Month: July 2009

I wanted to take some time this morning to introduce you to some of the beaver-friends that will be displaying at the festival. Carolyn Jones of the chronicle asked me yesterday, “what happens if you get bored of beavers”. I explained that I seemed to be fairly immune from that particular ailment, but that for others with less hardy constitutions there will be plenty to keep your attention. Such as….

Native Bird Connections:

We are a group of professional interpreters and educators who work with live wild birds while sharing educational messages with groups of all ages. Native Bird Connections maintains a daily commitment to three goals: Respect: For animals and people, accepting them for who they are, not who we wish them to be. Responsibility: We are obligated to walk our talk and accept personal responsibility as well as responsibility for the lives of our wild partners. Reverence: We are thankful for the people and animals that influence our ability to continue providing unparalleled nature experiences.

Noah’s Wish:

Noah’s Wish came into existence in 2002, not to duplicate existing efforts to help animals during disasters, but to expand on what was already in place. Too often, efforts to help animals during life threatening situations have been gravely inadequate. We recognize that animals need and deserve an organized, consistent and professionally managed national disaster relief program. They will, otherwise, continue to pay for human indifference with their lives. How animals are managed during disasters is to implement well thought out, field tested policies and procedures that are practiced in all disasters. Relief efforts for people are managed this way and we feel they should be for animals too.

Lindsay Wildlife Museum:

Connect with wildlife and learn about the animals found in our backyards and open spaces. At Lindsay Wildlife Museum you can have close encounters with many live, non-releasable wild animals such as an eagle, hawk, fox, snake or coyote. An on-site wildlife hospital treats more than 6,000 native California animals every year. The museum also features changing art and natural history exhibits, classes for children and adults, and a discovery room with hands-on activities for children.

Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation:

The Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation  works to preserve and enhance Walnut Creek’s nearly 3000 acres of open space and to educate area residents so that they can enjoy this wonderful resource. In cooperation with the California Bluebird Recovery Program (www.cbrp.org), Foundation members including Brian Murphy and Bob Brittain have been constructing, installing and monitoring nest boxes for bluebirds in our open space.

Paula Lane Action Network:

Badgers in Petaluma? Plan on it! P.L.A.N. is a nonprofit organization, dedicated to preservation of rural land and open space, wildlife habitat and historic resources. Preserving areas where there are inter-relationships – history, open space, critical habitat and movement corridors, grasslands, trees, and seasonal wetlands – creates a setting where multifaceted health-producing life experiences can occur. Such interactive experiences of life with Nature and Community character, we believe, contribute to our sense of well being and ability to give to others.

Intrigued yet? Add the Native Plant Society, the Friends of Alhambra Creek, and the good NPS folks at the John Muir Site. Learn about the new fishing pier designs or the effects of pesticides, or how to prepare for a charity marathon. Check out the amazing designs from Wild Bryde Jewelry and get your copy of the Come Back Kids, “The Martinez Beavers” signed by the author, Penny Weigand of Bellissima Publishing.

Join us for a dam good time!