The Antioch burrowing owls are at the end of their rope. The developer has responded to the public pressure and media presence by ramping up the bulldozers. The owls I saw at the protest Sunday were already homeless. Within days more will be. The 1995 comparison study by LA Trulio1 noted that displaced owls did best when relocation sites were less than 75 meters from the destroyed burrow. Also if there were artificial burrows for them to move into right away. Destroying owl burrows with no appropriate place for them to go is a death sentence.
These actions are allowed by an Environmental Impact report obtained during the Clinton Era. An environmental attorney has been consulted who says that this is not nearly adequate, and the action could be stopped since the owls are so rare.
Beaver supporters who remember our day in court for the failed CEQA challenge know that environmental attorneys cost money, even when they lose. Times are tight for everyone, but can you help a little? The action only needs to be slowed for 25 more days, because the owls can’t legally be disturbed after February 1st. If you have even a small amount that can be donated to help avert this crisis, contact Lisa Owens Viani (lowensvi@sbcglobal.net) and let her know. Don’t let the Antioch make this mistake and more families go homeless.
1 Trulio, Lynne A. ( 1995) Passive Relocation: A Method to Preserve Burrowing Owls on Disturbed Sites. Journal of Field Ornithology, 66(1):99-106.
