This dead owl was found Sunday in a Berkeley park. Photo: Urban Bird Foundation 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 […]
Owls
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How I became a docent for burrowing owls. What a hoot!
Burrowing owl at Berkeley’s Cesar Chavez Park in February. Photo: Doug Donaldson Burrowing owl at Berkeley’s Cesar Chavez Park in February. Photo: Doug Donaldson 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 […]
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Berkeley bans feeding of wildlife in parks, public spaces
After saying it would exterminate hundreds of squirrels in César Chávez Park, the City of Berkeley backtracked to focus on the main cause of the squirrel over-population: people feeding them. Photo: Doug Mosher After saying it would exterminate hundreds of squirrels in César Chávez Park, the City of Berkeley backtracked to focus on the main cause of […]
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Climate change spells trouble for Berkeley birds
Burrowing Owl: one of the local species that has been identified as being in climate trouble. Photo: Doug Donaldson Burrowing Owl: one of the local species that has been identified as being in climate trouble. Photo: Doug Donaldson Some of Berkeley’s most common and beloved birds could face extinction within the next 70 years due to climate change, […]
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Berkeley squirrels are safe from extermination — for now
A Western Burrowing Owl and a ground squirrel at César Chávez Park. Photo: Penelope Hillemann By April Rose Sommer Much to the relief of wildlife lovers, the Berkeley City Council voted Tuesday night to delay its pilot program to exterminate ground squirrels at César Chávez Park. The city had generated broad outcry earlier this year […]
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Western burrowing owls are back on Berkeley Marina
Photo shared on Berkeleyside’s Flickr page, taken on Jan.1, 2014, by Alex Madonik The burrowing owls that make their home at César Chávez Park on the Berkeley Marina every year are back. Patrick Hickey, who works out in the pre-dawn hours most mornings at the park, says he has noticed a pair of the birds there for […]
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Can’t get enough of them: Berkeley’s burrowing owls
A Western burrowing owl strikes a pose at the Berkeley Marina. Photo: Neil Mishalov We admit we are suckers for these adorable birds, so when regular Neil Mishalov sent us these two gorgeous pics, it didn’t take long to decide to share them with you, even though it was barely two weeks ago that we […]
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Burrowing owls come out to preen at Berkeley Marina
A burrowing owl near the Tom Bates/Gilman sports fields in Berkeley on Saturday Feb. 9. Photo: Greg Merritt The Berkeley Marina’s much loved burrowing owls were out and about this weekend. Berkeleysider Greg Merritt caught this shot of one of them on Saturday afternoon. He said it was taken at the special fenced-off area near the Tom […]
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How the Barn Owl became Berkeley’s official bird
The Barn Owl is the official bird of Berkeley. Photo: Bob Lewis By Lisa Owens Viani Lisa Owens Viani, co-founder of Raptors Are The Solution, recalls how her passion for owls began in Berkeley and led to possibly the least controversial Berkeley city council resolution ever passed: the designation of the Barn Owl as the city’s […]
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Berkeley owl chick will soon branch out, says expert
The Great Horned Owl chick in its nest on the Claremont Canyon fire trail on April 24. Photo: Lee Aurich The owl chick that has been drawing crowds of fascinated adults and children to Berkeley’s Claremont Canyon trail, where its parents made a nest in a Eucalyptus tree some weeks ago, will soon began to […]
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Photos: Baby owl on Berkeley trail is growing up fast
The Great Horned Owl chick in its nest in a Eucalyptus tree on Berkeley’s Claremont Canyon trail is maturing rapidly. Photos: prettiephotos The Great Horned Owl chick in its nest in a Eucalyptus tree on Berkeley’s Claremont Canyon trail is maturing rapidly. Photos: prettiephotos The Great Horned Owl nest on the Claremont Canyon fire trail […]
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Berkeley owl family grows, more reports of dog swoops
A nest of owls in a Eucalyptus tree on Berkeley’s Claremont Canyon trail has attracted a lot of attention. Photos: Charlie Benton A nest of owls in a Eucalyptus tree on Berkeley’s Claremont Canyon trail has attracted a lot of attention. Photos: Charlie Benton Last month we brought you news of a pair of Great […]