PGE may have falcons, but Mirant has hummingbirds! These two babies are being raised in a nest on a bearing cooling water return line for 6 unit condensate booster pump. The water line is warmer (but not too warm) so it’s an ideal nesting location. Mirant employes have marked off the area and are keeping an eye on their young visitors which are approximately ten days old. These photos were taken March 21st by Jon Ridler, 24-year employee at the plant and member of Worth A Dam.
Today 99 children’s tiles will become a permanent memorial to the beavers in Alhambra Creek. I cherish every single one of our young (and not-so-young young!) artists’ contributions along with the help of our generous donors that made this possible. The Gazette asked me today if there would be some kind of ribbon cutting or ceremony, but I told them no, just an open invitation for people to come down and see them for themselves. Wednesday, with the measuring and taping, you could really see how the project is going to look. Art to draw attention to the creek and its famous residents, beavers to draw attention to the deserving artists. It’s a perfect combination.
I won’t get all misty-eyed about the miles we’ve travelled to get to this place, or the challenges and bitter sheetpile hardships we have endured. I won’t mention the kits that didn’t survive this year, or the long hours of worry as we watched for missing faces. I won’t talk about all the exaggerations, the lies, the accusations or the mean-spirited panic beaver supporters have faced. I’ll just think about a certain November evening 27 months ago when everything changed.
Thank you Martinez, for giving our beavers the best possible welcome and thank you beavers, for teaching a city how to listen.
And Great News from our beaver friends in New Jersey
Beavers Program – March 6, 2010
Come learn how to enjoy and outwit the beavers of Franklin Lakes! A beavers program on “Understanding Beavers and Resolving Conflicts” will be held on Saturday March 6, 2010 from 1:00PM to 2:30PM at the Franklin Lakes Borough Hall. Laura Simon and Skip Hilliker of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) will give an informative and fascinating look at the ecology of beavers and how their unique engineering skills can sometimes create conflicts, as experienced recently in Franklin Lakes. You’ll learn how the “Beaver Baffler,” a simple device, can be used to stop the flooding caused by their dams. We’ll also show how to properly wrap trees to prevent them from being felled. Skip Hilliker has worked with beavers for 35 years and installed beaver baffling systems throughout the northeast, and also done projects in collaboration with various Land Trusts and the Army Corps of Engineers. This presentation should be of keen interest to anyone who is currently experiencing beaver-related problems or simply wants to learn more about them. If you have any questions please call Nancy Yarish at 201-891-0048 Ext. 1204 or E-mail: nyarish@franklinlakes.org.
The California Quail is one of my favorite birds. One was spotted on the otherwise charmless sheetpile wall of the beaver dam this summer but unfortunately didn’t stick around. Their dingle-ball headpiece makes them easy to recognize, and I’m never happier than when I see a cluster of baby quail string along behind their parents in a line as if on wheels. It is discouraging how few we see now, I have certainly seen more turkeys this year than quail, and I bet you have too. Part of this has to do with loss of habitat and the ever encroaching human-footprint.
Brush piles provide important refuge for quail and other wildlife. Eco-friendly souls create these wildlife Oasis in gardens and around open space to encourage protected use. On Saturday beaver friend Brian Murphy from Walnut Creek Open Space, and Elaine Jackson from the Native Plant Society will be teaming up with volunteers to build brush piles at Strenzel Meadow, the restored habitat near the gravesite of John Muir. Members of Worth A Dam will be there and would love your help.The work party starts at 9 am at strenzel meadows and if you’re interested you should contact Elaine and let her know. Bring gloves, water, and good cheer.
Added bonus? After a morning of building brushpiles, I’ll bet you will have new insight into what it takes to build a lodge!
