 7:00 PM. You are welcome arrive as early as your time permits. The program begins at 7:30 PM.
Anne McTavish
Planning meeting for Eastshore State Park
Fri, 15 Mar 2002 18:08:01 -0800
From: Russ Wilson
East Bay Birders Alert
Plans for the Eastshore State Park are entering the final stages, and it's imperative that birders provide their input in order to preserve and enhance bird habitat. Some of the proposed park areas will be set aside for intense recreation, some for passive recreation, and small sections for natural preserves.
Water sports, field sports, parking lots, bicycles, dogs, and boat ramps all threaten wildlife habitat that should be protected and restored. The shoreline involved extends all the way from Emeryville to Richmond, with the main areas of concern being in Berkeley and Albany.
Show up for the Eastshore Park Regional Workshop at 7:00 PM Thursday, March 21:
Florence Schwimley Little Theater
1930 Allston Way (opposite the park)
Berkeley
Make your voice heard - even if you merely say, "I support The Conservation and Habitat Restoration Plan for the Park". (Summarized in a leaflet to be handed out at the door.)
Parking is limited, so bus or BART is recommended. Come early!
Russ Wilson
El Cerrito
Eastshore State Park and species of special
concern
Sat, 16 Mar 2002 10:16:05 -0800 (PST)
From: Corrine Louise
dear birders.....
A Northern Harrier pair (California Species of Special Concern) successfully nested and raised fledges last June/July in the northwest corner of the Berkeley Meadow..(opposite the Radisson Hotel and south parking lot) and their return is threatened.
The Meadow is a 72-acre section of the new Eastshore State Park, now in its last planning stages. The planners have proposed placing a parking lot, park facility, and boat ramp smack dab where the harriers nested, and also where there is a biologically rich, seasonal wetland. Were the habitat to be kept intact, it is quite likely that the harriers would return to nest (site fidelity). The current plan for the Meadow negates this, as well as threatens the integrity of this wonderful, precious, upper grassland/scrub habitat.
Please attend the last public meeting to speak out and show your support for the Sierra Club/Audubon/Save the Bay sponsored Habitat Conservation Plan.
Thurs. March 21, 7 PM (come earlier if you can)
Florence Schwimley Little Theater
1930 Allston Way Berkeley (across from the park)
By the way, the East Bay Regional Park District, which manages the meadow, and will manage the park for the state, killed one of the three harrier fledges in its pre-Fourth of July mowing routine last year.
Original Message Subject Index
Yellow-billed Magpie and Northern Saw-whet
Owl
Sat, 16 Mar 2002 18:28:48 -0800
From: Clyde Morris
I am new to the group. Thought I would share a few sightings in the East Bay that were of interest to me. Sorry they are so late; I have been out of town.
Yellow-billed Magpie at the trailhead for Mission Peak Regional Preserve at Ohlone College off Mission Blvd on March 3rd. It was my first one in Fremont. Though I have seen them in Sunol Regional Wilderness in the past which isn't too far from Ohlone, I have never found one this close to the Bay Shoreline in Fremont. Have others seen them at Ohlone College before?
Northern Saw-whet Owl at the headquarters of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Fremont on March 9th. On the children's birdwalk, they paused next to one of the few pine trees near the headquarters parking lot. The leader noticed the owl asleep about shoulder-high in the tree. It was clutching a mouse in its talon. (Midday snack?) The kids got a great view. It was the first record for the refuge. Might have been in migration because we are far from good habitat for this species. The kids also saw the endangered California Clapper Rail on their first bird walk. Not a bad way to start.
Clyde Morris
Re: Yellow-billed Magpie and Northern Saw-whet
Owl
Sat, 16 Mar 2002 20:17:50 PST
From: Richard Mix
I think I have seen single magpies at the Mission - they range down to Fremont Ave on occasion. Last year around this time, a dozen invaded First Methodist Church (on Washington most of the way down to "Five Corners") and stayed two weeks.
Saw-whet owl is still on my well-lit-view-wanted list; wish I'd been there!
Richard Mix
El Cerrito
Original Message Subject Index