Because the beaver isn't just an animal; it's an ecosystem!

Day: May 27, 2009


This was one of those deceptive days when it felt like FINALLY the beavers will be recognized as valuable and the city will wisely become their biggest advocates. The most respected environmental names in the bay area were in attendance, waterboards, estuary and state parks. You know the saying “preaching to the choir”? Well this was the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Their vocal range runs the entire Bay Area and beyond. There was a host of media and authors amongst them. Poor Igor wasn’t able to join us because of a sudden heath issue. A colleague from the urban creeks council filled in instead.

My favorite part of the day had to be THIS from the Oakland Museum. A pleisticine era beaver skull from the ice age when beavers were the size of BEARS. I looked at that and thought that is soooooooooo how the city imagines our beavers. Meddlesome and larger than life.

Sweetest part of the day? It had to been when music and beaver affianado Roy Jeans of Armando’s displayed the lovely chair he had painted for the occasion, with the words Worth A Dam, and Igor and Heidi emblazened on the surface. He gamely proclaimed he was selling it for 50 dollars and would donate the entire proceeds to Worth A Dam.

Exquisite day. Very tired, must rest now. Thanks Lisa for organizing it and Cheryl, Jon and Linda for being stalwart volunteers. Thanks also to our lovely beavers for being so photogenic.


2009 River of Words Youth Poetry & Art Contest
Creek Seeker Grand Prize

Misunderstood


In a sacred place, a creek is alive,
Shallow, murky, moving water.
A water-strider walks along the water.
“Look closely, follow our movements,” the green water whispers.
A misplaced turtle bobs up and down, swimming gracefully.
Its striped shell and red head floats near the surface and then disappears.
Ripples spread over and over again, like a never-ending secret.
A wilted tulip drifts by.
Water springs out creating unforgettable ripples.


And if you look closely, you can see the copper glow of pennies, the
creek hopelessly misunderstood for a fountain. Dead leaves drift upon the
water.

The turtle observes this silently.

While the only spectator in the creek is Abe Lincoln’s copper face.

Caroline María Woods-Mejía, age 12
Berkeley, California
Poetry Inside Out
Teacher: John Oliver Simon

Tickets √

Lunches √

Beaver Video √

Projector √

Screen √

Speakers √

Presents for contest winners √

Tables for lunch in no-name park √

Thank you tshirt for Armando’s √

Losing my mind√

BEAVER FESTIVAL XVI

DONATE

Beaver Alphabet Book

TREE PROTECTION

BAY AREA PODCAST

Our story told around the county

Beaver Interactive: Click to view

LASSIE INVENTS BDA

URBAN BEAVERS

LASSIE AND BEAVERS

Ten Years

The Beaver Cheat Sheet

Restoration

RANGER RICK

Ranger rick

The meeting that started it all

Past Reports

Story By Year

close

Share the beaver gospel!