Regional Parks January-February 2020
Alamo • Danville • Blackhawk • Diablo • San Ramon
VALLEY
Look inside
st 2019
SENTINEL
for:
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JANUARY
– FEBR UAR
Y 2020
e the Iron Hors en nal Trails like connect childr Above: Regio (above) help to work Regional Trail employees to school and transit hubs, centers and page 2
year! end of the through the boat Friday, now trailers, and ersar y every entry, horse vent days. fishing, dog our 85th anniv Farm on non-e swimming, Celebrate d Historic use parking, to Ardenwoo • FREE day entrance including launching, e state fees. includ • Does not
always for the community
Inside:
s • page 11 in the Park FREE Concerts • page 11 Fish Festival Crab Cove h • page 4 rams for Yout Summer Prog s • page 5 nitie ortu Kayaking Opp page 14 ortunities • Volunteer Opp
VOL 24 NO 12
200 Miles See page 2
Look inside for the latest Regional in Nature Activity Guide!
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ins ide to Enjoy the ng it Easier • eBikes Maki page 4 Outdoors, 4 Boating, page • Kayaking/ page 5 ing/Hiking, • Pole Walk
d, page 5 at Ardenwoo • Monarchs page 6 enge 2020, • Trails Chall page 7 e Site Tour, • Ohlone Villag page 13 ce, of Servi • MLK Jr. Day
December 2019
www.valleysentinel.com
Trails Challenge 2020 MLK Jr. Day of Service Ohlone Village Site Tour Monarchs at Ardenwood Archery, Kayaking & Pole Walking
SPOTLIGHT
Plus many more fun activities for kids and families!
From left: Ward 3 Board Member: Dennis Waespi; Ward 6 Board Member: Beverly Lane; Senator Steve Glazer; Ward 4 Board Member: Ellen Corbett; Ward 7 Board Member: Colin Coffey; Ward 2 Board Member: Dee Rosario; General Manager: Robert E. Doyle.
Senator Glazer Named Recipient of 2019 Radke Championing Advocacy Award
State Senator Steve Glazer has been awarded the East Bay Regional Park District and Regional Parks Foundation’s 2019 Radke Championing Advocacy Award. Senator
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Celebrating Santa’s busiest night, The Christmas Memories exhibit at The Museum of the San Ramon Valley will run from now through January 4. There is something for the whole family in this lovely display. Located at 205 Railroad Avenue in Danville. Visit www.museumsrv.org, or call (925) 837-3750 for more information. See story page 7.
Northern Harrier can be seen in Contra Costa Marshlands By James M. Hale
The Northern Harrier (Circus h u d s o n i u s o r C i rc u s cya n e u s hudsonius) is a fairly common raptor of Contra Costa County frequently seen foraging in the salt and brackish marshes. This behavior led to their previous and other name of Marsh Hawk. On occasion, particularly during fall and spring migration, they may be seen hunting for rodents in the grasslands and foothills. Many taxonomists consider the Northern Harrier and the Hen Harrier as separate species, while other experts consider them to be conspecifics. Northern Harriers breed in Canada and the northernmost United States. California has a breeding population as well, with some pairs nesting in the marshes and valley grasslands of Contra Costa County. Like other harriers, the N o r t h e r n H a r r i e r i s s ex u a l l y dichromatic and dimorphic. They
have distinct male and female plumages, and the female weighs typically thirty percent more than the male. The male Northern Harrier is sometimes nicknamed the “Gray Ghost”, due to its striking plumage and spectral aura. Males are silver-gray above and white below. Black wingtips, black trailing edge to the wing, and a black-banded tail highlight the males’ plumage. Females and immature individuals are brown with black tail bands. Adult females differ from immatures by having w h i t i s h u n d e rs i d e s w i t h brown streaks. Immatures are buffy underneath with less streaking. All Northern Harriers have a brilliant white rump patch that is obvious in flight, and diagnostic. A facial disc, which aids in
hearing, gives the Northern Harrier a distinct, owl-like, look. The Northern Harrier is up to twenty inches in length, with a four foot wingspan. Males average twelve ounces in weight, with females averaging nineteen ounces. The Northern Harrier has the longest wing and tail lengths relative to body size of any raptor in North America. The Northern Harrier is one of Contra Costa County’s most recognizable birds, with its wings held in a dihedral or V-shape above horizontal. Its rocking and seemingly erratic flight over marshes, grasslands, and weedy fields as it searches for rodents and songbirds, draws attention to any observer. The Northern Harrier flies low to the ground, following closely the
contours of the land beneath it, listening and looking for prey. They have exceptionally good hearing for a diurnal raptor, aided by the owllike, parabolic, facial disc of fine feathers. Up to ninetyfive percent of the Northern Harriers’ diet consists of
This Month’s Special Section
Holidays in the Valley pages 7-9
See HARRIER page 5