Community Categories:
Contra Costa County ( - by Gloria Cannon):
The area served by the Mt. Diablo Audubon Society is most of Contra Costa County, one of
the eight counties in the San Francisco Bay region. The northwest corner of Contra Coast
County touches San Francisco Bay and stretches eastward into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
and Central Valley of California. The heart of our county and our MDAS chapter is the
great, 3849-foot peak of Mt. Diablo itself.
The County has over 50,000 acres of federal wildlife areas, state, regional, and local parks,
preserves, and shorelines. At the annual Christmas Bird County, MDAS members observe at least 150
bird species in a 24-hour period. Over 650 species of animals and plants have been identified in the
County.
Contra Costa offers a paradise for birders, hikers, families, and outdoor enthusiasts.
Within our area are grasslands, woods, wetlands, canyons, and rivers.
Like much of California, our beloved Contra Costa is increasingly urbanized with
almost 1 million people living in Contra Costa. Suburban development threatens wilderness
habitat all over the County. MDAS works with other environmental and conservation organizations to preserve and
protect the ecological diversity of Contra Costa.
- by Gloria Cannon
MDAS Community Involvement:
Heather Farm's Habitat Restoration Task Force
As Walnut Creek has grown and park space becomes a premium, much discussion
has arisen over the use of park lands within the city. The City
Council has requested the Park, Recreation and Open Space Commission
to develop a new Master Plan for Heather Farm Park. A Task Force
was formed by PROS to study the possibilities and implementation
of the restoring of some of the undeveloped areas in the northern
parts of Heather Farm Park to a natural state. This is to be accomplished
by adding Habitat Restoration to the new Master Plan for the park.
Three members of MDAS, Bob Wisecarver, Rosita Harvey and Hugh Harvey,
represent the Chapter on the Task Force.
Citizens' Advisory Committee of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority
The committee's primary responsibility is to review and approve
Growth Management Checklists submitted by all the County and cities
within the County to qualify for Measure C revenue sharing. One
of the elements of the checklists is a requirement that cities provide
affordable housing. Also, the Committee deals with a wide range
of the County's many transportation issues. Representatives on this
Committee include MDAS, Sierra Club, Contra Costs Council, Contra
Costa County, and all 19 cities within the County. The MDAS representative
to this committee is Joel Summerhill.
Delta Science Center
The Delta Science Center is being developed on a 40-acre site in
the 1,648-acre Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley. The purpose
of the Center is to provide a site for people of all ages and backgrounds
to appreciate and become active stewards of the Bay-Delta ecosystem,
which is California's most important, and least understood resource.
The Center will offer access to an integrated program of Education,
Research, Restoration, and Recreation. Phase one construction is
now in the permit process. This phase will include construction
of an entry road, parking, utility extensions, restrooms, on-water
pier for wildlife observation, fishing, and mooring of floating
houseboats which will be custom designed as research and education
vessels. MDAS is represented on the Delta Science Center Board by
Joel Summerhill.
MDAS Community Images:
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Round Valley Regional Park: oak woodland and savannah. |
Round Valley Regional Park: Wrens, Orioles, Nuthatches and Woopeckers like this Acorn Woodpecker. |
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Mitchell Canyon: located on the North flank of Mount Diablo. |
Mitchell Canyon: Warblers, Stellar Jays, Western Blue Birds, Hummingbirds and this guy that I've not been able to identify. |
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Diablo Lake, Pittsburg: lots of ducks, geese, cormorants and other birds like this Scrub Jay. |
Diablo Lake, Pittsburg: at least three types of turtles also make their home in the lake. |
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McNabney Marsh: many people drive by McNabney Marsh (formerly known as Shell Marsh) every day without recognizing its importance as wildlife habitat. |
McNabney Marsh: White Pelicans, Herons, Egrets and many other birds can be observed here. |
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Martinez Regional Shoreline: isn’t the best birding in the world but some good rarities have been found over the years. |
Martinez Regional Shoreline: Coots, Gulls, Ducks and other common shore birds can be seen here. |
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John Baldwin Park, Concord. |
Brennen Park, Pittsburg. |
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Black Diamond Mines: in addition to birds; the wild flowers (Lupines and California Poppies in the picture) and butterflys can be an added attraction. |
Black Diamond Mines: Click here for addition photos. |
Mount Diablo Audubon Society
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