Earth Month! | Plant Walk | Bird Walk | Earthquake in Garber Park
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An earthquake shook the Bay Area
Around 11:12a.m. the Bay Area was surprised by a 3.4 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter 9.4 kilometers deep near Garber Park (according to SF Gate). This earthquake occurred during Berkeley Project Day—as volunteer events were being held in Garber Park and at Signpost 29, with students working to fix trails and remove invasive plants. To our surprise, people in the surrounding areas felt the jolt of the earthquake but none of the volunteers did!
Photo: SF Gate (Courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey)
Bird migration
This April and May we are welcoming back many bird species to Claremont Canyon and wishing safe travels to others. Some of the species arriving in the Canyon are Warbling Vireo, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Hooded Oriole—which will breed while here. Photographed above is a Fox Sparrow scratching in the leaf litter, one of many birds leaving for their own breeding grounds. We will also miss Hermit Thrush, Varied Thrush, Townsend’s Warbler, and Yellow-rumped Warbler; but will welcome them back in the fall. You can read the full story in our spring print newsletter arriving soon.
Explore Kay Loughman's website (nhwildlife.net) to see more photos of these amazing birds and other wildlife in the Canyon.
(Photo: March 2022 Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) | by Erica Rutherford)
Sunday, April 28th from 7a.m.-11a.m.
Join Dave Quady, Audubon Christmas Bird Count leader for Claremont Canyon, and your Conservancy host Nancy Mueller as we look for birds that breed in the Canyon. We’ll search for year-round resident birds and Neotropical migrant birds that have returned to breed. This event is limited to eight participants—please contact us at info@claremontcanyon.org to sign up for this walk. Exact location to be determined and emailed to participants several days prior to the event. Bring binoculars and a field guide if you have one. Rain cancels.
Celebrate Earth Day with the Garber Park Stewards! This will be a fun volunteer workday focusing on making Garber Park more fire-safe and easier to walk on, and you'll have a chance to learn about passive restoration. We'll meet at the Fireplace below Evergreen Lane.
All levels are welcome. Wear long sleeves and pants, sun protection, and sturdy shoes. Bring your favorite water bottle. Tools and gloves will be provided.
(Photo: 2023 Cal Habitat Club | by Wyllie Clayson)
Saturday, April 20th from 12p.m.-2p.m.
Garber Park steward and CNPS member Janet Gawthrop will be leading a relaxing plant walk in Garber Park. If you have a love for plants and would like to expand your knowledge on the different plant species growing in the Canyon, this is a great event for you. No prior plant knowledge needed.
Meet at the Fireplace below Evergreen Lane. We will be walking the loop trail of Garber Park so please wear comfortable shoes. You can bring your favorite journal/sketchbook to write down or draw your favorite plants!
(Photo: 2022 Goldback fern (Pentagramma triangularis) | by Ruby J. Soto Cardona)
Event recap
On March 14th, on a very windy, crystal clear day, ten hearty souls from the Claremont Club and Spa joined our Conservancy community to clean up parts of Garber Park and the public paths leading to its Evergreen entrance. By the end of the day, we had gathered over 15 bags of debris—mostly those long strands of eucalyptus bark that constantly peel off trees and litter the forest floor. Our workday was followed by a delicious and plentiful lunch under the “big top” back at the hotel grounds. Thank you Claremont Club and Spa for your employees’ volunteerism and for supplying the lunch. You can read the full story in our spring print newsletter arriving soon.
(Photo: Claremont Hotel volunteers | by Ruby J. Soto Cardona)
All levels are welcome! Wear sturdy shoes, dress in layers and bring your favorite water bottle. Tools and gloves are provided.
Visit this 13-acre park and help restore its native wild habitat (we meet year-round). Meet at the Fireplacebelow the Evergreen Lane entrance (Map). For more informationor questionscontactWyllie.
Join us at Signpost 29for a day of restoration (1.5 miles up Claremont from the intersection of Ashby/Tunnel Rd.) aswe work to restore and maintain pathways, remove invasive broom and collect litter. More information Here. Questions? Contact us at info@claremontcanyon.org.
Help restore native plants and maintain a popular trail! Weed invasive plants, plant seeds, and--if it comes to it--water native seedlings. Located in the small side canyon just north of Claremont Canyon, which is above the Clark Kerr campus. No prior experience needed. Gloves and tools are provided.
Please contact Jim Rosenau or call at (510) 845-0106.
Join the Grizzly Peak cleanup volunteer days! Everyone is welcome. If you have rock climbing skills sign up as they are in need of people to help clean on the steeper parts of the hills.
We would love to hear from our members and others who are out hiking or otherwise observing nature in the canyon. Send us your pictures at info@claremontcanyon.org and we will feature one each month.
Pink-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum) near the Evergreen Lane Path—photo by Nancy Mueller.
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Panoramic photo of a hike in the Canyon—photo by Marilyn Goldhaber.
Trails are open
All trails are open and accessible throughout Claremont Canyon. For maps and complete information on trails click here. You can also take a guided tour here. Please stay safe and take all items and pet waste out with you.
.JPG)
