A rare burrowing owl was found dead recently at Berkeley’s Cesar Chavez Park, raising some concern in the community. Local resident Heidi Sachs saw the dead bird on a bench during her run at the Berkeley Marina on Sunday and shared the news with Berkeleyside. “Really sad for me to think about,” she said, adding, “a passer-by […]
Audubon California
Posted inCommunity, Nature
How I became a docent for burrowing owls. What a hoot!
By Rubi Abrams Newly retired from a fulfilling career as a community college librarian last year, I was ready to plunge into as many birding activities as I could schedule. Birding-related travel, classes, meetups, speaker series, feeder watch, bird counts – the more the better, and most sponsored by Golden Gate Audubon Society. But I […]
Posted inCommunity, Nature
In a Berkeley park, a bluebird displays unusual behavior
Last year, Rusty Scalf, teacher and trip leader for the Audubon Society, introduced me to a family of western bluebirds living and nesting in Berkeley’s San Pablo Park. This year, Scalf called me back. Apparently, a “mad man” had flown onto the bluebird scene. “He’s like a Rambo,” Scalf said. “A worm bandit… a total […]
Posted inNature
Pacific Flyway Survey comes to Berkeley’s Aquatic Park
By Chris Hammond At Berkeley’s Aquatic Park, Mike Perlmutter bent over his bird-watching telescope, intent on finding more of the birds he’s seen in years past. The traffic on highway 580/80 roared behind him. A freight train pulling empty container cars clickity-clacked on the other side of the park. In between were the birds, all […]