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July 2021 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 1
& JULY 2021
REBOUNDING RAPTORS FACE UNCERTAIN FUTURES By Jody Morgan
Back from the brink of extinction, peregrine falcons have generated an extensive following of non-profit organizations and citizen scientists. Bald eagles, once listed as endangered, are flourishing. But populations of some of California’s 30 raptor species continue to decline. Threats to their survival disrupt the balance of the entire ecosystem. Predatory birds target pests, not pets. Carrion-eaters function as nature’s sanitation corps. Preserving their ability to serve their time-honored roles is both economically and environmentally compelling. People have been enraptured with raptors since time immemorial. “In manifestations ranging from mummies of falcons in the pyramids of Egypt to gold and turquoise owls fashioned by ancient artisans of Peru, raptors have permeated the traditions of all civilizations over many thousands of years,” Noel and Helen Snyder write in introducing Raptors of North America. Who knew spraying DDT across the country following World War II posed a widespread environmental hazard? Killing mosquitoes and other insects was the immediate goal, but then Peregrine Falcons and Bald A young Cooper’s Hawk poised to pounce exhibits a Eagles began laying eggs with shells so thin that parent birds crushed them as they sat on their nests. By watchful predatory presence. Photo by Greg Cochran. the mid-1960s, there were no breeding pairs of Peregrine Falcons east of the Mississippi. In 1975, only 324 pairs nested in the entire continental US. The Bald Eagle population reached an all-time low of about 800 birds in the early 1960s. Once the general use of DDT was banned on December 31, 1972, several non-profit groups dedicated themselves to ensuring the survival of these iconic birds. The come-back stories of both species are cause for celebration. In 1970, California had only two nesting Peregrine pairs in the entire state. Today,
See Raptors continued on page 11
TAKE THE QUIZ! HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW ALAMO AND THE SURROUNDING AREA?
ENTER THE CONTEST TO WIN $50 AT ACE HARDWARE
This summer, pick up a copy of the newly-published book Historic Tales of Alamo by Beverly Lane with Sharon Burke, and learn more about the history of Alamo and the surrounding area. The book is available at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley in Danville and Ace Hardware stores in Alamo and Blackhawk. Use the book as reference to answer the 20 questions on page 19, and enter for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to Ace Hardware!
Orchards filled the area in the 20th century with walnuts and fruit tress like this plum orchard covering the valley floor. Mount Diablo can be seen in the background.
Sharon and Beverly will be signing books at Alamo Ace Hardware from 2pm to 4pm, Saturday, July 31st. Stop by to get an autographed copy and meet the authors. Fill out the contest entry anytime in July and drop it in the contest box at “The Kitchen” located at Alamo Ace Hardware. Entries must be received by noon on Saturday, July 31st. A winner will be drawn from all correct entries at 4pm on the 31st.
See Quiz continued on page 16
Local Postal Customer
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo CA
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Arriving in the Sycamore Valley in 1862, the Charles Wood family settled on a property off of Camino Tassajara (now part of Danville). They named the land Woodside Farm. The family raised crops and livestock, and have maintained some of the original land and equipment, continuously farming for 159 years. A “quarantime” project by members of the fourth, fifth, and sixth generations of the Wood family was to plant a crop of barley with the end vision of making beer. Planting half an acre of barley in January and then reviving a 1960 era harvester that hadn’t run in over 25 years was part of the experience. The harvested barley will be put in sacks, taken to Alameda to be malted, and then the family will begin the brewing process.
The Editors Serving the communities of Alamo, Diablo, and Danville
Volume XXI Number 7
3000F Danville Blvd. #117 Alamo, CA 94507 Telephone (925) 405-6397 Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
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Volume XII Number 7
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