December 1997/January 1998, Volume 31, Number 4

'Place to Play' Gets Go-ahead January General Meeting Pee Wee Winter Outings Thank You Plans for Mayacamas Sanctuary Volunteer Opportunities Observations Midweek Walkabout Results Birdathon in February Field Trip Report 1997 Christmas Bird Count Re-name Pee Wee Ideal Holiday Gift Through the Garden Gate: Backyard Birding Asilomar Regional Conference, April 4-7 Welcome New Members Bird Watching on TV Coffee Donation

'Place to Play' Gets Go-ahead by Joan Dranginis and Judy Burness THE WEST THIRD STREET 'Place to Play' park was approved by the Santa Rosa Planning Commission on November 13. Funding seems to be the only remaining hurdle for the project, which includes a paved jogging path, skate board ramp, basketball courts, a multipurpose building and possibly a gymnasium, as well as numerous ball fields and extensive parking. Representatives of Madrone Audubon have strongly advocated for wildlife interests throughout the planning of this project, with some success. In addition to providing some wildlife habitat by constructing a Duck Lake and restoring the adjacent section of Santa Rosa Creek, the City has now agreed that a proposed recreation trail, which we opposed due to its impact on intended bird habitat, will go only part way around the lake, and an island will be constructed to give the birds some refuge. Also in response to our concerns, a soft path along the creek will be postponed until vegetation in the area has recovered, and some large trees along the creek will be retained. The multipurpose building will not be set back from the lake as we had requested, but a deck extending over the lake has been removed from the plan. About 20 of the park's 83 acres will be designed or restored to encourage wildlife. Madrone Audubon has offered to provide an interpretive display and possibly a blind at the multipurpose building. Still, we believe the project will have an adverse impact in the area, where Madrone Audubon has documented 70 species of birds during the past year. We remain especially concerned about irrigation runoff into the pond including fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, and about detrimental intrusion by humans and pets in the riparian area. Madrone Audubon intends to monitor the status of the various bird species at the site throughout the project, to document the impact and assess how well the mitigation measures are working. Claire Shurvingon, who is heading up this effort, would like some young birders to help with the census study. (See Volunteer Opportunities)

Back to the home page.
Calendar | Newsletter | Alerts | Birding | How to Join | Contacting Us | Some of Our Friends

(c) Copyright 1997 Madrone Audubon Society, Inc. All rights reserved.