Well I am already a day behind in posting the latest information on the eviction of the Antioch Blue Ridge Development’s burrowing owls.  So what’s the latest word…well eviction procedures continue while we await a response from the City Attorney and City Staff regarding the use of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that was approved way back in 1995.  According to the CDFG approved relocation plan, the last biological survey for burrowing owls was in 2004 which found zero owls on this parcel of land.  Thus, eviction of the owls is based on a 5 year old biological survey and a 19 year old EIR that does not include any mitigation measures for burrowing owls.

As detailed by the Burrowing Owl Preservation Society on this issue:

On the conservative side, approximately 71.5 acres of mitigation would be required to bring the City of Antioch’s EIR /CEQA documents for biological impact to “less than significant”.  Catherine Portman, Executive Director of the Burrowing Owl Preservation Society

Design provided by Heidi, martinezbeavers.org

But as biology, conservation efforts and evictions continue, we are left waiting for city staff to return from the Holiday shutdown and provide essential details on CEQA/EIR documents.   I wish I could provide more, but I need to refrain from releasing too much information that may fall on certain prying eyes.

What I will elaborate upon is that the CDFG labeled passive relocation being applied in this situation and throughout California was originally designed to move owls along contiguous land (i.e. a few hundred feet at most) and on a fairly small scale.  Now, developers are utilizing the technique to rid owls from properties that are 25 or more acres and are fragmented by urbanization and unsuitable open spaces.  When the so-called CDFG passive relocation is used on an “island” owl habitat that is not connected to suitable terrain or land with available adjacent burrows it is nothing more than an EVICTION.  This is an important point because many people and the media get the wrong impression of passive relocation.  In reality the owls are forced away without ensuring alternative burrows are readily available and are thus subsequently put in danger from predators and the elements.

And as such evictions continue to take place are we to be astonished that Bay Area burrowing owl populations are declining?   No.  But I am astonished that since everyone seems to agree that there is a declining population we continue to just evict owls from habitat without so much as a band to potentially track their movements and survival.  However, with quotes like the following from the environmental consultant performing the evictions I guess out of sight out of mind is driving science and conservation…or lack thereof.

“We wouldn’t want to hurt them in any way, and I am not concerned about evicting them at all,” Monk said. “They will all find happy homes.”  Contra Costa Times

If by chance you don’t see the plan in Fish & Game’s “relocation plan” nor understand how they are all finding “Happy Homes,” then you are not alone.

Yet, while all the conservation details are being worked on behind the scenes by a dedicated group of individuals, we are also planning to publically show our support for owl conservation and policy change.  On Sunday, January 3rd, the newly formed Friends of East Bay Owls will be hosting a peaceful demonstration to spread the word and shine a spotlight on the Western burrowing owl (click for location details).

If you are in the East Bay neighborhood and want to make a difference why not join us from 2-3pm.  It’s grass roots conservation at its best!  As always, continue to check back for more details and visit our new website http://friendsofeastbayowls.org.

By the way, Heidi from Worth A Dam (Martinez Beavers) has some great commentary on the issue so check out her latest post!

Tags: Antioch Burrowing Owls, Blue Ridge Development, burrowing owls, Friends of East Bay Owls, owl eviction, passive relocation, protest

This entry was posted by Scott on Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 at 8:23 pm and is filed under Human Threats, Migratory Birds, Owls, Urban sprawl, Wildlife, Wildlife management, birds, conservation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.