A male spotted towhee enjoying the birdbath. (Photo by Nancy Mueller)

Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) 

This handsome species is a ground-dwelling, year-round resident in chaparral and other brushlands, and is fairly common in residential areas where sufficient cover exists. Though they usually forage within dense brush, they may often be seen at open edges. Singing males may perch openly atop shrubs. The call given by most local birds is a scratchy rising mew, reee-eeh? The song is a simple, loud buzzy trill, sometimes with a short whistled introductory note. Listen here.

Towhees are large sparrows that scratch about with their feet in the leaf litter for seeds and insects. Their “double-scratch”, a quick forward and backward two-step maneuver, is a unique foraging behavior of towhees and some other sparrows. Watch here.  

Story excerpted (with permission) from the book Birds of Northern California (2015) by Dave Quady et. al. Visit Kay Loughman's wildlife website to see more species found in the canyon.

Wildfire and Urban Interface Pilot Program

On Thursday, May 25th, Oakland’s Fire Department announced a free two-year pilot program, in partnership with N5 sensors company, to help detect wildfires using real time monitoring sensors. Fire Department’s Chief Reginald Freeman stated that 10 sensors will be placed “throughout the wildland urban interface area of the city of Oakland”. These sensors will monitor air quality, can detect a fire up to 2 miles away, and notify firefighters of any wildfires. According to Debra Deininger of N5 Sensors, “they’re gas and particulate sensors, chemical sensors, and heat sensors and they work in conjunction with AI (artificial intelligence) to identify a fire and [provide an] immediate notification, 24/7, to the dispatch center”. 

To watch the press announcement video visit the North Hills Community Association Webpage.

Photo: N5 Sensors  

Fire Safety Town Hall

Councilmember Susan Wengraf of District 6 was joined by Berkeley’s Fire Department, and over 110 residents, in a Fire Safety Town Hall webinar on May 11th to discuss programs to keep Berkeley safe. Some topics of discussion included how wildfires spread in urban areas like Berkeley, fireproofing and creating a defensible space for your home, using the free chipper service, and more! For more information you can watch the full webinar and access the Resource Guide for Fire Safety. 

Many initiatives are also taking place thanks to voters who helped pass measure FF. New programs are being implemented by the Fire Department, a new Berkeley Fire Safe Council was created by the leadership of the former Hillside Neighborhood Association, and certified Firewise Neighborhoods are growing and expanding. If you’re interested in “help[ing] your community get started on its wildfire preparedness journey” contact Kevin Revilla at KRevilla@Berkeleyca.gov to learn more and be part of the five certified neighborhoods and 15 more working on their certification. 

Wildflower Project Behind the Claremont Spa and Resort

After PGE removed some Eucalyptus that were dangerously close to power lines behind the Hotel, there was an adjacent swath of thistle and weed infested land that needed attention. Located near the base of Evergreen Path, with its southern exposure, it was an ideal location for wildflowers. Jon Kaufman, CCC president and I met at the site with Glen Schneider, naturalist and project founder of the Skyline Gardens Alliance, along with Melanie Wendeler and Venkata Swamy from the Resort. A plan was made to plant the area in late fall of 2021 to take advantage of winter rains. With the rains we recently had in the winter of 2022/23, the flowers have blossomed in full force. Filled with poppies, monkeyflower, pink Clarkia rubicunda, farewell-to-spring, and numerous other natives, it is now a garden of joy!

Story and photo by Nancy Mueller

All levels are welcome! Wear sturdy shoes, dress in layers and bring your favorite water bottle. Tools are provided. 

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 and we will feature one each month.

Board members Josh Borkowski and Jon Kaufman on a hike a while back at the steep section of the Stonewall-Panoramic Ridge Trail in the Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve (Photo: Marilyn Goldhaber). 

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Trails are open

All trails are open and accessible throughout Claremont Canyon. For maps and complete information on trails click here.  Please stay safe and take all items and pet waste out with you. 

For the long-term stewardship of Claremont Canyon

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