Friends of Five Creeks Volunteer Opps

To: Friends of Five Creeks email list
From: Susan Schwartz

Many thanks to the more than 50 (!) volunteers who removed huge piles of thornless and thorny blackberry and planted dozens of new natives at last Saturday’s work party. I hope lots of you will join us February 28, when we attack the weeds invading restored Baxter Creek at the north end of the Ohlone Greenway, Conlon between San Pablo and Key (great bike ride or easy walk from El Cerrito del Norte BART. Information on our web site, www.fivecreeks.org.
In the meantime, lots of upcoming events:

NORTH BAY FLYWAY FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND
The North Bay’s annual Flyway Festival starts tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 6, and continues through the weekend, with walks, boat tours, classes, and art exhibits to discover birds, history,and the many wetland restoration projects going on in the area. Information at www.sfbayflywayfestival.com/ataglance.htm. (I apologize that I gave 2008 dates earlier.)

FIGHT REDWOOD PARK WEEDS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, FEB 7 AND 8
This is a good weekend to discover beautiful Redwood Regional Park while helping to keep that way. The monthly first-Saturday broom-pull on the ridge starts at 9:30 am Skyline Gate. The second-Sunday session, removing broom and periwinkle in the canyon, starts at 9:30 am Sunday at Wayside Parking Lot. (Maps at www.ebparks.org). Wear closed-toed shoes, long pants and sleeves, and rain protection – heavy rain cancels, but work will go on in a drizzle. Snacks, coffee, and gloves provided, but please bring your own gloves if you have them. Please email pbeitz@ebparks.org if you are coming so they'll have enough snacks and tools.


HELP BURROWING OWLS SATURDAY, FEB. 7
The City of Berkeley has strung temporary fencing to protect burrowing owls currently using Cesar Chavez Park on the waterfront (these owls tend to move on). The Audubon Society’s will be handing out informational flyers on the owls while helping folks spot them with scope or binoculars, starting 10 am Saturday, Feb. 7 (meet at the southeast entrance, Marina Blvd. and Spinnaker Way). If you’d like to help, including monitoring the owls, please contact Audubon East Bay Conservation Committee Chair Phil Price, pnprice@creekcats.com.

WATERFRONT WALK FOR AGES 50+ THURSDAY, FEB. 12
Walkers 50+ are welcome to join me on an easy walk on the Albany-Berkeley waterfront, starting 9 am Thursday, Feb. 12. We'll enjoy wintering birds and talking about waterfront history as well as hopes and plans for the future. Bring binoculars if you have them, but there will be plenty to see if you don't. If it's cold or damp, we'll stop at Sea Breeze Deli for a warming coffee or tea, which would make the return later than the usual 11 am.

We'll meet at the big heron sculpture at the west end of Buchanan Street, Albany. By bus, take AC Transit 52L to Buchanan and Pierce (or nearest stop) and walk west about 1/4 mile to the end of Buchanan.

The walk is free but numbers are limited. Please register with Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic, 510 524 9122, or Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin, 510 524 9283.

(My) TALK ON RESTORATION THURSDAY, FEB. 19
At 7 pm Thursday, Feb. 19, I will give an illustrated talk,"Habitat Rehab: Restoring Bay Area Nature from the Mountains to your Downspout, ” 7 pm at Redwood Gardens, 2951 Derby St.
(South side of Clark Kerr Campus near bus shelter). The talk, hosted by Berkeley Path Wanderers Assn., will be an illustrated tour of the many – and sometimes surprising – efforts underway to protect and revitalize our beautiful estuary. Information at www.berkeleypaths.org.

HELP FOR YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
Climate change seriously threatens California’s (and the world’s) water resources and wildlife. If you can put together a group of 5-10 friends, co-workers, family members, or congregants, Berkeley’s Ecology Center will help you work as a team to calculate your personal carbon footprint, create a personal action plan to reduce it, and learn how to become a climate-change leader at home or in your community. All levels of experience and knowledge are welcome! Free except for a $10 fee for the Low Carbon Diet workbook. You also can join groups meeting at the Ecology Center. Information at www.ecologycenter.org, or contact debra@ecologycenter.org or call 510-548-2220 x240.

SPEAK UP TO KEEP OUT INVASIVES
The Bay Area doesn’t have brown tree snakes, which have wiped out most native birds in Guam, or Burmese pythons, a problem in Florida. But we do suffer real damage from invasive animals – for example, the voracious overbite clam eats so much plankton in San Pablo Bay that native fish are starved.

The Union of Concerned Scientists is asking you to urge your California Congressional representatives to support legislation for better screening of imported animals (CA Congressman George Miller is already on board). To send an email, go to http://action.ucsusa.org/site/R?i=JQVXdTOtlm8OI42XtgTLmg.

HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON!
Susan Schwartz