Condor Recovery Project
Officers Nominated
Pee Wee Explores Point Reyes
A Day at Pepperwood
Madrone's Web Page Debuts
Pee Wee Reports
Observations
Birdathon
Midweek Walkabout Results
Beginners Bird Walks
Field Trip Report
Youngsters Aid Birdathon
Conservation Successes
Audubon in the Classroom
Welcome New Members
Mayacamas Update
Carneros Bird Walk |
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Conservation Successes
Environmental organizations in the Bay Area, including Audubon-California
and its local chapters, have had some important conservation victories lately.
Here are some highlights, by way of congratulations to our sister organizations
and encouragement to the rest of us:
Sonoma Baylands
The dedication of the Sonoma Baylands
Project last fall opened more than 300 acres of newly-created tidal wetlands
near the junction of Highway 37 and Lakeville Highway to San Pablo Bay for
the first time since the area was drained and converted to a hay field fifty
years ago. The land had been acquired by the Sonoma Land Trust, and its
restoration to wetlands is being aided by clean fill from dredging at the
Port of Oakland. Other partners in the project were the Coastal Conservancy,
the Corps of Engineers, and the White House, according to the Sonoma Land
Trust Newsletter (December, 1996). The Land Trust next plans to restore
a seasonal wetland nearby, "demonstrating that wetlands and agriculture
can co-exist on the same parcel of land."
Bair Island
Audubon-California and the eight Bay
Area Audubon Chapters (BAAC) helped to bring about the imminent purchase
and restoration of Bair Island, an historic wetland alongside Highway 101
in Redwood City. Half of the island already was protected and under public
or conservation ownership, but the Japanese conglomerate that owned the
remainder had been unwilling to sell. Using funds allocated from the settlement
of a CALPIRG suit against Shell Oil, BAAC mounted a public-opinion campaign
here and in Japan, that helped persuade the corporation to sell. Fund-raising
for the purchase is still under way, but a private loan will allow the Peninsula
Open Space Trust to take ownership this spring. The land eventually will
be transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and managed as a part
of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Congratulations
to Audubon-California and BAAC (of which Madrone Audubon is a member) on
a successful campaign. (Information from Audubon Magazine, Audubon-California
staff, and Tideline, the newsletter of the Don Edwards San Francisco
Bay National Wildlife Refuge.)
Alameda Naval Air Station
A new National Wildlife
Refuge at the former Alameda Naval Air Station is shaping up as a major
victory for the Golden Gate Audubon Society. Closure and development of
the 1,800-acre base threatened the premier breeding colony of endangered
California Least Terns, the West Coast's largest breeding colony
of Caspian Terns, the second-largest colony of Western Gulls,
and a nighttime breakwater roost for the California Brown Pelican.
GGAS took a lead role among several environmental groups, in pressing for
protection of the critical areas. Now the Interior Department is moving
to protect 525 acres, plus 395 acres of water, as a National Wildlife Refuge.
GGAS credits Deputy Secretary of the Interior John Garamendi with having
made the ultimate decision in favor of the Refuge. (Information from The
Gull, GGAS newsletter.)
Guadalupe River Open Space Preserve
A year ago,
the prime birding spot in the City of Santa Clara was about to be sold by
the City to a developer, to help pay off the debts of the City's new golf
course. The deal fell through, and thanks to timely and tireless action
by local Audubon members, joined by local chapters of the California Native
Plant Society,the Sierra Club, and other concerned citizens, the 40-acre
open space recently won a reprieve by a skinny 4-3 vote of the City Council.
As reported in The Avocet, newsletter of the Santa Clara Valley Audubon
Society, the successful campaign was sparked by the efforts of one Audubon
member, the Chapter's Vice-president Clysta Seney. |
