Burrowing Owls in Brentwood
Thu, 13 Nov 2003
17:55:55 -0800
From: Anonymous
Today in Brentwood (about 12:30 PM) near (approximately 600 feet east of) the intersection of Brentwood Blvd (Hwy 4) and Balfour Rd, I saw three Burrrowing Owls in the still-undeveloped portion of the parcel slated for development. However, if you want to get a good look at these owls, I suggest you do it soon. Owls have been present at this property for at least the past two breeding seasons and have raised several young. I am not at liberty to divulge my exact role in observing these owls (I write this as a concerned East Bay birder), but suffice to say it distresses me greatly that they will soon likely be forced off the property. The regulations that allow this are complex and beyond the scope of this e-mail list, but if you live in Brentwood or any of the rapidly-urbanizing towns in eastern Contra Costa or Alameda County, and are concerned about the plight of Burrowing Owls and other local biological resources, I urge you to (1) keep on eye out while birding or simply driving around town for Burrowing Owls and their location with respect to development, and (2) contact your local governments (City Council, Community Development Department, etc) and voice your opinion about protecting local owls and demanding effective mitigation from developers. Existing Fish and Game laws and CEQA have proved inadequate in protecting owl habitat (there's no legal requirement to do so) and it's up to local governments (many, if not most, of which are pro-development) and concerned citizens to decide whether or not they want their community to conserve native wildlife populations (a tall order?).
Hayward Regional Shoreline
Thu, 13 Nov 2003
21:09:23 PST
From: Bob Richmond
I was at Hayward Regional Shoreline from 6:30 AM to 7:45 AM (before work). The following was seen on Mt. Trashmore:
Also seen from here was a Black Oystercatcher at Hayward's Landing.
Good Birding
Bob
Re: Burrowing Owls in Brentwood
Fri, 14 Nov
2003 15:13:35 -0800
From: Lisa Owens-Viani
Folks,
On April 7, 2003, the Center for Biological Diversity, Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, Defenders of Wildlife, San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society, California State Park Rangers Association, and Tri-County Conservation League formally petitioned the California Fish and Game Commission to list the Western Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea) as a state endangered or threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act.
You can write a letter of support for the Burrowing Owl listing petition:
Write to:
California Fish and Game Commission
1416 Ninth Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Facts about owl declines in California:
Original Message Subject Index
Long-tailed Duck in San Leandro
Fri, 14 Nov
2003 23:21:34 -0800
From: Kathy Robertson
East Bay Birders,
Today I found a female Long-tailed Duck at the San Leandro Marina. I saw the bird quite a ways out on the bay, west of the peninsula where the marina office is located.
In past winters, this has also been a good place for White-winged Scoters, although I found none today.
Good birding,
Kathy Robertson
Hayward, CA
Tufted Duck at Lake Merritt, Oakland
Sat,
15 Nov 2003 07:29:50 -0800 (PST)
From: Bob Power
Hi all:
Friday afternoon at about 4 PM there was a female Tufted Duck congregating with the Lesser Scaups and Canvasbacks near the visitor center at the north end of Lake Merritt in Oakland. The Cattle Egret has also made its annual pilgrimage (9th year?) and the half-dozen goldeneyes seen 10 days ago has multiplied into approximately 20 Common Goldeneyes and 6 Barrow's Goldeneyes on the north side alone.
Good birding,
Bob Power
Oakland, CA
Alameda County
Sora in San Leandro
Sat, 15 Nov 2003 11:05:14
-0800
From: Gary Baker
Hi All,
I saw a Sora beside the bike trail half way between the San Lorenzo Marina Park and the Lewelling St access trail. It was at the south end of the pond near the mound where the trail turns.
Good birding,
Gary Baker
Tufted Duck at Lake Merritt, Oakland
Sat,
15 Nov 2003 14:55:47 -0800
From: Judi Cooper
I have to admit I am not sure where to post this. Today 3 of us took a drive to Rio Vista (Solano County) and easily found about 30 Mountain Plovers off Hwy 113 - just 3.9 miles down Robinson Rd. We also saw a beautiful Ferruginous Hawk on a telphone pole and many Long-billed Curlews and Mountain Plovers on Robinson Rd.
We also drove down Sherman Island Rd (which is just to the right after crossing the Antioch Bridge going toward Rio Vista). We counted about 10 Yellow-headed Blackbirds in with a group of many Red-winged Blackbirds. I'm sure there are probably many more but we didn't scan all the groups.
Then we drove to Lake Merritt in Oakland and scoped out all the beautiful goldeneyes - Common and Barrow's - and then the scaup looking for the female Tufted Duck. We finally identified her right next to the wall behind the visitor center. She really doesn't look exactly like any of our book's illustrations so it was fun to really study her markings. Of course we also saw the winter resident Cattle Egret. There are also some gorgeous Canvasback ducks.
Judi Cooper, Moraga
Bingham and Larry Gibbs, Danville
Possible Golden Eagle in Alameda
Sat, 15 Nov
2003 15:39:49 -0800
From: Kitty O'Neil
Anybody ever see a Golden Eagle in Alameda near the College of Alameda? Maybe I'm just losing my mind. :)
Kitty
Kitty O'Neil
Orinda, CA
Re: Possible Golden Eagle in Alameda
Sat,
15 Nov 2003 16:03:36 -0800
From: Doug Greenberg
Years ago I saw a Golden Eagle circling over the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum during an A's game. If it's the same eagle, that's one old, old bird. :-))
Doug Greenberg
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