Answering a burrowing owl call to action

Just days after the last page emblazoned as 2009 tumbled from the calendar, I am left truly grateful for the show of support that residents from within and outside the Bay Area have provided.  It was a call for conservation action and a turnout that I had imagined could only adorn the landscape of my dreams.  And to that I must say THANKS.
About 40 owl lovers gathered Sunday afternoon near partially developed land in Antioch to protest the eviction of burrowing owls.

 

Friends of East Bay Owls and other supporters donned owl masks and waved “Give a Hoot, Not the Boot” signs as motorists honked or pulled over to inquire.

Although the gathering has since dispersed, I continue to receive outpourings of concern and offers of assistance.  Our network of ‘Owl Friends’ continues to work behind the media scenes while telephone calls and emails have begun to filter in as everyday residents (like us) have been alerted to the plight of Bay Area burrowing owls, the hard to miss evidence of overdevelopment and Department of Fish & Game’s eviction procedures that operate by assumption.  An assumption that clearly needs to be investigated as the population of burrowing owls has witnessed a 50 percent decline in the Bay Area over the last 10 to 15 years (The Institute for Bird Populations).

Here are a few accounts of Sunday’s protest:

Contra Costa Times: East Bay owl advocates protest birds relocation

NBC Bay Area: Speaking Up for the Owls

CBS 13: Fight To Save Burrowing Owls In Contra Costa Co.

CBS KPIX 5 (news broadcast)

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Photos of the event

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This entry was posted by Scott on Monday, January 4th, 2010 at 5:18 pm and is filed under Human Threats, Migratory Birds, Owls, Urban sprawl, Wildlife, Wildlife management, birds. 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.

About The Author

Scott
Wildlife advocate, conservationist and simply captivated by marine life. Currently working to complete a full life's circle...beginning with a love of wildlife biology opted instead for a degree in microbiology and molecular biology, became a research biologist, returned to school for a degree in environmental sciences/fisheries & wildlife biology, and as of today I am still on my journey...which I am glad to share!

Comments

3 Responses to “Answering a burrowing owl call to action”

  1. Tweets that mention JournOwl » Answering a burrowing owl call to action -- Topsy.com says:
    January 4, 2010 at 8:46 pm

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Pat Bumstead and Carole Brown, Rosie Emery. Rosie Emery said: RT @CB4wildlife Answering a burrowing owl call to action. Stop the eviction of these owls! by @journowl http://su.pr/1ZxAkZ [...]

    Reply
  2. jason says:
    January 5, 2010 at 6:42 pm

    Good showing, Scott! Sounds like a respectable group who got the attention of folks that might otherwise not know about the issue. And it looks like there’s been coverage from multiple news organizations. Commendable job!

    Reply
    • Scott says:
      January 13, 2010 at 3:14 pm

      Thanks Jason. I was actually quite pleased and the attention given this issue has been great. I do fully intend to continue fighting the process and drive (with the help of a few friends) positive changes in Dept. Fish & Game policies.

      And sorry for the delayed response…I appear to have two fultime jobs right now.

      Cheers!

      Reply

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