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We couldn't have done it without you
As we close out 2025 and begin 2026, we are pleased to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who has been involved with our organization. To our volunteers, students, scouts, and community residents; to our financial supporters both large or small; to area homeowners who are making their properties safer from wildfire; and to everyone who drives by our canyon and simply admires the beauty of our open space. Thank you for what you do to help keep Claremont Canyon a wonderful wildland preserve. We have had a busy and successful 2025 on all fronts, and with your help, we look forward to making 2026 equally rewarding.
~ The Conservancy board members (from left to right) Josh Borkowski, Rick Marcus, Elizabeth Stage, Nancy Mueller, Jon Kaufman, Greg Call, Jerry Kent, (not included in the photo) John Brochu, and Marilyn Goldhaber. Also in the photo: Berkeley's Assistant Fire Chief Colin Arnold (fourth from left) and Garber Park Steward's Founder Shelagh Brodersen (second from right) | Photo by Ruby J. Soto Cardona.
Berkeley High Green Team volunteers bagging long eucalyptus bark pieces, leaves, and seed pods to help clear the Alvarado trail and make it more enjoyable to walk on. | Photo by Ruby J. Soto Cardona
Monday, January 19th from 9am-12pm Meet at the Evergreen Lane entrance to the park
The Garber Park Stewards are preparing for their yearly MLK Day of Service event! Join the stewards, in collaboration with the Conservancy and North Hills Community Association, as we pull invasive plants and remove eucalyptus debris from the park. This is a habitat restoration event filled with plant ID opportunities and a goal to help make the park more fire safe. Come out and rake the park’s main trails, bag non-native and invasive plants like eucalyptus debris (leaves, larger branches, and bark pieces), and fill a large dumpster provided by the City of Oakland to help lower fire fuels.
Wearhiking shoes or sturdy shoes, long sleeves and pants, and bring a water bottle. Gloves, tools, and snacks will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own lunch and enjoy it in the park. For the more adventurous, some activities will require us to go off trail on steeper slopes.
The nine baby Coast Live Oaks (Quercus agrifolia) planted behind the fence at Signpost 29 continue to thrive! Since planting them in 2023 and with continuous tending, they are now growing into the next oak generation. | Photo by Ruby J. Soto Cardona
Because of you
We thank all who have donated and ask our members and friends, if you haven't yet done so, please consider renewing your membership and charitable donations for the new year. All contributions large and small are important and much appreciated. Because of you, the Conservancy is a vibrant force in the East Bay and a leader in wildfire safety in the wildland-urban interface. We are nurturing the next generation of environmental leaders right in our own backyard! You can visit our page to Donatewith PayPal or credit card. You can also specify contributions to go directly to the Garber Park Stewards or to our Safer Canyon Initiative (read below).
With their heads covered in some fluffy down, contrasted by their striking yellow eyes, three juvenile Great Horned Owls (Bubo virginianus) were photographed in Claremont Canyon on June 2021 resting on a branch high above a tree—most likely waiting for their parents to feed them as they learn to hunt. | Photo by Erica Rutherford
Nesting season is approaching!
Hoo, hoo-hoo, hoo, hoo goes there? As the wintertime continues, Great Horned Owls (Bubo virginianus) are expected to start their nesting season among the tall trees of the Canyon. They are one of the earlier birds to nest, starting as early as January or February. As you visit the Canyon, be mindful of keeping your distance from nearby nesting areas to limit any disturbances. Their young are expected in the springtime, but don't be fooled by their fluffy faces, as these are apex predators, with very good hearing and binocular vision, “strong talons that require a force of 28 pounds to open”, and the ability to take prey larger and heavier than themselves.
Fun fact: the horns on their head are not ears, they're actually feather tufts to help them camouflage among the tree branches. Learn more about these owls here and visit Kay Loughman's wildlife website to see more pictures of other species spotted in and around the Canyon.
Birders at one of our Spring Bird Walks in May 2022 with Dave Quady (second from the right), Audubon Christmas Bird Count leader for Claremont Canyon.
An opportunity to do more
One of the Conservancy’s success stories in 2025 is the Safer Canyon Initiative. The Conservancy has always advocated for the removal of wildfire hazardous vegetation including eucalyptus and Monterey pine. This year we decided to raise funds to remove them ourselves rather than just advocate. We targeted a number of trees in Garber Park and set a goal of $100,000. We achieved that goal with the enthusiastic support of our members and community residents. In 2026 we plan to begin removing selected hazardous trees in and around Garber Park. Stay tuned for more updates in the new year.
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 29 for a day of restoration (1.5 miles up Claremont from the intersection of Ashby/Tunnel Rd.) as we work to restore and maintain pathways, remove invasive broom and collect litter. More information Here. Questions? Contact us at info@ClaremontCanyon.org.
Hiking the Canyon
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.
Meet one of our local amphibian friends (above), believed to be a yellow-eyed ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii xanthoptica), commonly found throughout the Canyon, including at Garber Park. These curious salamanders tend to come out during the rainy season and walk across the Canyon's main trails. Remember to watch your step and if you see one, share your photos with us. | Photo by Ruby J. Soto Cardona
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This new year, step into Garber Park's Big Leaf Maple trail leading up to Fireplace Plaza, where you can pull a log and spend some time underneath the majestic trees. | 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.
